Be careful’, ‘Oh don’t go to Thailand, you’ll be put in jail’, and ‘Are you sure it’s safe to go to Asia alone?’.
These were the responses that Female travellers mostly hear when they announce that they are going to travel Asia, alone, as a female solo traveller.
Because of the media, and the mystery of the unknown, people have very strong views on what Asia is like, most of them negative and pertaining to safety.
When people think of Asia they think of drug trafficking and long spells in the ‘Bangkok Hilton’. People think that Asia is unsafe to travel, let alone travel as a woman… alone!
It’s true that being a solo female traveller is more challenging than travelling with a group or as a man. You may face unwanted male attention and are sometimes seen as an easy target for touts in the street. Some countries in Asia have different attitudes towards women.
However, the hard experiences will make you stronger as a person and reward you with many unique travel experiences and insights (and lots of funny travel stories too).
These were the responses that Female travellers mostly hear when they announce that they are going to travel Asia, alone, as a female solo traveller.
Because of the media, and the mystery of the unknown, people have very strong views on what Asia is like, most of them negative and pertaining to safety.
When people think of Asia they think of drug trafficking and long spells in the ‘Bangkok Hilton’. People think that Asia is unsafe to travel, let alone travel as a woman… alone!
It’s true that being a solo female traveller is more challenging than travelling with a group or as a man. You may face unwanted male attention and are sometimes seen as an easy target for touts in the street. Some countries in Asia have different attitudes towards women.
However, the hard experiences will make you stronger as a person and reward you with many unique travel experiences and insights (and lots of funny travel stories too).
Don’t let anyone’s opinions put you off travelling in Asia. I have actually felt safer in South East Asia than I do in many places in England and Europe. In many places, crime is low or non existent and it’s safe to walk around after dark
Despite how safe travel is in South East Asia, it’s always wise to take simple precautions to avoid getting into trouble.
Here are my tips for staying safe on the road as a female solo traveller, picked up from over six-months of full-time solo travel around Asia.
Despite how safe travel is in South East Asia, it’s always wise to take simple precautions to avoid getting into trouble.
Here are my tips for staying safe on the road as a female solo traveller, picked up from over six-months of full-time solo travel around Asia.
Female Solo Travel tips:
1. Walk with confidence:
1. Walk with confidence:
When you are travelling long term, you’ll arrive in new places all of the time. For the first day or two in a new destination, you are particularly vulnerable to being seen as an easy target.
To avoid this, walk with an air of confidence in new places, even when you just arrive with your backpack on your back.
Stand up straight and if people hassle you pretend that you have somewhere to go. If you are seriously in trouble, walk up to another foreigner and pretend to be friends. 99% of the time they will understand and help you.
2. Relax when you arrive in a new place:
When you arrive in a new place, you are vulnerable and most likely stressed due to the swarms of tuk tuk drivers and people trying to escort you to their hotels.
Take a minute to adjust to the new place. Look around and acclimatise, maybe even buy a coffee and have time to adjust.
After a rest, you’ll be more alert and relaxed and be less vulnerable.
3. Learn the Language:
Many people have respect for you, when you make an effort to speak their language. They may also think that you have a local husband so might go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. Try to learn by downloading podcasts to listen to on long bus rides or by making friends with locals who speak English.
It doesn’t matter how much of the language you know, many people will be so proud and happy to hear you utter ‘Thank you‘ in their mother tongue.
4. Let people know where you are at all times:
The more people who recognise you and know where you are going in your hostel, the more likely they are to worry about you if they don’t see you for a while. I always make friends in the dorm and tell them what I will be doing on that day, hopefully they would spread the alarm if something happens to you and you’re not back at night.
I always try to update my Facebook as much as possible and let people at home know where I am and if I will be in an area with no internet for a while.
To avoid this, walk with an air of confidence in new places, even when you just arrive with your backpack on your back.
Stand up straight and if people hassle you pretend that you have somewhere to go. If you are seriously in trouble, walk up to another foreigner and pretend to be friends. 99% of the time they will understand and help you.
2. Relax when you arrive in a new place:
When you arrive in a new place, you are vulnerable and most likely stressed due to the swarms of tuk tuk drivers and people trying to escort you to their hotels.
Take a minute to adjust to the new place. Look around and acclimatise, maybe even buy a coffee and have time to adjust.
After a rest, you’ll be more alert and relaxed and be less vulnerable.
3. Learn the Language:
Many people have respect for you, when you make an effort to speak their language. They may also think that you have a local husband so might go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. Try to learn by downloading podcasts to listen to on long bus rides or by making friends with locals who speak English.
It doesn’t matter how much of the language you know, many people will be so proud and happy to hear you utter ‘Thank you‘ in their mother tongue.
4. Let people know where you are at all times:
The more people who recognise you and know where you are going in your hostel, the more likely they are to worry about you if they don’t see you for a while. I always make friends in the dorm and tell them what I will be doing on that day, hopefully they would spread the alarm if something happens to you and you’re not back at night.
I always try to update my Facebook as much as possible and let people at home know where I am and if I will be in an area with no internet for a while.