asia – Page 2 – Dan Travels

5-Day Almaty Itinerary And Travel Guide With Budget All-In

By Dan Forteza

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Almaty was the capital of Kazakhstan until 1997 when it was moved to Astana (now Nursultan). One of the reasons given for the move was because of Almaty’s geographical location–it is in a southeast corner of the country which is too close to Kyrgyzstan and China’s border. I, on the other hand, moved and traveled down south from Astana to Almaty due to the extreme cold of Astana.

And I made a good choice–not only Almaty has a much warmer climate, but it also has all the attractions of a major city with none of the claustrophobia or stress. If you’re curious enough to know what top attractions this city has to offer, here is my 5-day Almaty itinerary and travel guide which includes the detailed cost breakdown of my day-to-day expenses!

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

Me with a backdrop of the snowcapped Zailiysky Alatau | Dantravels.org

DO YOU NEED A VISA FOR KAZAKHSTAN?

First things first–do you need a visa to enter Kazakhstan? Well, depending on your nationality, you may or may not need a visa. See the information below which category you fall in. Other countries not listed below require a Kazakh visa.

Free-Visa Entry

Citizens of the following countries and territories can visit Kazakhstan without a visa:

*90 days: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine

**30 days: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Serbia, South Korea, Tajikistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

***14 days: Hong Kong

Visa-Free Program

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa for stays of fewer than 30 days as part of a visa-free policy for countries with the large foreign direct investment in Kazakhstan’s economy:

All European Union citizens, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, United States, Vatican City, Vietnam

With my Philippine passport, I fell under the visa-free program and was able to enter Kazakhstan through Astana TSE airport with no issues last October 2019!

Well wait, not really… The visa-free program of Kazakhstan for Filipinos was just recently announced and took effect on September 30, 2019. I was backpacking in Tehran, Iran that time when it was announced. So I actually entered Kazakhstan through TSE airport a few days after it took effect. And upon checking in to my airline carrier (SCAT airlines), I waited for almost AN HOUR because the airline crews are verifying if Filipinos can really enter Kazakhstan visa-free. But anyway, the important thing is GOT IN and got my boarding pass!

WHERE IS ALMATY?

Almaty is located in the mountainous area of southern Kazakhstan near the border of Kyrgyzstan in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. In fact, it is only a 5-hour minibus ride from Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan. By plane, it is a little more than 4 hours of flight from Moscow or Dubai.

Language: Kazakh and Russian
Currency: Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)
Airport: ALA
Preferred mode of transportation: Bus / Metro
Time Zone: GMT +6

FLIGHTS TO ALMATY:

Finding a cheap flight ticket to Almaty from Europe and the Middle East is relatively easy. In my case, however, I took a train coming from Astana (Nursultan) to Almaty since I’m already in Kazakhstan.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

HOW I GOT TO THE CITY:

I arrived at Almaty (Alma-Ata 2 station) at around 7:00 AM from a 15-hour train ride from Astana (Astana-Nurly-Zhol station.) I booked its train ticket online with the help of my friend Akniyet.

Inside the train bound to Alma-Ata 2 station | Dantravels.org

I then walked towards the Raiymbek Batyr metro station using my 2GIS offline Maps (Note: offline Google Maps will do as well.) I got off at Baikonur metro station where my hostel (Hostel Eleon) is only 5 to 10 minutes on foot.

80 KZT (0.21 USD) – Metro from Raiymbek Batyr station to Baikonur station

HOW TO GET AROUND?

Bus #34 in Almaty — Getting around Almaty via Bus and Metro | Dantravels.org

By Bus (and Trolleybus). Just like Astana, Almaty has an excellent city bus network, with bus route maps shown at many bus stops. The bus is how you get around best in Almaty!

Buses start between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM until 10:00 PM. Single-trip tickets cost 150 KZT (0.40 USD) if you pay by cash. The very useful 2GIS offline map app helps you plot your route and shows you in real-time which numbered buses are due to arrive at which bus stop. The 2GIS app also works even without internet data.

NOTE: It is cheaper if you pay by transport card (called Onay) costing to only 80 KZT (0.21 USD) but I don’t really recommend it for short-term travelers.

By Metro / Subway. Almaty’s metro runs from Raiymbek Batyr station, near Alma-Ata 2 railway train station, down south to Moscow station. There are future plans to expand Almaty’s metro train network but as of this writing, the city only has one line of metro.

NOTE: You can also use a refillable Almaty card (sold at all metro stations) or swipe in with the multi-transport Onay card.

By Foot. Get your feet ready as you will walk to many places in Almaty, too. And as I mentioned in my budget travel tips blog – “walk as much as you can!“
By Taxi. Taxis are excellent but rather expensive.

WHERE DID I STAY?

Hostel Eleon
- Hostel room type: Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
- Hostel rate: 1,400 KZT (3.65 USD) per night
- How to get there: 5 to 10 minutes walk from Baikonur station (nearest metro station.)

Hostel Eleon front door — Hostel Eleon facilities | Dantravels.org

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

You can book a room at any hotel in Almaty through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my room accommodations through booking.com. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.

Use my link to book your hostel and you’ll get 10% of your booking back after your stay. Click this link to get that discount.

If Almaty hotel isn’t to your liking, try AirBnb. Airbnbs are immersed in neighborhoods, condos, and townhomes. There is a feeling you get when you stay in an Airbnb that makes you feel like you belong in that city or town. Since it is someone’s home, there is a certain amount of pride you feel while staying there. I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

If you’re new to AirBnB, then you can get up to 42 USD free travel credit by signing up via this link.

MY 5-DAY ALMATY ITINERARY

DAY 1:

1st Stop: Republic Square of Almaty

Starting off my Almaty itinerary is this impressive monument situated uphill in Almaty, but a rewarding visit. The monument is surrounded by historical monuments in Kazakhstan’s past and notable figures. To get a good picture of the whole site you need to cross a busy road.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour
How I got here: By Bus from hostel (using my 2GIS Maps app)

2nd Stop: Medeu

This is in Medeu! Because I’m on a tight budget, I went up hiking on foot than going by cable car. Yeah, tiring but it was fun. Especially meeting and getting to know the locals along the way. And when the locals found out I’m from the Philippines, they would say “Oh Manny Pacquiao!” I didn’t know Manny (the Filipino boxer) is very well-known in Kazakhstan.

The never-ending stairs at Medeu | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 3-4 hours
How I got here: By Bus #12 (using my 2GIS Maps app)

3rd Stop: Shymbulak Ski Resort

If you’re already in Medeu, do not also miss Shymbulak ski resort which is located in the picturesque gorge of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. You can take a trip up to the top of the ski resort (Talgar pass), which involved three gondolas from Medeu. Although I did not go, I still advise you to go since the views were spectacular. It will be 4,000 KZT (10.38 USD) for the entire trip.

The view of Trans-Ili Alatau mountains from Medeu | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
How to get here: By Gondola / Cable Car

4th Stop: Almaty Central park

This place was an absolute must-visit especially if you have children. The park is absolutely huge and there are activities everywhere you look. There are plenty of places to sit down and eat or have a drink. It’s also friendly for the budget-minded as there is plenty to walk around and see.

Somewhere at Almaty Central park | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By Bus #12 (Medeu-Abay) then another bus (all using my 2GIS Maps app)

DAY 2:

5th Stop: First President’s Park

First President’s Park is a huge park in south Almaty, and you could spend all day here! It’s the perfect getaway located right in the middle of a busy street, thanks to plenty of space to walk around and enjoy nature. The park was opened in November 2011 in respect to the first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. You might also catch a graduation or a wedding photoshoot here if you’re lucky!

Duration (getting there + visiting): 3-4 hours
How I got here: By Bus (using my 2GIS Maps app)

6th Stop: St. Nicholas Cathedral

This Russian Orthodox cathedral is located in a really attractive grounds. Beautiful colors make it really attractive and photogenic from all angles. The elaborately painted interior walls and ceilings and the icons made it an interesting visit.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from my hostel

DAY 3:

7th Stop: Park of Panfilov’s 28 Guard

The park is named after the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. The Panfilov heroes were 28 soldiers of an Almaty Infantry who died fighting the Germans outside of Moscow during the war. There is one huge monument that stands out (in the photo below) with a burning eternal flame in front of it and a few other smaller monuments around this area. This park is the crown jewel of Almaty’s history.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By Metro (Zhibek Zholy station)

8th Stop: Ascension Cathedral

Located also within the Panfilov’s park is the lovely Ascension Cathedral. Probably the most renowned Orthodox cathedral in Kazakhstan and understandably so. The interiors and exteriors are very impressive and the cathedral looks wonderful from all sides. The interior takes the form of most Christian orthodox churches and the murals are fantastic.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour
How I got here: By foot from Panfilov’s 28 Guard monument

9th Stop: Zelenyy Bazar

Zelenyy Bazar is known to be the oldest market in Almaty. There are lots of vegetables and fruit and a lot of meat (especially horsemeat!). It was interesting to walk around and check the goods as well as clothing and some souvenirs outside the market.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from Ascension Cathedral

10th Stop: The Central Mosque of Almaty

This is the main mosque in Almaty and is in a good position for visiting since it’s close to the bazaar and metro (Raiymbek Batyr station). The mosque was an excellent example of local architecture. The interior is well worth visiting, too. You need to wear long pants and a scarf (for women) if you intend to enter the mosque.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from Zelenyy Bazar

DAY 4:

11th Stop: One-day hike to Mt. Boukreev

With my new-found friend Nurseit, he invited me to join a day tour hike to Mt. Boukreev–it is one of the peaks in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains surrounding Almaty. He knows a group of hikers that organizes a FREE hiking tour every Sunday.

NOTE: I met Nurseit in a language exchange site, I believe it was ConnectPals. Go check out ConnectPals!

At around 8:00 AM, we left the jump-off point at Medeu and all of us headed to Mt. Boukreev (3,010 masl). I think we’re around 50+ who joined the climb.

My friend Nurseit even brought food and snacks for the two of us so I wouldn’t worry about spending too much on food.

NOTE: This climb was organized by Taurest.kz. Go check out their Instagram here!

At around 2:00 PM, I’ve finally reached the summit! It’s beautiful up there! You have no idea!

Below is a photo of my friend Nurseit and myself. He is a local Kazakh and most of the time we use Google Translate to be able to understand each other.

But anyway, the local people I’ve met at the climb love to practice their English!

Nurseit and I at the summit of Mt. Boukreev | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): the whole freakin’ day!
How I got here: By Bus to Medeu (using my 2GIS Maps app), then CLIMB up!!!

Later that night, Nurseit and his friends treat me for dinner with one of their national dishes called Beshbarmak (a horse meat dish)! And I also tried the horse milk!

Eating Beshbarmak — I’m trying horsemeat for the first time with Nurseit and his friends | Dantravels.org

DAY 5:

12th Stop: Kok Tobe Hill

Kok Tobe Hill is where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Almaty city and it can be reached by cable car or by road and then hike. In my case, I went by cable car with the remaining cash I have before I head to Almaty airport. It costs 2,000 KZT (5.16 USD) per round trip.

If you are visiting Almaty, it is a must-visit place. It is a kind of little amusement park for kids on top of hills.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2-3 hours
How I got here: By Bus (using my 2GIS Maps app), then cable car to the top of the hill!!!

EXTRA DAY:

13th Stop: Big Almaty Lake

I wasn’t able to visit the Big Almaty lake when I was in Almaty due to time constraints. But if I have one more day to spend, I’d definitely come here. Note that visiting here would require at least half of your day as this place is not reachable by public buses nor metro. But I’m telling you this place is a must-see site in Almaty. It is a very beautiful and scenic lake where the city gets its water supply.

There are several tour organizers from Viator that offers a day tour to Big Almaty Lake for a cheap price. Check out my “Recommended Package Tours” section below.

Duration (getting there + visiting): Half-day

What do you think of this 5-day Almaty itinerary?

I hope that you find this 5-DAY ALMATY BUDGET ITINERARY and TRAVEL GUIDE blog useful!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section below.

MY 5-DAY EXPENSES IN ALMATY

Day 0 (Arrival)
- 6811 KZT – Train ticket from Nursultan to Almaty. I booked it online with the help of my friend Akniyet.
- 230 KZT – Food (Pie cake)
- 80 KZT – Metro from Raiymbek Batyr station to Baikonur station
- 8,400 – 6 Night stay in Hostel
- 700 KZT – Food (Chicken-rice meal with tea)
- 450 KZT – Food (Chicken-rice meal)
- Subtotal: 16,671 KZT (43.28 USD)
Day 1
- 180 KZT – Drink (Bottled of water)
- 150 KZT – Bus fare from Hostel to a bus stop near the Republic Square
- 150 KZT – Bus #12 fare from Abay avenue to Medeu
- 150 KZT – Bus fare from Medeu to Abay avenue.
- 140 KZT – Food (2x Bread with beef)
- 240 KZT – Drink (3x Coffee packs)
- 150 KZT – Bus fare from a bus stop near Abay avenue to Central Park
- 150 KZT – Bus fare from Central Park to a bus stop near Hostel.
- 0 KZT – Food (Sultanali, my hostel roommate, treats me for dinner!)
- Subtotal: 1,310 KZT (3.40 USD)
Day 2
- 650 KZT – Food (Hotdog-rice meal)
- 150 KZT – Bus fare from Hostel to first President’s Park
- 200 KZT – Food (Corn)
- 150 KZT – Bus fare from first President’s Park to Hostel
- 380 KZT – Food (Bread)
- Subtotal: 1,530 KZT (3.97 USD)
Day 3
- 700 KZT – Food (Laghman, Kazakh noddles)
- 80 KZT – Metro from Baikonur station to Zhibek Zholy station
- 80 KZT – Metro from Raiymbek Batyr station to Baikonur station
- 650 KZT – Food (Chicken-rice meal)
- 100 KZT – Drink (Coffee)
- Subtotal: 1,610 KZT (4.18 USD)
Day 4
- 0 KZT – Nurseit paid my bus fare from my hostel to Abay avenue, should be 150 KZT.
- 0 KZT – Nurseit again paid for my bus fare from Abay to Medeo, should be 150 KZT
- 800 KZT – fare for the rented bus from hiking endpoint to city crossing (Gorganaya st.)
- 150 KZT – bus fare back to Medeu (I met Aynur and her sister from the climb whose car are parked at Medeo and she drove me home to my hostel)
- 0 KZT – Food (Dinner treat from Nurseit and his friends)
- Subtotal: 950 KZT (2.47 USD)
Day 5 (Departure)
- 150 KZT – Bus fare from my hostel to KokTobe Gondola / Cable Car
- 2,000 KZT – Cable Car fee (back & forth)
- 560 KZT – Food (2x Cup Noodles)
- 150 KZT – Bus #79 fare from somewhere near Koktobe to Almaty Airport
- 200 KZT – Hot water at the Airport (for my noodles!)
- 63.78 USD (24,568 KZT) – Flight from Almaty, Kazakhstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. I pre-booked it online at Kayak.
- Subtotal: 27,628 KZT (71.73 USD)

Total Expenses: 129.03 USD (6,536.72 PHP)

RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS

In case you’re also looking for package tours to simply jumpstart your actual itinerary, I highly recommend booking tours through Viator which is perfect for your Almaty itinerary. See tours and packages I personally handpicked for you:

More Tours Here

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com. Thus, I recommend you guys trying it for your Almaty itinerary. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.
- Airbnb. Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms for your Almaty itinerary! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay. Click this link to get that discount.

Flights
- KAYAK. All of my flight bookings are all from KAYAK. Kayak is one of the world’s leading travel search engines and searches hundreds of travel sites.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

Kazakhstan Package tours
- Viator. Viator is the world’s leading resource for researching, finding and booking the best travel experiences worldwide.

Click here to find the best Viator deals in Almaty

3-Day NurSultan Itinerary And Travel Guide w/ Budget All-in

By Dan Forteza

The city of Astana, now called NurSultan, was my first stop on an extended Central Asian adventure last October 2019. Known today as Kazakhstan’s futuristic capital city, NurSultan certainly is a tough place to live because of its harsh cold climate but still, it is well worth a short visit. You can see NurSultan’s main sights and its fascinating buildings in a couple of days. That’s why to help you jumpstart your next holiday here, I’ve put together the perfect 3-day Nursultan budget itinerary and travel guide which includes my overall travel expenses! Are you ready?

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

A dinner treat from a Kazakh friend Akniyet on my first night in NurSultan | Dantravels.org

DO YOU NEED A VISA FOR KAZAKHSTAN?

Free-Visa Entry

Citizens of the following countries and territories can visit Kazakhstan without a visa:

*90 days: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine

**30 days: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Serbia, South Korea, Tajikistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

***14 days: Hong Kong

Visa-Free Program

With my Philippine passport, I fell under the visa-free program and was able to enter Kazakhstan through NurSultan airport with no issues last October 2019!

Well wait, not really… The visa-free program of Kazakhstan for Filipinos was just recently announced and took effect on September 30, 2019. I was backpacking in Tehran, Iran that time when it was announced. So I actually entered Kazakhstan through NurSultan airport a few days after it took effect. And upon checking in to my airline carrier, I waited for almost AN HOUR because the airline crews are verifying if Filipinos can really enter Kazakhstan visa-free. But anyway, the important thing is GOT IN and got my boarding pass!

WHERE IS NURSULTAN (ASTANA)?

Nursultan, formerly named Astana, is located in central Kazakhstan on the Ishim River in a very flat, semi-arid steppe region which covers most of the country’s territory. It is a little more than 3-hour flight away from Moscow and roughly a 4 ½-hour flight from Dubai.

NOTE: In March 2019, the city was renamed NurSultan after the departing Kazakh president, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Language: Kazakh and Russian
Currency: Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)
Airport: TSE
Preferred mode of transportation: Bus
Time Zone: GMT +6

FLIGHTS TO NURSULTAN (ASTANA):

Finding a cheap flight ticket to NurSultan from Europe and the Middle East is relatively easy. In my case, I got a direct flight coming from Yerevan, Armenia to NurSultan, Kazakhstan. My flight carrier was SCAT Airlines.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

HOW TO GET AROUND NURSULTAN?

Bus number 32 in NurSultan | Dantravels.org

By Bus. NurSultan has an excellent city bus network, with bus route maps shown at many bus stops. Buses start between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM and finish between 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Single-trip tickets cost 180 KZT (0.52 USD) if you pay by cash. The very useful 2GIS offline map app helps you plot your route and shows you in real-time which numbered buses are due to arrive at which bus stop. The 2GIS app also works even without internet data.

NOTE: It is cheaper if you pay by card costing to only 90 KZT (0.26 USD) but I don’t really recommend it for short-term travelers.

By Foot. Get your feet ready as you will walk to many places in Astana, too. Just make sure you are dressed appropriately depending on how cold the outside temperature is. And as I mentioned in my budget travel tips blog – “walk as much as you can!“
By Taxi. Taxis are excellent but rather expensive. Also, Uber works in NurSultan.

HOW I GOT TO THE CITY:

I arrived at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (TSE) at around 5:00 AM from a 3-hour flight from Yerevan, Armenia.

To get from NurSultan airport to the city center, you need to take either bus or taxi. I took the bus since I’m on a budget. I don’t really remember which bus number it was but I was told by a local that it goes to the city center.

Using my pre-downloaded Google Maps (I wasn’t aware of the 2GIS app yet), I got off near the Infiniti Apartment Building along Qabanbay Batyr Avenue where my hostel (Hostel Infiniti) is 3 to 5 minutes walk.

Later that day, I searched on 2GIS app which buses run from/to the airport and those are buses 10, 12 and 100. It should cost you 180 KZT (0.52 USD).

OMG NOTE: I actually did not pay for the bus fare on my way to downtown NurSultan from the airport. Because I only have 10,000 KZT (highest banknote denomination in Kazakhstan) with me which was freshly withdrawn from the ATM, the bus driver refused to accept my payment as he has no change to give. He also does not speak English at all so communicating is such a challenge. So I just sat down in silence. When the bus stops at my preferred location, I just simply exited the bus door alongside with others as if I have no payment issue. OMG!

WHERE DID I STAY?

Hostel Infiniti
- Hostel room type: Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room
- Hostel rate: 1,700 KZT (4.4 USD) per night
- How to get there: 3 to 5 minutes walk from the nearest bus stop

NOTE: This hostel is in a big apartment building. That’s why it was a challenge and a bit confusing for me to find this hostel as there so many entrance /exit doors in the building. Good thing there was a local Kazakh who helped me find my hostel. I gave him the phone number of the hostel and he called the owner. Phewww, I was about to die from the outside cold!

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

Anyway, you can book a room at any hotel in Astana through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my room accommodations through booking.com. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.

Use my link to book your hostel and you’ll get 10% of your booking back after your stay. Click this link to get that discount.

If Astana hotel isn’t to your liking, try AirBnb. Airbnbs are immersed in neighborhoods, condos, and townhomes. There is a feeling you get when you stay in an Airbnb that makes you feel like you belong in that city or town. Since it is someone’s home, there is a certain amount of pride you feel while staying there. I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

If you’re new to AirBnB, then you can get up to 42 USD free travel credit by signing up via this link.

MY 3-DAY NURSULTAN ITINERARY

DAY 1:

1st Stop: Bayterek Tower

This tower is meant to embody a folktale about a mythical tree of life and a magic bird of happiness: the bird, named Samruk, had laid its egg in the crevice between two branches of a popular tree.

Bayterek Tower from my Nursultan Itinerary (Astana) — The iconic Bayterek Tower | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By Bus (using my 2GIS Maps app)

2nd Stop: City Park

The City Park in Astana is huge. Lots of things to see and do with the sculptures, the Presidential Palace at one end and past that is the Presidential gardens which are magnificent and lovely green space.

Nursultan City Park — City Park | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from Bayterek Tower

3rd Stop: NurAstana Mosque

As a non-Muslim, I have not visited many mosques but found this one welcoming, bright, and peaceful. The external architecture attracts and internally the big open space and carpets created a sense of calm. It’s free and worth a visit regardless of your religious affiliation.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from the City Park

4th Stop: Lover’s Park

Don’t worry–it’s not really a park only for lovers! Haha. It is a lovely walk, a vast open space with lots of activities for children and for anyone really!

Lover's Park in Nursultan — Lover’s Park | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By Bus (using my 2GIS Maps app)

5th Stop: The National Opera Building

The national opera building in Astana is beautiful. From an exterior perspective, the modern building was designed as a classical temple, complete with columns and tympanum.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from the Lover’s Park

6th Stop: Khan Shatyr

Khan Shatyr which literally means ‘Royal Marquee’ is said to be NurSultan’s most extraordinary building (so far). It may resemble a leaning circus tent from the outside, but it is actually a big shopping mall with various attractions (e.g. food court, swimming pool, sandy beach, water slide, etc.)

Khan Shatyr in Astana — Khan Shatyr | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from Opera Building

DAY 2:

7th Stop: Palace of Peace and Reconciliation

A monumental pyramid-shaped building built and completed in 2006 to commemorate the Meeting of Congress of Leaders worldwide and traditional religions.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By Bus (using my 2GIS Maps app)

8th Stop: Independence Square and Kazak Eli Monument

It was great to see this monument and photograph it. It looks majestic and is right across the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. This was one monument in Astana that I wanted to see most of all, and it looks stately.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation.

9th Stop: Hazret Sultan Mosque

The Hazret Sultan Mosque is the second largest mosque in Central Asia after Turkmenbasy Ruhy Mosque. It is mostly visible from many places in Astana, the mosque stands out whichever aspect it is viewed from.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from the Kazak Eli Monument.

10th Stop: Kazakhstan Military History Museum

I was very impressed by the exhibits and thought that it was the best in Astana. The Museum is designed as a yurt (Kazakh nomad’s home). The museum had external exhibits of WW2 equipment in a small display area to the left of the museum, and many sculptures of ancient warriors around the museum. The chariot sculpture at the main entrance was the most impressive.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By Bus (using my 2GIS Maps app)

11th Stop: Quay Astana Bridge

This is an amazing place to visit in Astana. You can walk on the bridge on the river–it’s a very nicely built architectural structure.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from the Military History Museum

DAY 3:

12th Stop: Triumphal Arch Mangilik El

Another of Astana’s monuments and it is in the center of a roundabout in the city. There are underground passes to get to the monument, and this is your best chance to take a pic with an ‘I love Astana’ sign in it.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By Bus (using my 2GIS Maps app)

13th Stop: Expo 2017 Complex

The design of the building in itself is amazing, a true engineering marvel. Each floor houses a unique exhibition to educate the public about, wind, solar, hydroelectric energy sources, etc. to help mankind sustain life on planet earth and the future it holds for our survival.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from the Triumphal Arch.

14th Stop: MEGA Silk Way

Just across the expo site sits this brand new shopping center. There are many restaurants available for all budgets. It’s also a good option for spending a long layover from the airport as it is fairly close to it.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
How I got here: By foot from Expo 2017 Building

On my last day in NurSultan, I stayed with a Kazakh host from Couchsurfing. His name is Darkhan and he calls me Teddy Bear because he said I look like one. Haha!

Darkhan a couchsurfer from Nursultan Kazakhstan — Darkhan and I with the meal he prepared | Dantravels.org

MY 3-DAY EXPENSES IN NURSULTAN

Day 0 (Arrival, Rest)
- 206 USD (79,135 KZT) – Yerevan to NurSultan flight
- 0 KZT – Airport to the Hostel (See my note above on “how I got to the city”)
- 5,100 KZT – 3 Night stay at Hostel Infiniti
- 1,717 KZT – Groceries (Rice, Canned Tuna, Noodles, Coffee)
- 300 KZT – Laundry at Hostel
- NOTE: It’s OK to cook at the hostel I stayed in.
- Subtotal: 86,252 KZT (224.5 USD)
Day 1
- 180 KZT – Bus fare from Hostel to a bus stop near Bayterek Tower
- 180 KZT – Bus fare from Bayterek Tower to a bus stop near Lover’s Park
- 90 KZT – Food (bread)
- 250 KZT – Drink (Orange Juice)
- 90 KZT – Food (bread)
- 180 KZT – Bus fare from a bus stop near Khan Shatyr to Hostel
- Subtotal: 970 KZT (2.53 USD)
Day 2
- 180 KZT – Bus fare from Hostel to a bus stop near the Palace of Peace
- 180 KZT – Bus fare from a bus stop near Hazret Mosque to Kazakh Military Museum
- 240 KZT – Food (2 x hotdog with bread)
- 300 KZT – Drink (Orange Juice)
- 180 KZT – Bus fare from a bus stop near Quay Astana to Hostel
- Subtotal: 2,050 KZT (5.34 USD)
Day 3
- 180 KZT – Bus fare from Hostel to the Triumphal Arch
- 1,200 KZT – Combo Meal at Burger King (MEGA Silkway Mall)
- 312 KZT – Food (Raisin Bread)
- 130 KZT – Drink (Bottled Water)
- 180 KZT – Bus fare from a bus stop near MEGA silk way to my Couchsurfing host’s apartment
- Subtotal: 2,002 KZT (5.21 USD)
Day 4 (Departure)
- 6811 KZT – Train ticket from Nursultan to Almaty. I booked it online with the help of my friend Akniyet.
- 180 KZT – Bus fare from Hostel to Airport Bus #50 transfer
- 180 KZT – Bus fare from bus transfer to train station
- 230 KZT – Food (Pie cake)
- Subtotal: 7,401 KZT (19.27 USD)

Total Expenses: 256.8 USD (13,024 PHP)

What do you think of this 3-day Nursultan itinerary?

I hope that you find this 3-DAY NURSULTAN BUDGET ITINERARY and TRAVEL GUIDE blog useful!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section below.

RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS

In case you’re also looking for package tours to simply jumpstart your actual itinerary, I highly recommend booking tours through Viator which is perfect for your NurSultan (Astana) itinerary. See tours and packages I personally handpicked for you:

More Tours Here

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com. Thus, I recommend you guys trying it for your Astana itinerary. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.
Airbnb
- Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms for your Astana itinerary! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay. Click this link to get that discount.

Flights
- KAYAK. All of my flight bookings are all from KAYAK. Kayak is one of the world’s leading travel search engines and searches hundreds of travel sites.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

Train ticket
- Tickets KZ. Click HERE to book train ticket from NurSultan to Almaty.
Kazakhstan Package tours
- Viator. Viator is the world’s leading resource for researching, finding and booking the best travel experiences worldwide.

Click HERE to find the best Viator deals in Astana

How To Apply Online For A Tajikistan eVisa (Updated)

By Dan Forteza

With Tajikistan’s untouched and unspoiled nature alongside its people’s warm hospitality, I truly made a good decision to see this little known corner of the world last November 2019. So if you’re planning to visit Tajikistan and looking for a guide on how to apply for your Tajikistan eVisa (tourist visa) online, then you’re in the right place. So let’s wait no further and get that Tajikistan eVisa right away!

My friend Dilshod at his home in Dushanbe Couchsurfing — My Tajik friend Dilshod at his home in Dushanbe | Dantravels.org

Tajikistan launched an e-Visa system on June 1, 2016. The eVisa can be used at any border crossing (including international airports) and is granted for tourism and business. Along with an eVisa, visitors may obtain a permit to visit the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region for an additional cost of 20 USD.

If you intend to visit the famous Pamir Highway or the M41 in Tajikistan, you need to include the additional 20 USD fee–you’ll see it when you process your visa application online. More details from my step-by-step guide below.

WHO’S ELIGIBLE OF TAJIKISTAN EVISA?

Depending on your nationality, you may or may not need an eVisa. See information below which category you fall in.

eVisa Eligible Countries

All European Union citizens, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen

Free-Visa Countries

Armenia **, Azerbaijan **, Belarus *, Georgia *, Kazakhstan *, Kyrgyzstan *, Moldova *, Russia *, Ukraine **, Uzbekistan ***

Notes:
* Unlimited stay
** 90 days
*** 30 days

Visa policy Map of Tajikistan — Visa Policy Map | Wikipedia.org

As a Philippine passport holder, I am eligible to apply for an eVisa (yay!) including citizens from 120 other countries. That’s why in this blog, I’ll share with you my experience on my Tajikistan eVisa application.

GET YOUR TAJIKISTAN EVISA IN 4 EASY STEPS

STEP 1: GET YOUR ROOM ACCOMMODATION READY

When filling up the application form online, you need to indicate your Address in Tajikistan. if you’re staying in a hotel/hostel (which you probably should), fill it in with its address.

You can book a room at any Tajikistan hotel through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my room accommodations through booking.com. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.

Use my link to book your hostel and you’ll get 10% of your booking back after your stay. Click this link to get that discount.

If hotel isn’t to your liking, try AirBnb. Airbnbs are immersed in neighborhoods, condos, and townhomes. There is a feeling you get when you stay in an Airbnb that makes you feel like you belong in that city or town. Since it is someone’s home, there is a certain amount of pride you feel while staying there. I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

If you’re new to AirBnB, then you can get up to 42 USD free travel credit by signing up via this link.

STEP 2: APPLY AT TAJIKISTAN’S e-VISA WEBSITE

For you to be able to facilitate your application ONLINE, just follow the through the below steps:

1. Go to www.evisa.tj and click the “Start” button.

Takikistan eVisa website — Tajikistan eVisa website | Dantravels.org

2. Then it will lead you to the Application form page where you’re required to complete your personal details, passport data, and your address in Tajikistan (in Step 1).

eVisa fee with GBAO permit – 70 USD
eVisa fee without GBAO permit – 50 USD

Again, if you intend to visit the famous Pamir Highway or the M41, you need to tick ‘Yes’ to GBAO permit (see snapshot below.)

3. Next page, you need to upload files for both mandatory and optional documents:

Mandatory – Scanned copy of Passport

TIP: I know most of us do not own a scanner, so I recommended you to use a mobile app called “CAMSCANNER”. It is available in both Android and iPhone. Just take a picture of the file and it can be saved as pdf. I used it myself and it appears just like a normal scanned document!

Optional – Any files that would support your tourism activity such as flight and hotel bookings. In this regard, I only uploaded my hostel booking from Step 1 as well as snapshot of my payslips.

Upload your files at Tajikistan eVisa website | Dantravels.org

4. Proceed to the next page and review your information. Make sure your email is correct since your eVisa will be sent to you via email. Then confirm to proceed with your payment.

REMEMBER: Once you proceed, you can NO longer change any of the information, so make sure you’ve got everything right.

STEP 3. PAY THE VISA FEE

You will then be directed to the next page to provide your payment.

Pay the relevant evisa processing fee using your electronic payment cards (credit card/e-commerce enabled debit cards) and submit the application.

After payment, you will then be prompted by an email notification – “..we have received your 50.0 USD payment for your Visa application with ID XXXXXX.The application is in under study. You’ll receive automatic updates via email whenever the status of your application changes.“

STEP 4. WAIT FOR THE RESULTS

After you completed the whole online application process, you just have to wait for the result of your e-Visa application.

According to some forums, applicants normally receive their visa results within one day or two which is sent to them via email. And in case on the third day you haven’t received it yet, go ahead and make a follow up (see additional Step 5).

Once you got APPROVED, print out your e-visa approval confirmation. Upon arrival, it is advisable for you to bring a copy of the eVisa notice along with you.

STEP 5 (EXTRA STEP). FOLLOW UP THE RESULTS

As per my experience, applying for a Tajikistan e-Visa is not that complicated. However, it took 4 days for me to receive the results of my eVisa. Thus, I was one of those whose visas got stuck or delayed!

In the case of getting your visas stuck or delayed, you can follow up with this guy via email: Kmuhamadulloev@consular.tj (based on the forums I’ve read, this guy works at Tajik consular office). You can also send an email to info@visa.mfa.tj and evisa@visa.mfa.tj. It is the same thing I did and luckily I got a quick reply from Mr. Kmuhamadulloev who helped me speed up my visa results. I received my evisa on the same day I made a follow up.

SUMMARY:

Visa Type: e-Visa
Visa Validity: 45 Days from your first arrival
Entry type: Single Entry
Visa Fee: 50 USD / 70 USD (with GBAO permit)

So there you have it! I hope this blog helps you in any way. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a reply in the comment section below. I’ll reply as soon as I can.

With all that said, I wish you all the best on your Tajikistan eVisa application!

RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS

In case you’re also looking for package tours to simply jumpstart your actual itinerary, I highly recommend booking tours through Viator which is perfect for your Tajikistan itinerary. See tours and packages I personally handpicked for you:

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com. Thus, I recommend you guys trying it as well. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.

Use my link to book your hostel and you’ll get 10% of your booking back after your stay. Click this link to get that discount.

Airbnb
- Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay. Click this link to get that discount.

Flights
- KAYAK. All of my flight bookings are all from KAYAK. Kayak is one of the world’s leading travel search engines and searches hundreds of travel sites.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

Dushanbe (Tajikistan) Package tours
- Viator. Viator is the world’s leading resource for researching, finding and booking the best travel experiences worldwide.

Click here to find the best Viator deals in Dushanbe!

Travel Insurance
- World Nomads. If you don’t have travel insurance when times get tough, basically you are screwed. Traveling always comes with inherent risks attached. Whether you are trekking in the Pamir mountains or wandering the streets of Dushanbe, unforeseen events can suddenly upend your world. Generally speaking, travel insurance covers you for the following: Medical Costs – hospital visits, emergencies, evacuations; Property Loss – luggage and their contents; Travel Issues – accommodation and transportation expenses. Thus, I highly recommend you guys getting a travel insurance. I bought one from the World Nomads (available in 130+ countries) where most travelers get their travel insurances.

Go to this link to get to your World Nomads travel insurance.

How To Get A Kyrgyzstan Visa On Arrival (Updated)

By Dan Forteza

I visited Kyrgyzstan in October 2019 and managed to get my Kyrgyzstan visa on arrival with no issues at Manas International Airport (in Bishkek). The beautiful and hospitable Central Asian country has been growing in popularity for tourists, and the government has made the visa on arrival so simple so more people can visit the country. So without further ado, here is my guide on how to get a visa on arrival for Kyrgyzstan.

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel–a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

Ala-Archa National Park in Kyrgyzstan | Dantravels.org

DO YOU NEED A VISA TO VISIT KYRGYZSTAN?

First things first, do you need a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan? Well, depending on your nationality, you may or may not need a visa. See the information below which category you fall in.

Free-Visa Countries

Holders of passports issued by the following 69 nations are not required to obtain a visa for Kyrgyzstan up to the length of stay mentioned below:

A. Indefinite stay: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, North Korea, Russia, Tajikistan
B. 90 days: Mongolia, Serbia, Ukraine
C. 60 days: European Union citizens (except Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania), Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Iceland, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uzbekistan, Vatican City
D. 30 days: Malaysia, Turkey

Visa on arrival

Citizens of the following countries and territories are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival valid for a maximum stay of 30 days at Manas International Airport:

Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Cyprus, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Oman, Philippines, Romania, San Marino, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela

Citizens of the following countries and territories are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival valid for stays longer than 60 days at Manas International Airport:

European Union citizens (except for Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania), Australia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Iceland, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uzbekistan, Vatican City

eVisa

From 1 September 2017, citizens of all countries and territories may apply for tourism, business and group tourist types of visas for 30 or 90 days online through the eVisa system.

Electronic visa holders must arrive via:

Airports: Manas Airport, Osh Airport
Land Crossings:
- China (at Irkeshtam and Torugart)
- Kazakhstan (at Ak-jol, Ak-Tilek, Chaldybar, Chon-Kapka)
- Tajikistan (at Bor-Dobo, Kulundu, Kyzyl-Bel)
- Uzbekistan (at Dostuk)

Visa Policy Map of Kyrgyzstan — Visa Policy Map | Wikipedia.org

As a Philippine passport holder, I am both eligible of Kyrgyzstan e-Visa and Visa on arrival.

However, with my recent rejection of Armenian e-Visa (but had no problem getting approved for Armenian visa-on-arrival), I went for Kyrgyzstan visa-on-arrival without a second thought. Please note that Kyrgyzstan visa-on-arrival is ONLY obtainable at Manas International Airport (in Bishkek). In my case I had to fly from Almaty airport, Kazakhstan to Bishkek airport, Kyrgyzstan.

WHAT YOU NEED TO GET A KYRGYZ VISA ON ARRIVAL (AT MANAS AIRPORT)

There are two things you need to prepare in order to successfully apply for a visa on arrival at Manas International Airport:

Cash. I had 100 USD with me.
- Take note that they DON’T accept payment by debit or credit cards but only by cash in either USD or KGS. Plus, there are no ATMs within the airside of the airport. So you better bring some cash!
- The cost depends on whether it’s a single or multiple entry visa or one-month or three-month valid. I paid 50 USD for a single-entry, one-month valid visa.
Confirmed hotel booking. I have only booked my first-night stay in a cheap hostel I found on Booking.com.
- You will need this information (such as your hostel’s address and its contact number) to fill up the visa form. So make sure you have it prepared.

You can book a room at any hotel in Bishkek through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my room accommodations through booking.com. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.

GET YOUR KYRGYZSTAN VISA ON ARRIVAL IN 4 EASY STEPS

STEP 1: GO TO THE VISA COUNTER

Once you get off the flight, you will walk down the hallway and come across the visa section office directly in front of you in the main hall, it is on the left side. On the right side is the immigration or passport control gate, so make sure you process your visa first before lining up there.

Kyrgyz tourist visa counter at Manas — Kyrgyz visa counter is on the left side | Dantravels.org

Kyrgyz visa window at Manas International airport — Kyrgyz visa window at Manas International Airport | Dantravels.org

STEP 2: FILL UP THE FORM

Ask the personnel for VOA (visa-on-arrival) and he/she will hand you a form to complete basic information, mostly about your personal details and your room accommodation in Kyrgyzstan.

The Kyrgyz visa form at Manas Airport — The Kyrgyz visa application form | Dantravels.org

STEP 3: PAY THE VISA FEE

Once you have the form filled up, just give it to the visa officer together with your passport. You will be asked what type of visa you’re applying for whether it’s a tourist visa or single-entry vs. multiple-entry or one-month vs 3-month valid. The amount of the visa fee you’ll be paying will depend on them.

Then pay your visa fee accordingly. I paid 50 USD for a tourist visa, single-entry, and valid for a month.

Payment of visa fee — My 50-dollar bill payment | Dantravels.org

STEP 4: GET YOUR PASSPORT WITH VISA STICKER!

Then you’ll have to wait for about 5-10 minutes. Once your name is called, you’re basically done. Get your receipt and pick up your passport with its Kyrgyz visa sticker! Then, you can now proceed and line into immigration.

NOTE: It only took me 15 minutes to finish the whole visa process, I guess it depends on how many people are on queue. During my application, there were only two of us applying.

Kyrgyzstan visa sticker on Philippine passport — My Kyrgyztan visa sticker on my Philippine passport | Dantravels.org

SUMMARY:

Visa Type: Tourist Visa
Visa Validity: 30 Days
Visa Fee: USD 50.00

Now you’re ready to go and explore Kyrgyzstan. I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I did! If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to post your comment below!

RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS

I hope that you find this HOW TO GET A KYRGYZSTAN VISA ON ARRIVAL (TOURIST VISA GUIDE) blog useful! I highly recommend booking tours through Viator:

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com. I recommend booking through this link to get 10% of your booking back after your stay.
- Airbnb. Sign up with my link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay.
Flights
- KAYAK. Great for finding the cheapest fare rates.
Travel Insurance
- World Nomads. Highly recommended for medical costs, property loss, and travel emergencies.

3-Day Yerevan Itinerary And Travel Guide: Best Places To See On A Budget

By Dan Forteza

Yerevan and its history can be traced back to Noah and his descendants. No wonder why this city overflows with great history and rich cultural heritage. Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, is packed with museums, art galleries, and very stately Soviet-era buildings. If you’re pondering your next city trip, ignore the usual Paris or Rome and come visit Yerevan. Trust me—you’ll never be at a loss for places to see in the city with this perfect 3-day Yerevan itinerary on a budget.

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex | Dantravels.org

FUN FACT: Did you know that the water in Armenia is considered one of the safest and most delicious in the world? The secret is that it comes from purely natural sources. Another unique feature of Yerevan is that at almost any corner you can find small fountains with drinking water. Check out a photo of me drinking water on one of the fountains in Yerevan.

DO YOU NEED A VISA?

First of all, do you need a visa to travel to Armenia? Well, depending on your nationality, you might or might not need a visa. Check out my Yerevan visa guide to check if you’re legible for an e-visa or visa on arrival or no visa at all.

WHERE IS YEREVAN?

Yerevan is the capital and largest city in Armenia. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country. It is a 2 ½-hour flight away from Istanbul and a little more than 3 hours flight from Dubai.

Language: Armenian and Russian
Currency: Armenian Dram (AMD)
Airport: EVN
Preferred mode of transportation: Bus or Minibus / Metro Subway
Time Zone: GMT +4

FLIGHTS TO YEREVAN:

Finding a cheap flight ticket to Yerevan, Armenia from Europe, Central Asia or the Middle East is relatively easy. Though I went to Yerevan from Tbilisi by a shared taxi, I booked my outbound ticket from Yerevan flying to Astana (now Nur-Sultan), Kazakhstan. My flight carrier was Scat Airlines.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

HOW TO GET AROUND?

By Marshrutka (Minibus) and Bus. The main way around Yerevan is by marshrutka. There are hundreds of routes, shown by a number in the bus’ front window. They stop at bus stops but you can flag one down anywhere on the street. Trips cost 100 AMD; pay the driver as you leave. There are also electric trolleybuses following numbered routes. Tickets also cost 100 AMD.
By Metro Subway. The Yerevan metro runs north-south through the city. It is clean and safe but I don’t think it’s that efficient since the metro only has one subway line but I know they are currently expanding it.
By Taxi. Taxis are cheap and plentiful. Prices are 600 AMD for the first 5km and then 100 AMD per kilometer. Make sure the driver switches the meter on or you may be overcharged.

NOTE: By foot. I did walk a lot when I was in Yerevan as part of my money-saving routine. Like me, you can do the same, so walk as much as you can! But hey, on the brighter side, walking around can also help build up your travel experience since it can lead you to scenic places that you wouldn’t normally find on a map.

HOW I GOT TO THE CITY:

I took a shared taxi from Tbilisi, Georgia and arrived at downtown Yerevan at around 3:00 PM. The journey took about 6 hours, check out my blog on how I cross the Georgia-Armenia border for more details. The same taxi also took me to my hostel in Yerevan (Goldway Hostel) with an additional fee of 2,000 AMD (4.20 USD).

WHERE DID I STAY?

I actually stayed for only one night in Goldway Hostel and then headed to a nice hostel–Grand Hostel Yerevan. You can get there by either a taxi or a 30-minute walk from Republic Square.

Grand Hostel Yerevan (click here to book)
- Hostel room type: Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
- Hostel rate: 4,000 (4 USD) per night

Grand Hostel Yerevan Interior — Grand Hostel Yerevan | Dantravel.org

Grand Hostel Dorm — Grand Hostel Yerevan | Dantravel.org

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

You can book a room at any hotel in Yerevan through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my room accommodations through booking.com. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.

If Yerevan hotel isn’t to your liking, try AirBnb. Airbnbs are immersed in neighborhoods, condos, and townhomes. There is a feeling you get when you stay in an Airbnb that makes you feel like you belong in that city or town. Since it is someone’s home, there is a certain amount of pride you feel while staying there. I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

If you’re new to AirBnB, then you can get up to 42 USD free travel credit by signing up via this link.

MY 3-DAY YEREVAN ITINERARY

DAY 1:

1st Stop: Republic Square

Republic Square is the heart of Yerevan–so what better way to start my Yerevan itinerary than visiting this beautiful complex. During the day at the Republic Square, you’ll be amazed at how picturesque the view of the buildings and fountains. At night, the Square even draws more crowds due to the dancing fountain program which starts from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Republic Square Yerevan — Republic Square | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
Nearest train station: Republic Square subway station

2nd Stop: History Museum of Armenia

Located at the Republic Square, the museum has some really impressive exhibits. Highlights include an ancient silver goblet (7th-6th BC), the world’s oldest shoe (5,500 years old) an ancient cart and some interesting khachkars. Sadly, photos are not allowed and they don’t have postcards of the artifacts.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour

3rd Stop: Freedom Square and the Armenian Opera Theater

Just 12 to 15-minute walk from the Republic Square is the Freedom Square. This is a very popular place for locals. If the opera is your thing, go and buy yourself a ticket to watch some theatric show at the Opera Theater. Nevertheless, the building is a beautiful huge plaza out front of people walking around and a nice place to hang out at, too.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour

4th Stop: Cascade Complex

This amazing site is only 10-12 minutes by foot from the Freedom Square. There are over 500 steps to the top of the Cascade but you’ll be pleased to know that 7 escalators inside will take you there without exerting yourself! Lovely views both during the day and at night when it is beautifully lit. The gardens and the waterfalls are very nice and the city overview.

Cascade Complex Yerevan — Cascade Complex | Dantravels.org

Video below shows a splendid view from the top of the Cascade Complex.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2-3 hours

5th Stop: Victory Park

After going up the Cascade, you can relax in this old attraction park. It only took me 5 minutes to reach this beautiful recreational park from the Cascade. Within this park, you visit this big statue of Mother Armenia right next to it that dominates the city. You can have a great view of Yerevan here as well. Definitely a must-visit place!

Victory Park Yerevan — Victory Park | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour

6th Stop: Statue of Mother Armenia

The statue of the mother of Armenia is probably the most iconic figure overlooking the city of Yerevan from atop the hill. The current statue replaces a monumental statue of General Secretary Joseph Stalin that was created as a victory memorial for World War II.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours

DAY 2:

7th Stop: Vernissage Market

Just a short walk from the Republic Square, you’ll find the Vernissage market. It is a large open-air market in Yerevan connecting Hanrapetutyun street with the Khanjyan street. In case you’re looking for souvenirs—come here as they have lots of different kinds of traditional Armenian art works and souvenirs to offer.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
Nearest train station: Republic Square subway station

8th Stop: St. Grigor Lusavoritch

From Vernissage, I reached St. Grigor Lusavoritch (St. Gregory The Illuminator) Cathedral in 10 minutes of walking. This church was built in 2001 to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of Armenia becoming a Christian country. It is beautiful both inside and out. There’s a little amusement park beside as well as an underground walk with small shops and a cafeteria so you can rest after seeing the cathedral.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
Nearest train station: Zoravar Andradik subway station

9th Stop: Matenadaran – The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts

I took the subway train from Zoravar Andradik station to Yeritasardakan station to reach Maternadaran. One of the most prominent landmarks of Yerevan is the Matenadaran, officially known as the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, —is a museum, repository of manuscripts, and a research institute in Yerevan, Armenia. It is named after Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet, whose statue stands in front of the building.

Matenadaran Museum — Matenadaran – The Museum of Ancient Manuscript | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
Nearest train station: Yeritasardakan subway station

10th Stop: Demirchyan Arena Complex at Tsitsernakaberd

From Barekamutyun subway station, I’ve walked some 1.6 km along Kievyan St. to reach Demirchyan Arena Complex. This complex is surrounded with so much green spaces of parks and gardens. If you walk straight up about 800 m, you’ll see the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Museum.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Nearest train station: Barekamutyun subway station

11th Stop: Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial Complex

The museum and memorial is one of the most important places to visit in Armenia–kind of like the 9-11 museum for Americans. It was built in 1967 to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Over the years, this has become a popular tourist spot not only here in Armenia but all over the world.

As a bonus, you can see a clear view of Mt. Ararat from this site. It is actually the highest peak in Turkey where Noah’s Ark was said to be found in 2010.

Mt. Ararat View — Mt. Ararat viewed from the Genocide Memorial Complex | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours

DAY 3:

12th Stop: Blue Mosque (Persian Mosque)

Just 10-12 minutes from the Republic Square, the Blue Mosque (or Persian Mosque) in Yerevan is one of the most popular sights in the Armenian capital city and one that definitely deserves to be visited when traveling to Yerevan. Inside the Mosque is very, very quiet and tranquil. Who would have known that a major road was just outside it.

Note: Women are required to wear a hijab inside the complex. You can borrow one at the main gate of the Mosque.

Blue Mosque Yerevan — Blue Mosque (Persian Mosque) | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Nearest train station: Republic Square subway station

13th Stop: Noy Yerevan Brandy Factory

Just walk 12 minutes from the Blue Mosque, you will notice the Noy Brandy sign from the Yerevan Brandy building. Unlike Yerevan Brandy, this does not need a reservation. Although I only had a quick stopover here, it is highly recommended for travelers to check this place out.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour

14th Stop: Yerevan Brandy Company

On the other side of the bridge is the Yerevan Brandy Company. Commonly known with its famous brand “ArArAt”, it is the leading enterprise of Armenia for the production of cognac. When you’re in Yerevan, you definitely need to visit its museum or at least get a close-up photo like I did! Haha! Feel free to book a museum tour here and enjoy a taste of authentic Armenian brandy.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours

15th Stop: Water Fountains at Shahumyan Square

Shahumyan Square, in downtown Yerevan, has a wonderful park connecting the City Hall with the Republic Square. I suggest you visit this place at night to see the colorful fountains. I can’t help but take photos of this new city attraction. These series of water jets forming a parabolic tunnel of fountains was my favorite.

Shahumyan Square Fountains — Water Fountains at Shahumyan Square | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Nearest train station: Republic Square subway station

What do you think of this 3-day Yerevan itinerary?

I hope that you find this 3-DAY YEREVAN ITINERARY useful! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section below.

RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS

In case you’re also looking for package tours to simply jumpstart your actual Yerevan itinerary, I highly recommend booking tours through Viator. See tours and packages I personally handpicked for you:

More Tours Here

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels.
- Airbnb. Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms! Sign up with my link to get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay.
Flights
- KAYAK. One of the world’s leading travel search engines.
Package Tours
- Viator. The best resource for researching and booking travel experiences worldwide.

The Armenia Visa On Arrival Guide (Crossing From Georgia to Armenia)

By Dan Forteza

Crossing the border from Georgia to Armenia was one of the best road trips of my life. Traveling between these two countries is bursting with untouched nature and offers breathtaking views. Since these countries lie next to each other with a distance of only 290 km (180 mi.) between their respective capital cities (Tbilisi, Georgia to Yerevan, Armenia), it was reasonable why a lot of travelers and backpackers usually prefer to do land trips including myself.

So in this blog, I’ll share with you my experience when I recently crossed the Georgia-Armenia border in October 2019 as well as the visa-on-arrival guide to Armenia.

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel–a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

DO YOU NEED A VISA FOR ARMENIA?

Depending on your nationality, you may or may not need a visa. See information below which category you fall in.

Free-Visa Countries

Holders of all types of passports from the following countries are not required to obtain a visa for entry to Armenia for a 180-day period within any year period (unless otherwise noted):

All European Union citizens, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Georgia, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iran (up to 90 days), Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Macau, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Tajikistan (up to 90 days), Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City

eVisa / Visa on arrival

Visitors traveling as tourists (except the countries listed below***) can obtain a visa on arrival (either 21 days at a cost of 3,000 AMD or 120 days at a cost of 15,000 AMD. They may also apply for an e-visa in advance (at least 3 business days before the trip.)

*** Restricted: All African countries (including St. Helena) except South Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Kosovo, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Vietnam, Yemen ***

Visa on arrival can be granted at following immigration checkpoints:

I. International airports and railway station: 1. Zvartnots International Airport (Yerevan), 2. Shirak Airport (Gyumri), 3. Ayrum railway station.

II. Land checkpoints: 1. Bagratashen (border with Georgia), 2. Bavra (border with Georgia), 3. Gogavan (border with Georgia), 4. Meghri (border with Iran).

WHICH IS BETTER: eVISA OR VISA ON ARRIVAL?

In my experience, it would be better if you go by visa-on-arrival. Getting a visa on arrival was quick and straightforward compared to an evisa wherein you need to fill up forms online.

I actually applied for an Armenian evisa two weeks before I cross the Georgia-Armenia border and unfortunately my visa application got DECLINED. They don’t disclose the reason why I got rejected. For me, it was just time-consuming and I only wasted my 6-dollar evisa fee (it’s nonrefundable.)

HOW TO TRAVEL FROM TBILISI TO YEREVAN?

There are different modes of transportation available to cross these two countries. You can either take a marshrutka (the term for minibus), ride on shared taxi, rent a private vehicle, or go for an overnight train. During my trip, I decided to go with the first two since these are more convenient and would result in lesser travel time.

To get from Tbilisi to Yerevan, you first have to find the Ortachala central bus station in Tbilisi. This station serves Southern Georgia, Kakheti region, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, and Greece.

Marshrutka for Tbilisi-Yerevan costs 30 GEL (Georgian Lari), at 08:20, 09:10, 10:00, 12:00, 15:00, 17:00.
Travel time: 6-7 hours (including stopovers and immigration checks)

NOTE: The staff speaks very limited English, and there are no English signs.

Location of Ortachala central bus station in Tbilisi | Dantravels.org

MY TRAVEL EXPERIENCE FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA

I arrived at Ortachala bus station at around 7:45 AM by bus #71. As I get off the bus, there are already men on the street offering me a ride to Yerevan. And my first question was ‘how much?’ They say marshrutka is priced 40 lari which is actually the same as the shared taxi. However, I wasn’t satisfied since I wanted to find the regular marshrutka which is only 30 lari per websites I’ve browsed through. Well, the men are quite pushy and there’s no one really I can formally ask where the regular marshrutka is. So I ended up going for the 40-lari shared taxi.

TAXI ROUTE: Tbilisi-Sadakhlo-Bagratashen-Ijevan-Dilijan-Sevan-Yerevan

If you’re going with marshrutka, make sure to ride on a vehicle with the sign “Epebah”, it is the Russian term for Yerevan.

Shared Taxi to Yerevan — My ride (shared taxi) | Dantravels.org

I was the first passenger so we’ve waited for three more people to get full. With two Belarussians (husband and wife) and one Iraqi-Canadian, we finally left at 8:20 AM.

REMINDER: Bring some food in case you got hungry on the way.

After an hour (9:25 AM to be exact), we’ve arrived at the border gate of Sadakhlo, the exit point for Georgia. We then headed to the passport control gate with our passports, have it stamped and went back to the vehicle. Our bags weren’t checked and were only kept on the vehicle. The whole process was quick and only took about 10 minutes.

Sadakhlo border gate, the exit point for Georgia | Dantravels.org

Next, we drove for about 5 minutes to reach Bagratashen, the entry point for Armenia. This time, we went down together with all of our backpacks and luggage. We went inside the room and was immediately guided by a lady in uniform. Since I am a Philippine passport holder, I was asked to get in line for the visa-on-arrival before proceeding to the passport control entry gate. There was a window with the sign “visa” in it.

HOW WAS PROCEDURE FOR THE ARMENIA VISA-ON-ARRIVAL?

It was quick and easy. There were only three people lining up on the visa counter. Once it was my turn, it took me only about 5 minutes to get my visa.

Withdraw cash. Before I lined up for the visa, I first withdrew some Armenian dram (AMD) as any other currencies are NOT accepted. Just beside the visa office, there was a small room with ATM as well as a money changer machine accepting dollar, euro and ruble only.
Get in line on the visa counter.
Hand over the passport and pay. As compared to applying for an eVisa, I didn’t fill up any form. I just handed the passport to the visa officer, answered his basic questions like ‘how many days will you stay in Armenia’, paid 3,000 AMD (6.29 USD), and signed a receipt.

NOTE: If you’re staying in Armenia for more than 21 days, you’ll have to pay 15,000 AMD which lets you stay a maximum of 120 days.

I actually paid the officer a 20,000 AMD banknote and provided me the exact amount of change. So don’t worry if you don’t have the exact amount of 3,000 AMD with you.

Get my passport with a visa sticker. After paying, he printed and stamped the visa on my passport. Then I was ready to line up at the passport check point gate.

VISA SUMMARY:

Visa Type: Tourist Visa
Entry type: Single Entry only
Visa Validity: 21 Days
Visa Fee: AMD 3,000 (USD 6.29)

Armenia visa sticker — Got my Armenia visa-on-arrival | Dantravels.org

ROADTRIP TO YEREVAN, ARMENIA:

I was officially in Armenia at exactly 9:50 AM. We then start driving towards Yerevan at around 10:00 AM.

While my road-trip Spotify playlist is on, I’ve seen the best part of land travels—passing by to some of the scenic views along the way. But I have to admit, the Armenian side has a lot of breathtaking views to offer. The greenery decorating the streets of Armenia (including its forest and hillsides) transitions in color to red, yellow and orange. Slowly the surrounding changes into a colorful paradise.

Read also my itinerary and travel guide in Yerevan, Armenia.

We also had two or three stopovers for gas and air refills.

At 1:30 PM, we made a stopover for lunch at Semo-i Mot (a restaurant complex on the coast of Lake Sevan–biggest lake in Armenia).

Lunch at Lake Sevan — Our lunch at Semo-i Mot in Sevan, Armenia | Dantravels.org

At around 2:00 PM, we continued driving from Sevan to Yerevan.

Finally, we’ve Arrived in downtown Yerevan at around 3:00 PM.

If you intend to NOT pay other than the 40-lari taxi basefare, please ensure you made it clear with the driver to NOT drop you off at your hotel/hostels, otherwise he’ll ask for your hotel address and drop you off there with an additional fee–I paid 2,000 AMD (4.20 USD) in this regard. Please also note that the driver doesn’t speak English much.

RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS

I hope that you find this CROSSING THE BORDER FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA blog useful!

In case you’re also looking for package tours simply jumpstart your actual itinerary, I highly recommend booking tours through Viator which is perfect for your Armenian itinerary. See tours and packages I personally handpicked for you:

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section below.

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com. Thus, I recommend you guys trying it. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.
- Airbnb. Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms in either Tbilisi or Yerevan! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!

Sign up with my Airbnb link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay.

Flights
- KAYAK. One of the world’s leading travel search engines. I suggest you check Kayak as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other sites.
Travel Insurance
- World Nomads. If you don’t have travel insurance when times get tough, basically you are screwed. Traveling always comes with inherent risks. I highly recommend World Nomads for medical costs, property loss, and travel issues.

4-Day Tehran Itinerary And Travel Guide: Best Places To See On A Budget

By Dan Forteza

Iran’s exceptional artistic heritage and the incredibly hospitable and friendly people make visiting the land of Ancient Persia a fascinating experience. I visited Iran for the first time last September 2019 and my visit in Tehran was truly unforgettable. So without further ado, let me share with you my 4-day Tehran itinerary with travel guides which include Tehran’s top attractions specifically for budget travelers.

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

At the Negarestan Museum | Dantravels.org

Aside from Tehran, I also went to Damavand City (east of Tehran) wherein a Couchsurfer hosted me for a night. I will be creating a separate blog about my memorable experience in Damavand for sure!

DO YOU NEED A VISA?

Depending on your nationality, you might or might not need a visa. Check out my Iran visa guide to check if you’re legible for an e-visa or visa on arrival or no visa at all.

OTHER REMINDERS:

Bring CASH!

IMPORTANT: Bring CASH in either USD or Euro. Take note that Mastercard or Visa and the likes are not accepted in any of Iran’s ATM. Before you go to Iran, make sure you have some cash with you in either USD or Euro. While I was in Bangkok, I immediately bought some dollar cash. Then you can easily exchange you cash to rial in Tehran specifically in Ferdowsi avenue.

COVER yourself!

IMPORTANT: If you’re a woman, a headscarf is required in Iran. So make sure you put your scarf on once you get off the plane. Regardless of gender, wearing long pants are preferred. It is not illegal to wear shorts but it is not usual (people might stare at you.)

WHERE IS TEHRAN?

Tehran is the capital and most populous city in Iran. It is located to the north of the central plateau of Iran. It is a 3-hour flight away from Istanbul, roughly a 3 ½-hour flight away from either Dubai or Moscow, and about 5 hours from Frankfurt.

Language: Farsi (Persian)
Currency: Iranian Rial (IRR)*
Airport: IKA, THR
Preferred mode of transportation: Metro Train / Subway
Time Zone: GMT +3 ½

*Although the “toman” is no longer an official unit of the Iranian currency, Iranians commonly express amounts of money and prices of goods in tomans. (1 toman = 10 rial.)

NOTE: The exchange rate you see on Google.com for Iranian Rial is not very accurate. When I was in Iran, the exchange rate on the street of Tehran is in the range of 110,000-114,000 rials for every US dollar vs 42,102 rials for every US dollar per Google rate. Again, Ferdowsi is the famous avenue where you can find several shops to exchange your dollars.

FLIGHTS TO TEHRAN:

Finding a cheap flight ticket to Tehran, Iran from the Middle East is relatively easy. I booked mine coming from Colombo, Sri Lanka with a layover at Muscat’s airport in Oman. My flight carrier was Oman Air.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

HOW TO GET AROUND?

Subways are the best way to get around Tehran. But as I mentioned in my budget travel tips blog – “walk as much as you can!“

One-way subway ticket normally just costs 15,000 rial (0.12 USD). Very cheap!

Go with Taxis if not accessible by subways. In general, you can get 3 kinds of taxis in Iran or better say, Tehran: Getting a Darbast (private taxi) in the street, getting a normal shuttle or shared taxi in the street, calling a taxi using Snapp (Iranian Uber).

HOW I GOT TO THE CITY:

I arrived at Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) at around 3:40 AM from a 3 ½-hour flight from Muscat, Oman. I then headed to the visa section hall to process my Iran visa-on-arrival. The whole visa process took about 40 minutes to complete.

After passing through the border check gate, I met a friend of mine (Mohsen) who was waiting for me at the exit of the arrival area. He drove me to my hostel in downtown Tehran. It was around 6:00 in the morning when we arrived there.

In case you don’t have a ride like mine (haha!), you can take either a taxi or subway (airport to downtown) which I personally prefer. Subways normally start to operate at 7:00 AM. One-way subway ticket normally just costs 15,000 rial (0.12 USD). Very cheap, right?

WHERE DID I STAY?

Tehran Heritage Hostel (click here to book)
- Hostel room type: Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
- Hostel rate: 7 – 8 USD per night
- Hostel also offers FREE breakfast!!!
- Nearest subway tation: Baharestan station

FREE breakfast at Tehran Heritage Hostel | Dantravels.org

NOTE: I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com but it looks like Tehran’s hostels/hotels are not available in Booking.com neither in Agoda, so I used HostelWorld. Just like Booking.com, they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.

Book HOSTELWORLD here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

MY 4-DAY TEHRAN ITINERARY

DAY 1:

1st Stop: Azadi Tower

Starting off the day with one of the most iconic landmarks of Iran is this tower in Tehran. This is the Azadi Tower and is easily accessible by the subway at Azadi Square station.

Azadi Tower from my Tehran itinerary — Azadi Tower | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2-3 hours
Nearest train station: Azadi Square station.

2nd Stop: Tabiat Bridge

Tabiat Bridge is the largest pedestrian overpass in Tehran. The 270-meter (890 ft) bridge connects two public parks — Taleghani Park and Abo-Atash Park — by spanning Modarres Expressway. From Shahid Haqqani station, I took a 10-minute hike along the Taleghani Park to reach the bridge.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Nearest train station: Shahid Haqqani station

3rd Stop: Milad Tower

Standing at 435 meters, Milad Tower is the tallest man-made structure in Iran. I took this photo while crossing the footbridge near Medan-e Sana’t station.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Nearest train station: Medan-e Sana’t station

DAY 2:

4th Stop: Theater Building

After the heavy breakfast c/o Tehran Heritage Hostel (my hostel), I headed to the City Theater subway station to see this famous Theater Buiding in Tehran.

Tehran's Theater Buiding — Tehran’s Theater Buiding | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1 hour
Nearest train station: City Theater station

5th Stop: Laleh Park

Did you know that I walked 2 km to get here? Though the weather was hot, that long-distance doesn’t seem noticeable when you’re having fun walking and wandering the city of Tehran. With the help of my pre-downloaded Google Maps, I’ve reached this beautiful green area (from the City Theatre Building) which is, by the way, one of the biggest parks in Tehran.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2-3 hours
Nearest train station: Meydan-e Enghelab-e Islami station

6th Stop: Saint Sarkis Cathedral

Iran is obviously an Islamic country, but believe it or not, there are few Christian Churches here as well. I went to the Saint Sarkis Catherdral to see it for myself. As soon as I enter the gate of the church, an old man called me while signaling his hand for me to come inside the church. It was beautiful inside. Calm and serene. I sit there for a while and prayed. (I was born Catholic by the way in case you’re wondering.)

To get there: I again took the subway and get off at Meydan-e Vale Asr. Then I just walked 10-15 minutes to reach this church.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
Nearest train station: Meydan-e Vale Asr station

7th Stop: Honarmandan Park or Artists Park

Another recreational area with lushed green trees is the Honarmandan Park or Artists Park in Tehran. It is considered as a very important cultural and artistic location in Tehran. It is about 11-15 min by foot from Saint Sarkis Cathedral.

Honarmandan Park or Artists Park | Dantravels.org

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Nearest train station: Meydan-e Vale Asr station

8th Stop: Negarestan Museum and Garden

Negarestan Art Gallery Museum and its garden! My newfound friend Mojtaba (from my Instagram post) took me here. He even paid for my museum ticket which cost 200,000 rials (1.8 USD). This museum is close to my hostel in Baharestan.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Nearest train station: Baharestan station

DAY 3:

9th Stop: TAJRISH BAZAAR

I started the morning going up north of Tehran at Tajrish and its Bazaar. Tajrish Bazaar is a great place to see how traditional markets look like in Tehran, from fresh fruits and vegetables to piles of Safran, traditional sweets, all kinds of herbs, olives, home-made sauces, and bizarre stuff.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2 hours
Nearest train station: Tajrish station

10th Stop: Jamshidiyeh Park

From Tarjish, I went further up north to Jamshidiyeh Park. Also known as Stone Garden, Jamshidiyeh Park climbs steeply up the lower reaches of the Alborz Mountains. What a beautiful park!

How to get up there: I went by taxi from Tarjish. Taxi is the only transportation option to get you there. COST of taxi (one way): 200,000 rials (1.8 USD). How to get down: I was in the mode of walking so I went for a stroll down the street of Omidvar till I reach the bigger street of Bahonar. From Bahonar, I took the bus going to Tajrish which saved me some cash instead of going by taxi. COST of bus (w/ hike; one way): 15,000 rials (0.13 USD).

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2-3 hours
Nearest train station: Tajrish station (need a taxi to get there)

11th Stop: Darband

Another great place to see near Tarjish is Darband. Aside from its cooler weather, Darband offers expensive-looking restaurants and a nice trekking route complete with rivers and waterfalls. For me, this place feels too touristy and the food is pricey, too. So I’d rather eat my “chicken with rice” again down the avenue near Laleh Park haha! How to get there: I took a taxi from Tarjish. If you have strong legs for a 3-km hike, go for it and hike up! COST of taxi: 150,000 rials (1.4 USD).

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2-3 hours
Nearest train station: Tajrish station

DAY 4:

12th Stop: Tehran’s National Garden (Bagh Melli)

The National Garden is a historical and governmental compound in Tehran, Iran. Formerly referred to as the Parade Square, it used to be a military shooting range during the Qajar period. It was then turned into a public park for a short period, and eventually important governmental offices and museums were built around it.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
Nearest train station: Emam Khomeini station

13th Stop: Golestan Palace

Visiting Tehran will not be complete without seeing the Golestan Palace as it is one of the oldest historic monuments in the city of Tehran. The complex of Golestan Palace consists of 17 structures, including palaces, museums, and halls. The palace is just a short walk from the National Garden.

The admission ticket costs 150,000 rials and there are several add-ons to see as well such as Main Palace (310,000 rials), Howz Khaneh (80,000 rials), Edifice of the Sun (80,000 rials), Wind Tower (80,000 rials), Ethnology Museum (80,000 rials), Halls of Diamonds (80,000 rials), Marble Throne (80,000 rials). As for me, I only purchased the admission ticket just for the sake of telling myself I’ve seen it before leaving Tehran.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 3-4 hours
Nearest train station: Emam Khomeini or Kayyam station

14th Stop: Tehran Grand Bazaar

Grand Bazaar is considered the heart of the business of Tehran. So many shops here at Tehran Grand Bazaar! This is something not to be missed in Tehran.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 1-2 hours
Nearest train station: Kayyam station

15th Stop: BAM-E, TEHRAN

Bam-e Tehran (also known as The Roof of Tehran) is a place located in the north of Tehran where you can go to have a fair view of the city. You can walk through the walking path – it has a mild slope or gets on the available inexpensive bus to get there. There are kiosks and food stalls along the way and at the end of the path.

My friend Mohsen and his wife took me here by car before I leave Iran the next day for Georgia.

Duration (getting there + visiting): 2-3 hours
Nearest train station: Tajrish station (need a taxi to get there)

What do you think of this 4-day TEHRAN itinerary?

I hope that you find this 4-DAY TEHRAN ITINERARY useful!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment section below.

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel / Hostel
- HostelWorld. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com but looks like Tehran’s hostels/hotels are not available in Booking.com neither in Agoda, so I used HostelWorld. Just like Booking.com, they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.
Flights
- KAYAK. All of my flight bookings are all from KAYAK. Kayak is one of the world’s leading travel search engines and searches hundreds of travel sites.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

How To Get An Iran Visa On Arrival (Best Visa Guide Updated)

By Dan Forteza

I visited Iran in September 2019 and managed to get my Iran visa on arrival with no issues at Imam Khomeini International Airport (in Tehran). The beautiful and hospitable Middle Eastern country has been growing in popularity for tourists, and the government is making it simpler for people to visit. Here is my guide on how to get a visa on arrival for Iran.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR AN IRAN VISA ON ARRIVAL?

Holders of normal passports traveling as tourists can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days (extendable) at major international airports. Note: As of 2026, eligibility is subject to the latest MFA regulations, and most nationalities (including the Philippines) remain eligible for VOA.

Bandar Abbas International Airport
Isfahan International Airport
Kish International Airport
Mashhad International Airport
Qeshm International Airport
Shiraz International Airport
Tabriz International Airport
Imam Khomeini International Airport (Tehran)
Mehrabad International Airport (Tehran)

Visa Policy Map | Wikipedia.org — Visa Policy Map in Iran | Wikipedia.org

IMPORTANT RESTRICTIONS

Visa on arrival is NOT applicable to nationals of the following countries, who must obtain a visa in advance:

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan, Somalia, UK, and USA.

Escort Requirement: UK, Canadian, and US citizens are required to be escorted by a government-approved guide at all times. Independent travel for these citizens is not permitted.

Israel: Citizens of Israel are banned from entry. Passports containing Israeli stamps (issued within the last year) will result in denied entry.

WHAT YOU NEED FOR AN IRAN VOA (TEHRAN)

Have these items printed rather than just on your phone:

Onward Transport: A confirmed flight ticket out of Iran. Airlines at your departure point (like Oman Air) often check this before boarding.
Accommodation: A confirmed booking for at least your first night. I recommend HostelWorld for Iran, as Booking.com and Agoda often don’t list Iranian properties.
Travel Insurance: Must explicitly mention coverage for “Iran.” If yours doesn’t, you can buy it at the airport for approximately 15-20 EUR.

No Stamping Policy: To ease concerns about US sanctions, Iran no longer stamps passports or affixes physical stickers. Your visa is handled digitally/electronically.

GET YOUR IRAN VISA IN 5 EASY STEPS

STEP 1: GO TO THE VISA SECTION

After landing, head to the “Visa Section” before immigration. Tip: Women must wear a headscarf upon exiting the plane, and long pants are preferred for all genders.

STEP 2: PURCHASE INSURANCE

If you don’t have a printed insurance policy that mentions Iran, buy one at the counter. As of 2026, the fee is roughly 18-20 Euro.

STEP 3: FILL OUT THE FORM

Complete the basic info (Address in Iran, occupation, etc.). Pro-tip: If you are a blogger, consider listing your formal profession (like Engineer) to avoid unnecessary questions.

STEP 4: PAY THE FEE

Pay the fee in Cash (Euros or USD). For Philippine passport holders, the fee is approximately 65 USD (inclusive of bank commission). Remember: Foreign debit/credit cards do not work in Iran.

STEP 5: WAIT FOR YOUR NAME

Wait 20-30 minutes for processing. Once called, you will receive your passport back. Since there is no stamp, you can proceed directly to immigration.

SUMMARY:

Visa Type: Tourist Visa
Validity: 30 Days
Visa Fee: ~65.00 USD (for Philippines)
Insurance Fee: ~18.00 Euro

Check Cheap Flights on KAYAK

2-Day Colombo Itinerary (Sri Lanka) And Travel Guide On A Budget

By Dan Forteza

Deciding what to do and what to see in Colombo, Sri Lanka depends on how much time you have (and your budget as well.) If you only have 2 days in Colombo (like me…) but surely don’t want to miss those must-see places in this beautiful city, this is for you. In this blog, I’ve put together the perfect 2-day Colombo itinerary, specifically for budget travelers, which includes Colombo’s top attractions.

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

DO YOU NEED A VISA?

Depending on your nationality, you might or might not need a visa. Check out my Sri Lankan visa guide to check if you’re eligible for an e-visa or visa on arrival or no visa at all.

WHERE IS COLOMBO?

Colombo is a city located on the western coast of the island country of Sri Lanka. It is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka. It is a 3 ½-hour flight away from either Bangkok or Delhi, about 4 hours away from Singapore and, 4 ½ hours away from Dubai.

Language: Sinhala, Tamil
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Airport: Bandaranaike International (CMB)
Preferred mode of transportation: Tuktuk or Uber Tuktuk, Bus
Time Zone: GMT +4 ½

HOW I GOT THERE:

Finding a cheap flight ticket to Colombo, Sri Lanka from Southeast and South Asia is relatively easy (and cheap, too!) I booked mine coming from Bangkok, Thailand.

I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.

HOW TO GET AROUND?

Tuktuk – Also known as a tri-shaw, Tuktuk is a three-wheeled vehicle which I think is the best way to get around Colombo. But as I mentioned in my budget travel tips blog – “walk as much as you can!“.

Many three-wheelers have meters and some can be booked through Uber App. Some drivers, however, will try to not use the meter or won’t have one. Avoid meter-free three-wheelers or agree to a firm price before setting out. I even got victimized by just agreeing with meter-free Tuktuk (haha!) and I paid 3 to 4 times its normal price.

Uber Tuktuk – Ensure you have an Uber mobile app to book your ride.
Private Tuktuk – There are so many Tuktuk drivers in the city who will ask you for a private tuk-tuk tour. I think it’s okay, I got mine for only 200 LKR (1.10 USD) and the driver took me to 3-4 different famous places in Colombo.
City Buses – The best way to find out which bus to take is just to ask people at the nearest stop. They are way cheaper than Tuktuk.

HOW I GOT TO THE CITY:

I arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at around 9:30 AM from a 3 ½-hour flight from Bangkok. The first thing I looked for at the airport was the ATM to withdraw some Rupees. Then you can also purchase a sim card with mobile internet data to help you navigate the city.

First, a little heads up, when stepping out of the arrival hall at the airport, you will probably be “attacked” by drivers looking for new customers. They can be quite pushy, so keep calm.

Next, I looked for the bus going to downtown Colombo. I found a minibus parked on the road just a short walk from the airport’s arrival exit.

Bus fare from the airport to downtown Colombo: 300 LKR (1.65 USD)
Travel time: 1-2 hours (depending on traffic)

Minibus from Airport to Colombo City | Dantravels.org

WHERE DID I STAY?

The hostel I booked is located in the city center. From the bus terminal, I just walk about 20 minutes to reach my hostel. It is close to the Lakehouse building.

Colombo Downtown Monkey Backpacker’s Hostel: (book here)
- Room type: Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
- Rate: 6 USD per night

Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel 1 — Colombo Downtown Monkey Backpacker’s Hostel | Dantravels.org

Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel 2 — Colombo Downtown Monkey Backpacker’s Hostel | Dantravels.org

Colombo Downtown Monkey Hostel 3 — Colombo Downtown Monkey Backpacker’s Hostel | Dantravels.org

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

MY 2-DAY COLOMBO ITINERARY

DAY 1:

1st Stop: Murugan Hindu Temple

Formally known as the Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil, this is the oldest and largest Hindu temple in Colombo and is dedicated to the Gods Shiva and Ganesh. A visit is a must and is included in most Colombo tours. Its monumental towers, with hundreds of colorful ornaments, will delight your eyes.

Murugan Hindu Temple in Colombo — Murugan Hindu Temple | Dantravels.org

Duration: 1 hour

2nd Stop: Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple

This temple is huge and takes about 45 minutes – 1 hour to look around. There are Buddha statues all around the temple and the various rooms. My favorite was the Tiny Buddha encased by a miniature glass dome whose face can be seen very clearly through the magnifying disc—it is supposedly the world’s smallest Buddha statue.

Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple in Colombo — Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple | Dantravels.org

Duration: 1-2 hours
Cost: 300 LKR (1.65 USD) per tourist

3rd Stop: Seema Malakaya Temple

Also known as Lakeside Buddhist temple, Seema Malakaya is situated at the center of Baira lake. This is one of the most photographed landmarks in Colombo.

NOTE: The 300-LKR-ticket for Gangaramaya also covers the ticket fee for Seema Malaka Temple if you visit them on the same day.

Lakeside Buddhist Temple in Colombo — Lakeside Buddhist Temple | Dantravels.org

Duration: 1-2 hours
Cost: Included with Gangaramaya ticket

4th Stop: Independence Square

The Independence Square is where independence from the British colonization was celebrated in 1948. Now this place stands as a recreation area for the public to relax and take photos. There’s also the famous Independence Memorial Hall, so make sure you check it out.

Independence Square in my Colombo itinerary — Independence Square | Dantravels.org

Duration: 1-2 hours

DAY 2:

5th Stop: Lotus Tower

Lotus Tower is the latest iconic landmark of Sri Lanka. It includes a rotating restaurant, hotel, and broadcasting stations. If you are a visitor, don’t forget to add this iconic location to your wish list for some great selfies.

Lotus Tower in Colombo — Lotus Tower | Dantravels.org

Duration: 1 hour

6th Stop: Galle Face Green

Galle Face Green is an urban park on the ocean side. Locals call it “Colombo’s front lawn,” and it comes to life in the late afternoon with kids flying kites, lovers overlooking the ocean, and stalls selling delicious seafood snacks.

Duration: 1-2 hours

7th Stop: Colombo Municipal Council Hall

Located in front of Viharamahadevi Park, this building is often called “the White House” due to its resemblance to the US building. It is the office of the Mayor and a major striking landmark in the city center.

Duration: 1 hour

8th Stop: ViharamaDevi Park & Buddha Statue

The biggest park in Colombo, situated right opposite the Municipal Council Hall. It features well-landscaped gardens, lotus ponds, fountains, and a golden image of Buddha. It’s a perfect place for leisure activities.

Duration: 1-2 hours

What do you think of this 2-day COLOMBO itinerary?

I hope that you find this guide useful! If you have more days to spend in Sri Lanka, consider these package tours:

More Tours Here

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotels: Booking.com (I recommend this for free cancellation options).
Flights: KAYAK (Best for finding cheap fare rates).
Tours: Viator (Leading resource for travel experiences).

Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with this link and you will get up to 42 USD off your first stay!

7-Day China Itinerary With Guide + Budget (Pinoy Solo Traveler)

By Dan Forteza

Although China is a massive country, I have always kind-of known where to go if ever I visit Mainland China someday. And that someday happened last November!

Because most economy flights from Manila fly to Shanghai and Beijing, it’s pretty easy to jumpstart a traveler’s China itinerary in either of these two Chinese cities. My travel itinerary, you ask? It’s Shanghai – Zhangjiajie – Beijing – and back to Shanghai!

And I made it all happened in only 7 days!

With my detailed day-to-day expenses included also in this blog, I’m sure budget travelers will find very helpful to estimate their overall travel cost when traveling to Mainland China.

Dan Travels to Great Wall of China — The Great Wall of China | Dantravels.org

Hi there! First of all, I am Daniel – a solo backpacker from the Philippines. If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about how I quit my job in order to travel. This article was also featured on TripZilla Philippines.

DO YOU NEED A VISA?

First things first–do you need a visa to travel to China?

NOTE: China we know today is formally known as the People’s Republic of China. Don’t confuse it with the Republic of China which is another term for Taiwan.

If you’re also a Philippine Passport holder, you need to secure a Chinese tourist visa first.

Read my blog on how to get your Chinese tourist visa for Filipinos.

If you’re from another country, you might want to check first the visa policy of China to verify whether you need a visa or not.

CHINA 🇨🇳

Language: Chinese (Mandarin)
Capital City: Beijing
Currency: Chinese Yuan (CNY, RMB)
Int’l Airports in this trip: PVG, DYG, PEK, SHA
Preferred mode of transportation: Flights, Trains, Metro
Time Zone: GMT +8

MY CHINESE MAP ITINERARY

1ST STOP: Shanghai – It is the most populous urban area in China and the second-most populous city proper in the world. Shanghai is a global center for finance, innovation and transportation and the Port of Shanghai is the world’s busiest container port.

2ND STOP: Zhangjiajie – It contains the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area which was a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. One of the park’s quartz-sandstone pillars, the 1,080-metre (3,540 ft) Southern Sky Column, was officially renamed “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain” in honor of the movie Avatar in January 2010.

3RD STOP: Beijing – It is the world’s most populous capital city, with over 21 million residents. Beijing is an important world capital and global power city, and one of the world’s leading centers for culture, diplomacy, and politics, business and economy, education, language, and science and technology.

HOW I GOT TO CHINA

Finding a cheap flight ticket to Japan from the Asia-Pacific region is easy breezy. In my case, I got “piso fare” promo round trip flight tickets from Cebu Pacific!

Here were my flight + train itineraries with costs:

Flight Roundtrip, Cebu Pacific: Manila (PHL) – Shanghai (CHN) – Manila (PHL) [$42.24]
Train: Shanghai (CHN) – Zhangjiajie (China) [$35]
Flight, Air China: Zhangjiajie (CHN) – Beijing (CHN) [$105.24]
Flight, Juneyao Airlines: Beijing (CHN) – Shanghai (CHN) [$70.21]
Subtotal: $252.69

If you’re also coming from the Philippines (or wherever in the world actually), I suggest you check Kayak as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites. Per my experience, they’re the best!

WHERE DID I STAY IN CHINA

PVG Shanghai airport waiting area — I spent my first night in China in this Airport lounge | Dantravels.org

Tujia Impression Inn in Zhangjiajie | Dantravels.org

Beijing hostel — Beijing Alley International Youth Hostel | Dantravels.org

My Room Accommodations:

Shanghai, China: (Note: I basically slept at PVG airport’s waiting area upon arrival and then went to downtown Shanghai the next morning.)
Zhangjiajie, China: Tujia Impression Inn (Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory)
Beijing, China: Beijing Alley International Youth Hostel (Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory)

You can book a room at any hotel in Japan through Agoda or Booking.com. I usually book my room accommodations through booking.com. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.

If you’re new to AirBnB, then you can get up to 43 USD free travel credit by signing up via this link

Book AGODA here

Book BOOKING.com here

Get AIRBNB $43 free credit

MY 7-DAY CHINA ITINERARY with EXPENSES

NOTE: I created a more detailed itinerary and guide of my trips to Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, and Beijing. Each has a separate blog as listed on the link below.

DAY 1: DOWNTOWN SHANGHAI

Day 1: Somewhere in Nanjing road (via Nanjing East subway station.)

The Bund and the skyline of Shanghai — Day 1: The Bund and the impressive skyline of Shanghai.

Classical architecture near The Bund — Day 1: Some classical architecture near The Bund in Shanghai.

Crossing Huangpu River — Day 1: The moment I crossed the Huangpu River via this boat behind me.

CNY 200 – Sim card, 10GB data, see note 1
CNY 7 – Subway: Pudong Airport (PVG) station to Nanjing East station
CNY 5 – Bottled Water
CNY 2 – Ferry boat
CNY 8 – Subway: Metro Shanghai station to South Shanghai Railway station
CNY 10 – 2x Bottled Water
Subtotal: CNY 232 [$32.6]

NOTE 1: Unfortunately Google, Facebook, Instagram and other American-based social media / websites are blocked in mainland China. If you’re like me who likes to access Instagram and Facebook on-the-go, you can use a VPN app. When I was in China, I used “Betternet” which has free trial for the first 7 days. I just canceled it before my 7-day trial ended haha!

NOTE 2: My Chinese friend, Peng, toured me around on my first day in China. We later met again on my last day, the day I returned to Shanghai.

NOTE 3: I brought some snacks from the Philippines such as bread, oreos and even kiat kiat oranges that’s why you probably would notice I haven’t bought any food on my first day in China. Plus, Peng also treat me out for lunch on this day!

NOTE 4: At around 6 PM, I went to the railway station to aboard on the railway train going to Zhangjiajie which took 20+ hours!

DAY 2: EN ROUTE TO ZHANGJIAJIE

Day 2: Hard seat class train to Zhangjiajie — Day 2: This is the ‘hard seat’ class of the train where I spent most of my 2nd day in China.

Arriving at Zhangjiajie Railway station — Day 2: The moment I arrived in Zhangjiajie Railway station at around 3 PM.

CNY 156 – Hostel: 2 Night stay
CNY 4.5 – Food: Instant noodles
CNY 3 – Bottled water
Subtotal: CNY 163.5 [$23]

NOTES:

1 – This was a 20+ hour journey. But you’d be awed with the amazing and scenic views on your way to Zhangjiajie!

2 – There are also other types of train classes ( e.g., sleeper class: the one where you can lie down and sleep comfortably,) but comes with a price. Personally, I preferred to go with this one they call “hard seat” class since I’m on a budget. You can book your train ticket here.

3 – The train ticket fee is already accounted for in my flight + train ticket itinerary cost above.

DAY 3: WULINGYAN NATIONAL FOREST PARK

Floating mountains of Zhangjiajie — Day 3: The famous floating mountains of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

10-Mile Gallery peaks — Day 3: The ’10-Mile Gallery’ peaks of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Day 3: Avatar Hallelujah Mountain in Yuanjiajie.

Cable car to Tianzi Mountain — Day 3: The cable car ride to the Tianzi Mountain peak.

Day 3: The Yubi Peak in Tianzi Mountain.

Day 3: The Bailong elevator: claimed to be the highest and heaviest outdoor elevator in the world.

CNY 20 – Minibus: Zhangjiajie city terminal to Wulingyuan
CNY 245 – Fee: Park Entrance ticket price
CNY 38 – Fee: Trolley Ticket to the ’10-Mile Gallery’ peaks
CNY 72 – Fee: Cable Car to Tianzi mountain (one way)
CNY 5 – 2x Bottled water
CNY 72 – Fee: Bailong elevator (one way)
CNY 20 – Minibus: Wulingyuan to Zhangjiajie city center
CNY 4 – Food: Instant noodles
Subtotal: CNY 476 [$67]

NOTES:

1 – Ticket Price of CNY 245 is valid for 4 days. This includes bus rides inside the park as well as insurance. Apparently, there are additional fees for other attractions inside Zhajiajie National Forest Park such trolley, cable car and elevator rides.

DAY 4: TIANMEN MOUNTAIN

Tianmen mountain view — Day 4: Breathtaking view from the top of Tianmen mountain

Hanging Bridge Tianmen — Day 4: The Hanging Bridge

Day 4: Tianmen Cave & The ‘999 Steps To Heaven’

CNY 261 – Fee: Entrance ticket to Tianmen Mountain Park
CNY 5 – Fee: Luggage storage
CNY 5 – Fee: Glass walkway
CNY 15 – Food: Hotdog, corn
CNY 3 – Bottled water
CNY 10 – Food: Oranges
CNY 9 – Food: 2x Cup noodles
CNY 1 – Bus to Zhangjiajie-Hehua airport
Subtotal: CNY 309 [$43.5]

NOTES:

1 – Ticket Price of CNY 261 includes the cableway ride and bus ride. Valid for one day only.

2 – To get there: just simply find the ticketing office of the Tianmen Mountain in the Zhangjiajie downtown. Once you have your ticket, you can reach the mountain by either bus or cablecar.

3 – Later that day (around 5 PM), I went to Zhangjiajie-Hehua airport to catch my flight to Beijing, China.

DAY 5: DAY TOUR TO THE GREAT WALL

Day 5: Group Great Wall Hiking Tour from Jinshanling to Simatai West.

Day 5: The famous Peking Roast Duck at Nanluo St.

CNY 110 – Taxi: Beijing Airport (PEK) to hostel
USD 54 – Tour fee to Jinshanling Great Wall (booked in advance)
CNY 18.5 – Food: hiking snacks
CNY 30 – Peking Roast Duck at Nanluo St.
CNY 3 – Metro to Dongsi station
Subtotal: CNY 161.5 + USD 54 [$76.8]

DAY 6: DOWNTOWN BEIJING

CNY 40 – Fee: Imperial Palace Entrance
CNY 5 – Fee: Beihai Park Entrance
CNY 42 – Food: Rice, snacks, and water
CNY 15 – Metro fares throughout the day
CNY 25 – Airport Express to Beijing Airport
Subtotal: CNY 154 [$21.7]

DAY 7: BACK TO SHANGHAI, THEN RETURN TO PHL

Friend Peng in Shanghai — Day 7: My good friend Peng from Shanghai.

CNY 28 – Metro fares (Airport/Century Park/Lujiazui)
CNY 10 – Fee: Century Park entrance
CNY 24 – Food and Baggage Locker
Subtotal: CNY 62 [$8.7]

And there you have it!

Including the flight costs, here is the overall total of my expenses in China for one week:

TOTAL: $252.69 (flights + railway ticket) + $273.3 (daily costs)

TOTAL: $526.0

RECOMMENDED TOUR PACKAGES

If you have more days to spend in China, you might consider these cool package tours:

More Tours Here

BOOKING ESSENTIALS

Hotel: Booking.com (Free cancellation options)
Flights: KAYAK (Best for cheap rates)
Trains: Travel China Guide

Sign up for AirBnB via this link to get up to 43 USD free travel credit!