Affordable Asian Island Trips Cost From $20 Per Day
- Budget-conscious travelers looking for affordable island getaways can find destinations in Asia where trips can cost significantly less than a vacation in Venice or New York.
- Palawan in the western Philippines features multi-colored waters, brilliant white sand, and soaring jungle-draped limestone peaks.
- Travelers can manage expenses by timing their visits around local weather patterns.
Budget-conscious travelers looking for affordable island getaways can find destinations in Asia where trips can cost significantly less than a vacation in Venice or New York. While flights to the region can carry higher upfront costs, daily expenses once on the ground remain remarkably inexpensive, with several locations offering complete daily stays starting as low as $20 per day.
Palawan Offers Diverse Marine Life and Limestone Landscapes
Palawan in the western Philippines features multi-colored waters, brilliant white sand, and soaring jungle-draped limestone peaks. Situated within the 2.3 million-square-mile Coral Triangle, the island offers access to marine life ranging from reef fish and rays to hammerheads and whale sharks. The municipality of El Nido draws visitors to Bacuit Bay, where limestone islands conceal hidden lagoons. Further south, the Puerto Princesa Underground River flows through a limestone cave system and is recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Travelers can manage expenses by timing their visits around local weather patterns. June to October brings rain and represents the cheapest time to arrive, while December to April marks the dry peak season when visitor numbers and accommodation prices rise. Room-sharing budget travelers and backpackers staying in dorms can spend as little as $20 per day, while mid-range visitors can expect expenses around $40 a day.
Sri Lanka Features Ancient Fortresses and Colonial Cities
Sri Lanka, located southeast of India, offers attractions such as Sigiriya, an ancient fortress also known as Lion Rock that rises more than 650 feet above forested plains. The climb features ancient frescoes and giant stone lion paws at the former entrance, leading to palace ruins at the summit. On the southwest coast, the 16th-century Portuguese-founded fortified city of Galle features stone ramparts, colonial buildings, and narrow alleys overlooking the Indian Ocean.
The hill station town of Ella provides cooler mountain scenery, while Mirissa Beach on the southern coast features coconut palms, turquoise waters, and visits from sperm whales, bottlenose dolphins, and humpback whales. Wildlife enthusiasts can also visit Yala National Park to view elephants, leopards, and diverse bird species. Budget travelers can get around Sri Lanka for approximately $20 a day by using hostels and street food.