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Hello everybody! On this submit, I’ll be sharing our itinerary for 16 days in South Asia visiting Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Our preliminary itinerary didn’t embody Malaysia, as we had been planning to fly on to Sri Lanka from Bangladesh, however on the finish, the flights by Kuala Lumpur had been twice cheaper, so we determined to spend 2 days in Malaysia as nicely.
This itinerary is likely to be too busy and tiring for some folks, so when you desire relaxed journeys, I might counsel dropping Bangladesh and Malaysia from this journey and specializing in Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Additionally, our itinerary didn’t embody any trekking in Nepal, when you’re planning to trek, permit no less than 7 days for the trek and ensure to spend 1-2 days to see Kathmandu!
Earlier than we begin with the itinerary for 16 days in South Asia, I’ll attempt to reply the questions you may need earlier than the journey.
Do you want visas for the counties in South Asia?
Relying in your nationality, you may or may not be eligible for the visa on arrival. All of the EU nation residents can get a visa on arrival in Nepal and Bangladesh. For Sri Lanka, it is advisable apply to your e-Visa earlier than the journey and for Bhutan, it is advisable purchase a tour package deal, because it’s not attainable to go to Bhutan with no tour.
For Malaysia, EU residents don’t want a visa for as much as 90 days.
transfer between counties in South Asia?
The simplest (and quickest) means can be by aircraft. Nevertheless, when you really feel prefer it’s an excessive amount of flying, you may cut back the variety of international locations visited on this journey. You’ll be able to examine the costs and availability of the flights right here.
Are these counties protected?
We felt completely protected in Nepal, Bhutan, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. As for Bangladesh, we didn’t have any issues both, however some areas of Dhaka could be a bit more difficult than the others. It’s at all times nice to have journey insurance coverage although. When you don’t have any, you may examine the costs right here.
The perfect time to go to South Asia
We travelled in November and stayed in Sri Lanka through the first week in December. It’s a great time to journey round South Asia, because the climate is usually good in every single place and never too sizzling.
Nevertheless, in Sri Lanka, we obtained very unfortunate with the climate – we solely had 1 day with out rain. As for different counties, Bhutan was fairly chilly in November.
How costly was this 16-day journey to South Asia?
When you’re questioning, how costly was our 16-day journey to South Asia, I’m at all times open to speak about journey prices. The most costly a part of the journey was the tickets and the price of the tour to Bhutan. We flew from London and took a multi-city journey arriving in Kathmandu, Nepal and departing from Colombo, Sri Lanka. We paid £500 for every ticket (return).
Bhutan is pricey as a result of it is advisable pay no less than $200-250 per day per particular person for the tour. That’s why we opted for the shortest and therefore, probably the most reasonably priced tour. The flights to Bhutan had been additionally costly. In whole, the Bhutan a part of the journey to South Asia value us ca $3000 or £2200. Is Bhutan value that worth? You’ll be able to learn extra on this submit.
For the remainder of the journey (4 evening in Nepal, 1 evening in Bangladesh, 1 evening in Malaysia, 5 nights in Sri Lanka), we paid roughly £500 for inns, £350 for inner flights and £400 for meals. We additionally spent £130 on visas (visa to Bangladesh was the costliest one).
In whole, we spent round £4600 on this journey or £2300 per particular person, which isn’t that dangerous in any respect for a 16-day vacation, however positively isn’t low-cost.
A 16-day journey to South Asia: Our Itinerary
4 evening in Nepal -> 4 nights in Bhutan -> interchange in Dhaka, Bangladesh -> 1 evening in Kuala Lumpur -> 5 nights in Sri Lanka
4 nights in Kathmandu, Nepal
An apparent itinerary to South Asia would come with India, nevertheless, as we went to India final yr, we didn’t embody India within the journey this yr. Furthermore, it could have made the journey much more tiring.
We needed to journey to Nepal, so we began with Kathmandu. We didn’t wish to trek this time, as for trekking, we would want to enhance our bodily situation first. Furthermore, I don’t really feel nice in excessive altitudes, which makes trekking a bit extra problematic. Anyway, it’s a bucket record exercise, that I hope to perform sooner or later!
We had been planning to remain in Kathmandu for two full days, nevertheless, because it turned out, we had been tied to the schedule of the flights to Bhutan and the one out there flight was departing on Wednesday. Therefore, we stayed for 4 nights in Nepal and didn’t remorse it.
Once we realised that we’ll be staying 4 nights in Nepal, we itinerary needed to go to one other metropolis, nevertheless, we discovered loads of recommendation on Tripadvisor saying that 4 days wouldn’t be sufficient to see one other inner vacation spot in Nepal.
In Nepal, we spent the primary evening in Bhaktapur – one in all 3 cities of Kathmandu Valley. We stayed on the Inn Sangrahalaya subsequent to Durbar Sq.. The remainder of the journey, we stayed at Kathmandu Suite Residence – an incredible resort very near all the principle landmarks and eating places.
Kathmandu was a bit overwhelming generally with all of the visitors and the mud, however the structure was gorgeous, meals was nice and folks had been very welcoming.
I wrote one other weblog submit about our itinerary for 4 days in Kathmandu Valley right here, be certain to test it out, when you’re !
The highlights of Kathmandu that we visited:
Bhaktapur
Patan
Swayambhunath
Boudha Stupa
Pashupatinath temple
Kathmandu Durbar Sq.
Freak road
Thamel
4 days in Bhutan
Our subsequent vacation spot was Bhutan. As I discussed earlier than, due to authorities coverage, Bhutan could be very costly for non-SAARC international locations.
We’d love to remain in Bhutan for per week, however that might be too costly. Nevertheless, because it turned out, 4 days had been excellent to see the principle highlights of the nation.
Yow will discover my itinerary for Bhutan and extra info on which company we used on this submit about 4 days in Bhutan.
Bhutan was very completely different in comparison with our expectations – it wasn’t higher or worse, simply completely different, that’s it. Nevertheless, many individuals have extremely excessive expectations for Bhutan. Learn my second submit about Bhutan and whether or not it’s value it and the way to not be disenchanted in Bhutan.
As every thing was finished and organised for us (as we had to purchase a tour in Bhutan), we couldn’t decide our inns and I can’t advocate you any.
The highlights of Bhutan that we visited:
Massive Buddha in Thimphu
Chorten Nationwide Memorial in Thimphu
Dochula Go
Punakha Dzong
Paro Dzong
Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest).
1 day in Bangladesh – interchange in Dhaka
Probably the most handy and reasonably priced flight from Bhutan was to Dhaka, Bangladesh. Nevertheless, whereas we had been nonetheless planning the journey, the flights from Dhaka to Colombo in Sri Lanka obtained very costly, so we needed to give you a unique plan.
We waited for a month and purchased promo tickets to Kuala Lumpur from Dhaka with Malindo Air, and from there, very low-cost flights to Sri Lanka with Air Asia. Due to the late departure time, we had over 12 hours in Dhaka and we determined to exit to the town.
As there isn’t any left baggage or lockers at Dhaka Airport, we needed to ebook a really low-cost resort simply to go away the luggage, nevertheless, we ended up spending a little bit of time on the resort, as we obtained very drained from the flight.
Our flight to Malaysia obtained delayed by 6 hours, so in the long run, we had much more time in Dhaka.
Everyone had warned us that visitors in Dhaka is loopy! Effectively, it was, however we nonetheless managed to get to the town centre and see a few stunning buildings. Total, I need to say that we didn’t see a lot in Dhaka, nevertheless, we managed to get an total impression of the town.
It’s definitely not as dangerous because it’s typically portrayed and we’re joyful that we managed to see it with our personal eyes!
Dhaka can also be altering rather a lot and shortly there will probably be a metro that hopefully will assist to unravel the visitors downside no less than partially.
What we noticed in Dhaka
- Gulshan neighbourhood
- Gulshan 2 Lake Park
- Curzon Corridor of Dhaka College
If you wish to learn extra concerning the issues you are able to do in Dhaka throughout an extended layover, right here’s a submit I wrote: 8-12 hours transit in Dhaka: what to do.
1.5 days in Kuala Lumpur: one of many highlights of the journey
Despite the fact that our flight from Dhaka with Malindo air was severely delayed (and I like to recommend staying away from Malindo Air as nicely) and we misplaced a little bit of our priceless time in Kuala Lumpur, we nonetheless managed to see rather a lot. We landed in Kuala Lumpur round 10:20 am.
In Malaysia, we had a day and a half or roughly about 36 hours. I already printed a submit about the most effective issues to do throughout an extended transit or a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, you may learn it right here. Simply to summarise, I completely like to Kuala Lumpur and I believe the town deserves far more than two days or maybe even per week, if I had the prospect I might keep there for no less than a month.
As we had been solely staying for lower than two days in Kuala Lumpur, we determined to ebook a pleasant resort and it was additionally as a result of there are even the nicest inns in Kuala Lumpur is the place not as costly because the are in locations like Tokyo or Hong Kong. We managed to ebook a Mandarin Oriental are for simply £140 per evening and that included a marvellous breakfast.
Our resort was situated simply 10 minutes strolling to the well-known and in style Bukit Bintang – a buzzing procuring district of Kuala Lumpur.
Bukit Bintang is without doubt one of the most important highlights of Kuala Lumpur and it has nice procuring and eating choices for any style. There may be even a Japanese shopping center. There are such a lot of meals choices in Bukit Bintang – from standalone eating places to the large meals courts on the varied procuring malls.
In case you received’t discover what you fancy consuming in Bukit Bintang, you may head to the native road meals market, nearly 5-10 minutes from Bukit Bintang.
Another wonderful areas to discover embody Batu Caves that has lately undergone a superb makeover, China City and the Central Market. On the Central Market, you should buy loads of souvenirs, meals and garments. Additionally, the realm across the Central Market appears to be like very fairly.
For me, Kuala Lumpur was a foodie capital of Asia – there have been so many wonderful locations to eat, from Japanese to Indian and every thing was wonderful.
When you nonetheless have time, be certain to take a look at the Botanic Backyard of Kuala Lumpur – it’s very spectacular; with a lake within the center, it resembled Central Park in NYC.
Total, Kuala Lumpur was in all probability my favorite cease of the whole 16-day journey to South Asia, nevertheless, this submit will not be over but, as I’ve a small half about Sri Lanka as nicely.
5 days in Sri Lanka: driving round Sri Lanka (with no driver)
The final leg of our 16 days in South Asia was Sri Lanka. I had little or no expectations from Sri Lanka, however I fell in love with this island. Meals in Sri Lanka was wonderful, folks had been pleasant and the costs had been very budget-friendly. It’s onerous to consider that we solely extracted £100 and didn’t spend them throughout 5 days in Sri Lanka – and we ate in some nice locations and even paid for the fuel.
We employed a automobile in Sri Lanka and determined to drive ourselves, with out hiring a driver. It wasn’t as difficult as we thought. Nevertheless, we wanted to receive a Sri Lankan driving allow earlier than coming to the nation, so Sixt automobile rental simply made it for us for a price. The automobile rental in all probability ended up being severely overpriced, however our automobile was good and new and introduced us to all of the wonderful locations in Sri Lanka.
I wrote two separate posts about Sri Lanka: a information to driving in Sri Lanka (issues it is advisable know) and whether or not Sri Lanka is value it – first timer’s information to Sri Lanka (spoiler alert – it’s 100% value it).
Total, I need to say that 5 days weren’t sufficient to see all of Sri Lanka, because the distances within the nation are big and the roads are slender and stuffed with vehicles. You may find yourself driving 150 km for 4 hours and even longer. Be certain that to not repeat our errors and don’t plan an excessive amount of throughout even 1 week in Sri Lanka. In 5 days, I simply advocate you to see Sigiriya and Kandy and possibly Ella or simply go to the South seashores as an alternative – e.g. Tangalle, Matara and different stunning seaside spots in Sri Lanka.
Abstract of our itinerary for 16 days in South Asia
Total, I actually loved this 2-week journey to South Asia and this itinerary for 16 days in South Asia was good. Nevertheless, we returned a bit uninterested in this vacation. Then once more, our itineraries are normally busy and jam-packed and permit us to see many of the world whereas working full-time for an organization in London.
If I had an opportunity to look again and alter one thing, I might have spent solely 2-3 days in Nepal (not 4-5) and attempt to get to Sri Lanka instantly from Bhutan (through a change in Nepal or India). I believe that Bangladesh in 12 hours wouldn’t be sufficient and Kuala Lumpur definitely deserves a separate journey (as there are wonderful locations to go to in Malaysia).
A number of the different posts you may like:
12 days in South-East Asia: Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore
Visiting India’s Golden Triangle
