Solo Female Travel in Southeast Asia: Everything You Need to Know

This is a guest post by Annelies, a travel blogger.

No matter what your age is, one of the best things you can give yourself as a woman is a solo trip to Southeast Asia. I was 35 when I embarked on a three-month stint and honestly, it was the best decision I ever made.

If you feel a deep yearning to escape your day-to-day routine, push beyond your comfort zone, and experience new cultures and landscapes, read on. In this post, you can find up-to-date info on everything there is to know about solo female travel in Southeast Asia:

Best places to travel alone in Southeast Asia 

After spending months in Southeast Asia, here are five places I enjoyed the most during my travels. 

They are not as popular and crowded as well-known places like Bali, Bangkok, or Siem Reap and the Angkor Wat temples, but provide a good balance between tourist facilities and retaining an authentic charm, perfect for solo female travelers:

Chiang Mai, Thailand

One of the top places to visit in Thailand as a solo female traveler is Chiang Mai. Honestly, if you are visiting just one place in Thailand, Chiang Mai should be it. 

I’ve visited twice in the past years and, even though it has gotten a lot more touristy in recent years, it still manages to retain its laidback vibe. 

The center of Chiang Mai doesn’t have a lot of attractions aside from some temples and great markets but it makes a great jump-off point for other attractions in the region like Wat Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon National Park, and Elephant Nature Park.

If you want to spend time with other backpackers in a small hippie town, consider spending a few days in nearby Pai. And if you are a foodie, don’t forget to try Khao Soi, a curry noodle soup that originated in the north of Thailand!

Luang Prabang, Laos

If you are looking for small city vibes with a vibe that is more laidback than Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang in Laos is your best bet! This city is a UNESCO-protected site because of its unique blend of French colonial and Laotian architecture. It’s gorgeous!

If you are in the process of mapping out your Southeast Asia itinerary, consider traveling from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang by a slow boat. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in which you float for two days down the mighty Mekong River with an overnight stop in the small town of Pak Beng.

Aside from its architecture, wonderful temples, and adorable night market, Luang Prabang is also known for its waterfalls. About 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) from the city center you can find the most gorgeous waterfall in the whole of Southeast Asia, the Kuang Si Waterfalls.

Finally, dive into the world of traditional Laotian crafts, with a visit to the Ock Pop Tok Living Craft Center, where you can try bamboo weaving, batik drawing, and Hmong embroidery techniques.

Tam Coc, Vietnam

Vietnam harbors many cool places to visit as a solo female traveler. Cat Ba is a wonderful island near Halong Bay, Hoi An is mesmerizing and the Bio Hoi culture in Hanoi is worth discovering. But the place I enjoyed most and can highly recommend is Tam Coc in Ninh Binh Province.

I spent two weeks in Tam Coc and these were some of the best days I had during my whole trip through Southeast Asia. Tam Coc is full of cute little cheap guesthouses and it’s hard to pick just one! If you’re in your twenties, I can highly recommend Tam Coc Memories Homestay, which has a beautifully designed pool with water that flows into a limestone cliff. It has a social vibe, cheap prices, a pool table, and cheerful music all day long.

If you are looking for a quieter hideaway, check out Thung Sen Chalets and Restaurant. They are located a bit further out of town but serve the best food in Tam Coc, and its hidden location between limestone cliffs is out of this world. 

Tam Coc and the surrounding area harbors so many attractions that you won’t be bored for days here. Just a few things that should be on your to-do list are a Trang An boat tour, the Hang Mua viewpoints, and the Bich Dong Pagoda. 

If you have an eco-friendly mindset, consider a day trip to Cuc Phuong National Park where you can learn about endangered monkey species and make a stop on the road at Bear Sanctuary Ninh Binh, a safe haven for bears that have been rescued from bear bile farming.

Lombok, Indonesia

Bali is beautiful but has gotten very touristy over the past years. If you are looking for a place that resembles Bali but before the tourist crowds have set in, consider making your way to Lombok. 

You are going to love Lombok if you are into waterfalls, lush green rice fields, and looming volcanoes. One of the top attractions on Lombok is going on a two-day trek to the Rinjani Volcano, but there are plenty of other things to do if that sounds too tiring for you. 

My favorite place, as someone who is sometimes keen on a little of the beaten-path adventure, in Lombok is Tetebatu. It’s a small and picturesque town consisting of local guesthouses where you can experience Lombok’s traditional Sasak culture.

If you are hoping for some beach time, there’s plenty of that too. Kuta is the most developed place in Lombok in terms of tourism infrastructure. It’s a great place for surfing and beach hopping and it also houses a few yoga schools and western-style restaurants. 

For the best beaches, however, make your way to the Gili Islands or even better, the secret Gili islands, near the southwest coast of Lombok for more chill vibes!

Siargao, Philippines

If you are looking for even more beautiful beaches than on Lombok, the Philippines should definitely be on your itinerary. The Philippines count more than 7000 islands, each one more beautiful than the other. But, my top choice for solo female travelers is without a doubt, Siargao.

Siargao is covered with millions of palm trees, and miles of white sand beaches all surrounded by the crystal-clear blue sea. It’s the number one destination in the Philippines for surfing, but even if you are not interested in surfing, you won’t be bored here. 

Island hopping is one of the most popular things to do here, as the island is surrounded by dozens of tiny islands. Furthermore, you can also discover the island on a motorbike, hang around at Cloud 9 pier, and visit the Magpupungko Rock Pools and the Tayangban Cave Pools.

Three Little Birds Surf Hostel is great if you don’t mind sharing a room with others. On the other hand, if you prefer a little privacy, check out the gorgeous rooms of Kamurayaw Siargao. 

How to stay safe traveling alone in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a safe travel destination in general. I haven’t encountered any problems traveling here in the past, but you have to keep certain things in mind. 

Other than Singapore, the tap water in Southeast Asia isn’t safe to drink. Viruses and bacteria aren’t properly filtered out here compared to Western countries. This has many reasons, ranging from outdated treatment facilities to rusty pipes or because water treatment infrastructure is non-existent in certain areas in this part of the world. 

Ice cubes are another thing to look out for. They are generally considered safe in most places where tourism infrastructure is present but I don’t consume them while I am in Asia. It’s just not worth taking the risk for me! You can be down with travelers’s diarrhea for days.

Petty theft does occur in cities in Southeast Asia so watch your belongings like you would do in general. Rape is very uncommon but be smart. Don’t go wandering out on your own at night in dark alleyways and don’t drink too much alcohol. 

Make sure you get all the vaccinations you need before your trip and protect yourself well with Deet. Dengue fever is a nasty disease that is caused by mosquito bites and can cause serious illness. 

Lastly, stay away from wild animals. I got very upset on my last trip to the south of Thailand seeing tourists feed and pet wild monkeys. The day after, the whole pack raided our breakfast buffet and the owners had to keep them away with catapults and large sticks. 

Not only is this behavior bad for the monkeys, as it causes them to lose their natural instincts to search for food, but they also carry deadly diseases like Rabies. Look from a distance but don’t touch them is the message!

How to meet others while traveling alone in Southeast Asia

The last thing you need to worry about when you are traveling solo through Southeast Asia is meeting other travelers. Southeast Asia is one of the most popular regions in the world for backpacking and you will meet other travelers no matter where you go, even to pretty remote places. 

One of the best places to meet others while traveling alone is at your accommodation. Hostels are great when you are in your late teens or twenties, while small local guesthouses and homestays are great if you are a bit older and don’t necessarily need or want the party atmosphere anymore.

These sorts of accommodations generally have shared spaces where you can hang out and start conversations with other travelers, have a drink, and bond over travel experiences.

Another great way to meet other travelers is to participate in activities and tours. I’m not exactly a tour person but there are some great activities to enjoy that don’t include spending hours on crammed tourist buses.

These activities can range from small tour snorkeling trips to intimate cooking classes or sustainable wildlife experiences. 

The best way, however, to meet new people abroad is to look for activities that you also enjoy at home. Maybe you are into yoga? Or diving? Look for yoga schools abroad or diving centers and you can instantly connect with people over a shared interest.

Lastly, getting to know other travelers is fun but what can even be more rewarding is getting to know a few locals while traveling. 

The language might be a barrier in some areas but there is nothing more soul-soothing than to be invited into the house of a local family and be treated like you are a part of the household. Experiences like this can be eye-opening and change the views you have about the world we’re in.

How to get around Southeast Asia

Getting around Southeast Asia is a breeze. Almost all countries in this area of the world have an extensive bus network that can even take you to the most remote places. 12GoAsia is the go-to website to book tickets online, although you can also buy them at local travel agencies or your accommodation.

Furthermore, some countries also have a great railway network with the one in Thailand being the most extensive. You can travel all the way from Chiang Mai in Thailand to Singapore by train if train travel is something you fancy! The man in seat 61 is the best resource online to learn everything about train traveling in Southeast Asia. 

READ NEXT: What six months of traveling in Southeast Asia cost me

Flights are also an option but note that traveling by plane is not very eco-friendly. There are however multiple low-cost airlines like AirAsia, Lion Air, and Scoot. They connect large cities in Southeast Asia with each other and also offer domestic flights to smaller cities within a country.

Renting a scooter is the best way to go out and explore on your own but there are also ride-hailing apps available in cities like Grab, Gojek, and Maxim. Bicycles are also for rent in most areas and electric eco-friendly motorbikes are currently finding their way into the market too.

My ultimate Southeast Asia travel tips

We are almost at the end of this post and I’d like to end with a few tips that can come in very handy during your travels:

• Buy a Wise debit card: One of the most annoying things when traveling abroad is the hefty fees that are charged when you withdraw money out of an ATM. This is not only an ATM fee but your bank also charges an additional fee when withdrawing money abroad. Exchange rates can also be horrible and this way, you’ll lose a lot of money while traveling. The best solution I have found so far for this issue is getting a Wise Debit Card. It offers great conversion rates and fees lower than traditional banks.
• Pack light: It is so tempting to pack your backpack with everything you think you might need abroad. But rest assured, you are probably not going to use half of it. Traveling light is the best way to travel. It will make it easier to get around as you carry less weight on your back. Furthermore, it will also save you money as you won’t need to pay an extra charge for checked baggage if you want to take flights.
• Stay away from wildlife: I’ve mentioned this before and want to say it once again. Don’t touch wildlife or try to get close to it. Observe it from a distance with awe and wonder but don’t interfere in the natural habitat of monkeys, langurs, or turtles. Also, don’t engage in animal cruelty like riding elephants, cuddling baby tigers, or drinking Kopi Luwak, a specialty coffee made from the feces of captive civet cats.
• Travel eco-friendly: No matter where you are traveling, it is essential to do your bit for the planet. Especially in Southeast Asia, this can be hard as you will get zillions of plastic bags at markets, smoothies in plastic cups, and so on. Prepare yourself for your trip and take a reusable bag with you to go grocery shopping, buy an eco-friendly reusable coffee mug and a water filter bottle like the ones from Grayl that’ll allow you to drink tap water instead of buying plastic bottled water. Don’t leave trash in pristine places and respect the locals and the environment. Stay at local accommodation, shop local, and eat at local restaurants. That way, the local communities can benefit from your tourist dollars!
• Buy a Southeast Asia e-SIM: If you are going to hop from one Southeast Asian country to another, I’d suggest you buy an international eSIM for Southeast Asia. An eSIM allows you to arrive in Southeast Asia and immediately have access to data and you don’t need to change SIM cards when you enter another country during your trip.

There you have it, a complete solo female travel guide for Southeast Asia. I hope this guide helps you in mapping out your Southeast Asia itinerary! That said, also leave some space for unplanned exploration as this is where the real magic happens. Enjoy!

About the author: Annelies is the traveler and author of Travelers & Dreamers, a conscious travel blog on a mission to inspire vegan, sustainable, and slow travel practices around the world. Originally from Brussels in Belgium, she prefers to explore Europe and Asia responsibly and ethically and loves to take you along on her journey!