Bungee, surf, hike, dive — on $10/day.
Adventure travel sounds expensive. It isn't, if you go to the right cities. Queenstown bungee, Phuket diving, Cusco trekking — base costs included.
Bangladesh's chaotic mega-city. Rickshaws by the millions, Mughal mosques, Old Dhaka biryani. Intense, overwhelming, unforgettable. Best for: extreme cultural i
Nepal's Himalayan capital. Thamel backpacker streets, Durbar Square temples, Everest trek gateway. Trekkers' base camp before the real climb. Best for: trekking
Indonesia's spiritual island. Ubud yoga retreats, Canggu surf, Uluwatu cliffs, terraced rice fields. Hindu culture in Muslim Indonesia. Best for: yoga, surf, di
Kyrgyzstan's grid-pattern capital. Soviet planning, nomadic culture, gateway to yurts and high mountain lakes. Visa-free for most. Best for: nomad culture, trek
UAE's man-made spectacle. Burj Khalifa, indoor ski slope, gold souks, Palm Jumeirah. Built from nothing in 50 years. Best for: luxury, shopping, layovers, no ta
Portugal's sun-drenched capital. Tram 28, pasteis de nata at Belem, fado music, Alfama tile streets. Best for: nostalgia, surfing day trips, slow food.
Iceland's tiny capital. Hallgrimskirkja church, Blue Lagoon nearby, northern lights, geothermal everything. Best for: nature day trips, northern lights, geother
Bolivia's highest-altitude capital (3,640m). Witches Market, cable car commute, Andes views. Best for: extreme altitude, indigenous culture.
Australia's harbor city. Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach surf. Best for: harbor walks, beaches, coffee culture.
Australia's sun-belt third city. South Bank beach in the middle of the city, gateway to Gold Coast surfing. Best for: subtropical climate, gateway to Great Barr
Northern Thailand's digital nomad capital. Old city moat, Buddhist temples, mountain treks, $1 khao soi. Cooler than Bangkok, far cheaper than Phuket. Best for:
Thailand's biggest beach island. Patong nightlife, Old Town Sino-Portuguese architecture, day trips to Phi Phi. Best for: beach + party, island hopping, budget
Thailand's neon beach town. Walking Street nightlife, jet skis, infamous reputation. Best for: nightlife, day trip from Bangkok, budget beach.