Thailand: First Female Solo Travel Experience

Have you been thinking about your first solo travel experience, but don’t know where to start? Or are you just kind of unsure about a safe destination for women travelling alone?

Thailand was my first backpacking solo experience. It is generally very safe for women and fairly cheap too. For two weeks, I ventured through this fantastic country, starting in Bangkok and through the East and West Islands. 

Traveling alone is being open to new cultures, to face our deepest fears and learn how to trust our instincts.

Thailand- The Land of Smiles

Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and formerly known as Siam is a former state in Southeast Asia. It is bordered on the north by Myanmar and Laos, on the east by Cambodia and on the south by Malaysia.

Many backpackers ? choose to do the so-called golden triangle that constitutes Thailand-Myanmar-Laos as it is practical, cheap and accessible to do everything at once.

The official language of the country is Thai and the official religion is Buddhism, which is practiced by about 95% of the population. Thailand is often refereed as “The Land of Smiles” because of their friendly people.

Bangkok

Bangkok (capital of Thailand) is a city with an incredible energy. It stands out for the contrast between modern buildings and Buddhist temples (there are 400 temples!). Personally I loved the city, the street food markets and cultural diversity.

During the first two days I spent there, I was lucky to be welcomed by 3 Thai colleagues who, as good hosts, took me to taste the best of Thai cuisine ? and enjoy the wonderful views from the iconic rooftop where the Hangover movie was filmed, the Sky Bar. For great street food, I recommend the night street Food near BTS station.

After what I call a moment of acculturation, I “hit the road on my own” (but not really, as I met people throughout all my trip). I spent my first night in an hostel in downtown, where I ended up meeting a guy from Costa Rica with whom I shared a day getting around the city on Tuk Tuk and visiting some temples such as Wat Pho – Temple of the Reclining Buddha and Wat Saket – Temple of the Golden Mount.

TIP 1. Most Bangkok tuk tuks charge about 40-50THB for a short ride, but expect this to be more expensive in touristic areas. Always try to negotiate the price!

TIP 2: To get inside some temples you need to bring a scarf and light trousers/long skirt, as it’s a sacred place.

Planning Your Trip in Bangkok

Earlier Return to Bangkok

I returned to Bangkok almost at the end of my trip, before Ayutthaya. I had planned taking a connection flight to Cambodia but I realised I was too tired from the islands to endure another day below 30 degrees or more. That’s one of the reasons why booking while you go is a good idea.

I learned another solo traveler lesson then, that is travelling as a backpacker can be quite tiring, specially in Asian countries where the weather and lack of air condition in most places wears you out. You need to listen to your body and understand when it’s time to stop. If you’re looking for a pleasant accommodation to rest in Bangkok, I recommend the Josh Hotel.

As I returned earlier, I decided to explore a bit more the city and get a few massages.

The Grand Palace

I visited the Grand Palace which is the most visited place in Bangkok, a huge complex of temples and palaces that were built to serve as the official residence of Thai royalty until 1925. Inside, there is also Wat Phra Kaew, the temple of the Emerald Buddha, one of the most important in Thailand.

Get a Thai Massage

You can’t leave Thailand without trying a traditional Thai Massage, although I have to warn you that it hurts a little bit. Thai massage combines compression, acupressure, and passive stretching. There’s studios on every corner in Bangkok, but you can check this list of places and it costs around 200 THB, depending on location.

Thailand Beaches and Islands

Thailand beaches are known for their beauty, variety and diving opportunities. There is a difference between the West beaches – bathed by the Andaman Sea – and those in the East – Gulf of Thailand. While the former stand out for their paradisiacal and tourist beaches, the latter stand out for their simplicity, wildness and diving opportunities. I got to know both sides to see the differences for myself.

Krabi and Phi Phi Islands (Southwest)

What I enjoyed the most was the experience of meeting new people, sharing accommodation and adventures.

The Alchemist Traveler

After Bangkok, I took a bus to Krabi town where you can take ferrys to the west islands like Phi Phi, Railay Beach, etc. I spent one night there and then took an early-morning ferry to Phi Phi where I ended up meeting an Argentinian woman who I shared accommodation with.

The small and modest Koh Phi Phi is one of the most visited destinations and also the starting point for several tours in the region. My advice is that when you get there book a day trip to visit the archipelago islands including Monkey Beach, Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and, my favourite, Bamboo Island.

I chose the 7 islands-tour with the traditional long-tail boat which included lunch and snorkelling, but there are more options below.

Planning Your Trip in Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phangan and Koh Tao (Southeast)

I took a bus from Krabi to the Southeast side which takes about 6 hours +/-. If you want to visit the Eastern Islands, going through land is the option available. From Surat Thani you can then take a ferry which stops, by order, in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and finally Koh Tao. As mentioned previously, these islands are more wild and less touristic.

Koh Phangan is famous for its monthly full-moon parties and tropical jungles whereas Koh Tao is a hot spot for diving. ?

One of the highlights of the Koh Phangan island for me was the Jeep Safari Tour where I travelled through the virgin jungle, saw some amazing waterfalls and visited the Elephant farm.

Planning Your Trip in Koh Phangan and Koh Tao

Female Solo Travel Experience and Tips

Thailand is a popular destination for solo travellers and backpackers ?. I was never alone as I met a lot of people. My deepest bonding experience was in the islands. I met an Argentinian woman on my way to Koh Phi Phi and ended up sharing accommodation with her during 3 days. We’ve helped each other, toured the island and had great fun.

One afternoon while at the beach, a Spanish guy (Carlos) approached us as we were speaking Spanish. I ended up meeting another companion which I agreed to meet afterwards in Koh Tao. And to be fair, it was like bless, as I realised afterwards that I could’t tour Koh Tao without a motorbike (it’s all ups and downs and very remote and I don’t drive a motorbike ? ).

Carlos was there for a diving course, but we stayed in the same place – an amazing bungalow built into the rocks at the cliff (picture). I still remember the experience of trying to pull a suitcase with a motorbike on the dirt track of the bungalow – it was challenging yet funny! Plus touring the island without a map and getting lost way too many times. These experiences allow you to create deep connections with people.

Challenging Moment ?

A A ship is safe in the harbour, but that’s not what ships are built for.

Get Attal

Perhaps the most challenging moment during my trip was on my way from Koh Tao to Surat Thani Airport. I booked this really cheap 6-hour-night-ferry ? with a local travel company which included all transportation.

The boat was really old and I thought I wouldn’t make it really (? ). Plus, when I got to the peer, there was a guy in a Tuk-Tuk waiting for me to take me to a local bus station. As I was totally on my own and in dark night, I got a little scared but in the end you need to learn to face your fears as it’s part of the experience.

It’s very liberating when you discover that you can handle more than you think, just by yourself. You also learn to trust people and being more emphatic.

Read Article Top 10 Tips for Solo Travel

Final Thoughts

Traveling alone will be the scariest, most liberating, life-changing experience of your life. You must try it at least once! Personally, I think Thailand is a great place to start as it’s safe, cheap and you’ll find a lot of backpackers. Whether you’re looking for party and adventure or spending some time solo, Thailand offers the best for both worlds.