Overland to India: a realistic budget

Hltn74

Hi, apologies if this has already been discussed elsewhere...I'm hoping to travel from Istanbul to India and then a side trip to Bangladesh, about 60 days in total(not a lot of time I know) and am trying to work out a realistic budget. Is it possible on about £20 a day.I know its a broad question as everyone is different and has different spending habits but to anyone who has done this trip,can it be done? Oh yeah thats not including transport. Thanks

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Shiver me Timbers

Hi!

First of all, have a read through my thread on this matter below.

£20 p/day should suffice, it will be more in Turkey, roughly average in Iran, and less in Pakistan and India.

Of course, your visas will bump it up a bit, but if you budget for them, spend more time in Pakistan and India than Turkey, you should have some change left over.

Oh, just saw that you're not including transport - in that case, you will be absolutley fine, no problems at all.

Have a great trip!

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I can give you a price in1970 but that would be irrelevant. I will yell you anyway - $28 USD public transportation Istanbul to Delhi and about another $35 USD for food and lodging. Then it was moderately safe now the question is can you politically speaking and if you go I would take someone along to watch your backside. I am sure £20 a day is sufficient

mahmud

I can give you an idea for Bangladesh. Please ceck the followings

Present Exchange rate : 1 USD = 69.5 BDT (bangladeshi Taka)

Costs :

- A good/clean hotel room in Dhaka : BDT 250-350
- Lunch/Dinner : BDT 15-60 (Veg/Non Veg)
- Breakfast : BDT 10-26 (Parata+Egg+Vegetable)
- Dhaka-Chittagong Bus fare (275 K.M) : BDT 220
- Coke (250 ml) : BDT 10
- Taxi : BDT 7/km

Hope the abobe ino will help you to have an idea about expenses in Bangladesh.If you need any specific info, please let me know.

mahmud

Hltn74

Conner, some good info on your overland thread,about the cost of transport if I may...I've travelled in India so I know the score there,should I assume buses and trains would be around the same cost in Pakistan? And I would be looking at paying slightly more in Iran for buses and trains right? Also about visas,I'll defo be getting my Iran and Pakistan visas at home,should I not do the same for India or is it just as easy to get it in Islamabad? Thanks again. Mahmud..I'm very excited about the prospect of visiting Bangladesh but at the moment know next to nothing about the place so be very prepared for having a ton of questions coming your way from me...!

Sorry Conor, spelt your name wrong at the start of my last post! Don't you just hate it when that happens?!

mahmud

You are most welcome. Please let me know for any kind of info/help reg Bangladesh Travel.

Shiver me Timbers

That's pretty much correct - India and Pakistan are comparable cost-wise, although I found Pakistan to be slightly cheaper - but for transport, they're pretty much the same I think.

In Iran, you'll probably use the buses a lot more than trains - the only really useful train connections I can think of are Tabriz-Tehran, Tehran-Mashad, Tehran-Yazd/Kerman/Bam. But I seem to remember the trains being extremely busy and hard to book.

With the buses, there are 2 options - old Mercedes, which are cheaper but still fine, and new, more expensive Volvos, which have a/c, tv, etc. The prices for these fluctuate with the price of oil in Iran, which was on the rise recently I heard, but they should still be quite cheap.

It depends on how long you're planning to spend in India. I got mine in Islamabad, because I had been travelling already for 4 months before reaching India, and so would only have had 2 months left. However, if you can fit your trip into the 6 months that you'l get on your Indian visa, then you should get it at home, as you'll have to wait 8 days in Islamabad.

Hltn74

Ok Mahmud Sir, these are some of my questions. I'd would probably arrive July/Aug,is that the monsoon season and would it be crazy to visit then? Is it still ok to get around? What are the best local dishes? Am I right in thinking there aint a lot of tourists? Where is the best places to really get off the beaten track? Is it possible to arrange homestays,if so where? Is it totally different to India,how? sorry for all the questions,I'll be doing some reading up soon honest! Thanks

machadinha

An interesting read for you for starters might be Mahmud's Why Bangladesh ?

Also, Bangladesh - thoughts and advice from my recent trip.

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mahmud

Yes, the whole country is still off th beaten track. You will find many places where you will be the first foregn national.

Bangladesh is quite different from India. Being less tourist, the people not yet accustomed with TOURISTY behavious. Here you will get the warm hospitality in exchange of nothing`.

During Monsoon, though Rain is a factor, but I think it will not be obstacle for you to visit.

Main dishes are : Ruce, Parata, Vegetable, Fish curry/fry, Chicken, Beef & mutton.

If u want, may find home stay for you.

If u need any more info, please let me know.

mahmud

Hltn74

Cheers Mahmud, I will email you nearer the time regarding homestays..