Solo Travelling Through Thailand in Your Gap Year
Solo travelling through Thailand: A guide to getting the best out of your gap year
There’s nothing quite like the buzz of planning your gap year. Solo travelling through Thailand is an ever-popular way to spend some quality time abroad and meet new people without blowing your budget.
It’s a beautiful country with an incredible amount to offer. So whether you’re taking a year off before or after university, you’ll have the time of your life in ‘The Land of Smiles’.
From fast-paced city life in Bangkok and Phuket to the serene beaches of Krabi and Pattaya, there’s a wealth of things to see when you’re travelling Thailand alone. Keep reading to discover some of the many highlights and general travel tips to ensure this part of your gap year is a memorable one.
Let’s dive into some of Thailand’s most popular destinations.
● Unbeatable Bangkok
One of the best things about Bangkok is its brilliant street food scene. Whether you’re just passing through for a few days or staying for a couple of weeks, you can try something new and delicious every day at a great price. Authentic and aromatic dishes are never far away, so get ready to treat your taste buds.
Bangkok’s renowned nightlife is a big attraction for those solo travelling through Thailand. Khao San Road is one of the hotspots with plenty of bars, clubs and fellow tourists enjoying themselves. For something more refined, you may want to visit one of the rooftop bars with a stunning city view. It’s easy to get carried away when you’re enjoying your gap year to the max, but it’s worth mentioning how important it is to keep your wits about you when you’re travelling alone and enjoying a few drinks in an unfamiliar city.
We’d highly recommend visiting Wat Pho and the Grand Palace when you want to see some of the local landmarks. It’s worth noting before you go that there’s a dress code for many of Thailand’s sacred places. For example, when viewing the giant reclining Buddha statue or stunning architecture, you should cover your arms and legs to ensure you’re dressed respectfully.
We’ve only scratched the surface here. Learn more about other Bangkok attractions.
● Fabulous Phuket
Phuket is another hugely popular place with those travelling Thailand alone. There are several outstanding beaches in the area as well as Phuket City, where you’ll enjoy a quieter pace of life than bustling Bangkok.
There are plenty of statues, shrines and temples to explore when you’re seeking a bit of culture.
If you’ve spent a few weeks partying hard in Thailand’s capital, escaping to the white sands of Phuket is the perfect way to unwind. It doesn’t have to be all lazy days under the glorious sunshine, though. If you like trying new things, there are activities galore, including zip-lining through lush rainforests, white-water rafting and snorkelling that will give you an adrenaline rush and new experiences to savour.
Phuket has a great vibe and is an excellent place to meet fellow solo travellers from all over the world who may also be making the most of their gap years. No trip to Phuket would be complete without a trip to Bangla Road, next to Patong Beach. It’s packed with bars and clubs as well as being home to the area’s red light district. It’s a safe place to visit when you’re in the busy streets, but we’d recommend not wandering off to stroll along the beaches alone at night time.
Read more about things to do during your Phuket stay.
● Carefree Krabi
The province of Krabi is a nature-lover’s paradise. As you’d expect, there are many blissful beaches to relax on and enjoy doing as little as possible. That’s only part of the story, though.
When you’re solo travelling through Thailand, you can’t fail to be impressed by the spectacular scenery. Krabi provides some of the best rock climbing on the planet, including places like Railay Beach and Tonsai Beach. Don’t worry if you’re a complete beginner, as there are lessons available to keep you on the right track.
If you want to enjoy another side of what Thailand has to offer, trekking through the jungle will open your eyes to so many natural wonders, including stunning swimming pools, caves and waterfalls. One of the most popular hiking spots is the Tab Kak Hang Nak Hill Nature Trail, which rewards you with unspoilt panoramic views of Krabi’s gorgeous coastline.
● Party in Pattaya
Our final destination is Pattaya, located on Thailand’s east coast. Travelling Thailand alone won’t ever feel like a chore with places like this to visit along the way. It has a 3km-long beach for starters, and you can also go island-hopping to nearby Koh Larn, also known as Coral Island.
When the sun has set on another terrific day in Thailand, you may want to take a stroll along Walking Street. This thriving entertainment district is home to street performers, bars, clubs, restaurants and more. Pattaya also gives you the opportunity to appreciate more traditional Thai entertainment in the form of dancing, music and martial arts so you can get a flavour of the local culture.
That brings our quick tour of solo travelling in Thailand to a close. You may also want to look at places like Khao Lak, Hua Hin and Koh Samui as part of your gap year travels.
When you’ve got your heart set on some invaluable and life-changing alone time touring Thailand, get in touch with us to book one of our deals or plan your own itinerary.
If you liked this article, you may also be interested in reading our top tips for travelling solo.
