If you are an Indian couple planning your first international trip or next big adventure abroad, this guide on the best Asia trip for Indian couples is written specifically for you — not by a travel agency, not by a blogger who read Wikipedia, but by us, a couple from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, who have personally visited all five of these countries and returned with full notebooks, honest opinions, and a very clear idea of what worked and what did not.
We have covered Dubai, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Malaysia — with real costs in Indian Rupees, the actual visa process for Indian passport holders, where to find vegetarian and Gujarati-friendly food, and the mistakes we made so you do not have to make them.
This is the guide we wished existed when we were planning our own trips.
1. Dubai — One of the Best Asia Trip for Indian Couples Visiting Abroad First Time
Dubai was our first international trip and we chose it specifically because it felt like the least intimidating option for an Indian couple travelling abroad for the first time. Hindi is understood almost everywhere, there is a massive Indian community, the food options include dozens of Indian and Gujarati restaurants, and the visa process — while paid — is straightforward.
What we did not expect was how genuinely stunning the city would be. The Burj Khalifa in person is a completely different experience from photographs. We stood at the base and both of us went quiet for a moment. That does not happen often.
IMAGE ALT TEXT: best Asia trip for Indian couples — Dubai Burj Khalifa at night from an Ahmedabad couple’s trip 2025
Burj Khalifa — At the Top
We booked the At the Top (124th floor) tickets online through the official Burj Khalifa website three days in advance and paid around AED 149 per person (approximately ₹3,300). Walk-up tickets on the day cost nearly double. The view at sunset is extraordinary — you can see the entire Dubai skyline, the desert stretching to the horizon, and the Persian Gulf all at once.
Gold Souk and Spice Souk — Felt Like India, Smelled Like Home
The Deira Gold Souk genuinely reminded us of the jewellery markets back in Ahmedabad’s Zaveri Bazaar — except shinier and air-conditioned. The spice souk nearby sells cardamom, saffron, dried limes, and rose petals. We bought saffron here for around AED 30 per gram, which is significantly cheaper than prices in Gujarat. This area of old Dubai felt the most comfortable and familiar for us as Indian travellers.
Desert Safari — Do Not Skip This
We almost skipped the desert safari thinking it would be touristy. It was the best decision of the trip. Dune bashing at sunset, a Bedouin camp dinner under an open sky, and camel riding at night — all for approximately AED 250 per person (₹5,500). Book a private tour instead of a group tour. We made the mistake of booking group on our first trip and it was rushed. Private is a completely different experience.
" The biggest surprise was how easy Dubai is for vegetarians. Saravana Bhavan near Karama has full South Indian meals for AED 20–25 (₹450–550). There is also a Gujarati thali restaurant in Bur Dubai called Gazebo which felt exactly like eating at a wedding in Surat. We did not struggle for vegetarian food even once in Dubai."
Complete Visa Process for Indian Travellers:
- Dubai requires a pre-approved visa — Indians do NOT get visa on arrival
- Apply through your airline (Emirates, IndiGo, Air Arabia) or a registered agent
- Cost: 30-day single entry visa approximately ₹5,500–₹8,000 depending on agent
- Processing time: 3–5 working days. Apply at least 10 days before travel
- Documents needed: Passport (6+ months validity), photo, bank statement (last 3 months), confirmed hotel booking
- Recommended: Emirates Visa Services — straightforward process, took 4 days
2. Hong Kong — One of the Best Asia Travel Destinations That Surprised Us Completely
We were not sure what to expect from Hong Kong. Most travel content about it is either very old or very focused on shopping. What we found was one of the most visually dramatic cities either of us had ever seen — and also one of the most efficiently run. As Indian travellers, we were pleasantly surprised by one important fact: Indian passport holders do not need a visa for Hong Kong up to 14 days.
The Hong Kong Immigration Department confirms that Indian passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 14 days. For most couples doing a 3–4 day Hong Kong visit as part of a larger Asia trip, this is more than sufficient.
External Link: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/visit-transit/visit-visa-entry-permit.html
IMAGE ALT TEXT: best Asia trip for Indian couples — Hong Kong Victoria Peak night view from Ahmedabad couple’s trip
Victoria Peak at Night — Worth Every Rupee
The Peak Tram goes up to Victoria Peak from Central and the view from the top at night is genuinely one of the greatest urban panoramas in the world. We went at 9 PM after the evening rush had thinned out. The tram costs HKD 88 (approximately ₹940) return. Sit on the right side going up for the dramatic tilted city view through the window.
Dim Sum Breakfast — A Cultural Must
We are vegetarian but we still went for dim sum at Tim Ho Wan, the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant. They have vegetable dumplings, taro dumplings, and steamed egg cakes that are suitable for vegetarians. A full meal for two cost approximately HKD 200 (₹2,100). This is an experience no Indian travel blog about Hong Kong talks about from a vegetarian perspective — and it is absolutely doable.
Hong Kong is not naturally vegetarian-friendly but it is manageable. The Kowloon area near Chungking Mansions has several Indian restaurants serving full veg meals. Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island serves a full vegetarian Chinese Buddhist lunch for around HKD 60 (₹640) per person — one of the best vegetarian meals we had in all of Asia. We highly recommend combining it with a visit to the Big Buddha.
3. Macau — The Hidden Gem Among Best Asia Travel Destinations That Indians Rarely
Almost nobody in our circle back in Ahmedabad had heard of Macau when we mentioned we were going. That is a shame, because Macau is one of the most unique places either of us has ever been. It is a tiny territory — smaller than the entire Ahmedabad railway station area — that somehow contains a UNESCO World Heritage historic district, the world’s largest casino, and a 500-year-old Portuguese-Chinese cultural fusion that exists nowhere else on Earth.
The best part for Indian travellers: Indian passport holders do not need a visa for Macau. Entry is free for up to 30 days. The ferry from Hong Kong takes just 55 minutes and costs approximately HKD 175 (₹1,850) return.
External Link: https://www.cotaiwaterjet.com
IMAGE ALT TEXT: best Asia trip for Indian couples — Macau Ruins of St. Paul’s UNESCO site from Gujarat couple trip 2025
Senado Square and the UNESCO Historic Centre
Senado Square is a perfectly preserved Portuguese colonial town centre that felt completely surreal to us — the wave-patterned mosaic pavement, the pastel yellow and green buildings, the baroque churches — all in the middle of southern China. Entry to the entire UNESCO historic area is completely free. We spent three hours walking it and could have spent three more.
External Link: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1110
The Venetian Macau — Free to Enter and Explore
You do not need to gamble to visit the Venetian. The entire casino resort — with its indoor Grand Canal, gondolas, and hundreds of shops — is free to walk through. We spent two hours exploring it without spending a single pataca on gambling. The sheer scale of the place is worth the visit as a spectacle alone.
We were initially nervous about Macau being a gambling city and wondered if it would feel uncomfortable. It was not uncomfortable at all. The UNESCO historic area is completely separate from the casino strip, peaceful, and beautiful. The famous egg custard tarts at Lord Stow's Bakery in Coloane village were the best thing we ate in all of Macau — MOP 12 each (approximately ₹120). Worth the short taxi ride out.
4. Singapore — The Most Comfortable of All Best Asia Travel Destinations for Indians
If we had to recommend one country from this entire list for an Indian couple visiting Asia for the first time, it would be Singapore without hesitation. It is safe beyond any reasonable doubt. English is spoken everywhere. There is a thriving Indian community — particularly in Little India — where you can find South Indian, North Indian, and Gujarati food at every price point. Public transport is so clean and reliable it made us both wish for something similar back home.
And critically for Indian passport holders: Singapore is visa-free for up to 30 days. No application, no fees, no documents to prepare beyond your passport and a hotel booking. You simply land, clear immigration in about 20 minutes at Changi Airport, and you are done.
External Link: https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore
IMAGE ALT TEXT: best Asia trip for Indian couples — Singapore Gardens by the Bay from Ahmedabad couple trip 2025
Gardens by the Bay — The Free Supertree Light Show
The Garden Rhapsody light and music show at the Supertrees happens every night at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM and is completely free. We sat on the grass lawn for the 8:45 PM show and both of us agreed it was one of the most beautiful things we had seen on any trip. The paid Cloud Forest Conservatory (SGD 28 per person, approximately ₹1,700) is worth every rupee for the 35-metre indoor waterfall alone.
External Link: https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg
Little India — Felt Like a Gujarat Wedding
Little India in Singapore is extraordinary for any Indian traveller. The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple on Serangoon Road, the flower garland sellers, the South Indian banana leaf meals for SGD 7 (₹430) — it is familiar and foreign at the same time. We found a Gujarati snack shop near Mustafa Centre selling chakli, sev, and mathri. We stood there for ten minutes genuinely surprised to find it 4,000 kilometres from home.
Maxwell Food Centre — Hawker Paradise
Singapore’s hawker centres are UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage. Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown is the best one for Indian couples because it has a wider variety including vegetarian options. The famous Tian Tian Chicken Rice stall has a Michelin Bib Gourmand. For vegetarians, the Indian stalls serve masala dosa and idli for SGD 3–4 (₹185–250). A full dinner for two from multiple stalls cost us SGD 18 (₹1,100) total.
Komala Vilas on Serangoon Road (Little India) is a pure vegetarian South Indian restaurant open since 1947. Full meals for SGD 8–12 (₹490–740). Ananda Bhavan nearby is similar. For Gujarati specifically, Gokul Vegetarian Restaurant in Little India serves dal dhokli and kadhi. Singapore is the easiest country in Asia for Indian vegetarians — no struggle at all.
5. Malaysia — Our Favourite of All 5 Best Asia Travel Destinations and the Most Budget-Friendly
Malaysia is our personal favourite of all the best Asia trip for Indian couples we have visited, and we think it is the most underrated country in Asia for Indian travellers. It is the most affordable of the five countries — a good hotel in Kuala Lumpur costs ₹2,500–₹4,000 per night, a full restaurant meal costs ₹150–₹400 per person, and domestic flights within Malaysia cost under ₹2,000 on AirAsia.
Indian passport holders are visa-free in Malaysia for up to 30 days. The country is also home to one of the largest Indian-origin populations in Southeast Asia — approximately 7 percent of Malaysians are of Indian descent — which means finding familiar food and a sense of cultural connection is easy anywhere you go.
External Link: https://www.tourism.gov.my
IMAGE ALT TEXT: best Asia trip for Indian couples — Malaysia Petronas Twin Towers from Gujarat couple Ahmedabad trip 2025
Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur
The Petronas Twin Towers held the title of world’s tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004. Today they remain the world’s tallest twin towers at 452 metres. The observation deck on the 86th floor and the sky bridge at the 41st and 42nd floors are included in the standard ticket. Book online through the official website — same-day tickets sell out quickly, often before 9 AM.
External Link: https://www.petronastwintowers.com.my
Penang — The Best Food Trip We Have Ever Had
Penang deserves its own article. George Town’s hawker culture is genuinely unmatched anywhere in Asia, and for Indian vegetarians it is particularly rewarding because Penang has a large Tamil community with excellent South Indian restaurants. The famous Gurney Drive hawker stalls run from 6 PM until midnight. We ate for two hours and spent RM 35 total (approximately ₹630) between the two of us. Flying from KL to Penang on AirAsia costs RM 60–100 (₹1,080–₹1,800) each way.
Cameron Highlands — Unexpected and Magical
Nobody told us about Cameron Highlands before we went. At 1,500 metres above sea level, it is genuinely cold by Malaysian standards — we needed the light jackets we had brought for Hong Kong. The BOH Tea Estate factory tour is free, and the cliff-edge tea café charges RM 10 (₹180) for a fresh pot of tea with biscuits while you look out over kilometres of green tea terraces. It was one of the most peaceful mornings of our entire trip.
Malaysia genuinely felt like home in many ways — the food, the Tamil and Hindi heard on the streets, the familiar faces, the sense of warmth from locals. Batu Caves in KL — a 272-step climb up to a limestone hill temple complex — is one of the most visually spectacular Hindu temples outside India. Free entry. Open daily. Take the KTM Komuter train from KL Sentral (RM 1.40 each, approximately ₹25). Do not miss it.
