If you are a woman planning to travel to India alone, this blog is for you. Here, you will find the best tips for solo women travelers to make the most of your solo trip.

Well, traveling alone can be overwhelming, but trust us, this is the best thing you can do for yourself. Just follow the tips we have shared in this blog that guarantee a safe and amazing life-changing experience!

Is India Safe for Solo Women Travelers?

Before we proceed with the travel tips for solo women travelers, let’s talk about the most frequently asked question: Is India safe for solo women travelers?

While you can never guarantee the safety of any person traveling to a new country or destination, India is considered a fairly safe country for women. However, you will have to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and minimize potential danger.

You might have heard that India has a bad reputation regarding women’s safety. But trust us, it is one of the safest countries in the world you can visit as a solo traveler. India is not as bad as it is portrayed. And, we don’t just claim it. Our customers, including solo female travelers who booked solo tour packages, have shared their experiences and reviews that showcase the women’s safety in India.

Catering to many travelers in India, who traveled the country as solo travelers, we have put together the best travel tips for solo women travelers in India. These travel tips will keep you safe throughout your journey.

Travel Tips You Need to Know as a Solo Female Traveler in India

Let’s face it, traveling alone in India as a woman is often controversial. While you plan to travel alone in India, your family or friends might not agree with this. They may suggest several reasons why you should not travel alone. But in the end, it’s your decision. And, you should know why and when you should embark on a solo trip. 

You should know that India is not as dangerous for women as it is portrayed. We have many clients who have traveled alone in India and had the best experience. Although it is a safe travel destination, you should follow the same precautions and safety tips that you would follow to travel to any other destination in the world.

So, here are the top travel tips for women travelling alone in India:

Begin with a Strategy

When planning a solo trip in India as a woman, it is important to have a well-planned tour itinerary to have the best travel experience. Do your research and plan your trip, including choosing the destination, accommodation, and the route to navigate through.

If it’s the first time you are traveling alone, pick a relatively close destination so that you can easily commute. Make sure the town has a good transportation link. Do not rely on unreliable sources to travel to the destination.

Know Where You Are Going

Initially, you may not understand this, but this is one of the best travel tips for solo women travelers in India. It seems obvious to choose the destination or location where you are going, but it is imperative to know where exactly you are going and how. You must know the transport you will take to reach the destination and its route. Remember, India is one of the largest countries in the world with countless tourist destinations. So, navigating your way around it can feel daunting, especially if you have never been to the place before. Also, being a woman, you must ensure you are on the right route.

So, before you proceed with the expedition, keep the following details and make a note of them for easy access:

• Name of the destination.
• The route between your current location and your destination.
• The name of the bus stops or stations where you will halt or interchange transport.
• The exact departure and arrival timing of your means of transport.
• The contact number and the exact address of the accommodation, if you have pre-booked.
• If you have not booked any accommodation, then write down the name of the village/town/city where you are planning to stay.
• Contact number of a reliable travel agent.

Do Your Research

India is a diverse country. It offers plenty of tourist destinations to explore for people of all interests. Whether you seek solace or adventure, the country has everything to enchant its visitors. But it will be very helpful for solo women travelers to have an idea about the place they are visiting. You should know if the city is safe for women or if there is something you should know before heading to that place. Well, there are many social media pages, travel blogs, and channels that share a lot of valuable information on traveling alone in India.

So, before you select your travel destination in India for a solo trip, look into a few things:

• The safety of the town or village.
• Is it a place to enjoy nature, partying, history, or community?
• The culture of the place, like a few villages and towns in India, is more conservative.
• The top attractions of the place
• How to reach the town, or the availability of transport options
• How accessible the resources and shops are

Be Prepared for the Trip

As you are planning a solo trip in India, you must be prepared for the trip. If you are a foreign tourist, visiting India for the first time all alone, you must be prepared by organizing your belongings and keeping all your documents and IDs ready. However, this isn’t enough when you are traveling alone. You must also be prepared mentally for your trip. No matter how much you plan, things are uncertain, and anything can go wrong. Have a plan to deal with the most likely bad situations, like getting lost or items being stolen. Also, you must have a plan B to deal with any bad situations. Don’t just rely on your phone, note down all the important contact numbers in a diary or simply memorise a few for a quick rescue.

Pack Light

The solo travelers are mostly backpackers, who pack light. You can follow the same to have an easy and smooth travel experience. Remember that you are traveling alone and you have to carry your stuff by yourself. So, carrying anything unnecessary will make your trip challenging. Packing light is not only beneficial in carrying the luggage easily, but you are less likely to lose anything when there are fewer items you have to keep up with. Packing a backpack is way more sensible than carrying a suitcase with you. Consider the following important things to make your travel packing checklist for solo traveling, and pack accordingly.

• The season or weather of the region when you are traveling.
• Total days of your expedition to know how many pairs of clothes you need.
• The activities you want to enjoy, like trekking, zip-lining, water activities, etc.

Use Public Transport

One of the best safety tips for solo travelers in India is to use public transport. There are several advantages of using public transport. You meet new people and learn about the local customs and culture of the region. Meeting different people on buses, trains, or flights also helps you find some sources to get good accommodations or discounts in the area. In fact, they share essential information about the place if they are locals. Besides the advantage of meeting fellow passengers, public transport is convenient, safe to travel, easy to choose, and most importantly, super cheap. If you are on a budget trip, using public transport will help you stick to your budget.

But remember, traveling in India using public transport can sometimes be complicated. You may have to go through multiple stops to change your trains and buses to reach your destination. So, collect enough information on the route to reach your final destination. When on a bus, use Google Maps to know when your next station or destination will arrive. Do not hesitate to ask your fellow passengers about the location and recheck it with your driver or conductor. This helps to double-check check you are getting off at the correct location. It’s always good to ask rather than miss your next stop or final destination.  

Choose Homestays or Hostels to Stay

The atmosphere in hostels is very social. You will find many fellow female solo travelers. You can meet and talk with them to learn about their travel experiences. Some of them will be traveling for the first time, while a few can be frequent travelers. They can let you know a lot about the destination and the country based on their previous visits. Not only are hostels and homestays cheap, but also safer than staying in hotels, where you have no one to socialize with. It’s one of the best opportunities to be yourself and build new relationships. Meeting new people exploring the same destination can even be beneficial in creating a new itinerary, while opening up to different cultures and mindsets. And, you will do this all while making new friends and memories from your first solo trip in India.

Carry Enough Cash and Essential Equipment

When traveling to a new, unknown town or city, it is crucial to equip yourself with everything essential to make yourself self-reliant. Although people in India are very friendly and ever ready to assist, you should still be self-reliant. Asking for help from a stranger may put you in trouble. Hence, make sure to carry essential equipment like a torch, power bank, raincoat, sanitary napkins, scissors, thread and needle, and something to munch on when you are at a remote location.

Another important thing that you must have with you is cash. No one would like to run out of cash, especially in an unknown place. You should keep extra cash with you, as ATMs in hill stations or beach destinations are quite tough to find. Some villages and towns only have one or two ATMs that easily run out of cash. And due to poor network connection, you aren’t even able to make online or UPI payments. Hence, you should focus more on keeping cash with you. Remember, some small villages and towns in India still don’t accept online payment. In such a situation, the cash in your wallet emerges as a savior on your solo trip.

Book a Reliable Travel Agency

No matter whether you are a backpacker or a first-time solo traveler in India, booking a reliable travel agency is the best thing you can do to secure your solo expedition. Travel agents in India offer every type of tour package suitable for families, couples, groups, and even backpackers. Standing on an unknown route waiting for your bus is just not safe for solo women travelers, regardless of the country you are in. Renowned tour operators in the area help you book transportation and accommodation. You will get a customized tour itinerary as per your requirements and the purpose of the travel. But it is important to hire a reliable travel agent who gives you the best deals. Ensure the company has a license and authorization from the Ministry of Tourism. Do not trust any random company. A reliable travel agent will always give you a detailed tour itinerary and 24/7 customer support. Find such a trustworthy tour operator and keep their number saved on your phone so that you can contact them whenever you need them. They have sources all over India and can arrange transport and accommodation in your next destination.

Be Confident Enough to Say ‘No’

Saying “No” to anyone for anything is sometimes considered as being rude. And, it is completely okay to be rude sometimes. If you think someone is invading your space, be rude and ward off someone making inappropriate remarks. When you meet new people and locals in a region, you should be polite to them, but that does not mean you will agree and say yes to everything you see or hear. Stay confident, and you are less likely to attract any creeps. Foreign tourists in India, especially females, often get asked for selfies. People may encircle you asking for selfies, which may make you uncomfortable sometimes. You should know that it is completely okay to say ‘No’ to selfie requests if you are not feeling comfortable.

These were the top tips for every solo woman traveler in India to have the best experience. If you plan and prepare your solo expedition by considering all the important travel tips shared above, you will experience the vibrant colors, culture, history, natural beauty, and hospitality of India. There are many good reasons to travel alone in India as a female. And, you will see why India is known as an incredible country. However, we do understand that everyone doesn’t feel the same about the country. Sadly, India doesn’t have a good reputation when it comes to women’s safety. But remember that tourists in India are very safe. India tourism statistics show low crime rates with tourists. Here are the best safety tips for solo women travelers in India.

Tips to Stay Safe During Your Solo Trip in India

Ladies, just follow the following safety tips to keep yourself safe during your first solo trip in India:

Trust your Intuition

A woman’s intuition is such a blessing and an incredible gift from God. And, you should take advantage of your gut feelings. If your gut instinct or intuition says something is off, just trust your gut. Always be aware of your surroundings and the people you are meeting. If you think something is not good or very off, make appropriate changes in your plan. When you travel alone, it is just not right to take any unnecessary risks.

Get a Local SIM

For foreign tourists, getting a local SIM is very helpful in accessing the Internet and getting things easily at your doorstep, like food delivery or booking a cab. Besides, you can get in touch with anyone easily or check something online, which gives you peace of mind as a solo woman traveler. So, when you land in India, get a SIM from the airport, or you can get it from any mobile provider store.

Dress Appropriately

You must respect the local culture and customs. India is a conservative country. Even if you see women wearing western dresses, wearing hot pants and spaghetti is not normal at many places. Even on beaches, you will barely see anyone wearing a two-piece. Be mindful and wear a dress that goes appropriately with the surroundings. Being a foreigner, you already stand out and get attention. Hence, wearing modestly is important.

Look Confident

Always walk confidently, as you know where you are going. Even if you are clueless about the routes, do not let people sense this. Act like you are aware of the route. This will save you from getting scammed or harassed by any passerby. Also, do not ask for routes from a random person; instead, ask any watchman near a building or an ATM’s guard, policeman, or traffic police, etc.

Be Wary of Scams

Scams in India are very common, especially in touristy areas. You will have to be aware of the most common types of scams that happen in the region you are visiting. Don’t trust anyone. Even if you are buying a souvenir, double-check the price from other vendors. For taxi and cab fares, check rates online and bargain with the service provider.

Do Not Overshare

You will meet locals. Yes, you can talk with them and even make new friends. But being a solo woman traveler in India, you need to be safe. While talking, do not overshare, especially where you are currently staying. Listen to your instinct and decide how much you should share with the people you meet, irrespective of their gender.

Keep all these things in mind to keep yourself safe during a solo trip in India as a woman. And, if you want to know what the best places for solo women travelers in India are, then let us know in the comments below! We will bring an independent blog on the topic “Best Places in India for Solo Women Travelers” for sure. If you are looking for India tour packages, you can custom package with us at Footlooseholidays.com. We have several tour packages to choose from, plus, we can customize the packages as per preferences and budget.