Solo Travel India | India Solo Travel Experience & Tips with 100% Safety Tips

Solo Travel in India – A solo trip is the best gift ever you can give to yourself anytime in a year without excuses.

I travelled alone many times & yes, it can be scary.

Remember, you might be special, but you are not the only one if planning to go alone and secondly, it would be totally safe if you are able to manage things correctly – your tickets & luggage, the way you talk to people and how you decide your place to stay and more.

A solo trip is indeed capable to change your life and your way of thinking. Believe me, eventually, you will embrace your solo journey.

Are you scared to travel alone?

TravelEscape can help you become a confident and courageous solo traveller. Embrace your strengths and plan your first solo trip.

Here are 10 100% practical safety tips for a solo traveller:

#1 Do not wait to be confident!

The key to everything in travelling is confidence. Yes, solo travelling is a matter of confidence. First, you sit, relax, and think about the solo journey you wish to experience, and should have the confident answer for choosing to go alone.

How to gain the confidence to travel alone?

If you start discussing your trip with people, half of them will say there is no enjoyment at all to travel solo despite they never travelled alone but they can guide you as if they are pro – never listen to any of them.

The other half will discuss a lot of things, share some tips, give you a whole bunch of advice because they have experienced travelling solo and loved it completely. Exactly, these people with whom you should discuss, and it will definitely boost your confidence and their stories help you in many ways for sure.

Do not wait.

Yes, confidence breeds confidence but it is not something you receive in one go. You have to handle the uncomfortable situation in the first place so do not wait to be confident.

“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world.”

Freya Stark

#2 Checklist for selecting your accommodation:

Picking the right accommodation is one of the major safety tips for solo travellers, it is the key point even if you are travelling with your family or friends. A lot of factors you need to consider before booking your room either within India or abroad. And the location of your hotel is one of the top selection criteria for solo travellers.

Other considerations are the distance from the airport/railway station/bus stand or the connectivity, the platform you are booking through, the reviews of the property, 24-hour front desk, real pictures uploaded by customers, cancellation policy, check-in/check-out time, couple-friendly options, availability of early check-in facility and amenities basis your requirement.

Otherwise, cleanliness, comfortable bed, friendly hotel staff, free breakfast, air conditioning, free wi-fi, on-site pool, luggage storage, parking facility and additional taxes are other factors that might be important but not for everyone.

Would you prefer Hotel or Hostel?

If budget is not an issue, book a single room in a hotel or choose any option available like double or queen.

Solo travellers prefer hostels because they have some budget issues and secondly, they love to meet new people, strangers, and travellers so hostels are considered. Backpacker hostels are growing to be popular nowadays and below is the list of top hostels in India:

“Do not be scared to walk alone. Do not be scared to like it.”

John Mayer

#3 Share your travel itinerary with someone. Why?

Always keep at least two persons informed about your travel itinerary. That person might be your girlfriend or your father – does not matter and if something bad happens to you, unfortunately, the person could play a crucial role to help you in a difficult situation.

For example, in case you lost your wallet or mobile phone, that person can help you in managing your expenses or at least a return journey can be arranged without being mentally stressed.

Another example would be if you have any medical emergency, that person would be able to contact your hotel or nearby hospital to your hotel.

“If you make friends with yourself, you will never be alone.”

Maxwell Maltz

Every day of your solo journey, connect to your family or friend/s through any possible way available before going to sleep, at least a text or a one-minute phone call.

Do you need to stay connected with your family via social media and how?

Sending your travel itinerary, sharing pictures, stories and videos with your loved ones make the distance in between seem smaller.

Modern technology has alleviated the logistical part of the distance and there are many platforms by which you can see, hear, speak to your loved ones:

WhatsApp: Best for texting, voice calls, video chat, sharing WhatsApp status.

Facebook & Messenger: Best for sharing updates and photos, video chat, adding stories.

Zoom: Best for video chat.

Skype: Best for voice calls, video chat.

iMessage & FaceTime: Best for texting, voice calls, video chat.

Check out some alternative applications: Telegram, LINE, Signal, Discord, Bridgefy, Kik, Snapchat, Keybase, Viber, Threema.

#4 Mandatory Documents to be carried while travelling:

Carry your major identification documents and keep them in a safe place. You can use an anti-theft bag to safeguard your IDs as well as money.

See how an anti-theft backpack looks.

A passport is the most important document, especially when travelling abroad so keep it somewhere safely accordingly. Not just passport while Aadhar card, Voter ID, driving license and PAN card are important too.

Keep your COVID Vaccination Certificate/s.

Travelling in COVID times requires both vaccination certificates in printed form so it is suggested that kindly laminate and carry them with you. It is advised to download the Arogya Setu app on your mobile phone.

A real story – A few months ago, one of my close friends visited Kedarnath town, the most revered temple destination of India, where he was asked to show COVID vaccination certificates in hard copies despite he showed them on the mobile app but that was not considered. Then, he went to a nearby only computer shop and there was a long queue – everything got delayed.

“You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.”

Diane Von Furstenberg

#5 Do some basic research on your travel destination. How?

Do your homework, research your travel destination, read Wikitravel pages and articles on your travel destination written by authentic travel bloggers who have been there because you know the Internet contains fake information too.

We suggest you follow TravelEscape blogs for one hundred per cent reliable travel content.

It is important to research a travel destination while planning abroad because you do not know what things will be like there when you arrive. There are ways to research a travel destination before you go.

Nowadays, YouTube has an incredible wealth of travel content and is perfect to get information about a city virtually and you can learn things.

TripAdvisor is a collection of genuine reviews on travel destinations, hotels, restaurants, local attractions, and travel agencies. It is a great way to research a destination and best for choosing tour companies.

The hotel staff, in case you have booked your room in advance, will be able to tell you the exact price you need to pay to reach the hotel from the airport or railway station. At least this much assistance they can provide and please note in case you are a budget traveller.

Travel documentaries help you to make your discussions interesting about the destination with new people you meet on the trip. You can definitely feel the place, unlike other travellers. Check out the documentaries on Netflix or YouTube etc.

An amazing technique to know about the place from the people is to use hashtags. On Instagram or Twitter or Facebook, you search for hashtags related to your travel destination and you will find stories, pictures, videos, tweets, and local news & media.

“I wondered why it was that places are so much lovelier when one is alone.”

Daphne Du Maurier

#6 Maintain your health and wellness routine while travelling.

Stay Healthy. Whatever you put into your stomach decides how much you can be energized on the road. And sleep strategically too because the study shows that quality sleep has a positive effect on the tourist experience.

Breathe deep, hold it and exhale. Repeat it anywhere anytime whenever possible and the time you remember it.

If you eat a healthy breakfast, hydrate yourself throughout the vacation, protect your skin, cut down on alcohol and cold drinks, eat plenty of fruits, follow an exercise routine and walk when you get a chance, order veggies, avoid having meat (if possible), make your own meals whenever possible, take a good night sleep, use sanitizer, or wash your hands often and carry basic medicines in case of emergency .

Travel will not be stressful and you will stay healthy. You can thank me later.

“It is pointless to embark on any journey if you do not believe yourself worthy of the destination.”

Anthon St. Maarten

#7 The beauty of NO.

Learn how to say ‘no, thanks!’ in the local language and non-verbal gestures for the same to deal with awkward situations. Remember, without being rude.

This works if you are a female solo traveller, although, another level of challenges for a female traveller in India and abroad might be discussed separately.

If you know your priorities, you will exactly know when to deny them. It is recommended that turn a ‘No’ into a ‘Not Right Now’ and do not over-explain.

“When a woman becomes her own best friend life is easier.”

Diane Von Furstenberg

#8 How to enhance your travel experience?

You are travelling solo which means you do not have anyone to interfere or alter your plans so I would suggest you start your day as early as possible.

You wake up early and take a shower to improve the blood circulation of your body, have a healthy breakfast and capture sunrise – one of the most magical things. These four activities seem smaller but may impact your day and obviously, your travel experience.

Get up early to avoid the crowds, no standing in queues, zero struggle to capture a photo of a monument or tourist attraction, to have pleasant weather, to spend a few hours napping somewhere in the afternoon, to avoid any late-night trouble and reach your bed at a perfect time.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

Neale Donald Walsch

#9 How to get a free stay in any part of the world? Amazing!

Download the Couchsurfing application on your mobile phone through which you can contact some local people and travellers visiting the same destination.

Couchsurfing is a platform that allows you to browse through hosts across the globe. I would recommend Couchsurfing as one of the best platforms of this kind where you can stay in someone’s home for free. Yes, there is no exchange of money in the process. Decide wisely.

Other applications are available too such as HomeStay, BeWelcome, WarmShowers, TrustedHousesitters for the same.

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”

Gustav Flaubert

#10 The not-to-do list: A list of habits and tasks you should not do.

• Do not get over-excited.
• Do not overpack your luggage.
• Do not overspend. Do not run out of cash.
• Do not over plan. Do not schedule too much.
• Do not overeat. Do not overdrink.
• Do not be over-friendly.
• Do not stay in the wrong accommodation.
• Do not fail on financial planning for your trip.
• Do not forget to ask for help.
• Do not avoid taking safety precautions.
• Do not be unprepared for emergencies.
• Do not have too many expectations.
• Do not avoid talking to new people. Do not be shy.
• Do not forget your selfie stick.
• Do not avoid your own company.
• Do not resist your impulses.
• Do not get over-intoxicated.
• Do not ignore the potential danger.
• Do not skip reservations.
• Do not be hard on yourself.
• Do not fail to have a plan B.
• Do not drink the tap water.
• Do not disrespect local culture in any way.
• Do not forget to sign up for travel insurance.
• Do not avoid locals.

“Traveling solo does not always mean you’re alone. Most often, you meet marvelous people along the way and make connections that last a lifetime.”

Jacqueline Boone

In addition to writing ten safety tips for solo travellers, I would say that Bhutan was my most exciting solo trip ever. Another country I visited as a solo traveller is the United Arab Emirates and all the above, I blog here, is purely based on my personal experience during my solo journeys within India and abroad.

Read how I planned my first solo trip to the world’s happiest country.

I never underestimate the glory of travelling alone and you follow the same, and it would definitely be pleasant & exciting to share the scenery with yourself.

In travelling alone, you learn independence, you start loving loneliness, you understand about human connection & relationships, and you return home with more confidence plus unforgettable memories because it’s your own magical rhythm you follow.

Key Takeaway & Summary:

My solo trips include major tourist attractions in the state of Goa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh. I travel alone and I loved it, also immensely pleased to share my experience along with some real suggestions with you, dear readers!

If you plan to visit goa, here are the top things to do in Goa.

Travelling solo is a must at least once in a lifetime. Explore the destination and hidden version of yourself together. Everything according to just one person – that is you. Travel on your own terms.

Do not be afraid of anything and I will say a small dose of fear will be good for you because it keeps you safe and helps protect you. Pack light, plan smart, and hit the road solo.

Have you ever travelled solo before? If not, it is something you would be willing to try.

Ask us anything related to solo travelling and share your travel experiences with us below in the comment box.

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Loading...

Join Our Exclusive Travel Community!

You are cordially invited to join our exclusive TravelEscape Facebook community. In case you are interested, we also have a WhatsApp group.

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Loading...