For decades, travel rankings have focused on passport power: which passport opens the most doors, which passport is the"strongest." But anyone who's actually planned an international trip knows the truth. Access isn't just about where you can go but also about how easily you can get there.

Executive Summary

The Atlys Travel Access Report is a comprehensive knowledge centre for Indian travellers making informed decisions about where to go. Instead of ranking destinations by just prestige or Instagram appeal, the report also focuses on ground realities: 

• How painful is the visa journey?

• How easy is it to reach? Direct flights or layover roulette? 

• Will it feel affordable once you land?

• Is it popular and tourist-ready enough to be smooth on-ground?

The report's ranking is driven by four factors: visa ease (25%), connectivity (25%), affordability (15%), and popularity (35%). Beyond the main rankings, we've identified category winners across budget friendly, impulse getaways, luxury destinations, women-friendly, and best for solo travel to help you find destinations that match your specific travel style.

The Complete Rankings: Top 50 Destinations for Indian Travellers

Category Winners: Find Your Perfect Trip

Budget Friendly

• Nepal - The budget champion by a mile. Cheap flights or buses, and affordable guesthouses mean your money stretches further here than anywhere else. Trekking, temples, and momos all come cheap.

• Laos - Southeast Asia's best-kept budget secret. Affordable guesthouses in Luang Prabang, cheap street meals, and inexpensive local beer. Slow travel through Vang Vieng and the 4,000 Islands won't drain your wallet. 

• Sri Lanka - Small country, big value. You can hit beaches, mountains, and ancient ruins without burning through your budget on long transfers. Scenic train rides through tea country are incredibly affordable and beat any tour bus experience. 

• Thailand - The infrastructure-to-cost ratio is unbeatable. You get metro systems, clean hostels, 24/7 convenience stores, and Michelin-recommended street food all on a backpacker budget. The tourism machine works in your favor here. 

• Vietnam - The street food alone justifies the trip. Affordable pho for breakfast, cheap bánh mì for lunch, and beer that's cheaper than water. Stay in the Old Quarters of Hanoi or Hoi An's backpacker areas to keep costs down while staying in the thick of things.

Impulse Getaways

• Nepal - Zero visa requirements, under 2-hour flights, high last-minute accommodation availability. Perfect for spontaneous weekend trips from North India. 

• Sri Lanka - ETA processed within 24 hours, 2-3 hour flight times, year-round weather suitability. Minimal planning required for quick escapes. 

• Thailand - 1-day TDAC processing, multiple daily flights, accommodation available without advance bookings. Established infrastructure supports last-minute travel. 

• UAE - E-visas approved within 2 days, hourly flights, compact 2-4 day itinerary options. Dubai and Abu Dhabi enable meaningful short trips. 

• Vietnam - E-visas approved within 4 days, growing direct connectivity to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Short flight times support impulse decisions.

Luxury Destinations

• Maldives - Over-water villas, private island resorts, all-inclusive packages. Direct flights from major Indian cities support luxury weekend getaways. 

• Switzerland - Alpine resorts, luxury rail journeys, Michelin dining across Zurich, Geneva, and Lucerne. Winter sports and summer hiking for high-end adventure.

• Fiji - Remote luxury through island resorts with private beaches. Limited mass tourism maintains exclusivity for premium travellers. 

• France - Paris hotels, wine regions, French Riviera beach resorts, alpine destinations. Cultural luxury through museums, opera, and historical sites. 

• Italy - Heritage hotels in Rome, Florence, Venice. Modern luxury in Milan, coastal destinations, wine regions, and exclusive culinary experiences.

Women-Friendly

• Thailand - Strong safety metrics through repeat visit frequency and solo female traveller volume. Infrastructure supports independent navigation. Tourist police in major areas. 

• UAE - Strong law enforcement, well-maintained public spaces, established protocols in tourism zones. Expatriate communities normalize women traveling independently. 

• Japan - Women-only train cars, capsule hotels, cultural acceptance of solo dining. Extremely low crime rates and helpful locals support independent exploration.

• Hong Kong - Urban safety with late-night district security, efficient public transport, English prevalence. 

• Sri Lanka - Compact geography allows easy inter-destination movement. Growing hostel infrastructure in tourist areas creates social opportunities for meeting travellers.

Best for Solo Travel

• Thailand - Backpacker infrastructure, social hostels, destinations where solo travellers naturally congregate. Ease of meeting other travellers and strong safety enable exploration. 

• Vietnam - Social accommodation options, established tourist trails connecting travellers. Group tour operators with English-speaking guides reduce language barriers. 

• Sri Lanka - Compact geography allows easy inter-destination movement. Growing hostel infrastructure in tourist areas creates social opportunities for meeting travellers. 

• Laos - Laid-back backpacker scene through Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and the 4,000 Islands. Easy to meet other travellers on the banana pancake trail. Slow pace reduces solo travel anxiety. 

• Japan - Exceptional safety, efficient transport reduces navigation stress. Widespread English signage in tourist areas and cultural acceptance of solo dining.

How We Built This Ranking

Our methodology balances quantitative data with real-world travel patterns. We began by analyzing Google Trends data to identify the most-searched international destinations for Indian travellers, then shortlisted the top 50 destinations where Atlys processes visas. This approach combines demand signals with destinations where we have proprietary visa processing data.

Each shortlisted destination was scored across four independent pillars:

Note on methodology: Popularity appears twice in our framework by design. We use it first to shortlist the top 50 destinations that Indian travellers actually search for and consider. Then we use it again to rank those destinations against each other based on relative demand.

Disclaimer: Rankings are based on visa categories facilitated through the Atlys platform and may not reflect all entry options offered by a destination

What This Means for Your Next Trip

The Atlys Travel Access Report provides a data-driven framework for evaluating destinations based on actual travel friction rather than theoretical passport power. Use the overall rankings when exploring new destinations, and the category rankings when you have specific constraints around budget, schedule, safety, or solo travel.

For travellers looking to simplify visa processes and reduce planning friction, Atlys processes visas for 120+ destinations with transparent timelines and pricing.

Visit atlys.com to start planning your next trip