Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka & Extra

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Hello everybody! On this put up, 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 have been planning to fly on to Sri Lanka from Bangladesh, however on the finish, the flights via Kuala Lumpur have been twice cheaper, so we determined to spend 2 days in Malaysia as properly.

This itinerary is perhaps too busy and tiring for some folks, so when you choose relaxed journeys, I might recommend 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, enable at the very least 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 would possibly or won’t 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, you have to apply in your e-Visa earlier than the journey and for Bhutan, you have to purchase a tour bundle, because it’s not potential to go to Bhutan with no tour.

For Malaysia, EU residents don’t want a visa for as much as 90 days.

How you can transfer between counties in South Asia?

The simplest (and quickest) manner could be by airplane. Nonetheless, when you really feel prefer it’s an excessive amount of flying, you may scale back the variety of nations visited on this journey. You may verify 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 is usually a bit more difficult than the others. It’s at all times nice to have journey insurance coverage although. In the event you don’t have any, you may verify 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 an excellent time to journey round South Asia, because the climate is usually good in all places and never too sizzling. 

Nonetheless, in Sri Lanka, we received 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?

In the event 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 costliest 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 dear as a result of you have to pay at the very least $200-250 per day per individual for the tour. That’s why we opted for the shortest and therefore, essentially the most reasonably priced tour. The flights to Bhutan have been additionally costly. In whole, the Bhutan a part of the journey to South Asia price us ca $3000 or £2200. Is Bhutan value that worth? You may learn extra on this put up.

For the remainder of the journey (4 night time in Nepal, 1 night time in Bangladesh, 1 night time in Malaysia, 5 nights in Sri Lanka), we paid roughly £500 for resorts, £350 for inside flights and £400 for meals. We additionally spent £130 on visas (visa to Bangladesh was the most costly one).

In whole, we spent round £4600 on this journey or £2300 per individual, 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 night time in Nepal -> 4 nights in Bhutan -> interchange in Dhaka, Bangladesh -> 1 night time 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 12 months, we didn’t embody India within the journey this 12 months. Furthermore, it could have made the journey much more tiring. 

We wished to journey to Nepal, so we began with Kathmandu. We didn’t need 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 listing exercise, that I hope to perform sooner or later!

We have been planning to remain in Kathmandu for two full days, nevertheless, because it turned out, we have been tied to the schedule of the flights to Bhutan and the one accessible flight was departing on Wednesday. Therefore, we stayed for 4 nights in Nepal and didn’t remorse it. 

After we realised that we’ll be staying 4 nights in Nepal, we itinerary wished 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 inside vacation spot in Nepal. 

In Nepal, we spent the primary night time in Bhaktapur – certainly one of 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 – a tremendous lodge very near all the principle landmarks and eating places.

Kathmandu was a bit overwhelming generally with all of the site visitors and the mud, however the structure was gorgeous, meals was nice and other people have been very welcoming. 

I wrote one other weblog put up about our itinerary for 4 days in Kathmandu Valley right here, be sure that 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 may be very costly for non-SAARC nations. 

We’d love to remain in Bhutan for every week, however that will be too costly. Nonetheless, because it turned out, 4 days have been good 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 put up 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. Nonetheless, many individuals have extremely excessive expectations for Bhutan. Learn my second put up about Bhutan and whether or not it’s value it and the way to not be dissatisfied in Bhutan.

As every thing was carried out and organised for us (as we had to purchase a tour in Bhutan), we couldn’t choose our resorts and I can’t advocate you any. 

The highlights of Bhutan that we visited:

Large Buddha in Thimphu

Chorten Nationwide Memorial in Thimphu

Dochula Cross

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. Nonetheless, whereas we have been nonetheless planning the journey, the flights from Dhaka to Colombo in Sri Lanka received very costly, so we needed to provide you with a distinct plan. 

We waited for a month and acquired 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 town.

As there is no such thing as a left baggage or lockers at Dhaka Airport, we needed to e-book a really low cost lodge simply to go away the baggage, nevertheless, we ended up spending a little bit of time on the lodge, as we received very drained from the flight.

Our flight to Malaysia received delayed by 6 hours, so ultimately, we had much more time in Dhaka.

Everyone had warned us that site visitors in Dhaka is loopy! Nicely, it was, however we nonetheless managed to get to town centre and see a few stunning buildings. Total, I have to say that we didn’t see a lot in Dhaka, nevertheless, we managed to get an total impression of town.

It’s definitely not as dangerous because it’s usually portrayed and we’re completely satisfied that we managed to see it with our personal eyes!

Dhaka can be altering so much and shortly there might be a metro that hopefully will assist to resolve the site visitors downside at the very least partially. 

What we noticed in Dhaka

• Gulshan neighbourhood
• Gulshan 2 Lake Park
• Curzon Corridor of Dhaka College

If you wish to learn extra in regards to the issues you are able to do in Dhaka throughout a protracted layover, right here’s a put up I wrote: 8-12 hours transit in Dhaka: what to do. 

1.5 days in Kuala Lumpur: one of many highlights of the journey 

Although our flight from Dhaka with Malindo air was severely delayed (and I like to recommend staying away from Malindo Air as properly) and we misplaced a little bit of our priceless time in Kuala Lumpur, we nonetheless managed to see so much. 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 put up about the most effective issues to do throughout a protracted 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 town deserves far more than two days or maybe even every week, if I had the prospect I might keep there for at the very least a month. 

As we have been solely staying for lower than two days in Kuala Lumpur, we determined to e-book a pleasant lodge and it was additionally as a result of there are even the nicest resorts in Kuala Lumpur is the place not as costly because the are in locations like Tokyo or Hong Kong. We managed to e-book a Mandarin Oriental are for simply £140 per night time and that included a marvellous breakfast.

Our lodge was positioned simply 10 minutes strolling to the well-known and widespread Bukit Bintang – a buzzing purchasing district of Kuala Lumpur.

Bukit Bintang is among the foremost highlights of Kuala Lumpur and it has nice purchasing 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 numerous purchasing malls. 

In case you gained’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 superb areas to discover embody Batu Caves that has just lately undergone a superb makeover, China City and the Central Market. On the Central Market, you should purchase loads of souvenirs, meals and garments. Additionally, the world 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 superb locations to eat, from Japanese to Indian and every thing was superb. 

In the event you nonetheless have time, be sure that 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 most likely my favorite cease of all the 16-day journey to South Asia, nevertheless, this put up just isn’t over but, as I’ve a small half about Sri Lanka as properly.

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 superb, folks have been pleasant and the costs have been very budget-friendly. It’s laborious to consider that we solely extracted £100 and did not spend them throughout 5 days in Sri Lanka – and we ate in some nice locations and even paid for the fuel. 

We employed a automotive in Sri Lanka and determined to drive ourselves, with out hiring a driver. It wasn’t as difficult as we thought. Nonetheless, we would have liked to get hold of a Sri Lankan driving allow earlier than coming to the nation, so Sixt automotive rental simply made it for us for a price. The automotive rental most likely ended up being severely overpriced, however our automotive was good and new and introduced us to all of the superb locations in Sri Lanka. 

I wrote two separate posts about Sri Lanka: a information to driving in Sri Lanka (issues you have to 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 have to say that 5 days weren’t sufficient to see all of Sri Lanka, because the distances within the nation are enormous and the roads are slim and filled with automobiles. You would possibly find yourself driving 150 km for 4 hours and even longer. Be certain 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 perhaps Ella or simply go to the South seashores as a substitute – e.g. Tangalle, Matara and different stunning seashore 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. Nonetheless, we returned a bit uninterested in this vacation. Then once more, our itineraries are normally busy and jam-packed and permit us to see a lot 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 immediately from Bhutan (by way of 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 superb locations to go to in Malaysia). 

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