Oriental Travel Destinations

The Orient is massive, and its different countries have little in common besides their geographical proximity. It reaches from Japan, where everything carries a steep price tag, to Nepal, from rainforests to frigid Siberia, from isolationist North Korea to hip Singapore. Oriental travel destinations are very diverse; here, you'll learn more about all the wonderful places to visit in Asia and how to make your trip memorable.

To simplify planning, we'll divide the Orient into three areas: Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Differences abound; travelers can easily go over budget in Japan, but in a place like Laos, exceeding a modest daily budget would be difficult.

Southeast Asia was the original budget travel destination, and it is still popular as that today; backpackers can go from country to country with ease. There are several budget air carries providing service between Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

When traveling in the Orient, you can get a nutritious, cheap meal at a street stall or restaurant for a couple of dollars. Sightseeing is also inexpensive; expect for a few major landmarks, admission is cheap or free. Accommodations are also cheap; many backpackers never spend more than $15 on a room.

No matter your Oriental travel destination, you'll find plenty to occupy yourself. Some can spend a year in Asia and not see everything! From historic monuments like Angkor Wat, Sukothai and Ayutthaya, to volcanoes, raging rapids, jungles and scuba diving locales, there's something for every traveler. There are beach-side resorts that are so pretty, it's hard to believe how cheap the rooms are.

If there's shopping in your budget, the Orient is paradise. There are quality handicrafts for sale throughout much of Asia; and you can get custom tailoring done for less than half the price.

For budget travelers, Nepal and India are ideal destinations. More intrepid travelers can go to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but prices are equally low there. Tibet used to be almost inaccessible, but since travel restrictions have been lifted, prices have dropped.

In India and Nepal, there is both tranquility and despair. Poverty, poor sanitation practices, streets filled with animals, and pollution can put some travelers off, but millions still travel there each year, looking for spiritual guidance, to find the meaning of life, or just out for an adventure. Travelers can scrape by on $10 per day, or pay $350 per night for a five-star hotel.