THE SOLO WOMAN’S TRAVEL GUIDE TO THAILAND

THE IDEA OF TRAVELING ALONE as a girl might be Terrifying. But we can't Allow that end us — And fortunately, we haven't: Solo female journey has become the swiftest rising demographics from the business. And however independent Girls adventurers are likely almost in all places, number of spots have found this growth much more than Thailand. Further than being safe and welcoming, it's finances-welcoming, commonly available, and but nonetheless thoroughly envy-inducing. It's a triple risk.

Thailand is home to diverse locations, Just about every with its very own cuisine and culture. To secure a grasp on the region, you'll have to see all of them. From your roots with the Lanna Kingdom in Chiang Mai along with the Hill tribes on the north, to your Babas within the island of Phuket within the south (and, of course, the behemoth that is certainly Bangkok), we'll wander you with the Essentials.

Get around the capital, solo

 

 

Thailand travel

Bangkok (identified to locals as Krungthep) has adjusted drastically in the last handful of a long time. The sheer level of items to complete — museums, restaurants, shops, and markets — makes it probably the greatest metropolitan areas on earth to visit or live in, and it's fairly Secure for solo woman travelers, In particular mainly because it's easy to receive all around.

The BTS (Bangkok Transit Systemand very affordable metered taxis make Bangkok an easy destination to navigate. Most signals are in both Thai and English, also. Tuk tuks — the carriage attached to a motorbike You may have found in Darjeeling Minimal— are Yet another fun way to get round the metropolis, although you may assume to pay additional for your novelty experience (but don't shy faraway from haggling beforehand). Although it could be a tiny bit costlier, you are able to't go to Thailand without having riding a tuk tuk at the least at the time.

Spend a night on the town.

 

Thailand travel

 

Look into Bangkok's best bars while in the industrial district of Silom (such as 1930s-cabaret-themed basement bar Maggie Choo's, while in the Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom close to the Surasak and Taksin BTS stations; or the top rooftop watch in Bangkok, Cloud forty seven, close to the Sala Daeng station). Sukhumvit is likewise filled with trendy locations. Buy some fish at Tororo Sushi ahead of hitting the nightlife in the Thonglor-Ekamai community, where you'll have your preference of dance golf equipment taking part in top 40 Thai hits, bars serving beer from around the globe, and swanky rooftop patios.

Yet another fantastic option for a unforgettable evening is really a Chao Phraya Princess Meal Cruise — you'll get an upscale buffet dinner even though viewing the landmarks along the Chao Phraya riverside float by.

Treat yourself to a night of luxury

  

Thailand travel

 

With loads of very affordable accommodation — together with listings on Airbnb, hostels, and low-cost resorts — a night of notroughing it's definitely worth the splurge. Look into the Windsor Resort, with sights throughout the complete metropolis. It's centrally located in Bangkok and it has some great street food stuff nearby, additionally it's ideal close to a large BTS interchange (Asok/Sukhumvit) that enables you to soar around the skytrain or the subway. Try to find specials online and you might be able to look for a place for as minor as $50.

Want to essentially splurge? The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has 125 yrs of expertise earning its visitors sense like queens. With outdoor swimming pools and cabanas, tennis courts, a complete-provider spa with Thai massages, yoga classes, and 10 dining places, this continue to be will set you again quite a few hundred bucks, but you'll absolutely practical experience a throwback towards the golden age of Thai luxurious travel.

Head south on a one-woman road trip

 

 

Thailand travel

 

Southern Thailand is gorgeous — and the ideal spot for a solo road journey. Automobile rentals is often organized online through the location, and possessing your own personal wheels will provide you with the flexibility to stop when and where you want.

This Component of the place is centered on exploring the small villages and towns that punctuate the miles and miles of beach locations. Nature fans will take pleasure in the "Little Amazon" of Takua Pa in Phang Nga, around Khao Lak — wherever no building is permitted to stand taller than a coconut palm tree — and only a few several hours from Phuket. Prevent in Khao Lak for the beachside Khaolak Laguna Vacation resort (in the center of town) and have a tour of the close by waterfalls, Select a hike in Khaolak-Lumru Countrywide Park, or merely appreciate a consume with the pool though watching the tide roll in.

Next, generate up the Coastline to Ranong, a lesser-recognised town which was once a well known vacation spot for your now-defunct Phuket-Ranong visa operate. There's a tremendous sizzling spring, low-priced but tasty eating places (Le Ranong Cafe has awesome banana smoothies), along with the Rattana Rangsarn Throne Hall, a wood palace reproduction with gardens that's an ideal afternoon looking at spot.

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

 

Thailand travel

 

Phuket is Thailand's largest island and has more than thirty seashores. Regardless of the frequently-expressed sentiment that it's way too touristy, the truth is dependent upon which Element of the island and which period of yr you pay a visit to. Near the southern tip, Nai Harn Seashore isn't as hectic as Patong and is particularly an area favorite. It's got a number of beachside dining places, a temple to take a look at, along with a big lake that's a popular operating place for expats. Also have a look at Nai Yang Seashore (from the north, close to the airport), an incredible destination to go kiteboarding without needing to steer clear of a throng of swimmers.

After you've experienced your share of sand and surf, head into town to explore Outdated Phuket City — it's crammed with Chinese temples and museums, and it's more compact than you'd imagine, thinking of the recognition of a lot of the close by seashores. This can be the coronary heart of the island as well as the location to be in the course of the once-a-year Vegetarian Festival.

Kopi de Phuket is an effective option in town for lunch or coffee. It's also walking distance to Jui Tui Shrine — Adhere to the scent of incense to this Chinese Temple on lovely grounds. Sunday is the perfect working day to stroll in Outdated City, snap pictures of your Sino-Portuguese residences, and luxuriate in the road foods and entertainment in the strolling marketplace on Thalang Street as the sun goes down.

Take time to explore inwards.

 

Thailand travel

 

If suffering from Thailand spirituality is a thing you're into, check out the temple-loaded northern city of Chiang Mai. You normally takes an overnight educate directly from Bangkok or an air-conditioned bus — both of those solutions need to get you there in under twelve hrs. Another choice is the former funds of Siam, Ayutthaya, in the Central Plains (a straightforward excursion at below 60 miles from Bangkok). It's filled with ruins and temples like Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Mahathat, residence with the famed Buddha statue in an aged tree.

Choose to go definitely solo? Dhamma Kamala in Prachinburi features ten-day silent courses in Vipassana meditation. This is legit silence — no talking, no texting, and no creating for ten straight days. It's operate with a donation program, features simple lodging and meals, and will provide you with more time than you at any time considered achievable to replicate on your only constant journey companion: by yourself.

Check out the north on a motorbike

 

Thailand travel

 

With scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles accessible for hire in essentially each individual town, city, and village in Thailand, jetting off like Audrey Hepburn (but with no added pounds of Gregory Peck over the back again) is actually a breeze. You'll desire to ensure you have enough coverage, a helmet, and beefy enough tires for the categories of roadways you have in mind. And don't overlook to snap some photos of the bike prior to deciding to depart to ensure you aren't charged for any problems you didn't result in.

The smaller cities and tranquil streets of northern Thailand make for Specifically wonderful motorbike touring. Chiang Rai is a comparatively brief travel from Chiang Mai; you'll go many cafes and strawberry farms alongside the way. End in the Doi Chaang Coffee farm (from the village of a similar name) to seize a Chunk to try to eat and purchase some natural espresso to acquire home with you.

Chiang Rai's Night time Bazaar is a great place to have a number of beers and sample dishes like seafood soup in the steaming hotpot when people today-looking at and listening to nearby musicians. It's centrally located and in going for walks distance with the golden clock tower, which resembles the look of Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), a modern day art exhibit within the variety of a Buddhist temple, also in Chiang Rai.

Meet your fellow wanderers on an organized tour

 

 

Thailand travel

 

When you're ever wanting companionship, your choices are plenty. Head to Ayutthaya to explore temples and internet sites by bicycle, where many tour corporations (which include Grasshopper Adventures) have entire- and half-working day excursions together back lanes and earlier intriguing cultural web pages. You can even get an overnight Mekhala cruise about the Chao Praya River from Bangkok, floating in a restored teak rice barge.

For a longer tour and the opportunity to devote some critical time with other travelers, attempt scheduling through a tour enterprise like Oriental Escapes, which runs multi-working day journeys across the nation and it has a superb track record (and also a assurance in order to avoid tourist traps).