India, Nepal and Sri Lanka — the lowest daily costs on Earth per unit of wonder.
The route, leg by leg
- ✈️
California → Delhi · ~$500
Sale fares via East Asian or Gulf hubs; October–March is both the best season and the fare sweet spot. - 🚌
Delhi → Rajasthan loop · ~$50
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur by train — book sleeper class a few days ahead. - 🚌
Rajasthan → Agra & Varanasi · ~$30
The Taj at dawn, then the ghats. Trains again. - ✈️
Varanasi → Kathmandu · ~$60
Buddha Air/IndiGo via Delhi, or the border bus if you enjoy an adventure. - 🚌
Nepal → trekking (EBC/Annapurna) · ~$100
Permits + teahouses. The best-value world-class experience in travel. - ✈️
Kathmandu → Colombo · ~$180
Via Delhi or Chennai on IndiGo/Air India Express. - 🚌
Sri Lanka loop · ~$40
Ella's trains, Mirissa's whales, Arugam Bay's surf — buses and the famous hill railway. - ✈️
Colombo → California · ~$550
One-way home via a Gulf or SEA hub.
Transport total: about $1,510. Daily budget: $30/day shoestring, $50/day flashpacker.
Why it saves money
💰 At $30/day shoestring, every week here costs what 2–3 days costs in Australia. The flights bracket the trip; in between, trains and buses cost single-digit dollars and <em>are</em> the experience.