Ready Routes

Europe's most affordable corner, and the easiest one to cross overland. City to city by bus, from Ottoman traces to Adriatic bays; a cheap, safe and culturally dense first-time-abroad route.

The classic route that has been the backpacker backbone for decades. A cheap hostel network, easy transport and a dense traveler community; ideal for a first long Asia trip.

A high-budget but flawlessly organized, safe route with off-the-charts cultural density. Public transport is perfect; little English, but technology solves everything.

Close to Turkey, cheap, hospitable and rich in scenery. Wine, mountain villages and post-Soviet cities; Georgia, which you can even enter with an ID card, is the route's backbone.

An extraordinary route, culturally and naturally, joining the Silk Road's blue-domed cities with Kyrgyz mountain nomad life. Turkic languages make communication easy.

Three imperial capitals within train distance of each other; architecture, coffee culture and river views.

A warm route joining Andalusia's Moorish-Islamic heritage with Portugal's ocean cities, with eight centuries of Moorish history still standing in the streets.

Two wonders of the ancient world, from Petra to the pyramids. Desert camp, Red Sea diving and thousands of years of history packed into a short overland hop.

Medina labyrinths, a camel caravan in the Sahara, Atlas villages and colorful souks. A dense cultural experience in one country; haggling and tea diplomacy are part of the route.

From Table Mountain to safari, the ocean road to the winelands; a route with strong infrastructure and safe corridors for first-timers in Africa.

The heart of Andean civilization, from Machu Picchu to the salt flat. High altitude (3,000-4,000m) is a serious factor; ascend slowly and acclimatize.

Maya pyramids, swimming in cenotes, Caribbean beaches and colorful colonial cities. A traveler-friendly, culturally rich entry route with strong infrastructure.

The capital of art, history and cuisine. Three cities by high-speed train; the most accessible European classic.

Whitewashed villages, Aegean blue and sunsets. Island hopping by ferry; the classic of the Mediterranean summer.

Design, cleanliness and nature. Expensive but flawless; three capitals by train/ferry. Skies that darken late on summer nights.

Canals, bicycles, museums and the world's best chocolate-waffle-beer. A short-distance, train-friendly week.

Snow-capped peaks, lakeside towns and the world's most beautiful railways. Expensive, but every frame is a postcard.

Ideal for those who cannot find a long holiday: a cheap, lively and visa-free week on the Black Sea coast. Close to Turkey, easy.

Skyscrapers, desert safari, luxury shopping and modern architecture. Short but dense; you can even turn a layover into a holiday.

A fairy-tale medieval city, cheap beer and a walkable center. A dense European experience that fits into a long weekend.

Tea plantations, ancient cities, safari and tropical shores on a single island. The legendary train route descending from the mountains to the sea; economical.

Volcanoes, rice terraces, temples and coral reefs. Beyond Bali lies the real Indonesia; a full three-week route.

The Taj Mahal, Rajasthan's palaces and Delhi's chaos. The safest, most classic entry route for a first India; cheap and intense.

Hiking on the roof of the world. Annapurna Base Camp or Poon Hill; mountain villages, tea houses and Himalayan views. Physical but accessible.

The Great Migration in the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro crater and Zanzibar's turquoise shores. Africa's iconic safari + beach combination.

The continent's spine, from Andean civilization to Patagonia. Machu Picchu, the salt flat, the Atacama desert and tango; a month for a lifetime.

The whole Silk Road: the steppe, blue-domed cities, the Pamir mountain roads and nomad culture. A rarely traveled, authentic month.

North to south with a backpack, at $25 a day. A surprisingly cheap route with hostel dorms, street food and night buses.

The same country, the comfort scenario: boutique hotels, private transfers, spa and quiet islands. A honeymoon or treat-yourself Thailand.

Adriatic bays and a Mediterranean island in one holiday. One of the lesser-known, cheap and paperwork-light combinations.

From the mainland's cities to the green Azores in the middle of the Atlantic. Volcanic craters, lakes and whale watching; Europe's little-known paradise.

Colorful colonial cities, coffee farms and the Caribbean coast. A once-feared country is now one of travelers' favorite routes; cheap and lively.