![\"Globe](\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/00_openerFOBBOB-33-e1507561286874-1024x640.jpg\")
\nBucket list is often a euphemism for the dreams I\u2019ll get to someday. But why wait? Especially when many of these epic destinations are way more affordable than you think. We\u2019ve been honeymooning since 2012 and have experienced world wonders across the seven continents and kept our average budget under $35 a day per person. Of the 500+ destinations in the world we\u2019ve explored, we’ve narrowed them down to this list of nine bucket list places everyone should visit, no matter their budget!<\/p>\n
Note: Prices may vary depending on when you search. Keep an eye out for seasonal promotions or become a member<\/a> to save even more (up to 50%).<\/em><\/p>\n Jungle intertwines with architecture at Preah Khan Temple. Photo by HoneyTrek.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n The image of Angkor Wat\u2019s honeycomb towers reflected in the lotus pond is one of the most iconic of Cambodia, if not all of Southeast Asia. That one temple, while the largest religious structure in the world, is just the beginning of Angkor Archaeological Park\u2019s enchantment. After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 1430s, the city was abandoned for centuries and almost entirely devoured by jungle, until its excavation in the 19th century. Bike to the most overgrown temples in the heart of the park. Ta Prohm is so fantastical, it starred in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider<\/em>, while the less visited Ta Som and Preah Khan are just as cinematic, with stone-crushing banyans and serpentine strangler figs. Follow crumbling corridors, peer over walls, and find holy spaces reclaimed by Buddhist devotees.<\/p>\n Money Matters<\/strong>: A one day ticket is $37, though we\u2019d highly recommend getting the three-day pass to Ankgor Wat Archaeological Park for $62 (valid for 10 days). Head to the night market for authentic Khmer cuisine for around $1.50 and hotel rooms start around $8<\/a> at our time of booking (yes, that is not a typo).<\/p>\n The Atacama’s legendary Moon Valley, dusted with salt. Photo by HoneyTrek.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Sheltered between the 17,000-foot peaks of the Andes and the Chilean Coastal Range, the Atacama is the world\u2019s driest desert. This would seem like an inhospitable place, but the pleasures are in its harsh extremes. The ancient lakes have dried into massive salt flats, shimmering with crystals and sky blue pools in Los Flamencos National Reserve. El Tatio geyser field erupts every morning with plumes of steam shooting 70 feet high. The town\u2019s adobe and stick-roof buildings appear endearingly primitive, though behind those earthen walls are boutique hotels, mountain bike shops, and pisco sour bars buzzing with life. No matter what you\u2019re measuring\u2014rain, ambiance, or adventures\u2014Atacama is off the charts.<\/p>\n Money Matters:<\/strong> Rent a bike for as little as $5 and see the natural wonders without a tour guide or crowds. The most coveted attraction, Moon Valley, is a whopping $5 entrance. When we searched, we found lodging starting around $40<\/a>.<\/p>\n The mighty Napo river running through the Yasun\u00ed National Park. Photo by HoneyTrek.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Dubbed the \u201cLungs of the Earth,\u201d the Amazon is a place every nature lover should experience. Though, spreading 2.7 million square miles across eight countries, it\u2019s hard to know where to begin. Our vote? Yasun\u00ed, Ecuador. In addition to being less expensive than the Brazilian side, the species density in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve blows its neighbors out of the water. In a single hectare, Yasun\u00ed is home to more than 100,000 species of insects (that\u2019s more than all of North America combined). And in less than 0.2 percent of the Amazon\u2019s total landmass, you can find over 33 percent of its bird and reptile species. Plus, the region\u2019s beauty is unquestionable, and the closer you look, the prettier it gets. Watch hundreds of parrots feast at the clay clicks, take a night walking safari to see countless nocturnal critters, and learn about the indigenous communities carrying on centuries-old traditions.<\/p>\n Money Matters<\/strong>: Organize a local guide in the Amazonian gateway town of Coca for the most affordable rates!<\/p>\n Lioness tending her cubs in Kruger National Park. Photo by HoneyTrek.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Safari destinations, filled with lions, rhinos, elephants,and cheetahs, rarely let tourists drive around on their own. Kruger National Park, on the other hand, has such incredible roads, rangers, and overall infrastructure that even two urbanites in a 2WD rental can safely take a game drive\u2014for a steal! You\u2019ll be astonished by how many of Kruger\u2019s 800 animal species you can see without leaving your car. Though if you trek along the animal paths with a ranger, spend the night in a bird hide shelter, and take a 4×4 down the Mananga Adventure Trail, you\u2019ll see why this is one of Africa\u2019s most impressive parks. Kruger not only boasts the \u201cbig five\u201d (rhino, elephant, African buffalo, lion, and leopard) but also more large mammals than virtually any other park on the continent.<\/p>\n Money Matters<\/strong>: Rent a car<\/a> from Johannesburg Airport for around $12 per day. Pay the ranger $27 and begin your self-drive safari around Kruger National Park. We found lodging outside the park starting around $35<\/a>. Tip: If you plan on seeing more than one national park in South Africa, get the SANParks Wild Card to save on entrance fees.<\/p>\n Each morning hot air balloons float over the valleys Cappadocia. Photo by HoneyTrek.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Blanketed in volcanic tuff, Cappadocia has been slowly eroding into ruffled valleys, castle-like cliffs, fairy chimneys, and one the most otherworldly landscapes on earth. As if its geological beauty weren\u2019t enough to fascinate, these lava formations have been hand-carved into thousands of houses, inhabited by the Hittites, Romans, Ottomans, and present-day Anatolians. Though that\u2019s just scratching the surface, follow the rough-hewn tunnels and go deep into dozens of underground cities like Kaymakli and Derinkuyu. Explore fifth-century rock monasteries where Christians practiced in secrecy at the UNESCO G\u00f6reme Open Air Museum. Then discover how inviting a cave can be with a night in one of the hotels or restaurants carved into the cliffs.<\/p>\n Money Matters<\/strong>: Explore Goreme Open Air Museum for $10. We were able to find private rooms for less than $25<\/a>. Hikes through the Love Valley have million-dollar views free of charge.<\/p>\n Tonsai, one of the three main beach coves on Railay Peninsula. Photo by HoneyTrek.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Only accessible by boat, the Railay peninsula has the feel of a far-flung island, but it\u2019s the thick jungle and sheer limestone cliffs that shelter this oasis from the mainland. Everyone loves a good karst mountain, dripping with stalactites and sculpted with caves, but no one more than a rock climber. Railay has more than 700 routes bolted into the crags, plus sea cliffs perfect for deepwater solo: free climbing over the ocean and high-diving down. Not just for adrenaline junkies, Railay has four Andaman Sea beaches to suit your style: Railay West (resortgoer), Railay East (flashpacker), Tonsai (devout climber), and Phra Nang (anyone seeking a \u201cworld\u2019s best beach\u201d). Try them all; the journey to get there\u2014 swimming, hiking, rock scrambling, or beachcombing\u2014is half the fun. Take a boat to the surrounding islands, night snorkel in the bioluminescent waters, and do what those in Railay do best\u2014hang out and enjoy life.<\/p>\n Money Matters<\/strong>: Sail to the cliffs for a deep water solo climbing trip, plus snorkeling, BBQ on an island, and a fire show for around $36. We searched and found Railay lodging starting around $15<\/a>.<\/p>\n The majestic mountains of Annapurna Sanctuary. Photo by HoneyTrek.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n When eight of the world\u2019s 10 highest mountains are packed into one country, it’s no wonder Nepal is at the top of a mountain-lover’s bucket list. Enter the heart of the Himalayas, following the trail along the glacial-fed Modi Khola River into the ring of 20,000-foot peaks surrounding Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). Ascending 7,000 vertical feet from pink rhododendron forests to icy moraines, the diversity of landscapes is astounding. Not just for trekkers, these ancient footpaths connect remote mountain villages and are a window into traditional Gurung and Magar cultures. The route to ABC is dotted with teahouses offering home-cooked meals, cozy beds, and enough provisions to skip the camping gear and wilderness survival school. In five or six unforgettable days, you\u2019ll reach the 13,546-foot base camp and the majestic panorama of the Annapurna massif. Wake up to sunrise over the ring of sacred peaks and feel every ache in your body vanish into thin air.<\/p>\n Money Matters<\/strong>: The two permits (ACAP and TIMS) to hike within the Annapurna Sanctuary add up to $40. Private guides in Pokhara charge by the group ($30\u2013$60\/day, split by however many people you have). Dal bhat, the locals and trekkers meal of choice, is all you can eat for about $3. Teahouses offer booking upon arrival with basic rooms starting around $4.<\/p>\n Hiking the extensive trail network on the Argentinan side of Iguaz\u00fa Falls. Photo by HoneyTrek.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Not just one waterfall\u2014but 275 individual cascades, stretching nearly two miles. Iguaz\u00fa Falls is more than a sight to see; it\u2019s a destination to be explored. Sure, Angel Falls in Venezuela is taller and Victoria has a wider single fall, but Iguaz\u00fa wins for complexity and elements of surprise. Spanning Brazil and Argentina, the falls are divided by the Devil\u2019s Throat: a 269-by-492-foot chasm devouring 50 percent of the river\u2019s volume. The force pulverizes the water into a fine mist that not only creates countless rainbows but also a unique microclimate for exotic flora and fauna: toucans, caimans, jaguars and more. Begin your visit on the Brazil side for the best overall vista of the falls. Explore their paths and bridges for a few hours, then rest up for a big day (or two) on the Argentina side, home to 80 percent of the falls. Wander the extensive rain forest trails, brave a wet-n-wild Zodiac ride, and revel in the largest waterfall system in the world.<\/p>\n Money Matters<\/strong>: Iguazu National Park fee: $15 USD from the Argentina side; $18 in Brazil. Tip: Stamp your ticket before you leave the park and your second day will be half price. Staying at the Sheraton within the park? They\u2019ll cover days three and four. Our search results included rooms in Puerto Iguazu starting around $13<\/a>.<\/p>\n The cliff-carved Monastery of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Photo by HoneyTrek.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n We visited Petra after we finished writing our Nat Geo book, though as one of the New Wonders of the World, it’s well worth a spot on this affordable travel bucket list. Read all about it in this Travelocity article<\/a>. Get the Jordan Explorer Pass for $106 to get entry to over 40 of Jordan\u2019s best attractions, including two-days in Petra, plus it covers the cost of your tourist visa.<\/p>\nSiem Reap, Cambodia: Home of Angkor Wat and Tomb Raider Temples<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Atacama, Chile: The driest desert in the world<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Driest](\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/00_Atacama-Chile-HoneyTrek.com-3097-e1507561432311-1024x640.jpg\")
Yasun\u00ed, Ecuador: One of the most biodiverse places on earth<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Kruger National Park, South Africa: Big-Five Safari<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Cappadocia, Turkey: UNESCO cave churches and ancient subterranean cities<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Hot](\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/00_Cappadocia-Turkey-HoneyTrek.com-3-e1507561526236.jpg\")
Railay, Thailand: A best-in-class beach and rock climber’s paradise<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Railay](\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Railay-Beaches-HoneyTrek.com-2161-e1507561557547-1024x640.jpg\")
Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal: Get mountain high<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Iguazu Falls, Argentina: Largest waterfall system in the world<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Iguazu](\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Iguazu-IMG_6246-e1507561637821-1024x640.jpg\")
Petra, Jordan: A new Wonder of the World<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Petra](\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/00_monestary-petra-by-honeytrek.com_-1024x557.jpg\")