04 August 2025 | Latest News
It is generally believed that travelling and exploring the world is a costly affair. But is this true? We are here to clarify this for you with our list of the top 10 most affordable countries to travel in 2025 and 2026. Being one of the best travel agencies in the UK, our agents travel all around the globe to find the best experiences and places for our customers to explore.
We do all the hard work ourselves, so you don't have to. We are one of the few tour operators in the UK that advocate cheap travel equally as we do luxury holidays. So, if you really want things to happen for you this year or the next one, continue reading as we share our list of the 10 cheapest countries for travellers in the world.
At Virikson Holidays, we don't just sell the best holiday packages; rather, we craft perfect experiences for travellers as per their preferences and budget. We have a wide range of deals that are great for both luxury tourists and backpackers.
Let’s get down to real business now and check out the list of the most reasonably priced places to visit.
If you are looking for a country in which you can spend your day for as little as £50, Vietnam is the place you need to travel to. This price is the minimum threshold for a backpacking experience. If you are looking for luxury Vietnam holiday packages, your budget can go to a max of £150 per day, which by all means is still affordable compared to other countries in the region.
There are plenty of things in Vietnam that support your ambition of a cheap holiday. For example, the food here is quite affordable and quite tasty as well. You can find plenty of roadside stalls in almost every location. There are scores of hostels that offer budget accommodations to backpackers. Plus, the local transport scene is reliable and cheap as well.
As far as the attractions are concerned, there are lots of them in Vietnam. The most attractive of them is Ha Long Bay and the limestone islands. Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, is also worth visiting. On top of these, there are eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are a marvel to observe and explore.
The local beers in Vietnam also deserve a mention due to their low price and superb taste. You can get a pint of beer for as little as £0.5. A full meal at a luxury restaurant can go up to £1.5. All of these reasons amply explain why we have rated Vietnam as the cheapest country to visit in 2025 and 2026.
Not quite far away from Vietnam, there is Thailand, another gem in Southeast Asian countries. It only takes 1 hour and 35 minutes to fly between the two countries, making them a great option for multi-centre holidays. If you are coming from the UK, the flight prices may look higher, but if you combine two or more destinations that are nearby, you will end up saving a lot and enjoying two destinations in one go.
The prices in Thailand are quite similar, and you can enjoy a perfect day here for as little as £50. If you stay away from the luxury resorts and hotels, you will be paying around £10 for accommodation for one person.
Thailand is famous for its beaches and street food. Both of these things are quite inexpensive, making it ideal for backpackers to visit and explore. Most beaches and cultural sites don't have an entry fee, and even if there is one, it is not more than five pounds.
The most affordable region to visit is Chiang Mai. The place is so pocket-friendly that you can even plan luxury Thailand holidays here for as low as £30 per night in a hotel that offers a swimming pool and a breakfast buffet.
The other top attractions like Phuket, Krabi, and Bangkok are costly, but if you do some research and book in advance, there is no stopping you from enjoying a holiday without breaking the bank.
For UK travellers, most of the cheapest countries to visit are in Asia. Don't worry, we have covered almost all of them.
If you are a fan of culture and history, then Cambodia is the best place to be. When someone asks if they want to enjoy the best of Southeast Asia but doesn't have enough budget, we recommend our Cambodia holiday packages. These deals often include a trip to Vietnam or other nearby countries and don't cost more than £200 a day, and come with all the essential facilities like flights, hotels, meals, and various activities.
If you want to go even cheaper, you can stay at a hostel which costs as little as 4 GBP per night for one person and a full meal for 1 GBP. All of this is even cheaper than staying at home in the UK.
For the best places to visit, the most famous spot is Angkor Wat. This place is huge and was once the ruling seat of the ancient Khmer empire. However, there is a lot more to do in Cambodia in the form of beautiful beaches, scenic towns, and lush jungles.
It is the last Southeast Asian country on our list that is super cheap and affordable. Indonesia is a group of more than 17,000 islands but only a few of them are accessible and livable. And the good news is that they are quite cheap.
The average daily cost for a backpacking experience is higher than the three countries we have discussed above, but still easily manageable. You can get around very nicely for as little as £60 per day. The daily accommodation costs around £20, with meals going up to £15 if you go mid-range luxury. The transportation is super cheap, and it will cost somewhere around 10 to 15 pounds. In comparison, our Indonesia holiday packages cost around £100 to £150 per day. The price includes flights and hotels as well. So, this is overall a more lucrative deal.
The best thing that we love about Indonesia is its diversity in culture. Each island has something new to offer when it comes to people and their traditions. One tip from our side is to limit your trip to a few islands so you can explore them fully. Plus, it will keep the transportation expense in check as well.
Bali is the country’s most famous island and is also considered a top tourist spot in the world. Then there are Ubud and Jakarta, both of which have a great vibe. Regardless of the place you decide to visit in Indonesia, you will find a myriad of cheap food stalls.
If you have control over your spending, India can be extremely light on your pocket. But if you are easily lured by luxuries, then it is better to stay away from this place. The contrasts in India are quite drastic. On one side, you will find a full meal for as little as £0.5, but on the other, a dinner at a 5-star restaurant can go up to £50.
The same is the case with the accommodations. In almost all the famous cities, some hostels cost as little as £10 and 5-star hotels have a night’s rent of £50 to £100. The choice is all yours.
For travelling, we recommend using ride-hailing apps as local buses and trains are quite crowded. The street food options are in abundance, but make sure you only eat from busy places as they often have fresh food.
The top places to visit during your India holidays are the Taj Mahal in Agra, Rajasthan, Kerala, Varanasi, and the Goa Beaches. We suggest these spots because they are often frequented by tourists from all over the world, and there are plenty of places to stay and enjoy.
If you want to keep the expenses under control, stay away from fancy places in central Mumbai or the sprawling castles in Rajasthan. Plus, don't forget to explore your options in detail. Some places in India may provide wrong information just to attract foreigners, especially those from the West.
Let’s now move to the other side of the world map with Mexico as the 6th cheapest country to explore in 2025 and 2026. Before we get into the details, a backpacker trip to Mexico may cost around £80 for one day, that is you spend carefully and don't end up staying at luxury places. The accommodations are somewhat costly, and you can get a basic hotel or a hostel for as low as £40, with three meals costing somewhere between £10 to £15.
Some places are so famous in Mexico that people limit their stay to only one place. For example, Cancun. We also offer a wide range of Mexico holiday packages that offer extended stays in Cancun, along with the Mexican City.
Mexico is home to some of the best all-inclusive resorts that are not too costly if you book early and try to travel during the low season, which includes the months of May, June and from September to November.
If you skip the local Mexican food during your holidays, you are going to make a big mistake. The local food scene is simply an out-of-this-world experience, and this is something that we always recommend tourists try.
Since Mexico is surrounded by water on three sides, there are plenty of beaches, and most of them are amazing. The beaches are lined with bars and clubs that offer different types of drinks. Some of them are quite cheap, so you can have a perfect beach evening without worrying about your pocket.
Only around 6 flight hours away from Mexico is Peru, a South American gem that you must visit if you are a fan of budget holidays. We suggest you group both countries, as it will let you save a lot of money and time.
Peru is even cheaper than Mexico. A full day meal might cost you around £3, and for a hostel, you will need approximately £6 per night for one person. On average, you can spend one day in Peru for as little as £50 when you factor in transportation and other activities.
Considering the different activities available in Peru, it is a place worth all your time and money. If you are a fan of high-altitude mountaineering, Peru has got you covered with its mountains. The stunning Andes are also worth a visit. For the history buffs, the mighty Machu Picchu are a must-see. The historical and beautiful city of Cusco must not be missed as well during your Peru holidays. These places take you right back to the golden times of the ancient Mayan civilisation.
You might be thinking that there are no cheap countries on the European continent. This isn't right, as we are now moving towards the European nations that let you enjoy a perfect, cheap holiday.
The first European country we have on our list for you is Bulgaria. It takes around 3 hours and 30 minutes to travel from the UK to Bulgaria, and the ticket prices are quite low. Since it is a European country, you don't need a visa if you have a British passport.
The reason Bulgaria is extraordinarily cheap is that it is not frequently marketed as a tourist destination. Plus, the country is extremely cheap compared to other European destinations. While most of Europe is overcrowded during the peak tourist season, Bulgaria is quite peaceful.
As far as the prices in Bulgaria are concerned, a backpacker can get by on just under £30 a day, including hostel, food, transportation and other expenses. You can even have some luxury as well if you take your budget to £70 a day.
The capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, is an amazing place to explore. The castles, monuments, and other historical sites in the city will take you back to different historical periods. Other must-see attractions include the Black Sea coast and Rila Monastery.
The penultimate country on our list of the cheapest countries to visit in the world is Romania. It won't be an exaggeration if we say that Romania is one of the most beautiful places in the entire Europe, with numerous hidden gems located across the country.
During your visit there, you can find many old towns and castles that stand tall among the modern architecture. The virgin forests and mountains of Transylvania are a story of their own. You might have heard about the mythical nature of these places.
Places like Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle) and the Carpathian Mountains make Romania a must-visit place for explorers and adventure lovers. The average cost of staying in Romania is around £50 per day for a backpacker. If you want to stay in mid-range hotels, add around 20 pounds to your budget, and you will be set for the trip.
If you want to cut down the costs even further, plan your trip in the shoulder season, which runs from April to May and from September to October. This is the time when the crowds are also relatively low, and you can find many good deals at extremely low rates.
Let’s finish things up with Georgia as the last country on our list. Being the last, it doesn't mean that it is costly; the prices are quite similar to Bulgaria and Romania.
Georgia is a perfect blend of European and Asian culture due to its location between the two continents. If you have travelled to this region before, you will find that Georgia is even cheaper than Turkey. A backpacker can spend a day just under £20 without any worries, including food, accommodation, and transport.
There are a lot of places to explore, like the ancient and cultural towns of Tbilisi and Batumi. The Kazbegi National Park is a spot that you must not miss at any cost. You can go for a hike, explore historical sites such as Gergeti Trinity Church, or spend some time relaxing near the Gveleti Waterfall.
One important thing to consider before planning your trip to Georgia is the political conditions there. The UK government has issued a travel advisory for people visiting the UK. The advisory specifically mentioned that terror-related incidents can be ruled out, especially in the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions. If there are political demonstrations, stay inside your hotel and away from all such happenings.
Now that you know about the cheapest countries to visit in 2025 and 2026, planning your backpacking holiday will be much easier. If you are looking for a reliable tour operator that offers cheap holiday packages, we are here to help. Simply call us at the provided numbers or drop us a message, and one of our booking agents will get back to you in no time.
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