South Asia Travel Guide
Priya Nair· Asia Editor
Updated September 20, 2026 · 9 min read
South Asia is the intensity arc: India's Golden Triangle and food regions, Nepal's Himalayas, Sri Lanka's teardrop and the Maldives' atolls — chained by cheap flights, with per-day figures from $45 to $350 depending on which tier you land in.
The classic arc: India's Golden Triangle (7) → Nepal's Kathmandu and Pokhara (7) → Sri Lanka (7) → the Maldives (4). Each leg stands alone.
Turn this guide into a personalized itinerary
Delhi · dates and preferences pre-filled — adjust anything, then generate your day-by-day plan.
Plan your India trip with AI →The Four Tiers
India is the intensity ($50–80/day), Nepal the altitude ($45), Sri Lanka the teardrop ($50) and the Maldives the splurge ($350+ resort tier). The flights between them run $80–200 — the arc's connective tissue.
- Classic: India 7 → Nepal 7 → Sri Lanka 7 → Maldives 4.
- Himalaya-first: Nepal 10 → India's north 7.
- Beach-first: Sri Lanka 7 → the Maldives 4.
The Season Windows
October–March suits India's plains, Nepal's mountains and Sri Lanka's west. April–June escapes to the Himalayan hill stations. The Maldives is dry December–April. The monsoon rewrites June–September.
The Four-Tier Arc
Intensity to immersion to serenity.
Day 1 · India — the Triangle
Delhi, Agra, Jaipur over a week.
Day 2 · Nepal — the valley
The stupas and the squares.
Day 3 · Nepal — Pokhara
The Annapurna sunrise.
Day 4 · Sri Lanka — the triangle
Sigiriya and Kandy.
Day 5 · Sri Lanka — the tea train
Ella and the Nine Arch.
Day 6 · The Maldives — the atoll
The villa, the reef, the sandbank.
Day 7 · The departure
Four countries, one arc.
Practical planning info
Money
- India $50–80, Nepal $45, Sri Lanka $50, the Maldives $350+ resort tier.
- The inter-country flights $80–200.
When
- October–March suits the whole arc.
- The Maldives flips dry opposite the monsoon — route carefully.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start in South Asia?
India's Golden Triangle — the infrastructure and the icons. Nepal and Sri Lanka follow on cheap flights.
Is South Asia safe for solo travelers?
Yes with normal care — India rewards planning, Nepal and Sri Lanka are among the easiest.
How long for the arc?
Four weeks minimum for all four tiers; each country deserves its own week minimum.
Ready to plan your Delhi trip?
Use this guide as your starting point — the AI planner builds a day-by-day itinerary around your dates and interests.
Plan your India trip with AI →