Best for Solo Traveller
Ha Giang is Vietnam’s most epic road trip — with jaw-dropping cliffs, and super heartfelt hill tribe culture. Lots of travellers do this solo so there are always join-in groups going. It's also one of those trips where it's much more fun to do with others as there's lots of adventure & lovely homestays. If you're alone you need to be comfy riding on the back of a bike!
TIP
Cat Ba is where to go if you want the Ha Long Bay karst scenery without the crowds or prices. It's a lot less fancy than Halong but there's a lot more heart and adventure to be found here. Like bioluminescent kayaking at night, hiking in Cat Ba National Park and rock climbing! It’s laid-back, social, and people are really friendly here.
Kinabatangan River is not known by Asian travellers, but it's one of the easiest places in Asia to see wild orangutans and pygmy elephants. It's on the backpacker trail, with dorms and affordable stays that make it super solo-friendly. If you have extra time, check out the Orangutan & sunbear reserve here, as well as Senigan, Turtle Island. It's a wildlife lover's dream!
Anything related to elephants is something to be wary of in our books, because Thailand has so many unethical sanctuaries pretending to do good. BUT we found one of the best ones in Thailand where you can spend a few days volunteering with these gentle giants & make memories for life. You can also hike, raft and visit an art village or two.
Lombok is a relaxed island that's great for solo travellers looking to hike, surf, snorkel or just chill on the beach. It’s got a chill, friendly vibe with social cafes and group classes. You can swim with turtles, camp on secret beaches, climb SEA’s most epic volcano (Rinjani) or unwind on pink beaches. It's patriarchal, but still safe for solo female travellers.
Da Lat is a breath of fresh air in Vietnam’s highlands. Here you'll find cool weather, pine forests, and quiet coffee farmstays. It’s affordable, walkable, and packed with local hikes. A great spot to explore solo at your own pace, especially if you love nature and slower travel.
Sapa is one of the easiest places in Vietnam to explore solo. Even private hikes and treks are affordable here, and many solo travellers come to walk the rice terraces and stay in local hill tribe homes. If you want to avoid the crowds, we'd highly recommend Sapa's neighbouring village Sin Suoi Ho, which is like Sapa before tourism. Even though it's quiet, it's safe there!
Khao Sok is one of the last places in Thailand where you can see wild elephants. It’s popular with solo travellers because of its affordable join-in options. Here you'll do floating raft stays (or go glamping!) with river safaris and short hikes. There's a wide range of accommodation from basic to seriously glam. And also great wildlife spotting, hikes, jungle cooking & caves.
Komodo National Park is perfect for solo travellers. The gateway town (Labuan Bajo) is pretty safe, and it's now very convenient with direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, Bali and Singapore. You'll hop on a 1-3 day boat trip to island hop to see gorgeous view points, hike with Komodo dragons, chill on pink beaches and swim with turtles and mantas. The boats are super social & fun!
Yogyakarta is one of our favourite places for a short getaway, and it's perfect for solo travellers as it's really chill and safe. Here you can wander about ancient UNESCO temples, craft Batik with local village artisans, jeep around an active volcano, and cook with granny. It's a really heartfelt place with a mix of history and adventure, so everyone can find something here!
Bali isn’t just beach clubs and cafes. The side of Bali we love is quieter, more soulful, and often missed by most travellers. For solo travellers seeking something deeper, Bali has deep spiritual traditions and is a place of healing. See a traditional healer, take part in a water purification ritual, and end with a firefly safari. Bali will restore you, if you let it.
