Must-Visit Destinations for Solo Travellers in Southeast Asia
Senior Travel Writer
Use the best Asian cities for solo travel as springboards for exploring beaches, jungles and bays on these awesome Southeast Asia trips.
Southeast Asia is a paradise for solo travellers. Imagine spending a week tasting your way through the street food carts of Vietnam. Picture yourself hiking through Thailand’s jungles in search of colourful birds that seem torn from the vibrant pages of encyclopaedias. Envision what life would be like on a Balinese beach with cocktails on tap and all your worries drowned out by spectacular sunsets. Now book these trips to Southeast Asia and explore the best Asian cities for solo travel in real life.
Trek into the jungle in northern Thailand
Go off the beaten track on this northern Thailand trip. You’ll spend 10 days getting to know the mainland intimately, with treks through Mae Hong Son’s jungle and climbs up tropical sticky waterfalls. Ancient caves, elephant sanctuaries and street art are yours to explore as you wander from the bike-friendly Chiang Mai to the summit of Doi Inthanon – Thailand’s tallest peak – at sunrise. When you finally reach Warorot Market for souvenir shopping, you’ll wonder what piece of bric-à-brac could ever top the panoramic photos you captured when hiking through craggy Pai Canyon.
From US$1189
Next available from 12th Nov 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Chiang Mai, Thailand
ENDS AT
Chiang Mai, Thailand
DURATION
10
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Visit the best Asian cities for solo travel in Vietnam
Vietnam boasts some of the best Asian cities for solo travel. You’ll realise it before you even get to Hue, Hoi An or Lan Ha Bay – when you arrive in Hanoi for this 12-day tour, you’ll be swept away by its lively Old Quarter as you sniff out the perfect creamy egg coffee. Though you’ll enjoy the splendour of the countryside and rural villages like Na Chao, the street food tours in Hue and meandering lantern-lit streets in Hoi An will make Vietnam your favourite country for city-hopping.
From US$1204
Next available from 5th Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Hanoi, Vietnam
ENDS AT
Hoi An, Vietnam
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Soak up the sun in Bali and beyond
Need a solo beach getaway? You’ll have plenty of time for tanning alone on this 12-day trip in Bali, Indonesia. The sun will shine on you wherever you go, from the sacred Lempuyang Temple to the top of Mount Batur. Swimming at the Banyumala Twin Waterfalls will cool your skin just in time to heat it back up on the pristine shores of Gili Trawangan. For those who need to submerge themselves for refreshment, hanging out with the stone statues beneath Gili Meno’s waters will do the trick.
From US$1350
Next available from 7th Oct 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Bali, Indonesia
ENDS AT
Bali, Indonesia
DURATION
12
GROUP SIZE
18
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
Discover rural villages and epic waterfalls in Laos
Don’t discount Laos on your Southeast Asian adventures. This beautiful country shares borders with Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, but is often left out of gap-year summer plans. We spend the second half of our epic two-week Thai-Laos Rail Trip exploring Laos, starting with a river cruise down the Mekong. We’ll hop off at rural villages to meet whisky-making locals and discover sacred caves, before embarking on a hike to the stunning Kuang Si Falls – the country’s most famous attraction for a reason. After that we’ll catch the high-speed train to Vang Vieng, from where we’ll go kayaking on the Nam Song river, before hopping on the overnight sleeper train back to Bangkok.
From US$1957
Next available from 2nd Dec 2023
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Bangkok, Thailand
ENDS AT
Bangkok, Thailand
DURATION
14
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Light
STYLE
Discovery
Marvel at the ancient wonder of Angkor Wat in Cambodia
You only need one reason to visit Cambodia, and that’s the largest religious structure in the world, Angkor Wat. This surreal temple complex is one of the most spiritually rousing places on the planet, especially if you visit at sunrise, which is exactly what we do on our border-crossing Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam trip. To watch the sun slowly appear from behind the temple’s intricately carved towers, reflecting a striking silhouette onto the surrounding moat, is an experience you’ll never forget. The rest of our time in Cambodia will be spent gorging on the street food of Phnom Penh and watching a local Phare Circus show.
From US$1874
Next available from 14th Jan 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Bangkok, Thailand
ENDS AT
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
DURATION
11
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
Moderate
STYLE
Discovery
This is an updated rewrite of an article originally by Alex Jordan. Additional words by Gethin Morgan.
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