Traveling the world solo can be the most rewarding experience of an individual’s life, but it can also be a scary endeavor. This scariness is increased tenfold when traveling solo as a female. Of course, embarking on a solo adventure is one of the best things you can do for yourself, but the world can be a scary place for women.
As long as you have common sense, though, there is very little risk involved in solo travel for females. But if you’re still worried about it, there are plenty of destinations around the world that have been deemed as “safe for solo females” – some of them might surprise you.
Vietnam
There is some negative stigma surrounding SE Asia when it comes to solo female travel, but trust us when we say that Vietnam is 100% safe. In fact, most Asian countries are completely safe for females, so we’re not quite sure where this negativity comes from. But if you want to be on the extra safe side of things, book a flight to Vietnam.
You’ll never regret experiencing Vietnamese culture, eating delicious pho for every meal, or exploring some of the most magical landscapes known to man. For the ultimate solo trip, travel from Ninh Binh to Phong Nha. You’ll be blown away by the breathtaking scenery or both places. If you’re feeling really adventurous, this is one of the best places in the world to rent or buy a motorcycle and drive across Vietnam. Plenty of women in the past have done it, and you could too.
Iceland
Iceland has always been a progressive leader when it comes to women’s rights. In fact, the government here recently passed laws stating that it is no longer legal to pay women less than men for the same job. With such progressive laws regarding equality of women, it makes sense that solo female travel is not only safe in Iceland, but also encouraged.
Unfortunately, traveling in Iceland won’t be nearly as affordable as traveling through Vietnam or other parts of Southeast Asia. Even so, it is still recommended to set some money aside for even a short trip. Seeing the Aurora Borealis in all of its glorious will make every penny spent completely worth it.
New Zealand
Similar to Iceland, New Zealand isn’t the ideal spot for backpackers trying to stretch their money as far as it will go. But it is still an amazing destination to explore nonetheless. Traveling here might break the bank a bit, but at least you’ll be safe while doing it. You’ll have no need to worry about a thing as you explore the city streets of Auckland, skydive over Lake Wakatipu, and chat with the friendly locals.
If there’s no way on Earth you can afford the lofty prices of New Zealand or its Australian neighbor, you might consider applying for a work visa. It’s fairly easy and most applicants are accepted as long as they meet the work visa requirements for their country of origin. It’s a great chance to make some cash while seeing the world.
Costa Rica
If you hail from North America, traveling to Costa Rica will be easy. Central America is just a short skip and a hop from the States and Canada, so traveling here might sound much more appealing than heading across the globe. Costa Rica is not only beautiful, but it is also the ultimate destination for adventure-loving females.
Costa Rica offers everything from SCUBA diving with sharks to ziplining through jungles. And since the locals are so friendly, females traveling on their own don’t have to worry. It also doesn’t hurt that nearly all Costa Ricans speak Spanish since it is the most touristic destination in Central America.
Switzerland
Tons of research studies have been done on Switzerland, trying to determine exactly why the Swiss people are some of the happiest individuals in the world. That’s right, Switzerland has been scientifically proven to be one of the “happiest places on Earth”. On top of that, it has also been found to be one of the safest places.
Nobody knows exactly why Swiss people are so happy, maybe it has to do with the delicious cheeses and chocolates or the stunning Alpine scenery all throughout the country. Whatever the reason for the extreme happiness, it would be a shame not to experience it for yourself. Just remember to bring your hiking boots. You won’t have the same hiking opportunities anywhere else in the world that compare to the terrain of Switzerland.
