Solo travellers in Asia
Asia is a very good place to travel alone, and an expensive one to travel alone on a private itinerary, which is the part most guides skip. Hotel rooms are priced per room, not per person, and a private guide and car cost the same for one as for two. A solo traveller therefore pays more per person than the figures on our itinerary pages, which assume two people sharing.
That is not a reason to stay at home. It is a reason to plan with some care: to choose places where one person is well looked after, to pick the days where a private guide matters and to leave other days free and cheap. This page explains how.
How the price changes
Each itinerary on the site shows a price per person per day for two travellers. For one traveller, the hotel and transport lines roughly double per person. Flights, entry fees and meals do not. Ask us for a solo quote on any itinerary and we will recalculate it with the sources unchanged.
Some hotels offer a reduced single-occupancy rate, and some do not. It varies by hotel and by season, and we check it for you.
Where it feels easy
Taiwan, South Korea and Japan are reliable first choices. Public transport is simple and well signposted, many restaurants have counters or solo seating, and the street feels calm in the evening. Luang Prabang is small and walkable, with a slow pace that suits someone on their own. Cambodia's Siem Reap is easy for a few days, with a private guide for the temples.
Places where a guide is part of the rules change the picture. In Bhutan, travellers must travel with a licensed guide and book through an operator, and the daily fee applies per person, so the solo cost is high. The country is lovely, and the trip is not a cheap one alone.
Safety, honestly
Most trips are uneventful. The usual precautions apply: share your route with someone, keep a copy of your documents, use licensed taxis or a hotel-booked driver after dark and check your government's travel advice before you go. If you are a woman travelling alone, tell us, and we will take it into account when we choose the hotel area and the driver.
Company without a group
A private guide is also a companion for the day. Many solo travellers book two or three guided days and leave the rest open. A cooking class, a tea ceremony or a market walk puts you in a room with other people without joining a tour.
A few practical habits
Carry a printed copy of your hotel's name and address in the local language, since a driver or a taxi may not read the Latin alphabet. Keep a backup payment card in a separate place from your wallet. Share your route and your return flight with someone at home, and check in when you say you will.
Eat at the counter. In Japan, Korea and Taiwan, solo diners are normal and the best seats are often the ones at the bar.
7 days · Taipei, Taroko Gorge
Taiwan: Taipei and Taroko Gorge
Taipei's night markets and temples, then two nights beside Taroko Gorge
from €150 per person per day
Compact, simple to get around and calm in the evening. A private car handles the journey to Taroko Gorge.
6 days · Luang Prabang, Pak Ou, Kuang Si
Luang Prabang, Slowly
Dawn alms, a Mekong boat to the Pak Ou caves, Kuang Si's turquoise pools
from €100 per person per day
A small, walkable town with a slow pace. Easy to enjoy alone, with guided days for the caves and waterfalls.
7 days · Seoul, Gyeongju, Jeju Island
Seoul, Gyeongju & Jeju
Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon, Silla temples in Gyeongju, Jeju's lava tube and haenyeo divers
from €250 per person per day
Good public transport and plenty of solo-friendly restaurants. Seoul, Gyeongju and Jeju in a week.
Ask for a solo quote on any itinerary and tell us which days you want company for.
Do you run group tours for solo travellers?
The itineraries on this site are private and built around one party. If you would like company, say so, and we will look at options such as a cooking class or a small guided day. We would rather tell you what we can arrange than promise a group we cannot offer.
How much more does a solo trip cost?
More per person than the price shown, because a hotel room costs the same for one as for two, and so does a private car. Flights, entry fees and meals do not change. Ask for a solo quote on the itinerary you like, and we will recalculate it with the same sources.
Is it safe for women travelling alone?
Most trips are uneventful. Use licensed taxis or a driver booked by the hotel after dark, dress for temples and villages as locals do and keep your accommodation central. Tell us if you want us to take this into account when we choose the hotel area and the driver.
When to go
Asia by month · January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Other guides
Multigenerational trips · Teenagers · Honeymoons · LGBTQ+ travellers
Speak to the concierge