7 top Visa Free countries for Indians to travel outside Asia

For Indians, Visa becomes important parameter when we want to plan an international trip. And procuring a visa could take days or even weeks and chances of rejection are high too.But, did you know that there are many countries where a visa is not required for Indians?  And a few others where you can avail a visa on arrival? Yes there are a total of 60 countries in the world where Indians can travel visa-free or get visa on arrival or e-Visa access.

According to the latest Henley Passport Index (the global ranking of countries according to their citizen’s freedom of travel), the Indian passport is ranked 87th rank in the world, in terms of the freedom to travel.

Here`s my list of Top 10 countries for Indians to travel Visa Free outside the Asia.

1. ALBANIA

Places to visit : Berat (city of thousand windows) ; Himare (Porto Palermo Castle, Gjipe Beach) ; Butrint National Park ; Kruje (home of Albania’s national hero Gjergj Skanderbeg) ; Shkodra (cultural capital of Albania); Gjirokaster (historical town); Tirana (home to art galleries and incredible museums); Sarande (a year-round tourist destination); Vlore (historic city) and Durres (beautiful port city)

Dishes to try: Ferges (Summer Stew) ;Tarator (Cold Yoghurt Appetizer); Byrek (Albanian Pie); Ashure (Dessert Porridge of Grains, Fruit, and Nuts); Tavë Kosi (Baked Lamb or Chicken in Yoghurt); Trilece (Milk Cake); Kackavall ne Furre me Domate (Baked Cheese with Tomatoes); Peshk dhe Perime ne Tave (Fish and Vegetables); Jani me Fasule (White Bean Soup); Qofte (Lamb Meatballs )

Visa for Indians: Visa Free travel (20 April 2022 to 31 December 2022)

2. SEYCHELLES

Places to visit: Mahé Island ( the main island and home to capital, Victoria and international airport);  Isle de Palme, Praslin Island (second-largest island in Seychelles, famous for iconic beaches -Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, UNESCO World Heritage Site -Vallée de Mai, Praslin national park, black parrots, sea coconut -coco de mer, and whatnot); Silhouette Island  and La Digue (mini island, spread over 10 kms,it is known for stunning beauty Anse Source D’Argent – a popular granite boulders beach)

Dishes to try: Fresh grilled fish; Salted fish, or Pwason Sale; Coconut Curry; Red lentils; Sosis rougay, or sausage rougay; Breadfruit dishes; Smoked Fish Salad; Spicy Satini salad; banana chips, breadfruit chips and molouk

Local Beverages: Seybrew (beer); Takamaka Bay Rum; Kalou, the fermented wine and Buka Rum

Visa for Indians: Visa on Arrival

3. SERBIA

Places to visit: Belgrade (Capital city); Novi Sad ( known for its Austro-Hungarian Charm); Sremski Karlovci ( On the bank of Danube,famous for its delicious wines and Beekeeping Museum of the Živanović family); Niš (skull tower); Devil’s Town (near town of Kuršumlija); Danube fortress tour (Zemun, Kalemegdan, Smederevo, and Golubac); Studenica Monastery; Tara National Park; Drvengrad and Mokra Gora (historical places); Rafting at Drina river; Boat Tour Down the Winding Uvac;

Dishes to try: Sarma (pickled cabbage, minced meat and rice); Ćevapi (grilled finger-shaped minces meat); Burek; Karađorđeva šnicla ( also known as ‘Devojački san’,prepared with pork or beef meat filled with Kajmak, and deep-fried with a coat of flour); Prebranac (made from beans); Gibanica (serbian cheese pie); Punjena Paprika ( Stuffed Paprika with minced meat & rice); Čvarci (pork fat crisp); Kajmak (side-dish made from milk); Ajvar (spicy relish or chutney made from red paprikas); Knedle(dumplings made from mashed potato dough mostly with plum); Slatko (fruit or rose petal preserve)

Local Beverages: Rakija Šljivovica or “Plum Brandy”; Medovača (honey brandy); Serbian Beers; Vinja (grape  brandy); Smederevska (white wine ); Domača kava (Coffee)

Visa for Indians: Serbia tourist visa is not required for citizens of India for a stay up to 30 days within a 365 day period. 

Places to visit: The Uyuni Salt Flats; Madidi National Park; Sucre (for colonial architecture); Rurrenabaque, or Rurre (backpacker’s paradise); Coroico (for spectacular view of jungle forest, tropical foothills and snow mountain peaks); Sorata (base camp for Cordillera Real moyntain trek); Copacabana (resort town by the Lake Titicaca); Potosi (lovely colonial architecture and tours of the famed mines) ; Sucre (White city of South America); Oruro (miner city known for lavish carnivals); Tiwanaku (pre-inca city); La Paz ( capital city) and Salar de Uyuni (largest salt flat in the world in Andes mountains)

Dishes to try: Anticucho (skewered beef or chicken hearts); Cuñapé (traditional bread ball dish popular in Eastern Bolivia); Empanadas de queso (baked / fried cheesy centre) ; Queso humacha( thick soup creamy veg soup); Sajta de pollo (traditional meal where the sauce (sajta) is accompanied by chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, plain rice & peanuts); Salteñas (traditional Bolivian street food filled with a juicy mix of sweet and savory sauces with beef, pork, or chicken fillings); Silpancho (layers of white rice, boiled and sliced tomatoes, and thinly pounded meat); Tucumanas (traditional vegetarian Bolivian dish that is a fried version of salteña); Yuca frita, or yuca fries ( thin deep-fried root chips); Zonzo(pancake-like entrée, made with cheese and yucca)

Local Beverages: Singani ( brandy variety exclusively distilled from Muscat of Alexandria grapes);Mocochinchi (dehydrated peach cider); Yungueño (traditional Bolivian cocktail); Té con té (warming Bolivian beverage whose name translates as tea with tea); Coctel de Tumbo (Bolivian creamy cocktail); Chicha de piña (chicha version made with pineapple); Garapiña (a corn-based alcoholic beverage); Sucumbé (warm wintertime brandy cocktail); Chuflay (popular singani brandy cocktail); Somó (corn-based Bolivian beverage);

Visa for Indians: Visa on arrival

Places to visit: Morne Trois Pitons National Park ( called jewel of Dominica, it has Victoria Waterfall, Trafalgar Falls, Emerald Pool, and Middleham Falls and Boiling lake among others); Dominica beaches (mostly volcanic black-sand); Champagne Reef ; Cabrits National Park; Dominica’s capital of Roseau (pronounced “roze-o”); Papillote Tropical Gardens; Kalinago Territory (habitat of Carib Indians);

Dishes to try: Sancocho (7-Meat Stew); Mangu (Plantain Mash); Arroz Blanco (White Rice); Habichuelas Guisadas (Stewed Beans); Pollo Guisado (Braised Chicken);Ensalada Verde (Green Salad); Tostones (Twice-Fried Plantains); Habichuelas con Dulce (Sweet Cream of Beans); Bizcocho Dominicano (Dominican Cake);

Local Beverages: Morir Soñando (Milk and Orange Drink); Batida de Lechosa (Papaya Milkshake); Batida de Zapote (Zapote Milkshake); Batida de Níspero (Sapodilla Milkshake); Batida de Granadillo (Giant Granadilla Milkshake); Batida de Chinola y Mango (Passionfruit and Mango Smoothie; Mamajuana (Dominican Drink with Spices); Ponche Crema (Christmas Eggnog); Licor de Mandarina (Mandarin Orange Liqueur); Guavaberry Drink: Ponche de chocolate (Chocolate eggnog); Ponche de café (Coffee eggnog); Ponche de auyama (Vegan pumpkin eggnog)

Visa for Indians: Visa free entry up-to 90 days stay

Places to visit: Grand Bassin (Ganga Talao); Le Morne Brabant (UNESCO site); islet of Ile Aux Aigrettes; Bois Cheri Tea factory; Capital city of Port Louis; Pamplemousses Botanical Garden; Grand Baie; Rochester Falls; Black River Gorges National Park (the largest protected forest); Chamarel Rhumierie Rum distillery;

Dishes to try: Gateaux piment (chilli fritters); Dhal puri (Indian-style flatbread); Mauritian cari (curry); Boulettes (dumplings); Bol renversé / upside down bowl (stir fry); Pineapple and chilli salt; Biryani (flavored rice); Rougaille (tomato sauce); Chili bite; Fish or Octopus Vindaye; Poutou cake; Gâteau Arouille (Taro Cakes)

Local Beverages: Ti’ Punch or Rum; Vanilla tea; Alouda (sweet milky beverage with tapioca balls); Phoenix Beer; Local Rum

Visa for Indians: Visa on arrival up-to 60 days stay

Places to visit: San Salvador (Capital city); Tazumal (historical ruins); La Palma (nationally recognized artistic hub); Suchitoto (colonial architecture); Joya de Cerén ( well preserved Mayan village); Santa Ana (The second-largest city); Tazumal (cluster of unusual step pyramids); Lago de Coatepeque, or Caldera Coatepeque, (lake located in the heart of a volcanic crater); Cerro Verde National Park; La Ruta de las Flores; Costa del Sol (beach); El Tunco (surfer`s paradise) and San Miguel

Dishes to try: Ceviche; Pupusas (Stuffed Tortillas); Sopa de Mondongo (Tripe Soup); Sopa de Pata (Cow Foot Soup) ; Sopa de Res (Beef Soup); Gallo en Chicha (Rooster Soup); Mojarra Frita (Fried Fish); Churrasco Típico (Grilled Meat Served with Fried Beans and Plantain); Panes con Pavo (Turkey Sandwich); Enchiladas (Fried Tortillas with Meat and Toppings); Yuca Frita (Fried Cassava); Salvadoran Tamales; Pastelitos (Salvadoran Turnovers); Elote Loco (Crazy Corn); Sopa de Pescado (Fish Soup) and Sopa de Gallina India (Wild Chicken Soup)

Local Beverages: Horchata de Morro, different types of Atole, Chaparro or Chicha liquor, Pilsener beer, Chilate, and tropical juices. El Salvador drinks are inspired by  indigenous and Spanish influences.

Visa for Indians: Visa free entry up-to 90 days stay