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Sola

Thailand for women travelling alone

77 provinces, from Bangkok to the Andaman coast

Thailand
Rolf Heinrich, Köln / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Cities read
10
Budget
$35 a day
Currency
THB
Best months
November to February
Getting around
Cheap and efficient: overnight trains, domestic flights, ride-hailing apps
Feel
Street food stalls on every corner, temple complexes, island-hopping ferries

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The read

Thailand is the country where every logistical problem a first-time solo traveller fears has already been solved, often by the women running the guesthouses.

What holds up

  • Grab (a ride-hailing app, Thailand's equivalent of Uber) works in every city on Sola's list, and Bangkok's BTS Skytrain (an elevated metro) and MRT (underground metro) run until midnight, you always have a priced, tracked ride home.
  • Low-cost domestic airlines connect Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Krabi in about an hour; ferries link the southern islands, making it straightforward to move between beach, city, and mountain on a loose plan.
  • English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and transport hubs across the tourist circuit, and 7-Eleven stores, open around the clock on almost every block, stock SIM cards, menstrual products, and medicines.

What to weigh

  • Since May 2026, the standard visa-free stay has been cut from 60 to 30 days for most nationalities, and all arrivals must complete the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card, a free online form replacing the old paper slip) at least 72 hours before landing; check your nationality's current allowance before booking.
  • The two coasts run opposite monsoon cycles: Phuket and Krabi (Andaman Sea) are wettest May to October, when ferry cancellations to the Phi Phi Islands are common; Koh Samui and Koh Phangan (Gulf of Thailand) take the heaviest rain in November and December, plan your island itinerary around whichever coast you're on.

Thailand is the most popular starting point for solo travel in Southeast Asia, and for good reason. The infrastructure is built for independent travellers: reliable transport, accommodation at every level, and English widely spoken in tourist areas. The main circuit runs Bangkok to Chiang Mai to the southern islands, with most solo women spending 2-4 weeks. Bangkok is chaotic and exciting, Chiang Mai is slower and surrounded by mountains, and the islands range from social (Koh Phangan) to quiet (Koh Lipe). Street food is a meal rather than a snack, sold on the street from morning to late. Temples are everywhere.

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Cities

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What to eat

  1. 01

    Pad Thai

    Stir-fried rice noodles with tamarind sauce, crushed peanuts, and lime

    Street stalls and night markets

  2. 02

    Som Tum

    Spicy green papaya salad with chili, lime juice, and dried shrimp

    Any local restaurant, ask for your spice level

  3. 03

    Khao Soi

    Northern curry noodle soup with crispy egg noodles and pickled mustard greens

    Chiang Mai old city restaurants

  4. 04

    Mango Sticky Rice

    Sweet coconut sticky rice with fresh ripe mango slices

    Dessert carts and night markets (seasonal, best March-June)