Travelling solo in Asia may not be for everyone – especially for older females – but for those who enjoy time on their own, it can be liberating and rewarding. It enables you to travel at your own pace, do what you want to do, when you want, and change your schedule whenever you feel like it. With a few sensible safety precautions, solo travel in Asia can be a safe and enjoyable experience for anyone.
ICONSIAM is a new shopping complex in Bangkok that is a day-trip destination in itself. Aside from high-end stores and luxury retail outlets, it features a large market in which small businesses from all over Thailand sell their wares including street foods and handicrafts. There is also a spectacular sound and light show that is staged on the riverfront each evening.
Japan’s distinctive manhole covers are an unusual drawcard for visitors and locals alike. Thousands of decorated covers are found throughout the country. Most of them highlight the attractions of local cities, towns and districts, while others feature geometric designs or portray popular cartoon characters. Many are genuine works of art and well worth watching out for.
Singapore’s Little India is a vibrant district full of colour, culture, atmosphere and vitality. It’s best explored on foot and there’s a lot for older travellers to enjoy from temples, mosques, art exhibitions, historical places, great shopping and of course a wide variety of food from many regions of India.
Taiwan has a lot of to offer first-time visitors, especially those who would like to see more of its natural attractions than its city life. Here’s an independent traveller’s 10-day itinerary that incorporates a hiking and biking adventure in the beautiful Taroko National Park and a visit to the wild coast of the Kenting National Park, as well as some highlights in and around the capital, Taipei.
Home exchanges are a wonderful way to experience different cultures. More so if it can be combined with sightseeing in the destination country. This story describes how one couple travelled overland from Istanbul, using ferry, train and buses, to visit some of Turkey’s great UNESCO World Heritage sites on their way to a home exchange in Sarigerme on the Mediterranean coast.
While most visitors only travel to Seoul or Busan when visiting South Korea, one of the best places to connect with the country's delights is its fifth-largest city, Daejeon. This slow-paced city is safe, but it isn’t boring. There’s plenty to see and do for older travellers in and around the city. And everything from shopping and eating out to travelling around is cheap.
Asia has a surprisingly good number of locations where it is possible to take hot air balloon flights. Drifting over a scenic landscape as the sun rises is both exciting and relaxing, and many travellers who are nervous about flying or suffer vertigo in tall buildings have said that flying in a hot air balloon was one of their most exhilarating experiences ever. It’s a wonderful way to see places from a new perspective.
Langkawi is a tropical island waiting for the good times to return. The Malaysian resort island in the Andaman Sea has long been popular with international visitors. When foreign tourism resumes, it will have much to offer those keen to get close to nature and enjoy some peace and relaxation.
Muscat, the capital of Oman, is probably the most relaxing and laidback of the capital cities in the Gulf region of the Middle East. It has also retained more of its history and traditional culture than other cities. It has one of the oldest markets in the world and there are some excellent walking tours of the old city.
If you are looking for a hotel in Bangkok that combines art deco with the opulence of a bygone era, then the Shanghai Mansion in Chinatown might fit the bill. And if you are lucky enough to be there during Chinese New Year, you’ll have a front row seat to an extravagant street party that is one of the best to experience in Bangkok during that auspicious festival.
South Korea is a country that has a lot to offer older travellers at any time of the year. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit for sightseeing its historic palaces and temples or hiking its scenic mountains and valleys. There are many winter resorts too for those looking for a holiday in the snow, and wellness destinations that are open all year round. It’s one of the safest countries in Asia and easy to get around.
Laos is one of the least visited countries in Southeast Asia but it has a lot to offer older travellers from the French colonial architecture of the old capital of Luang Prabang in northern Laos down to the present capital of Vientiane on the Mekong River, and the so-called tubing capital of the world, Vang Vieng, halfway in between. It’s a destination that will appeal to nature lovers and those that enjoy exploring the region at a slower pace.
xyzAsia senior correspondent Alan Williams first visited Asia in 1973 on an overland backpacking trip from South Africa to Kathmandu. It was an era long before the internet or email. He wrote this account soon afterwards, with the trip fresh in his memory. He publishes it now with only minor changes, and without allowing himself the benefit of hindsight. This is the journey as he saw it at the time.
Lhong 1919 at the Wanglee Pier on Bangkok’s riverside is an historic steamship pier and warehouse complex that’s been preserved and now houses boutique shops, art galleries, and eateries. It’s easy to reach by either river ferry or tuk-tuk and provides the opportunity enjoy a few relaxing hours away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Indonesia is the most populous and diverse country in Southeast Asia and the largest archipelago in the world. With spectacular mountains, tropical rainforests, pristine beaches, active volcanoes, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and national parks teeming with wildlife, Indonesia is an alluring country for older travellers who have the time to explore it.
