Top Asia Budget Trips & Packages In 2025/2026

Highlights

• Stay in an eco-lodge on the edge of the jungle that’s fighting for the preservation of Ulu Muda Forest with research and awareness, low-footprint practices and ecotourism principles.
• Take not one but two river cruises deep in the Ulu Muda Forest to double your chances of spotting roaming wildlife like elephants as your guide tells you about the native plants and wildlife that call this lush haven home.
• Slip into the local way of life, staying with a family on a homestay that gives real insight into village culture – play traditional games, learn fishing techniques and tuck into a home-cooked dinner.
• Explore the rolling green Cameron Highlands, blanketed by tea plantations and strawberry fields, and then trek through the mossy forest to learn more about the unique plants living beneath this sea of moss.
• Wander the historic mural-lined streets of Georgetown, the vibrant cultural hub of Penang and see the array of contemporary art galleries, boutiques, traditional temples and churches.

Highlights

• Ascend to the clouds and reach an altitude of 5416 metres as you cross the Thorung La Pass along the Annapurna Circuit. Testing your mind and body, this is one incredible accomplishment.
• Uncover a different side of the Himalayas, trekking past terraced rice fields, oak and rhododendron forests, there’s a diverse array of nature that awaits in the Annapurna region.
• Learn about life in Nepalese mountain communities, get to know locals and meet other trekkers while you stay in teahouses in the small communities along the way.
• Discover Nepal’s compact capital in Kathmandu. With a limited amount of time spent here to discover its bazaars and temples, why not extend your stay beforehand to get a real feel of Nepalese culture.
• Spend time in the peaceful haven of Pokhara after your trek has finished. Relax with your small group on the banks of Phewa Lake and take in the mountainous surrounds that you have conquered!

Highlights

• The Taj Mahal is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world, with its poetic history and beauty having the power to surprise even the most jaded travellers.
• Discover the rich history and architecture of the Amber Fort, with the expertise of a local guide. The kaleidoscopic magic of the Hall of Mirrors is unforgettable
• India is famous for its great sleeper trains and you'll be tucked up nicely in your own padded bunk
• The Thar Desert is a vast space, but the locals treat it as their own back garden. Relax watching the sunset and sleep under the stars
• A hot air balloon experience above Jaipur is extraordinary. Float high over the spectacular palaces and forts with the ultimate bird's eye view

Highlights

• Travel from Thailand's lively capital and activity-filled Chiang Mai, to the riverside tranquillity of Laos and its stunning scenery.
• Discover just why Luang Prabang has UNESCO status as you uncover the French influence, beautiful temples, traditional arts and the world renown night markets.
• Discover impactful local organizations that support local communities in various ways, including empowering local women through preserving traditional textile making, or caring for those who have been injured by the multitude of unexploded ordinance across the country.
• Explore the mysterious beauty of the Lao jungle as you walk side by side with recently rescued elephants on stroll through their natural habitat at Mandalao. Read more about this Intrepid Foundation supported project here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/elephant-sanctuary-laos/
• Rise with the sun and watch saffron-robed monks shuffle between houses, where the faithful wait with offerings as part of an alms giving ritual.

Highlights

• After spending time admiring Hoi An’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient town, hop on a bike and pedal beside rice fields and through small villages on a guided bicycle tour of the surrounding countryside.
• Spend two days on Cat Ba Island relaxing on tiny beaches, hiking through verdant jungle and kayaking around karst-studded Lan Ha Bay. It’s just like Ha Long, but with fewer tourists!
• Cruise around the backwater canals of the Mekong Delta – the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam – and discover rural life and local interactions along the shores with your small group.
• Explore the 36 streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, as well as the Dong Xuan Market and Hoan Kiem Lake, taking in the unique mixture of French and Buddhist architecture.
• Bliss out on an immersive homestay in the National Park of Pu Luong – wake up to the serenity of quiet, terraced rice paddy fields, trek the local land to take in the scenery and meet some local tribes to learn about their culture.

Highlights

• Cycle through the backcountry of Yogyakarta – a world of flower-studded fields and friendly locals, this cultural centre is one of South East Asia’s standouts.
• Take a guided walk through the jungle and rice paddies of Seloliman Nature Reserve, then sit back, relax and soak up the ambience under the stars in a local guest house.
• Climb Mt Bromo in the early hours of the morning. If the conditions are right, you'll be rewarded with a dazzling view over mist-laden volcanoes.
• Explore Bandung – a city of contrasts – and feast on delicious street food in this unofficial food capital. Sit down in a 100-year-old café for a local cuppa, hike around volcanic craters, then soak your weary muscles in the hot springs.
• Balance out all of the activity and adventure with plenty of time to chill out away from the crowds at beachside paradise of Pemuteran on Bali’s less-visited north coast.

Highlights

• Learn how to prepare and present the traditional 11-dish Northern Thai speciality khan tok and experience Thai life from a local's perspective at a village homestay.
• See dishes whipped up before your eyes, like kaeng som, spicy fish cakes at a community farm and roti sai mai at a market food stall in Ayutthaya.
• Cruise Bangkok’s floating market on a paddleboat and sail aboard a longtail boat to an island Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya
• Tuck into your favourite iconic Thai dishes and discover new ones along the way: guay-tieo-ruea (boat noodles), roti sai mai, khao soi, som tum, larb and more.
• Dine on a plant-based meal at a Chiang Mai restaurant that sources organic, local vegetables for their daily array of delicious meals.

Highlights

• Fall in love with Vietnam one bite at a time, from pho, slurped on a busy street corner to a vegetarian feast in a Buddhist nunnery.
• Sail through Halong Bay's limestone karsts and island caves, visit a centre that turns the bay's discarded trash into treasures and spend the night checking out the stars on an overnight cruise.
• Travel like a local on a motorbike tour, riding pillion and taking in the historical pagodas, bridges and villages of Hue.
• Embrace a slower pace during a private boat tour of the Mekong Delta and meet local craftspeople in the villages that line the river's myriad waterways.
• Wander through the remarkably well-preserved streets of Hoi An's Old Town on a guided tour, where elegant wooden buildings line the canals.