THE SOLO WOMAN’S TRAVEL GUIDE TO THAILAND

THE IDEA OF TRAVELING ALONE as a woman is usually scary. But we are able to't let that stop us — and luckily, we haven't: Solo female journey is probably the fastest growing demographics during the sector. And while impartial Ladies adventurers are likely pretty much everywhere you go, couple areas have noticed this boom greater than Thailand. Over and above being Harmless and welcoming, it's budget-welcoming, readily accessible, and still nevertheless totally envy-inducing. It's a triple danger.

Thailand is home to distinctive locations, Just about every with its have Delicacies and society. To acquire a grasp of your country, you'll really need to see them all. Through the roots with the Lanna Kingdom in Chiang Mai and also the Hill tribes of your north, to the Babas about the island of Phuket during the south (and, not surprisingly, the behemoth that is certainly Bangkok), we'll wander you through the Basic principles.

Get around the capital, solo

 

 

Thailand travel

Bangkok (recognised to locals as Krungthep) has changed dramatically over the past handful of decades. The sheer level of factors to accomplish — museums, places to eat, stores, and markets — makes it one of the best cities in the world to go to or are in, and it's fairly safe for solo woman travelers, Specifically since it's uncomplicated to obtain around.

The BTS (Bangkok Transit Systemand affordable metered taxis make Bangkok a straightforward spot to navigate. Most indicators are in both Thai and English, far too. Tuk tuks — the carriage attached to a motorcycle You could have viewed in Darjeeling Constrained— are An additional enjoyment method of getting around the town, while you can hope to pay for extra on your novelty experience (but don't shy away from haggling beforehand). Though it might be a bit dearer, you could't head over to Thailand devoid of Driving a tuk tuk a minimum of at the time.

Spend a night on the town.

 

Thailand travel

 

Take a look at Bangkok's top bars during the business district of Silom (such as the 1930s-cabaret-themed basement bar Maggie Choo's, while in the Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom near the Surasak and Taksin BTS stations; or the very best rooftop view in Bangkok, Cloud 47, near the Sala Daeng station). Sukhumvit is additionally packed with trendy parts. Purchase some fish at Tororo Sushi ahead of hitting the nightlife within the Thonglor-Ekamai community, where you'll have your choice of dance clubs actively playing leading 40 Thai hits, bars serving beer from around the globe, and swanky rooftop patios.

A different great selection for a memorable night time is often a Chao Phraya Princess Meal Cruise — you'll get an upscale buffet meal although watching the landmarks together the Chao Phraya riverside float by.

Treat yourself to a night of luxury

  

Thailand travel

 

With lots of reasonably priced accommodation — such as listings on Airbnb, hostels, and low cost motels — an evening of notroughing it really is worth the splurge. Check out the Windsor Hotel, with sights across the total city. It's centrally situated in Bangkok and it has some good Avenue food stuff nearby, as well as it's right beside a major BTS interchange (Asok/Sukhumvit) that lets you leap to the skytrain or even the subway. Try to find bargains on the internet and you could possibly locate a place for as tiny as $fifty.

Want to actually splurge? The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has a hundred twenty five a long time of working experience creating its visitors experience like queens. With outdoor swimming pools and cabanas, tennis courts, a full-services spa with Thai massages, yoga classes, and 10 places to eat, this remain will set you back again various hundred dollars, but you'll absolutely expertise a throwback to your golden age of Thai luxury vacation.

Head south on a one-woman road trip

 

 

Thailand travel

 

Southern Thailand is magnificent — and an ideal place for a solo highway trip. Automobile rentals can be organized on line through the entire location, and getting your own private wheels will give you the flexibleness to stop when and in which you want.

This part of the state is all about Discovering the small villages and metropolitan areas that punctuate the miles and miles of beaches. Nature lovers will take pleasure in the "Minor Amazon" of Takua Pa in Phang Nga, close to Khao Lak — where by no building is allowed to stand taller than a coconut palm tree — and only a few hrs from Phuket. Halt in Khao Lak within the beachside Khaolak Laguna Resort (in the middle of city) and take a tour on the nearby waterfalls, Select a hike in Khaolak-Lumru National Park, or simply just delight in a consume with the pool when looking at the tide roll in.

Up coming, travel up the coast to Ranong, a lesser-recognized town that was the moment a favorite destination to the now-defunct Phuket-Ranong visa run. There's a tremendous warm spring, cheap but delicious restaurants (Le Ranong Cafe has brilliant banana smoothies), plus the Rattana Rangsarn Throne Corridor, a wood palace duplicate with gardens that's an excellent afternoon studying location.

See the other side of one of Thailand's most popular tourist spots

 

Thailand travel

 

Phuket is Thailand's major island and it has around thirty beaches. Despite the frequently-expressed sentiment that it's too touristy, the truth depends on which Component of the island and which time of calendar year you stop by. Near to the southern suggestion, Nai Harn beach isn't as hectic as Patong and is also a local most loved. It has several beachside dining establishments, a temple to investigate, and also a significant lake that's a popular functioning place for expats. Also take a look at Nai Yang Beach front (from the north, near the airport), an excellent spot to go kiteboarding without having to stay clear of a throng of swimmers.

Any time you've experienced your share of sand and surf, head into town to investigate Aged Phuket City — it's full of Chinese temples and museums, and it's scaled-down than you'd imagine, looking at the popularity of some of the nearby beaches. Here is the coronary heart of the island plus the place to be throughout the yearly Vegetarian Pageant.

Kopi de Phuket is an efficient choice in town for lunch or coffee. It's also going for walks length to Jui Tui Shrine — Stick to the odor of incense to this Chinese Temple on lovely grounds. Sunday is the perfect day to walk in Outdated City, snap pics in the Sino-Portuguese houses, and luxuriate in the street food items and amusement of the going for walks current market on Thalang Highway as the sun goes down.

Take time to explore inwards.

 

Thailand travel

 

If suffering from Thailand spirituality is something you're into, look into the temple-loaded northern city of Chiang Mai. You normally takes an overnight teach directly from Bangkok or an air-conditioned bus — both of those choices should really get you there in fewer than 12 hours. Another choice is the former money of Siam, Ayutthaya, from the Central Plains (an easy journey at less than sixty miles from Bangkok). It's stuffed with ruins and temples like Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Mahathat, property in the famous Buddha statue within an outdated tree.

Wish to go genuinely solo? Dhamma Kamala in Prachinburi provides 10-working day silent classes in Vipassana meditation. This is certainly legit silence — no speaking, no texting, and no writing for ten straight days. It's operate on the donation program, includes easy lodging and meals, and gives you additional time than you ever thought probable to mirror on your only frequent vacation companion: you.

Check out the north on a motorbike

 

Thailand travel

 

With scooters, mopeds, and bikes accessible for hire in mainly each individual town, city, and village in Thailand, jetting off like Audrey Hepburn (but without the additional weight of Gregory Peck to the back again) is often a breeze. You'll desire to you should definitely have adequate insurance policies, a helmet, and beefy sufficient tires for the categories of roadways you bear in mind. And don't forget about to snap some photographs from the bicycle before you leave to ensure you aren't charged for virtually any damage you didn't result in.

The smaller cities and silent roadways of northern Thailand make for especially awesome motorcycle touring. Chiang Rai is a relatively speedy generate from Chiang Mai; you'll go many cafes and strawberry farms alongside the way in which. Stop within the Doi Chaang Coffee farm (from the village of the same identify) to grab a Chunk to eat and purchase some organic espresso to consider household with you.

Chiang Rai's Night Bazaar is an excellent spot to possess a couple of beers and sample dishes like seafood soup in the steaming hotpot when men and women-watching and Hearing regional musicians. It's centrally Found and inside walking distance from the golden clock tower, which resembles the design of Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), a modern day art exhibit within the type of a Buddhist temple, also in Chiang Rai.

Meet your fellow wanderers on an organized tour

 

 

Thailand travel

 

When you're at any time needing companionship, your options are a good deal. Head to Ayutthaya to examine temples and web pages by bicycle, wherever many tour corporations (for instance Grasshopper Adventures) have entire- and 50 percent-working day excursions along back again lanes and past attention-grabbing cultural web sites. You can even consider an right away Mekhala cruise within the Chao Praya River from Bangkok, floating inside of a restored teak rice barge.

For a longer tour and the chance to spend some major time with other tourists, check out reserving through a tour enterprise like Oriental Escapes, which operates multi-working day excursions across the country and it has a good name (along with a ensure to stay away from tourist traps).