India
Besides the colour, the food, the characters, the temples and the sheer exhilaration of India, the fact that you can eat and sleep for well under Dh70 a day makes it an obvious destination for backpackers on a tight budget.
There are plenty of established routes around the country for backpackers to follow, so it's easy to make friends and find transport. My route took me from Mumbai to Goa to Delhi to Rishikesh to Dharamsala (right).
It was just a fraction of the country, but given the savings in costs, I could spend longer in India than in most countries on the planet. Consider that a lunch of delicious curry will cost as little as Dh4 and you get a sense of just how far your dirhams can take you.
Bolivia
It's the poorest country in South America and yet it has some of the continent's most breathtaking landscapes. Hop on the Gringo Trail to the world's highest navigable lake, Titicaca. Or explore the winding markets of dusty La Paz, the world's highest capital.
There's rich history at the silver mines of Potosi, or head south to the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt desert. In this otherworldly landscape, you'll find bright red and green mineral lakes, flamingos, llamas, rock formations and steaming volcanoes. Everywhere you look is a photograph. Landlocked Bolivia might be the poor man of the continent but it is a treasure for the traveller.
Nicaragua
Central America has stabilised since the 1980s, both economically and politically. Today the region offers great value for the budget-conscious traveller. Guatemala is very cheap but I love returning to Nicaragua. The country has beautiful beaches, some unusual activities (volcano boarding, anyone?) and all the cobblestone colonial charm you'll find in other, pricier Latin American countries.
Managua does not have the fierce reputation of other capital cities in the region, and backpackers will relish swimming under the stars in the warm freshwater at the outstanding Crater's Edge Hostel in Laguna De Apoyo.
Laos
South East Asia offers plenty of bang for the backpacker buck. Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam have tremendous value but landlocked Laos is a true jewel. Poor yet friendly, unassuming yet beautiful, the country has its challenges — roads, funny money, infrastructure — but offers wonderful rewards too.
The Buddhist temples and monks of Luang Prabang sparkle, the capital of Vientiane is a modern city evolving, the Plain of Jars has history and mystery, and Vang Vieng has become a backpacker Cancun. Floating down the Mekong River on a rubber tube for hours is a lazy way to pass the day, and with its rock bottom prices, there's no rush to move anywhere else in a hurry.
Lithuania
Europe is expensive. I've paid Dh150 for a dorm bed in Vienna and Paris. Head north to the Baltics, however, and you'll find the charm of Europe - the cobblestone, the cafés, the medieval churches, high cheek-boned locals and beautiful rolling countryside — all for a fraction of the price.
Lithuania, cheaper than Estonia or Latvia, seems like a country waiting to be discovered. The food is excellent, its history rich, its people friendly, yet attractions and accommodation are at a discount price. While it has joined the European Union, Lithuania has not yet adopted the euro.
Prices remain low, even in the bustling capital of Vilnius. Once you head into the countryside, which remains almost completely undiscovered by Western tourists, you can find fantastic hiking, biking and historical trails. With a proud yet tragic tradition of standing up to the Nazis and the Soviets, history buffs will be in their element too.
Robin Esrock is a Canada-based freelance writer. He stars in Word Travels on Travel Channel and Nat Geo Adventure. You can catch up with him at www.robinesrock.com
