THE SOLO WOMAN’S TRAVEL GUIDE TO THAILAND

THE IDEA OF TRAVELING ALONE as a woman can be Frightening. But we can easily't Allow that end us — And by chance, we haven't: Solo female travel is probably the speediest expanding demographics from the business. And although impartial women adventurers are going almost everywhere you go, number of locations have found this boom in excess of Thailand. Past becoming Harmless and welcoming, it's finances-welcoming, easily accessible, and however nonetheless fully envy-inducing. It's a triple threat.

Thailand is house to distinct regions, each with its possess Delicacies and culture. To get a grasp in the country, you'll really have to see all of them. From the roots in the Lanna Kingdom in Chiang Mai along with the Hill tribes with the north, for the Babas over the island of Phuket inside the south (and, certainly, the behemoth that's Bangkok), we'll stroll you through the basics.

Get around the capital, solo

 

 

Thailand travel

Bangkok (identified to locals as Krungthep) has adjusted substantially over the past couple of a long time. The sheer amount of factors to perform — museums, eating places, shops, and marketplaces — makes it among the finest cities on the globe to visit or are now living in, and it's very Risk-free for solo feminine vacationers, Primarily since it's easy to have all over.

The BTS (Bangkok Transit Systemand inexpensive metered taxis make Bangkok an uncomplicated destination to navigate. Most signals are in both equally Thai and English, as well. Tuk tuks — the carriage attached to a motorcycle You could have seen in Darjeeling Minimal— are A different fun way to get throughout the city, while you are able to hope to pay for extra in your novelty journey (but don't shy faraway from haggling beforehand). Although it could be a tad costlier, you may't check out Thailand with out riding a tuk tuk no less than the moment.

Spend a night on the town.

 

Thailand travel

 

Look at Bangkok's top rated bars while in the industrial 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 most beneficial rooftop check out in Bangkok, Cloud forty seven, near the Sala Daeng station). Sukhumvit is also stuffed with fashionable spots. Buy some fish at Tororo Sushi prior to hitting the nightlife in the Thonglor-Ekamai neighborhood, in which you'll have your preference of dance golf equipment playing leading forty Thai hits, bars serving beer from world wide, and swanky rooftop patios.

One more very good selection for a memorable night time is often a Chao Phraya Princess Meal Cruise — you'll get an upscale buffet supper whilst seeing the landmarks alongside the Chao Phraya riverside float by.

Treat yourself to a night of luxury

  

Thailand travel

 

With a lot of economical accommodation — such as listings on Airbnb, hostels, and low cost inns — a night of notroughing it can be worth the splurge. Check out the Windsor Resort, with sights over the whole metropolis. It's centrally located in Bangkok and it has some terrific Avenue meals close by, furthermore it's suitable beside a major BTS interchange (Asok/Sukhumvit) that allows you to bounce within the skytrain or maybe the subway. Hunt for offers online and you might be able to discover a room for as very little as $50.

Want to really splurge? The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has 125 decades of encounter producing its guests really feel like queens. With outside swimming pools and cabanas, tennis courts, an entire-company spa with Thai massages, yoga courses, and ten restaurants, this stay will established you again quite a few hundred dollars, however, you'll unquestionably expertise a throwback to the golden age of Thai luxury vacation.

Head south on a one-woman road trip

 

 

Thailand travel

 

Southern Thailand is attractive — and the ideal place for a solo road excursion. Vehicle rentals is usually organized on the net all through the area, and owning your own private wheels will give you the flexibility to prevent when and where you want.

This A part of the region is centered on Checking out the little villages and towns that punctuate the miles and miles of beaches. Mother nature enthusiasts will benefit from the "Little Amazon" of Takua Pa in Phang Nga, close to Khao Lak — in which no making is allowed to stand taller than the usual coconut palm tree — and just a few several hours from Phuket. Halt in Khao Lak in the beachside Khaolak Laguna Resort (in the center of city) and have a tour with the close by waterfalls, Select a hike in Khaolak-Lumru Nationwide Park, or maybe love a consume via the pool while seeing the tide roll in.

Subsequent, push up the coast to Ranong, a lesser-regarded metropolis which was at the time a preferred destination for that now-defunct Phuket-Ranong visa operate. There's a wonderful sizzling spring, affordable but tasty restaurants (Le Ranong Cafe has great banana smoothies), as well as the Rattana Rangsarn Throne Hall, a wooden palace replica with gardens that's a wonderful afternoon looking at spot.

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

 

Thailand travel

 

Phuket is Thailand's biggest island and has around thirty beaches. Regardless of the typically-expressed sentiment that it's too touristy, the reality will depend on which Section of the island and which period of 12 months you take a look at. Near to the southern tip, Nai Harn Seaside isn't as fast paced as Patong and is an area favorite. It has a number of beachside restaurants, a temple to discover, plus a massive lake that's a preferred working location for expats. Also look into Nai Yang Seaside (during the north, near the airport), a fantastic place to go kiteboarding while not having to stay away from a throng of swimmers.

Once you've experienced your share of sand and surf, head into town to examine Previous Phuket City — it's filled with Chinese temples and museums, and it's scaled-down than you'd think about, thinking of the recognition of a number of the close by seashores. Here is the coronary heart of the island and also the destination to be in the annual Vegetarian Pageant.

Kopi de Phuket is a good option in city for lunch or coffee. It's also walking distance to Jui Tui Shrine — Keep to the scent of incense to this Chinese Temple on beautiful grounds. Sunday is the right day to wander in Previous City, snap pictures from the Sino-Portuguese properties, and luxuriate in the road foods and leisure with the strolling market on Thalang Road as the Sunlight goes down.

Take time to explore inwards.

 

Thailand travel

 

If experiencing Thailand spirituality is something you're into, check out the temple-loaded northern city of Chiang Mai. You usually takes an overnight coach directly from Bangkok or an air-conditioned bus — both solutions ought to get you there in below twelve hours. Another option is the former funds of Siam, Ayutthaya, in the Central Plains (an easy trip at lower than sixty miles from Bangkok). It's stuffed with ruins and temples like Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Mahathat, property of your famous Buddha statue within an outdated tree.

Wish to go actually solo? Dhamma Kamala in Prachinburi presents 10-working day silent classes in Vipassana meditation. That is legit silence — no speaking, no texting, and no crafting for ten straight times. It's operate on the donation method, incorporates easy lodging and meals, and will provide you with extra time than you ever assumed achievable to replicate on the only constant travel companion: your self.

Check out the north on a motorbike

 

Thailand travel

 

With scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles readily available for hire in fundamentally just about every city, town, and village in Thailand, jetting off like Audrey Hepburn (but without the additional excess weight of Gregory Peck on the back again) is a breeze. You'll need to be sure to have satisfactory insurance plan, a helmet, and beefy ample tires for the types of roadways you keep in mind. And don't neglect to snap some photographs from the bicycle before you depart to make sure you aren't billed for virtually any problems you didn't cause.

The compact cities and peaceful roads of northern Thailand make for Particularly wonderful bike touring. Chiang Rai is a relatively brief travel from Chiang Mai; you'll pass numerous cafes and strawberry farms along just how. Prevent within the Doi Chaang Coffee farm (during the village of the same title) to seize a bite to consume and buy some organic espresso to choose property along with you.

Chiang Rai's Night time Bazaar is a good area to possess a few beers and sample dishes like seafood soup in the steaming hotpot although people-observing and listening to nearby musicians. It's centrally Positioned and within just going for walks distance within the golden clock tower, which resembles the design of Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), a contemporary artwork exhibit inside the style 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 loads. Head to Ayutthaya to discover temples and web sites by bicycle, where by various tour corporations (like Grasshopper Adventures) have entire- and 50 %-working day excursions together back again lanes and past interesting cultural web sites. You may as well choose an right away Mekhala cruise to the Chao Praya River from Bangkok, floating in a very restored teak rice barge.

For a longer excursion and the opportunity to spend some really serious time with other vacationers, try reserving by way of a tour corporation like Oriental Escapes, which operates multi-working day journeys across the nation and has a great name (plus a promise in order to avoid tourist traps).