I started my first-ever solo female travel journey in May of 2022. The journey began in Vietnam and I proceeded to travel around South East Asia for the following six months. I think it’s fair to say that Thailand was easily my favourite country out of all of them and I spent a total of three months in the land of a thousand smiles.
One of the things that fascinated me the most was that I met tonnes of solo female travellers backpacking their way through Thailand. I thought that I would’ve come across more males kicking it solo, but surprisingly, there are a lot of us ambitious females out there.
I was inspired by my journey to get more of a word out about solo female travel in Thailand, as I think it’s a fantastic place for first-time travellers or experienced travellers to enjoy! Throughout this post, I will go into a few important key factors about solo female travel and how you can get the most out of your experience in Thailand.
Is Thailand Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
In short answer, yes. I found Thailand to be very safe for solo female travellers, and it’s one of my favourite countries to travel solo. Thai people are extremely accommodating and welcoming and will make you feel right at home in your new budget backpacker hostel.
I absolutely recommend chatting with locals, they are always friendly and are fantastic at speaking English. However, I would say it’s best to take a moment to learn a few Thai words out of respect for the culture. A simple greeting like ‘Sawadekaa’ will go a long way. Once you have finished your meal, be sure to thank them by saying ‘Kapkhunkha’ and place your palms together with a simple head nod.
Finally, don’t be afraid to make new friends in hostels or when out and about. There are plenty of friendly travellers to meet and you never know who you’re likely to come across!
How to Meet Other Solo Travellers
There are many ways in which you can meet other solo travellers, and meeting people from all parts of the globe truly makes the journey so special! I think solo travel gives you more of an opportunity to meet new people considering you have no one else to turn to. So, get out of your comfort zone and make some new friends!
My number one tip for meeting other solo travellers is to stay in hostels. Use platforms such as Agoda and Hostel World to find the best places to stay in Thailand. However, I recommend searching for a Google review on each of the hostels you view as not all of them are going to offer the environment you are looking for. Especially in Thailand, hostels can vary from party, social, private, cheap, retreats etc. Therefore, do your research to ensure you are staying at a place suitable for you!
Another great way to meet solo travellers is to sign up for tours. You don’t need to take part in the most expensive or grand tour, it could be as simple as a foodie or temple tour. You’re bound to meet others with the same interests as you and to get the chance to make some new friends.
Additionally, connecting with other solo travellers online is another great way to meet people. You can use platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to find out if there are other people in the area willing to meet! However, I’d always advise that you meet them in a very public location during the day. Never meet someone from the internet at night or in a quiet place.
Finally, I recommend going out on a solo journey by yourself, considering this is what solo travel is all about! You’re bound to bump into someone along the way, so strike up a conversation and ask them about what they’re up to.
Read more: 24 Hours in Bangkok: The Ultimate Bangkok Itinerary
5 Tips for Solo Female Travel in Thailand
It’s not a surprising fact that many people will gasp over the thought of a solo female traveller. And, while it’s pretty simple to travel as a solo female, there are a few things I recommend keeping in mind. Listed are a few of my top tips for solo female travel in Thailand.
- Share your location with family or friends. If you have an iPhone, I recommend sending them your live location so that someone can always see where you are. Obviously, only share this location with a few people that you can trust.
- Avoid taking night buses, trains, or transport in general. This one kind of goes without saying, but makes a lot of sense. Travelling during the night always makes for uneasy situations as you are experiencing a new place while it’s dark. I recommend sticking to daytime travel as much as possible.
- Do extensive research before visiting a new place. Getting the lowdown on common scams, petty thefts, and crimes is best so that you are prepared to stay safe. Sometimes, you may receive advice from another traveller to not visit a certain location. I would also recommend having a chat with the staff at your accommodation as they typically know their way around town.
- Never tell locals or random people that you are a solo traveller. Let them know that you are meeting a friend or partner if they ask. Nobody needs to know that you are by yourself.
- Always trust your intuition and follow your gut instinct. If something doesn’t feel right, then you are most likely correct. Never go against your intuition, especially as a solo female traveller.
What Is the Best Way to Get around Thailand?
Typically, the most expensive part of being a solo traveller is the travelling aspect itself. For the most part, food, drink, alcohol, entertainment and accommodation will be the cheapest part of your trip. However, take into consideration that you stick to a backpacker’s budget of around $20-$60 AUD spend limit per day.
There are a few ways you can get around Thailand and each has its pros and cons. Firstly, you can take a ride in a tuk-tuk. They are usually brightly coloured, three-wheeled vehicles with a Thai driver often exclaiming ‘Tuk Tuk!’. Consider a ride in one of these unique vehicles when you have a short distance to cover.
For longer days of travel, I recommend using the platform 12go Asia. You can search your starting and final destination and you will receive numerous travel options. I typically recommend taking buses around Thailand as it’s the easiest and cheapest way to get around. Avoid taking too many flights as this will increase your budget significantly.
The Best Time of Year to Visit Thailand
In all honesty, I don’t think it really matters exactly when you go to Thailand as there are many pros and cons of the wet and dry seasons.
The wet season typically guarantees flowing waterfalls, rivers and a stunningly lush environment. On the other hand, the dry season is best for more time in the sun. Nonetheless, it tends to be quite hot and humid all year round.
I visited Thailand during the wet season, and found it would only rain every few days, with the exception of some flooding in towns. Luckily I wasn’t caught in any of these floods, but it is something to consider!
The wet season usually takes place from May to October. The cool season is generally from November to February and the hot season takes place from March to May.
I suppose if you were to try and find the best time of year to visit Thailand, I would advise that you try to visit in between the wet and dry seasons. This ensures you experience the change in seasons which means that it’s neither overly wet nor dry.
Things to Consider Before You Go
There is a number of things you need to consider before you embark on your journey around Thailand. Firstly, you need to decide on which part of Thailand you want to visit. The northern section includes Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pai and a very large mountainous region. Whereas the south of Thailand is quite narrow but includes an array of stunning islands like Phi Phi, Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao.
If you want to get the most out of Thailand, I would suggest allowing at least 3 months to explore the entirety of it. Thailand is quite a large country and there is a lot of distance to cover from the north to the south. However, some people may just be interested in the tropical islands of Thailand. Therefore, I suggest sticking to the south!
Secondly, pack your bags accordingly. It’s no surprise that Thailand is a relatively hot country all year round, but this also comes with major tropical storms, and when it rains it pours! It’s pretty hard to track the weather in Thailand and most weather channels aren’t very helpful. Be prepared for a torrential downpour at all times and pack a raincoat and rain cover for your luggage. Not to mention, it gets extremely cold on buses and trains during long travel days; Pack a lightweight jumper or jacket for a layer of warmth!
Thirdly, take a moment to look into necessary vaccinations or immunisations. I highly recommend taking the Cholera immunisation to protect yourself against harmful bacteria in the gut! Depending on where you go, malaria tablets may be necessary and you may need to consider other shots such as tetanus or hepatitis. Best to be safe than sorry!
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, solo female travel in Thailand is relatively safe as long as you use common sense and follow typical safety practices. Thailand is a magnificent place for solo female travellers and I highly recommend it, even if it’s your first solo backpacking journey.
Be sure to use my advice to ensure that you have a safe and incredible journey around this fantastic country. There are plenty of cultural activities to enjoy as well as lounging on stunning beaches lined with limestone karsts.
Stay safe and enjoy your trip!
Read More:
Thailand Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know
The Best Food in Thailand: 15 Thai Dishes You Need to Try
