THE SOLO WOMAN’S TRAVEL GUIDE TO THAILAND

THE IDEA OF TRAVELING ALONE as a girl might be Frightening. But we will't let that cease us — And fortunately, we haven't: Solo female travel is among the speediest rising demographics inside the business. And however impartial women adventurers are heading just about everywhere you go, couple of places have viewed this increase more than Thailand. Outside of getting safe and welcoming, it's funds-friendly, quickly available, and but nonetheless thoroughly envy-inducing. It's a triple risk.

Thailand is home to various areas, Each individual with its personal cuisine and society. To acquire a grasp of your state, you'll have to see them all. In the roots from the Lanna Kingdom in Chiang Mai and also the Hill tribes on the north, on the Babas within the island of Phuket inside the south (and, naturally, the behemoth that is definitely Bangkok), we'll walk you throughout the Fundamentals.

Get around the capital, solo

 

 

Thailand travel

Bangkok (recognised to locals as Krungthep) has improved drastically in the last couple of decades. The sheer level of things to complete — museums, restaurants, retailers, and marketplaces — can make it among the best metropolitan areas on the planet to visit or reside in, and it's really safe for solo woman vacationers, In particular since it's very simple to obtain all-around.

The BTS (Bangkok Transit Systemand very affordable metered taxis make Bangkok an uncomplicated spot to navigate. Most symptoms are in both of those Thai and English, far too. Tuk tuks — the carriage attached to a motorbike You may have witnessed in Darjeeling Confined— are An additional pleasurable way to get within the town, though you could anticipate to pay for a lot more in your novelty trip (but don't shy from haggling beforehand). Even though it could be a little costlier, you'll be able to't go to Thailand without the need of riding a tuk tuk at least when.

Spend a night on the town.

 

Thailand travel

 

Look into Bangkok's best bars during the business district of Silom (such as the 1930s-cabaret-themed basement bar Maggie Choo's, in the Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom near the Surasak and Taksin BTS stations; or the best rooftop see in Bangkok, Cloud forty seven, near the Sala Daeng station). Sukhumvit is also stuffed with stylish spots. Buy some fish at Tororo Sushi in advance of hitting the nightlife while in the Thonglor-Ekamai community, where you'll have your selection of dance clubs enjoying major 40 Thai hits, bars serving beer from all over the world, and swanky rooftop patios.

One more fantastic choice for a memorable evening is often a Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise — you'll get an upscale buffet supper though observing the landmarks together the Chao Phraya riverside float by.

Treat yourself to a night of luxury

  

Thailand travel

 

With a good amount of reasonably priced accommodation — such as listings on Airbnb, hostels, and low-cost resorts — an evening of notroughing it truly is definitely worth the splurge. Look into the Windsor Hotel, with sights over the total metropolis. It's centrally located in Bangkok and has some good Avenue foods close by, plus it's proper next to a huge BTS interchange (Asok/Sukhumvit) that lets you soar to the skytrain or the subway. Seek out promotions online and you could possibly discover a room for as little as $50.

Want to actually splurge? The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has a hundred twenty five many years of expertise earning its company come to feel like queens. With outdoor swimming pools and cabanas, tennis courts, a full-company spa with Thai massages, yoga classes, and 10 eating places, this remain will set you back again many hundred bucks, but you'll undoubtedly knowledge a throwback to your golden age of Thai luxurious vacation.

Head south on a one-woman road trip

 

 

Thailand travel

 

Southern Thailand is lovely — and the ideal spot for a solo highway vacation. Vehicle rentals is often arranged on-line through the location, and acquiring your own private wheels will give you the flexibility to halt when and where you want.

This Component of the region is focused on Checking out the smaller villages and cities that punctuate the miles and miles of seashores. Mother nature lovers will take pleasure in the "Tiny Amazon" of Takua Pa in Phang Nga, near Khao Lak — wherever no setting up is allowed to stand taller than a coconut palm tree — and just a few hours from Phuket. End in Khao Lak within the beachside Khaolak Laguna Resort (in the center of city) and take a tour of your nearby waterfalls, Choose a hike in Khaolak-Lumru Nationwide Park, or merely get pleasure from a consume through the pool whilst viewing the tide roll in.

Future, drive up the coast to Ranong, a lesser-known town that was as soon as a popular spot to the now-defunct Phuket-Ranong visa run. There's an amazing sizzling spring, cheap but delicious eating places (Le Ranong Cafe has amazing banana smoothies), plus the Rattana Rangsarn Throne Corridor, a picket palace reproduction with gardens that's a great afternoon looking through place.

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

 

Thailand travel

 

Phuket is Thailand's major island and it has about thirty beach locations. Regardless of the frequently-expressed sentiment that it's much too touristy, the fact is dependent upon which part of the island and which time of yr you check out. Near to the southern suggestion, Nai Harn Beach front isn't as chaotic as Patong and is also a neighborhood most loved. It's got a number of beachside eating places, a temple to explore, plus a huge lake that's a well-liked jogging place for expats. Also take a look at Nai Yang beach (while in the north, close to the airport), a great place to go kiteboarding without needing to stay away from a throng of swimmers.

Whenever you've experienced your share of sand and surf, head into town to discover Previous Phuket City — it's filled with Chinese temples and museums, and it's more compact than you'd visualize, taking into consideration the popularity of a few of the nearby beaches. This is the heart in the island and also the place to be through the once-a-year Vegetarian Pageant.

Kopi de Phuket is an effective alternative in town for lunch or coffee. It's also walking length to Jui Tui Shrine — Stick to the scent of incense to this Chinese Temple on stunning grounds. Sunday is the perfect day to stroll in Outdated City, snap pics with the Sino-Portuguese homes, and revel in the street foodstuff and amusement with the walking market place on Thalang Road because the sun goes down.

Take time to explore inwards.

 

Thailand travel

 

If going through Thailand spirituality is one thing you're into, look into the temple-loaded northern city of Chiang Mai. You normally takes an right away coach straight from Bangkok or an air-conditioned bus — both equally options should really get you there in a lot less than 12 hours. Another option is the former money of Siam, Ayutthaya, in the Central Plains (an uncomplicated journey at below sixty miles from Bangkok). It's stuffed with ruins and temples like Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Mahathat, household on the famous Buddha statue in an outdated tree.

Desire to go truly solo? Dhamma Kamala in Prachinburi delivers 10-day silent classes in Vipassana meditation. This is often legit silence — no speaking, no texting, and no composing for ten straight days. It's operate with a donation procedure, involves basic lodging and meals, and offers you more time than you ever imagined attainable to replicate with your only continual vacation companion: oneself.

Check out the north on a motorbike

 

Thailand travel

 

With scooters, mopeds, and bikes accessible for rent in generally each individual metropolis, town, and village in Thailand, jetting off like Audrey Hepburn (but without the extra bodyweight of Gregory Peck to the back again) can be a breeze. You'll want to you should definitely have ample insurance policy, a helmet, and beefy plenty of tires for the kinds of streets you bear in mind. And don't neglect to snap some photos in the bicycle before you go away to ensure you aren't billed for any damage you didn't bring about.

The small towns and peaceful roadways of northern Thailand make for Specifically great motorcycle touring. Chiang Rai is a relatively speedy push from Chiang Mai; you'll pass many cafes and strawberry farms together the way in which. End in the Doi Chaang Espresso farm (during the village of precisely the same identify) to seize a bite to try to eat and buy some natural espresso to choose household along with you.

Chiang Rai's Night time Bazaar is a superb location to have a few beers and sample dishes like seafood soup in the steaming hotpot whilst people today-watching and listening to area musicians. It's centrally Situated and inside of going for walks distance from the golden clock tower, which resembles the look of Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), a modern day art exhibit inside the variety of a Buddhist temple, also in Chiang Rai.

Meet your fellow wanderers on an organized tour

 

 

Thailand travel

 

If you're at any time needing companionship, your options are loads. Head to Ayutthaya to check out temples and web-sites by bicycle, exactly where various tour organizations (for example Grasshopper Adventures) have comprehensive- and 50 %-working day excursions together again lanes and previous appealing cultural websites. You can even get an right away Mekhala cruise about the Chao Praya River from Bangkok, floating within a restored teak rice barge.

For a longer tour and the chance to devote some critical time with other tourists, consider reserving through a tour business like Oriental Escapes, which runs multi-working day visits across the nation and it has a superb reputation (in addition to a ensure in order to avoid vacationer traps).