THE SOLO WOMAN’S TRAVEL GUIDE TO THAILAND

THE IDEA OF TRAVELING ALONE as a lady is usually Terrifying. But we will't Enable that end us — and luckily, we haven't: Solo female journey has become the swiftest increasing demographics during the market. And even though unbiased Gals adventurers are going almost everywhere, few sites have viewed this growth much more than Thailand. Outside of remaining Secure and welcoming, it's spending plan-friendly, quickly accessible, and yet nonetheless fully envy-inducing. It's a triple threat.

Thailand is residence to distinct areas, each with its personal cuisine and culture. To get a grasp of the nation, you'll have to see all of them. In the roots of your Lanna Kingdom in Chiang Mai plus the Hill tribes from the north, for the Babas about the island of Phuket during the south (and, needless to say, the behemoth that's Bangkok), we'll wander you throughout the Fundamentals.

Get around the capital, solo

 

 

Thailand travel

Bangkok (acknowledged to locals as Krungthep) has improved significantly over the past several many years. The sheer volume of factors to perform — museums, eating places, shops, and markets — causes it to be among the finest towns on the earth to go to or reside in, and it's rather Safe and sound for solo feminine travelers, especially mainly because it's easy to receive all around.

The BTS (Bangkok Transit Systemand reasonably priced metered taxis make Bangkok a straightforward spot to navigate. Most signals are in both equally Thai and English, far too. Tuk tuks — the carriage attached to a bike You may have seen in Darjeeling Minimal— are Yet another enjoyable method of getting throughout the metropolis, nevertheless it is possible to count on to pay for extra in your novelty ride (but don't shy faraway from haggling beforehand). When it may be a tiny bit costlier, it is possible to't check out Thailand with out riding a tuk tuk at least as soon as.

Spend a night on the town.

 

Thailand travel

 

Consider Bangkok's leading bars within the industrial district of Silom (much like the 1930s-cabaret-themed basement bar Maggie Choo's, inside the Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom near the Surasak and Taksin BTS stations; or the best rooftop check out in Bangkok, Cloud forty seven, near the Sala Daeng station). Sukhumvit is usually stuffed with stylish areas. Buy some fish at Tororo Sushi prior to hitting the nightlife inside the Thonglor-Ekamai community, where you'll have your alternative of dance golf equipment taking part in top rated 40 Thai hits, bars serving beer from worldwide, and swanky rooftop patios.

A further very good selection for a unforgettable night time is actually a Chao Phraya Princess Supper Cruise — you'll get an upscale buffet meal when viewing the landmarks along the Chao Phraya riverside float by.

Treat yourself to a night of luxury

  

Thailand travel

 

With a lot of affordable accommodation — together with listings on Airbnb, hostels, and inexpensive motels — a night of notroughing it really is well worth the splurge. Look into the Windsor Resort, with sights throughout the full metropolis. It's centrally situated in Bangkok and has some great Road meals close by, in addition it's proper beside an enormous BTS interchange (Asok/Sukhumvit) that lets you jump to the skytrain or maybe the subway. Hunt for discounts on the internet and you may be able to look for a place for as minimal as $50.

Want to really splurge? The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has a hundred twenty five decades of expertise building its visitors really feel like queens. With outdoor pools and cabanas, tennis courts, a full-company spa with Thai massages, yoga classes, and ten eating places, this remain will set you back again numerous hundred bucks, but you'll definitely expertise a throwback on the golden age of Thai luxurious journey.

Head south on a one-woman road trip

 

 

Thailand travel

 

Southern Thailand is lovely — and an ideal place for a solo highway excursion. Auto rentals may be organized on the web throughout the region, and acquiring your individual wheels will give you the flexibility to stop when and in which you want.

This Portion of the place is all about Discovering the small villages and metropolitan areas that punctuate the miles and miles of beaches. Nature fans will benefit from the "Little Amazon" of Takua Pa in Phang Nga, in the vicinity of Khao Lak — where no constructing is allowed to stand taller than a coconut palm tree — and only some hours from Phuket. Halt in Khao Lak at the beachside Khaolak Laguna Resort (in the middle of town) and have a tour on the nearby waterfalls, go for a hike in Khaolak-Lumru National Park, or maybe get pleasure from a drink from the pool though observing the tide roll in.

Next, travel up the coast to Ranong, a lesser-known metropolis that was once a preferred place for your now-defunct Phuket-Ranong visa run. There's a fantastic very hot spring, low cost but tasty eating places (Le Ranong Cafe has awesome banana smoothies), as well as Rattana Rangsarn Throne Corridor, a wooden palace replica with gardens that's a wonderful afternoon reading place.

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

 

Thailand travel

 

Phuket is Thailand's major island and has above 30 shorelines. Despite the frequently-expressed sentiment that it's much too touristy, the fact is dependent upon which Section of the island and which time of calendar year you check out. Near the southern suggestion, Nai Harn Beach front isn't as chaotic as Patong which is a local favored. It's got a number of beachside dining places, a temple to explore, along with a massive lake that's a well known jogging location for expats. Also take a look at Nai Yang beach (from the north, close to the airport), an excellent spot to go kiteboarding while not having to avoid a throng of swimmers.

Any time you've experienced your share of sand and surf, head into city to discover Aged Phuket City — it's crammed with Chinese temples and museums, and it's lesser than you'd picture, thinking about the popularity of a lot of the nearby seashores. This is the coronary heart of the island as well as spot to be over the once-a-year Vegetarian Pageant.

Kopi de Phuket is an efficient option in town for lunch or coffee. It's also strolling length to Jui Tui Shrine — Stick to the smell of incense to this Chinese Temple on stunning grounds. Sunday is an ideal working day to wander in Old Town, snap pics from the Sino-Portuguese houses, and luxuriate in the road meals and leisure from the walking current market on Thalang Street given that the Solar goes down.

Take time to explore inwards.

 

Thailand travel

 

If dealing with Thailand spirituality is one area you're into, check out the temple-loaded northern town of Chiang Mai. You normally takes an overnight prepare directly from Bangkok or an air-conditioned bus — both of those choices really should get you there in under 12 hrs. Another option is the previous funds of Siam, Ayutthaya, in the Central Plains (a simple trip at lower than sixty miles from Bangkok). It's crammed with ruins and temples like Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Mahathat, household on the famous Buddha statue within an previous tree.

Need to go definitely solo? Dhamma Kamala in Prachinburi provides 10-working day silent programs in Vipassana meditation. This can be legit silence — no speaking, no texting, and no writing for ten straight times. It's operate over a donation procedure, contains simple lodging and meals, and provides you with a lot more time than you at any time assumed feasible to mirror on your own only continuous vacation companion: on your own.

Check out the north on a motorbike

 

Thailand travel

 

With scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles obtainable for lease in fundamentally each individual city, town, and village in Thailand, jetting off like Audrey Hepburn (but with no added pounds of Gregory Peck within the again) is often a breeze. You'll choose to be sure to have suitable insurance, a helmet, and beefy sufficient tires for the categories of streets you take note of. And don't forget to snap some pics in the bike before you decide to leave to make sure you aren't charged for any hurt you didn't cause.

The compact cities and quiet streets of northern Thailand make for Specially nice bike touring. Chiang Rai is a relatively swift drive from Chiang Mai; you'll pass many cafes and strawberry farms along the best way. End for the Doi Chaang Coffee farm (inside the village of precisely the same title) to seize a bite to try to eat and purchase some organic coffee to consider residence with you.

Chiang Rai's Evening Bazaar is an excellent put to have a couple of beers and sample dishes like seafood soup inside of a steaming hotpot though people today-watching and listening to area musicians. It's centrally Situated and inside going for walks distance within the golden clock tower, which resembles the look of Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple), a up to date artwork exhibit within the kind of a Buddhist temple, also in Chiang Rai.

Meet your fellow wanderers on an organized tour

 

 

Thailand travel

 

When you're at any time in need of companionship, your options are loads. Head to Ayutthaya to discover temples and web-sites by bicycle, exactly where many tour providers (for example Grasshopper Adventures) have full- and half-day excursions along again lanes and earlier exciting cultural internet sites. It's also possible to take an overnight Mekhala cruise to the Chao Praya River from Bangkok, floating inside a restored teak rice barge.

For a longer excursion and the opportunity to devote some critical time with other vacationers, consider booking through a tour company like Oriental Escapes, which operates multi-day trips across the nation and has a superb track record (in addition to a promise to stay away from vacationer traps).