Traveling around Asia visiting several countries. The main problems when traveling in Southeast Asia

December 10, 2012

50 comments

Bomgpe //12/10/2012 at 16:12 Bomgpe
Great collection of tips! Thank you Sprut!
I myself am also a traveler. But not very wild. In terms of “wild” tourism, the most I could do was spend a month as a wild person in Bali. It was very cool :)
I am happy to travel anywhere in the world whenever possible!
Good luck
Seo-keys //12/10/2012 at 16:21 Seo-keys
Awesome manual Octopus, well done, a useful article even for those who are still only dreaming of traveling!
henzo //12/10/2012 at 16:45 henzo
Well done Octopus. You also need to heal your teeth and all sorts of ailments in your homeland before traveling :)
Lazy webmaster //12/10/2012 at 16:48 Lazy webmaster
Super post! Traveling isn't for everyone - you're right. Most people need to go to Egypt once or twice a year and that’s it, their pants are full of happiness.
I hope to receive an income of 30K by the end of this year and at least go to Thailand or the Philippines for the winter.
tulvit //12/10/2012 at 16:51 tulvit
Maybe he already suggested it, maybe not. How do you like the idea of writing an e-book? No, no, no, not an “information product,” but a full-fledged e-book. That is, the same as in the post, only twenty times larger and more detailed, and with lamp photos, in general and by country separately. Come up with a sonorous title for the book (so that later they Google the title), register a domain, put the whole thing together thoroughly, plus format it beautifully in PDF and offer it on the website for download (in the book, of course, there are links to the main domain and to the blog). I don’t know the specifics of the backpacker audience, but in theory it should work. Plus, even if it’s near-zero, the probability of attracting the attention of publishers, if indeed worthwhile thing will come out. In any case, even if it fails, it’s a good experience and all that.

Anticipating the answer “well, it’s too early now, I don’t have enough experience for a book, but in a year, that’s it” - well, not a book, but an e-book. And no one forbids constantly updating and adding to it, “a new edition, expanded and revised,” lol. In addition, after a while it is not a fact that you will be able to write juicily, because it is one thing to write directly in the footsteps, another when everything has become boring and the text comes out a bit dry and without emotional coloring. Well, if you regularly update the book, then you can collect a subscriber base. The main thing is not to go into a blog or wiki style.

PS
/Hello. Do you have a room
Ochepyatka. Although maybe it was a subtle joke =)
Lazy homeless person //12/10/2012 at 16:59 Lazy homeless person
Anonyme //12/10/2012 at 17:39 Anonyme
And a beam from me!
FuckingSEO //12/10/2012 at 17:40 FuckingSEO
Great tips, thanks!
Henzo also wrote good advice, it’s much easier to heal your teeth in your familiar city.
homakov //12/10/2012 at 17:45 homakov
1 booking com and hostel world can be useful. Booking often has discounts and packages; for example, in Singapore I took 4 nights for 80 bucks. Plus there is good navigation and map
2 I have a ktb card, they sent me to casicorn. It's a pity the commission for withdrawal is 100 baht

sometimes there is a feeling when you forget where you are now
I want to take a card from airiasia by the way
//12/10/2012 at 17:58 Spryt
tulvit, there were such thoughts, even regarding this guide (although here it is, where to dilute it, perhaps in breadth - with photos and other countries, but there are few juicy photos, and I didn’t want to by country). But the format of the book itself... That is, yes, you can put ready-made material into a book (for example, compile it from blog posts). But initially writing like a book - uh, of course I’m a graphomaniac, but even this guide got a little tired of writing (which is noticeable, for example, by the torn ending). Writing guides to countries/places is completely boring.

I have a better idea in the air - to organize this whole thing in the form of a website. Yes, bearded, I’ve been trying to do this for a long time, but every time a clearer picture emerges) Combine travel blogs, a guidebook like Wikitravel and a magazine focus.. I don’t know what will happen and I’ll get to the point of implementation at all, but I still want to move in this direction , and not in the bookstore.

>Ochepyatka. Although maybe it was a subtle joke =)
Um, where? Maybe are is superfluous, but in general I always ask like this (sometimes adding bed)

Lazy bum, well, it was easy to refuse the design in the form of a course in favor of freemium, but not pushing an affiliate link to a similar manual was much more difficult))

henzo, well, they appeared then they were already there)

homakov, yes, there are promotions, that’s also true. I wanted to write about it, but I didn’t have any experience (besides, you can probably find it cheaper. Although not at Christmas).

Kasikorn - they say it depends on the branch, somewhere they don’t open it to anyone, somewhere with a tourist visa, somewhere with a stamp.
xekcc //12/10/2012 at 6:12 pm xekcc
>Geography of travel: The whole world, except, perhaps, Antarctica and the Arctic)
I just returned from Rome and I will say that Europe is not very suitable for such a lifestyle. Everything is incredibly expensive. A cheap round-trip flight cost the price of one day of living there.
About Aviasales. I was looking for the cheapest tickets in Europe. I found a round trip to Rome for 3k rubles. I went to the airline’s website and found the same tickets, only for one week for 2.2k rubles. In general, it is better to additionally search on the websites of the airlines themselves, and use Aviasales and other search engines to navigate prices.
tulvit //12/10/2012 at 18:34 tulvit
/But the format of the book itself...

I meant something like http://git-scm.com/book Although it used to be half-baked, now the design has been changed. That is, essentially a book that can be downloaded in PDF (or bought on Amazon), but is divided into short subparagraphs.

/I have a better idea in the air - to organize this whole thing in the form of a website.

Another travel site, lol. Although if it offers something new or is simply qualitatively higher, it may take off. But if the basis of the site is original content, then most likely it will fail. You'll score =)

Although it’s still not worth comparing a travel site with a travel book. After all, both projects can be pursued. The advantage is that it reaches the audience. Blog + book + website, link everything, you’ll get a good network of cj’s =)

/Umm, where? Maybe there is too much

There, instead of “are” there should be “a”, google “Do you have are room” and “Do you have a room” (in quotes), there is a way to check English patterns (if there are a lot of results and in the top normal sites , then the phrase is most likely correct).
tulvit //12/10/2012 at 18:45 tulvit
* Without leaving the cash register, I’m requesting good suitable posts on Malaysia, I don’t know why, but there is genuine interest in this country.
//12/10/2012 at 18:55 Spryt
xekcc, really?) To begin with, the budget of European backpackers is slightly larger than mine. Secondly, Europe is the “homeland” of hostels, there are a lot of them there, although the prices are of course 20 euros. It is convenient to travel on it because it is small and compact (I think I already mentioned a ticket for an unlimited monthly pass for trains).

And finally, even for an expensive country there are ways - for example, there are a lot of campsites there, so traveling by car/motorcycle/bicycle with a tent can be done on a budget (I’ll try it on a bike).

Although even for Americans it is impossible to travel around Europe for more than 3 months (visa), you have to go to Ukraine))

But if you relax like AlexPro (no offense to him) - then yes, it’s very expensive.

tulvit, well, this is understandable, but traveling/backpacking is still not a learning thing, and I’m not going to teach it) But there are enough reports from the blog.

Oh, well then, yes, it’s a typo) I’m just listening, I can’t give the correct translation for some frequently used words)) Sometimes I run it through the translate in the opposite direction (for example, the title of the post - it’s not obvious to me that you need cheap first, it’s more logical first to travel).
Mikha //12/10/2012 at 20:45 Mikha
No big post. The octopus is growing))
Order a ball PR from a share for fun - he may find your blog interesting. Think about how many people are pouring in here!
Alex //12/10/2012 at 20:50 Alex
7. How to make money...

I forgot to insert my refs)))
homakov //12/10/2012 at 23:39 homakov
I lived in Barcelona for 13 euros a day in a hostel. and it can be cheaper. prices from 10 euros I think. By the way, I will be traveling around Europe in the summer

Learn English from the basics 🙂 how cheap is traveling in Asia
uhbif19 //12/10/2012 at 23:58 uhbif19
Cool, thanks! It all seems pretty obvious individually, but you put it all together very clearly.

(small typo: “life in a treehouse”)
//12/11/2012 at 06:00 Spryt
Micah, haha)

Alex, it’s okay, anyone who is interested will fight through mine anyway 😛

homakov, the title of the post is not critical) Although Google translate says that my version is correct. I won't argue, I still don't know, wahhah

uhbif19, yeah, no breakdowns, just banal things that become clear a month after the start of the trip)
Paranoid_Android //12/11/2012 at 10:14 Paranoid_Android
If you are planning to travel to Europe, how are you going to get a Schengen visa? A person who has neither a job nor a family in Russia may not be given one. Employment certificate, bank account statement... any thoughts?
//12/11/2012 at 11:36 Spryt
Paranoid_Android, I think there is only one real way - a sponsorship letter + a work certificate from parents. A bank account statement is an option, yes, but it’s 50 euros a day, I definitely won’t be able to get the amount for three months) I hope a passport half full of visas will help a little. Another question is how to do all this if you are going to get in and out on a bike and with a tent (perhaps the first time just for a couple of weeks in hostels in 2-3 countries, then you can scrape together an account statement, the second time it will be easier get a visa).
Adjei //12/11/2012 at 15:28 Adjei
Lonely planet can be purchased as a pdf from their website, and you don’t have to buy the whole book - you can select only the chapters you need. Well, accordingly, all this can be downloaded from torrents, although not the latest editions.

The maestro card is an analogue of the former visa electron - in theory it should not work on the internet. A full mastercard should work.
ibzy //12/11/2012 at 18:16 ibzy
sprute well done, respect
FuckingSEO //12/11/2012 at 18:54 FuckingSEO
Spryt, if you travel on a bike, then to obtain a visa you will need to provide a travel route in any form, where the dates of entry and exit to required countries and approximate travel time, all options for overnight stays, etc. are listed.
//12/11/2012 at 19:21 Spryt
Ajay, oh, that's right, I forgot. Although the price, as far as I remember, does not differ from the paper price) On torrents, in general, there are ancient publications, they do more harm than help (although it can be interesting to know how it was here 10 years ago, I came across paper ones, it’s true).

Well, now there are no problems on the Internet with Visa Electron) Yes, in general, ATMs are accepted everywhere by maestros. There were problems in Cambodia (their main bank only worked with visas, but there were others), and a little in Nepal (you just had to look for them, some ATMs were for maestro, others were for visas).

FuckingSEO, hmm, it’s a little stressful, but I think it’s not a problem to work it out in advance) In any case, it’s too early to guess, I haven’t tried it in Thailand/Cambodia yet.
FuckingSEO //12/11/2012 at 07:28 pm FuckingSEO
Yes, it’s not very stressful, it’s also clear that you won’t be able to calculate everything perfectly accurately, because... You’re not flying on a plane that arrives on schedule :)
Paranoid_Android //12/11/2012 at 19:33 Paranoid_Android
Strange, I found the latest Lonely Planet in pdf for all Southeast Asian countries, both individually and for the region as a whole.) It seems like I didn’t Google for long.
A.Trader //12/11/2012 at 21:17 A.Trader
You're right, regarding the visa, I'm almost universal. and without the Arctic the world is not peace :))
aquablog //12/11/2012 at 10:44 pm aquablog
Octopus, you did what I have been wanting to do for 3 years in a row.
Well done!!! Respect and respect to you, as they say!!!
It will look even better as a separate site.
Yus Pitersky //12/12/2012 at 00:36 Yus Pitersky
Andrey, I will join all the above applause! You're great! Not only did he share his valuable knowledge and experience on a disinterested basis, but he also put it all together to look pleasing to the eye!) I swallowed it in one breath! And the friend who I gave this post to read was incredibly motivated - he immediately asked for an assignment on HTML) I’m pushing him slowly.

The book was mentioned above. This will really help! Reading your latest posts, I noticed the constantly growing level of photography. This can be used to make very good material! But I would also read Europe, the USA and Australia. To have several chapters!) You still have a lot of time!

Good luck! And I follow your movements with interest.
pashapixel //12.12.2012 at 10:25 pashapixel
Good post for novice travelers)))
but I also adopted something for myself)))
for example - I didn’t know that the ATM is ATM!!!
I'm tired of explaining where the thing is that you can use to get money using a plastic card))))
Sergey //12.12.2012 at 12:20 Sergey
Daniil //12/13/2012 at 12:14 Daniil
Bookmarked, great manual! Someday I’ll also plan to travel around Asia :-). Regarding flights, I would also add that the cheapest way to fly within Asia is with low-cost Air Asia (most often).
//13.12.2012 at 12:44 Spryt
Daniel, not always. Firstly, they gradually increase the prices for flights, and the cheapest way is if you buy a couple of months in advance, which is not always convenient. And secondly, they impose an additional fee for baggage) Although, yes, the most popular and one of the cheapest air carriers in the region.

pashapixel, yeah, the business card is also called a business card, the first couple of times I explained it on my fingers in guest messages, until they prompted me)) Some things are called a little unobviously.

Paranoid_Android, I think the last time I checked all of Rus' on the tracker, there were only old publications)
Daniil //12/14/2012 at 00:44 Daniil
All airlines are raising prices stepwise, as prices for aviation fuel. Many even major airlines are on the brink of survival, constantly teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.

Regarding the purchase of tickets in advance, as well as additional fees for luggage, check-in at the airport - this is the policy of all budget airlines, due to this they minimize their costs and thanks to this they can sell tickets at cheaper prices.
Paranoid_Android //12/14/2012 at 14:10 Paranoid_Android
Please clarify a couple of questions.
You often checked into guest rooms for 300, or even 200 rubles. in a day. By what percentage would these prices be higher if you stayed in the same guest houses for a day or two or three?
Is it worth booking guest accommodations in advance through the Internet at all sorts of agodas and bookings or looking for them on the spot? It is possible to find more locally low prices, what is on the above sites? A trip in high season, part of the route along quite expensive and popular places, Phuket and Phi Phi in particular. On the latter, the supply for any is limited due to the small size of the island. Probably in such places, especially during the high season, you need to book in advance, otherwise you won’t be able to check in, what do you think?
Dmitry //12/15/2012 at 23:26 Dmitry
Octopus! Write an article about safety!
Examples:
1. Stopped at a guest house and went for a walk - do you usually take all your things and valuables with you?
2. How and where do you store cards and money, don’t worry about pin codes :)
3. Where should I store my stash, in my underpants 🙂?
4. Do you carry your computer with you all the time?
In general, I'm interested in little things like this.
Good luck! I enjoy reading your blog!
Geleosan //12/16/2012 at 06:30 Geleosan
“This is really not for everyone” - this is 100%. I constantly encounter this myself on the blog, and in life. Moreover, it is useless to explain anything, people don’t understand the format of such trips and that’s all.

Asia is a colorful continent that boasts beautiful ancient temples, aromatic food, lush rice fields, tall skyscrapers and many others.

As the largest part of the world, it is represented by the largest tourist routes, which can seem endless and exhausting.

Entertainment

The article contains 50 best attractions, products and experiences that can be obtained when tourist trip to one or another Asian country. Their knowledge will help the traveler find certain guidelines and correctly build a program for visiting the most interesting places.

Get to know the fauna

Play with the monkeys at the Sacred Monkey Sanctuary in Bali, Indonesia.

Get up close and personal with the elephants at the Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Huge animals will seem so kind and dear to you.

Feed the deer in Nara, Japan. The city is simply teeming with these animals.

Take a camel ride to a yurt in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.

Asian food and shopping

A boat trip to the Bangkok Floating Market offers the opportunity to purchase fresh seafood.

Enjoy Dim Sum at a Hong Kong restaurant. These are small dessert portions that include fruits, vegetables, meat or seafood, which are wrapped in a thin dough. The dish is usually served in the morning. The color scheme of these little dumplings is impressive.

Play with cats while enjoying a cup of coffee at one of the many coffee shops in Taipei, Taiwan, the city where the cat cafe craze began.

Enjoy a bowl of a specific spicy laksa soup popular in Penang, Malaysia, with noodles and fish.

Try kimchi, aromatic pickled cabbage cooked in South Korea. Believe me, it's very tasty!

Savor delicious local dishes at one of Singapore's many eateries.

Enjoy food in restaurants in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Try Beijing duck, one of the city's oldest and most popular dishes.

Enjoy cocktails while taking in the stunning views of Hong Kong. The Ozone Bar is one of the highest in the world.

Enjoy a creative cocktail at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.

Enjoy South Korea's delicious bulgogi (“fire meat”), a dish of thinly sliced beef marinated in a sweet sauce with grilled peppers, onions and legumes, cooked over an open fire.

Learn how to prepare delicious Thai delicacies by taking a cooking class. The Bangkok Blue Elephant Cooking School is a great idea.

Go shopping at Myeong Dong, a vibrant shopping district in Seoul, South Korea.

Variety of recreation

Swim in the pool at Marina Bay Sands, with breathtaking views of the Singapore skyline from the 57th floor.

Travel back in time and explore the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The ancient monument is a temple complex structure in the Khmer state. The temple is even featured on the Cambodian flag.

Ride the elevator to the top of Taipei on the 101st floor and photograph the impressive views.

Asia in Asia

Feel like you're in another country and explore Singapore's vibrant Little India area. It is an ethnic quarter where Hindus live. It is located in the Rochor district of Singapore. This place contains all the main historical monuments cultural heritage India.

Getting to know India

See the intricate layers of bright blue, yellow, pink and green used to decorate the Meenakshi Temple in Tamil Nadu, India.

Relax on a floating boat as you take a boat trip through the waters of Kerala, India.

Explore the Buddhist monuments that fill the Ajanta Caves. These buildings date back to the 1st-2nd centuries BC and are located in Aurangabad in India.

Enjoy photography in front of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

Getting to know China

Imagine being the hero of the movie Avatar as you hike through the quartzite sandstone columns in Zhangjiajie National Park in China, which inspired the movie masterpiece.

Take a stroll through Shanghai's Bundu district and admire the city's towering skyscrapers.

Climb the impressive Great Wall of China.

Admire more than 8,000 terracotta warrior figurines in Xi'an, China, which were built to honor China's first emperor after his death. Their height is 183-195 cm. On this moment The work of archaeologists is considered unfinished.

Watch the horse races in Hong Kong's Happy Valley.

Delightful Japan

Inhale the rich aroma of fresh, vibrant flowers at Tomita Farm in Furano, Japan.

Relax in one of the many onsen (hot springs) in Japan. They say that thermal source Takaragawa in Gunma is one of the best in the country. He is able to improve his health and restore peace of mind.

Wake up super early and go to Tokyo's famous fish market Tsukiji to see huge fresh fish. Look around and have breakfast in the outer part of the market.

See the 600-year-old floating Torrey Gate at both low and high tides. They are located on Japanese island Miyajima.

Take a stroll through a serene bamboo grove in Aroshiyama, Japan. The rustle of bamboo will delight your ears and give you peace.

View impressive works of art and architectural monuments scattered throughout small island Naoshima, Japan's "island of art".

Program for active recreation lovers

Swim in the pool against the stunning backdrop of the Hanging Gardens of Bali, Indonesia. Such a vacation will truly relax you.

You can jump, smoke a pipe or kayak on the fast-flowing Ariel Point River during one day tour in Boracay in the Philippines.

Take a boat ride on the waters of Inle Lake in Myanmar.

Sail through Ha Long Bay in Vietnam.

Try gambling in Macau.

Wander through the lush rice fields Ubud, a city located on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Soak up the sun's rays at Myanmar's Ngapali Beach, which has been named best beach in Asia this year according to TripAdvisor.

Dance the night away on the beach at one of Thailand's famous Full Moon Parties.

Watch the sunrise from Mount Brom, active volcano on the Indonesian island of Java.

Feel the power of the waves on the Indonesian island of Bali. This the best place for surf lovers.

Visiting attractions

Travel to the Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur to admire the Petronas Towers.

See prayer flags at Tiger's Nest Monastery in Bhutan. The legend of the origin of the holy place dates back to the 8th century, and it is associated with the real historical figure of Guru Rinpoche. He made a huge contribution to the spread of Buddhism from Tibet to Bhutan.

Admire the mysterious Chocolate Hills in the Philippine province of Bohol. In total, there are at least 1,300 mounds on an area of about 50 square meters. m. The hills are called chocolate for their brown-chocolate color in the spring, as well as for their unusual shape, reminiscent giant size truffle. Their occurrence is unclear to scientists and scientific research is being carried out. They are depicted on the flag and coat of arms of the province

Take a tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace, which dates back to the 14th century. This is one of the largest palaces in South Korea.

In Southeast Asia, all roads lead to Bangkok. Most fans hiking Bangkok is associated with Khaosan road - this a starting point hiking trip in Southeast Asia. The route loops through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

As part of a tour group from Khao San Road, you can go to Chiang Mai, raft down the Luang Prabang River, cross the mountains beyond which you will discover Vietnam, delve deeper into Cambodia, and finally return to Bangkok. Only you may be deathly tired of stepping on every footprint left on the road by the previous tourist group.
They may also offer you this route: first go to South direction from Krabi or Koh Phi Phi, have a blast at the Full Moon beach party on Koh Phangan, and then go diving in Koh Tao. You might even be lucky enough to get to Malaysia. Or maybe not…
So why do you have to travel only off the beaten path? Sure, places like Angkor Wat and Luang Prabang are quite interesting, but the most unique and memorable experience awaits you only if you take the initiative and head a little further than everyone else on foot. groups.

Here are eight fresh ideas on how to get off hiking trails across Southeast Asia.

Biking along the Mekong River

Many tour operators offer bicycle tours of the Mekong Delta. This way of seeing places is more exciting than zipping around them on a bus or boat.
Bike tours take you away from the main roads and along muddy rice paddies. You'll feel like travelers exploring places at your own pace, rather than tourists being driven from place to place.
If you're an experienced cyclist, why not try traveling on your own?

Visit Vietnam National Parks

Most people come to Vietnam and go to standard nature excursions to Ha Long Bay ( Halong Bay), Sapa and the Mekong Delta.
But, Vietnam is replete with National Parks, which will give tourists a great opportunity to see, in my opinion, the best that the country has - its natural beauty. However, despite the fact that the parks offer magnificent landscapes, there are wonderful hiking trails, rare creatures lurk here and there, and tranquility reigns everywhere away from noisy crowds, most parks remain deprived of the attention of travelers.
Editor's Note: The author of Vietnam Expert has traveled extensively in National parks Vietnam, especially in the North of the country.

Visit the temples in Lopburi, Thailand

Those eager to explore Thailand's archaic ruins always focus their attention on two main attractions: Ayuthaya and Sukhkothai. Of course, Lopburi cannot compare with these places in its grandeur, but this city has truly beautiful temples that make it worth visiting.
Most people come there as part of a day tour from Bangkok, but those who choose to stay for a longer period get the opportunity to get acquainted with the daily life of a Thai village, visit the huge market that unfolds at night along railway station, watch the schoolchildren swirling in the center of the town, just wander around the city and be completely immersed in the life of the Thai province.
Beware of the hyperactive packs of monkeys that roam the city. They are famous for being able to steal things right out of your hands!

Relax in Kep, Cambodia

This laid-back French colonial town is a great alternative to Sihanoukville, the vibrant beach party capital of Camuoja.
The beaches of Kep are peaceful and there are no crowds of people there. You can get to Kep if you don’t go straight from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, but stop in Kampot.
Be sure to organize a trip to Koh Tonsay, or “Rabbit Island,” where cozy bungalows are located, and local residents They serve fresh seafood dishes such as shrimp and crabs in a hot pepper sauce.

Asia is a huge territory, and if you like to relax abroad, then be sure to visit at least one of these countries. Some Asian countries require visas, while others do not.

Which Asian countries require a visa?

Japan requires a visa. It's quite difficult to get it. It is better to contact the visaweek visa center.
India - accepts tourists with a visa. Most popular resort Goa, you can come here without a visa, but you will not be able to travel beyond this area without the appropriate permission.

South Asian countries - Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia. You can stay in these countries without a visa for a short period of time, but if you want to stay for a month or more, apply for a visa.
Singapore - entry only with electronic visas.

Korea and China. By transit, without a visa, you can visit Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. To other cities, if your stay is more than two weeks, you must apply for a visa.

UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and other Muslim states allow people into their countries strictly on visas.

Türkiye and Maldives. A visa is required in these countries, but can be obtained upon arrival at the airport.

Cyprus - visa is issued at the embassy or via the Internet. This also applies to Israel.

Visa-free Asian countries

To visit these countries you only need a foreign passport.

Abkhazia
Azerbaijan
Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Tajikistan

The rest of Asia requires a visa, but you can get it at the airport for a fixed cost. Please note that each such country has established the period of stay on its territory with a “fast” visa, and if you plan to stay longer, then you need to apply for it in advance.

Traveling Asia on your own

If you are going to Asia with the help of tour operators, then everything is simple: choose the tour you like, pay, pack your things and go. But it is much more interesting and cheaper to travel on your own. But in order for your trip not to be overshadowed by anything, you need to think through everything in advance.

Where to go
This is the most important point in getting ready. You need to clearly know which countries and cities you want to visit. Above, I wrote about which countries require a visa, so if you have chosen one of these countries, first of all take care of obtaining a visa.

If you want to visit several Asian countries, then make your way so as not to return, but to make a circle. For example, Russia - Kazakhstan - China - Vietnam - India - Iran - Russia.

Decide in which country how many days you will spend, and from this calculate the duration of your trip. There is no point in staying in the country for one day; during this time you will not be able to see anything.

Tickets

Once your route has been created, start searching for suitable tickets. The most common site for purchasing tickets is aviasales. You can use Asian “ Low cost” - airlines. These often have sales and discounts on tickets if you buy them in advance. Anyway, early booking tickets are cheaper.

Housing
There is a double attitude to this issue. Some people prefer to book everything in advance, while others look for overnight accommodation on the spot. If you visit several countries, then you do not need to book accommodation, much less pay for it in all cities at once. You can simply stay in another country and your money will burn out. In Asian countries there are no problems with hotels, hostels and rental apartments. In any case, you can easily find a free seat.

If you want to spend time in one city, then you can choose accommodation in advance. This will not be difficult, especially since there are a lot of sites that provide such a service.

That's it, the preparation ends here. All that remains is to get to the airport and start enjoying your trip around Asia. Oh yes, don't forget to pack your suitcase.

Buy street food, which is very common in these countries, only if it has been prepared in front of you.

Treat vegetables and fruits with boiled water.

Don't drink tap water! Wash and brush your teeth only with bottled water. Do not drink cocktails with ice in places of questionable quality.

Do not store valuables in plain sight.

You should not carry large ones with you. sums of money. And if there are any, divide them into different pockets. Do not store cards, money, documents in one place.

Be sure to take your medications with you. Don't count on getting them from your local pharmacies.
Don't show your worth. You should not wear valuable jewelry, flash an expensive phone or a thick wallet. Please be aware that crime in these areas is high.
Do not enter into conflicts with the local population.
Don't dress too provocatively. In some Asian countries, a bare midriff or short skirt/shorts are considered bad manners.
If problems arise, immediately contact the police or embassy of your country.

If you follow these simple rules, your trip will go smoothly and calmly, and nothing will overshadow your vacation!

The best advice is to seek help from a specialized company. A good example maybe the Vizovik center - the services of which have already been used by more than 30,000 clients. Location of the central office in Moscow in Moscow City, at st. Presnenskaya embankment, 8, building 1, floor 2 (BC City of Capitals).

By contacting us, you will receive detailed advice, a list of necessary actions and, as a result, a visa issued with the opportunity to visit the desired countries.

Traveling around Asia with two children... The plan for this route has been brewing for a long time. And it eventually grew into something more than just a trip. We decided to live traveling, starting with this Great trip around Asia with two small children! We did not take return tickets to Russia and have not yet decided where we will go next... In the meantime, we will tell you about planning the route, preparation and visas.

1 Definition with route

Since the route is inextricably linked with air tickets (their availability and cost), initially, together with the necessary connections, it looked like this: Hong Kong - Philippines - Singapore - Indonesia - Malaysia - Sri Lanka - UAE... We planned to stay in each country for about three weeks , except for connections in Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai (2 days each).

However, this route was adjusted by the children who fell ill together in Moscow 2 days before departure, and by us, who in the interests of the children reduced the number of flights already during the trip... Here we were once again convinced of the undeniable advantages independent travel, because we lost a very small amount by slightly changing the route and postponing the trip by 2 weeks!

2 Buying air tickets

This time, except for our favorite flight search engine Aviasales, we were also very pleased with the official websites of Asian “low cost” airlines, for example Cebu Pacific and Air Asia. When purchasing air tickets in advance, low-cost airlines often offer sales, some of which we were able to take advantage of...

What ended up happening for the whole family (2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant under 2 years old without a place):

Flight Moscow - Hong Kong, Transaero airline: 26,500 rubles
Flight Hong Kong - Manila (Philippines), Cebu Pacific airline: 7,000 rubles
Flight Manila - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), airline "...": ... rubles
Flight Kuala Lumpur - Langkawi (Malaysia), airline "...": ... rubles
Flight Krabi (Thailand) - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), airline "...": ... rubles
Flight Kuala Lumpur - Istanbul (Turkey), airline "...": ... rubles

In total, 6 flights for the whole family cost us approximately... rubles. This is the final route, changed at the beginning and during the journey.

3 Hotel reservations

When traveling to Asia, if you want to save money, then there is no point in booking hotels along the entire route. Yes, this must be done for places where you are staying for just a couple of days, in our case: Hong Kong and Dubai. Yes, it is advisable to book hotels in other countries at least for the first day or two, especially if you are traveling with children. But for the rest of your stay in Asian countries, you can almost always find better and cheaper options locally.

But you shouldn’t miss out on good special offers either. On our favorite search engine Hotellook You can often find prices cheaper than locally, thanks to numerous special offers from hotels or hotel booking sites...

The average cost of accommodation for this trip to Asia should not exceed 1000 rubles per night.

4 Visas

For most Asian countries, you do not need a visa in advance. Since July 1, 2009, citizens of the Russian Federation can visit Hong Kong for up to 14 days without a visa. A visa is also not required for a stay of up to 30 days in the Philippines and Malaysia.

5 Taking out insurance

To save money health insurance for myself so much long term we didn't do it. As a last resort, this can be done at any time via the Internet in a couple of minutes, for example, on the website. But we didn’t skimp on the children and took out the same insurance for all countries for the entire duration of our stay: for two children the insurance cost about 3,500 rubles.

Any final words? We definitely do not advise absolutely everyone around us to go on such a long and difficult journey with small children. This requires experience, training, confidence in one’s abilities and in the health of children. Objectively, with infants under two years of age, it is better to fly close (up to 4 hours of flight), but for a long time (from two weeks or longer)...

That's it, let's go!