THE SOLO WOMAN’S TRAVEL GUIDE TO THAILAND

THE IDEA OF TRAVELING ALONE as a lady may be Terrifying. But we can easily't Allow that cease us — And fortuitously, we haven't: Solo woman journey is among the swiftest growing demographics within the industry. And however impartial Women of all ages adventurers are heading nearly almost everywhere, handful of spots have witnessed this increase a lot more than Thailand. Beyond becoming Safe and sound and welcoming, it's funds-pleasant, readily obtainable, and but still totally envy-inducing. It's a triple danger.

Thailand is residence to distinct areas, Each individual with its possess Delicacies and tradition. To get a grasp on the country, you'll need to see them all. From the roots on the Lanna Kingdom in Chiang Mai and the Hill tribes of the north, to the Babas to the island of Phuket from the south (and, certainly, the behemoth that is certainly Bangkok), we'll walk you with the Fundamentals.

Get around the capital, solo

 

 

Thailand travel

Bangkok (known to locals as Krungthep) has transformed dramatically over the past few many years. The sheer volume of things to carry out — museums, dining places, shops, and markets — can make it among the best towns on the earth to visit or reside in, and it's pretty Risk-free for solo woman travelers, In particular mainly because it's easy to get all-around.

The BTS (Bangkok Transit Systemand economical metered taxis make Bangkok a straightforward place to navigate. Most indicators are in each Thai and English, too. Tuk tuks — the carriage attached to a motorcycle You could have witnessed in Darjeeling Restricted— are another pleasurable way to get around the metropolis, even though it is possible to assume to pay additional in your novelty experience (but don't shy faraway from haggling beforehand). Whilst it may be a tad costlier, you can't drop by Thailand without Driving a tuk tuk not less than at the time.

Spend a night on the town.

 

Thailand travel

 

Consider Bangkok's top rated bars while in the industrial district of Silom (such as 1930s-cabaret-themed basement bar Maggie Choo's, inside the Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom close to the Surasak and Taksin BTS stations; or the most effective rooftop perspective in Bangkok, Cloud 47, near the Sala Daeng station). Sukhumvit is additionally filled with trendy parts. Buy some fish at Tororo Sushi prior to hitting the nightlife inside the Thonglor-Ekamai community, where you'll have your choice of dance golf equipment enjoying prime 40 Thai hits, bars serving beer from throughout the world, and swanky rooftop patios.

Yet another superior selection for a memorable evening can be a Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise — you'll get an upscale buffet meal even though observing the landmarks together the Chao Phraya riverside float by.

Treat yourself to a night of luxury

  

Thailand travel

 

With plenty of economical accommodation — such as listings on Airbnb, hostels, and low-cost accommodations — an evening of notroughing it truly is well worth the splurge. Look into the Windsor Hotel, with sights over the complete town. It's centrally situated in Bangkok and has some terrific Avenue food nearby, plus it's proper beside a major BTS interchange (Asok/Sukhumvit) that lets you soar over the skytrain or maybe the subway. Seek out offers on the internet and you might be able to discover a place for as small as $fifty.

Want to actually splurge? The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has one hundred twenty five yrs of working experience earning its guests feel like queens. With out of doors swimming pools and cabanas, tennis courts, a full-services spa with Thai massages, yoga classes, and ten dining establishments, this stay will set you back again numerous hundred pounds, however, you'll surely encounter a throwback on the golden age of Thai luxurious travel.

Head south on a one-woman road trip

 

 

Thailand travel

 

Southern Thailand is lovely — and the perfect spot for a solo street vacation. Vehicle rentals is often arranged on line all through the area, and having your own wheels will give you the pliability to stop when and where you want.

This Element of the region is about Discovering the little villages and cities that punctuate the miles and miles of beaches. Character lovers will take pleasure in the "Minimal Amazon" of Takua Pa in Phang Nga, around Khao Lak — where by no developing is permitted to stand taller than a coconut palm tree — and only some hours from Phuket. Prevent in Khao Lak on the beachside Khaolak Laguna Resort (in the center of city) and take a tour of your close by waterfalls, go for a hike in Khaolak-Lumru Countrywide Park, or simply just take pleasure in a drink because of the pool although seeing the tide roll in.

Subsequent, drive up the coast to Ranong, a lesser-identified city that was after a well known place for your now-defunct Phuket-Ranong visa operate. There's an awesome warm spring, cheap but tasty places to eat (Le Ranong Cafe has awesome banana smoothies), as well as Rattana Rangsarn Throne Hall, a picket palace reproduction with gardens that's a wonderful afternoon looking through spot.

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

 

Thailand travel

 

Phuket is Thailand's most significant island and it has over 30 seashores. Regardless of the generally-expressed sentiment that it's too touristy, the reality depends upon which part of the island and which era of calendar year you check out. Near the southern idea, Nai Harn Beach front isn't as busy as Patong and it is a neighborhood favourite. It has some beachside places to eat, a temple to investigate, and a huge lake that's a well known jogging location for expats. Also consider Nai Yang Seaside (while in the north, near the airport), an incredible location to go kiteboarding without the need to stay away from a throng of swimmers.

Any time you've had your share of sand and surf, head into city to examine Outdated Phuket City — it's filled with Chinese temples and museums, and it's more compact than you'd visualize, thinking about the recognition of some of the close by shorelines. This can be the coronary heart on the island along with the destination to be throughout the once-a-year Vegetarian Pageant.

Kopi de Phuket is an effective selection in town for lunch or coffee. It's also walking length to Jui Tui Shrine — Stick to the odor of incense to this Chinese Temple on magnificent grounds. Sunday is the right working day to stroll in Previous Town, snap pics with the Sino-Portuguese homes, and luxuriate in the road food stuff and entertainment of your strolling current market on Thalang Highway because the Sunshine goes down.

Take time to explore inwards.

 

Thailand travel

 

If enduring Thailand spirituality is one thing you're into, check out the temple-loaded northern town of Chiang Mai. You usually takes an right away prepare straight from Bangkok or an air-conditioned bus — both of those alternatives must get you there in under 12 hours. Another option is the previous funds of Siam, Ayutthaya, in the Central Plains (a straightforward journey at below sixty miles from Bangkok). It's crammed with ruins and temples like Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Mahathat, house of the renowned Buddha statue within an previous tree.

Need to go really solo? Dhamma Kamala in Prachinburi delivers 10-day silent courses in Vipassana meditation. That is legit silence — no speaking, no texting, and no producing for ten straight days. It's operate with a donation program, includes straightforward lodging and foods, and provides you with much more time than you at any time assumed feasible to replicate with your only continual vacation companion: yourself.

Check out the north on a motorbike

 

Thailand travel

 

With scooters, mopeds, and bikes accessible for hire in generally each and every town, city, and village in Thailand, jetting off like Audrey Hepburn (but without the included body weight of Gregory Peck over the back again) is actually a breeze. You'll desire to be sure to have suitable insurance, a helmet, and beefy enough tires for the categories of streets you have in mind. And don't forget about to snap some images in the bicycle before you leave to ensure you aren't charged for just about any damage you didn't cause.

The little towns and silent roadways of northern Thailand make for Primarily awesome bike touring. Chiang Rai is a relatively brief drive from Chiang Mai; you'll pass quite a few cafes and strawberry farms together the way. Prevent at the Doi Chaang Coffee farm (inside the village of the exact same title) to seize a bite to take in and purchase some natural and organic coffee to take home along with you.

Chiang Rai's Evening Bazaar is a good spot to possess a couple beers and sample dishes like seafood soup inside a steaming hotpot although persons-observing and Hearing local musicians. It's centrally Situated and in strolling distance from your golden clock tower, which resembles the look of Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), a up to date artwork exhibit during the sort of a Buddhist temple, also in Chiang Rai.

Meet your fellow wanderers on an organized tour

 

 

Thailand travel

 

In case you're at any time wanting companionship, your options are a good deal. Head to Ayutthaya to explore temples and web-sites by bicycle, where many tour providers (for example Grasshopper Adventures) have total- and fifty percent-working day excursions together again lanes and earlier attention-grabbing cultural internet sites. You can even acquire an overnight Mekhala cruise about the Chao Praya River from Bangkok, floating inside a restored teak rice barge.

For a longer tour and the chance to commit some serious time with other tourists, consider scheduling via a tour firm like Oriental Escapes, which operates multi-working day trips across the nation and has a great standing (plus a ensure to prevent vacationer traps).