Exploring Bangkok: An Introduction to Solo Travel in Thailand

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the forward boarding door is now closed….” I heard the lead flight attendant call out over the PA.

I let the reality of his words sink in. The door was closed, the plane was about to push back and I had no choice now but to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. I was going to Thailand.

I’ve traveled a lot in my life. Studying abroad in the Middle East, living in Africa and now working for the airlines has given me a window to the world and has allowed me to experience more than I ever dreamed of. But, perhaps the largest thing missing from my travel repertoire until this point was solo travel.

Sure, I’d wandered around alone on layovers throughout Europe, the United States and even in Dakar. I’d spent a year living in a village in the Namibian bush and would go alone from town to town in order to run errands and visit friends.

But none of these experiences seemed to equate to solo travel in the way I imagined. In my head, I pictured setting off with few concrete plans, staying in hostels and meeting other likeminded backpackers along the way. I was incredibly excited about the freedom that being alone would provide. Yet, I could’t quite rid myself of the nagging worries that burrowed deep down in the pit of my stomach.

Why Bangkok offers a Great Intro to Solo Travel

When I arrived in Bangkok and stepped out of the airport, however, my anxiety seemed to dissipate into the muggy air.

Bangkok is intoxicating. Dazzling spires rise from behind gritty buildings. Quiet shrines sit tucked away behind glitzy glass shopping malls and orange-clad monks weave their way through a chaotic jumble of honking cars, motorbikes and tuk-tuks.

Yet despite Bangkok’s exotic appeal, the city is incredibly accessible and welcoming. It is foreign yet familiar, chaotic yet navigable. The food is fantastic and incredibly inexpensive. It is a city chock-full of sites and activities that can keep wanderers entertained for days.

And to top it off, Bangkok is the ultimate launching point for solo travelers embarking on extended backpacking trips throughout Southeast Asia—meaning that newfound friends are never far away.

Exploring Bangkok

I only had one day in Bangkok before hopping on a flight to Krabi for a few days at the beach. And, as the focus of my return to Bangkok at the end of my trip would be centered around reuniting with an old friend, I spent my first day in the city primarily engaging in touristy activities.

At sunrise, I set off with an American traveler I met upon arriving at my hostel. Our first stop was Wat Pho–one of Bangkok’s oldest temples and home to the famous reclining Buddha.

• Wat Pho

My newfound friend and I were immediately struck by the grandeur of Wat Pho. We ogled at the intricate stupas, the ornate roofs and the thousands of Buddha statues littering the compound. It seemed that we could have spent the whole day wandering about the immense complex.

I’m not so sure what I expected to find at Wat Pho. Likely, I was anticipating finding a single structure housing the famous Buddha. But there were numerous temples to visit, countless nooks and crannies to discover and, the best part is that we did not have to dodge swarms of camera-toting tourists or crane our necks trying to admire the architecture over a sea of people.

I am sure that Wat Pho is not usually so deserted. Since visiting Wat Pho is often touted as one of the top things to do in Bangkok, I can only imagine that the place draws large tourist crowds.

• The Grand Palace of Bangkok

The Grand Palace, too, is impressive and surely merits the attention it receives from the thousands of guests every day. While my travel companion and I had Wat Pho relatively to ourselves and enjoyed meandering around the premises in quiet, the whole rest of the world seemed to be a block away at the famous Grand Palace.

Benefits of Traveling Solo

I had only been in Thailand for a few days, when I began to realize the merits of traveling alone. I was enjoying the freedom of being able to do whatever I wanted, wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted. And I was already beginning to understand what fellow travelers so often emphasize—that traveling solo can be incredibly empowering. It allows you time to contemplate and reflect, while granting independence and teaching self-reliance. But perhaps the most beautiful part of traveling solo, is that you are never really alone.

At least not if you are open to meeting new people.