The massive continent of Asia represents almost 30% of the Earth's land surface, and is home to 60% of the world's population, or 4 billion people. Asia features enormous cultural, environmental, climactic, financial and religious diversity. Due to the vastness of the differences on the continent, many are like to classify Asia into three areas, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and Asia-Pacific. Southeast Asia which includes Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma/Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia and the Indian Subcontinent which includes India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan offer the most options to the traveler on a tight budget. The Asia Pacific region which includes Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China tends to be the priciest region.
Asia features many must-see destinations. Many would say that the top sights to see in Asia are the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City in China, Mount Everest and Potala Palace in Lhasa, and Tibet and the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
Southeast Asia is an area where the budget traveler can find enormous values. You can easily and inexpensively travel between countries in this region because of new budget airlines and, in particular, Bangkok, Thailand is well-known for offering cheap flights to partially anywhere. This area offers inexpensive hotels and food, great sightseeing, beautiful beaches, scuba diving and snorkeling, jungle tours, and fantastic bargain shopping, particularly for handicrafts or custom-tailored clothing. The Indian subcontinent also offers very inexpensive and tremendously exciting travel opportunities.
Depending on your budget, you can experience either very luxurious or very modest accommodations. India is very densely populated, so if you venture into cities like Delhi or Mumbai, you will experience the extreme density of the population. Furthermore, India boasts one of the world's must-see sights, the Taj Mahal, which is well worth visiting. The spectacular structure is actually a mausoleum built between 1631 and 1653 by the Emperor Shah Jahan for one of his wives. Travel in India is recommended by train or bus as this is the most cost effective and used means of transportation.
In Nepal, there are incredibly beautiful sights to be seen, including Mount Everest and Potala Palace in Lhasa and beautiful handicrafts can be found at incredible bargains in Nepal. Rental cars are completely unnecessary and travel by bus is recommended.
In the Asia Pacific region prices are generally higher than in the other two regions with accommodations, food, and travel being relatively much more expensive. If you want to travel in the Asia Pacific region you will probably have to budget up to $100 a day, at least. Those on a tight budget often explore this area by taking one of many ESL teaching positions or by stopping over on the way to a less expensive region
Major Airports serving Asia are Bangkok, Thailand's Don Muang International (BKK), Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) in China, Chhatrapati Shivaji Int'l Airport (BOM) in Mumbai, Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) in Thailand, Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) in Thailand, and Phuket International Airport (HKT) in Thailand. Major Airlines serving Asia include ChinaAir, China Eastern Airlines, China Northern Airlines, China Northwest Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Dragonair, Air India, Air Sahara, Air Deccan, Alliance Air, GoAirlines, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Nok Airlines, Orient Thai Airlines, Phuket Air and Thai Airways.
Top Destinations in Asia
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