Honeymoon destinations on a budget

Rajasthan’s only hill station: boating on Nakki Lake, sunset at Honeymoon Point and the marble Dilwara temples.

Best Sep–Apr$385–$910 a week2–3 nights

Boating on Nakki Lake · Sunset at Honeymoon Point · The marble Dilwara temples

The Queen of the Nilgiris: a mountain railway, tea gardens and misty lakeside mornings.

Best Dec–Apr$420–$980 a week2–4 nights

Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train to Coonoor · Rowing on Ooty Lake · Botanical Garden walk

The Princess of Hill Stations: a star-shaped lake, misty pine forests, Coaker’s Walk and cliff-edge views over the plains.

Best Jan–Mar$420–$980 a week2–4 nights

Coaker’s Walk above the clouds · Cycling round Kodai Lake · A rowing boat on the lake

Living root bridges, waterfalls pouring off cliffs, the glass-clear river at Dawki, and cafés and live music in pine-clad Shillong.

Best Nov–Apr$455–$980 a week4–6 nights

The double-decker living root bridge at Nongriat · A boat on the clear Umngot river at Dawki · Nohkalikai Falls

Strawberry farms, misty viewpoints over the Sahyadri hills, boating on Venna Lake and old forts of the Western Ghats.

Best Nov–May$385–$980 a week2–3 nights

Strawberries and cream on a farm · Sunrise at Wilson Point · Boating on Venna Lake

Sunrise on Kanchenjunga, a toy train through the clouds and tea on a colonial veranda.

Best Nov–Mar$420–$1,015 a week3–4 nights

Sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tiger Hill · Toy train on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway · Tea tasting on a heritage estate

The Queen of the Hills: Mall Road strolls, Himalayan views from Lal Tibba, and the colonial lanes and bakeries of Landour.

Best Feb–May, Oct–Dec$420–$1,050 a week2–4 nights

Sunrise over the Himalaya from Lal Tibba · A walk round Landour’s Chaar Dukaan · Ropeway to Gun Hill at sunset

Rowing on a lake ringed by hills, the ropeway to Snow View, and quieter lakes at Bhimtal and Sattal just down the road.

Best Oct–May$420–$1,050 a week2–4 nights

A rowing boat on Naini Lake · Ropeway to Snow View Point · Sunrise from Tiffin Top

Snow at Solang, apple orchards, riverside cafés in Old Manali and the mountains just through the Atal Tunnel.

Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct, Dec–Feb$455–$1,085 a week4–6 nights

A snow day at Solang Valley · Tandem paragliding over Solang · Hadimba Temple and the cedar forest

The old summer capital: a toy train, colonial lanes along the Ridge and snow in Kufri in winter.

Best Feb–May, Oct–Dec$420–$1,085 a week2–4 nights

Toy train on the Kalka–Shimla railway · Sunset stroll along the Ridge and Mall Road · A snow day in Kufri

Rolling tea hills, mist in the valleys and cosy plantation bungalows in the Western Ghats.

Best Dec–Mar$455–$1,155 a week2–4 nights

A tea-estate walk at dawn · Sunrise over the clouds at Top Station · Nilgiri tahr in Eravikulam National Park

Monasteries and views of Kanchenjunga, the frozen lake at Tsomgo, and the rhododendron valleys of North Sikkim.

Best Feb, Oct–Dec$490–$1,155 a week4–6 nights

Sunrise over Kanchenjunga from Tashi View Point · Tsomgo Lake and the road towards Nathu La · Rumtek Monastery

Rainforest treehouses and plantation pool villas, ancient carvings in Edakkal Caves, waterfalls and wild elephants by the road.

Best Nov–Feb$455–$1,155 a week3–4 nights

A night in a rainforest treehouse · Jeep safari in Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary · Edakkal Caves’ ancient carvings

Palace hotels, the hilltop Amber Fort, rooftop dinners over the Pink City’s bazaars and Hawa Mahal at sunrise.

Best Oct–Mar$455–$1,260 a week2–4 nights

Hawa Mahal at sunrise · Amber Fort · Hot-air balloon over the forts

The Annapurnas reflected in Phewa Lake, sunrise from Sarangkot, paragliding and short Himalayan treks.

Best Oct–Apr$525–$1,260 a week3–5 nights

Sunrise over the Annapurnas from Sarangkot · Tandem paragliding over Phewa Lake · Rowing to the Tal Barahi island temple

Beach shacks at sunset, Portuguese lanes, spice farms, and quiet southern coves when you want them.

Best Nov–May$525–$1,295 a week4–6 nights

Candlelit dinner at a beach shack · Sunset cruise on the Mandovi river · The Latin Quarter of Fontainhas and Old Goa’s churches

Coffee estates in the clouds, rainforest resorts and slow plantation breakfasts.

Best Nov–Apr$490–$1,330 a week2–4 nights

Coffee plantation walk and tasting · Sunset at Raja’s Seat · Abbey Falls

Houseboats on Dal Lake, shikaras at dawn and snow on the meadows of Gulmarg.

Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct, Dec–Mar$560–$1,400 a week5–7 nights

Shikara ride to the floating market at dawn · A night on a Dal Lake houseboat · Gulmarg gondola to the snowline

Tbilisi’s sulphur baths and balconied old town, the Kakheti wine country and the hilltop church below Mount Kazbek.

Best Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct$665–$1,400 a week5–7 nights

A private sulphur bath in Abanotubani · Gergeti Trinity Church below Mount Kazbek · A wine tasting and supra feast in Kakheti

Houseboats on palm-lined backwaters, misty tea hills and Ayurveda for two.

Best Dec–Mar$560–$1,470 a week5–8 nights

Overnight houseboat on the backwaters · Ayurvedic couples’ massage · Tea-estate walk in Munnar

Sunset beaches on Vietnam’s biggest island, a sea cable car to Hon Thom and calm reefs off the southern islands.

Best Dec–Apr$630–$1,540 a week4–6 nights

Sunset on Long Beach · The cable car over the sea to Hon Thom · Snorkelling the An Thoi islands

A lantern-lit old town, tailors and street food, then a night among Ha Long’s limestone islands.

Best Feb–Apr$595–$1,610 a week6–10 nights

Overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay · Float lanterns on the Thu Bồn river · Have outfits tailor-made in a day

The City of Lakes: palace hotels, sunset boats on Lake Pichola and royal dinners.

Best Sep–Mar$560–$1,610 a week3–4 nights

Sunset boat on Lake Pichola · Royal dinner in a palace courtyard · City Palace and the old-town lanes

The Flame Towers over the Caspian, a walled old city, the seaside boulevard and mountain villages a few hours away.

Best Apr–Oct$770–$1,645 a week3–5 nights

The Flame Towers lit up at night · The walled old city and Maiden Tower · Sunset on the Caspian boulevard

The Pyramids at Giza, a slow Nile cruise between Luxor’s temples and Aswan, and the Red Sea’s reefs to finish.

Best Nov–Apr$735–$1,680 a week7–10 nights

The Pyramids of Giza in the early light · A Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan · Hot-air balloon over Luxor’s West Bank

India’s island paradise: Radhanagar Beach, coral reefs and no passport needed for Indians.

Best Nov–Apr$710–$1,725 a week5–7 nights

Scuba dive off Havelock · Sunset at Radhanagar Beach · Candlelit dinner on the beach

Rainforest meets the Andaman Sea: mangroves, eagles, a sky bridge and duty-free sunsets.

Best Jan–Mar$721–$1,771 a week4–6 nights

Cable car and the SkyBridge · Mangrove kayaking and eagle watching · Island-hopping to the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden

Limestone cliffs rising out of turquoise water, longtail boats and night-market feasts.

Best Dec–Apr$665–$1,820 a week6–10 nights

Longtail boat to Phi Phi and Maya Bay · Sunset at Railay West · Thai massage for two

Leopards, tea hills, a fort town by the sea and beaches on whichever coast is dry.

Best Dec–Apr$630–$1,820 a week7–12 nights

Scenic train from Kandy to Ella · Whale watching off Mirissa · Leopard safari in Yala