Solo Female Backpacker Safety Tips.

Solo female backpacker traveler safety

Solo female travel safety is a huge concern for women travellers. Travelling the world as an independent, solo female traveller is often seen as dangerous, daunting or too risky, often putting women off travel altogether, but it doesn’t have to be. These expert tips will help you put potential risk in perspective, reduce any actual risk and stay safe on the road.

Travelling the world independently, especially solo, is one of the single best things any woman can ever do for themselves. Exploring  the endless wonders the world has to offer you is a reward in and of itself, allowing you to see, do and experience things most people will only ever dream of, but it goes far, far deeper than that. The experience of backpacking around the world independently will absolutely change you for the better. It will make you stronger, more worldly, more self confident. In short it will make you a better person and will empower you like nothing else in the world will.

Solo female travel is in general very safe. World travel is in general very safe. These are two very simple facts. That isn’t to say of course that there isn’t risk out there, of course there is, but it is important to remember that travelling in and of itself is not inherently dangerous, and being a woman does not make the act of travelling any more dangerous either.

Now of course there are risks out there in the world just as there are at home, and there are many ways which you can use reasonable common sense precautions to reduce that risk to manageable levels just as you would at home. If you can go about your life safely at home, you can travel safely too.

Women can and do travel the world very safely, and fear should never be a barrier to women travelling.

Heightened Levels Of Fear.

Women are on average significantly more likely to fear crime than they are to become victims of it. That is the statistical reality borne out by the Crime Survey of England and Wales with repeatable and statistically similar results every single year for at least the last 20 years or more. In direct comparison men are far more likely to become the victims of violent crime in general and a far more likely to be killed as a result, but have almost no level of fear of it. That is why you never hear of men being afraid to go travelling the world and safety tips directed specifically at men are rare. It is this level of fear that often creates a distorted picture of just how dangerous it actually is for women to travel the world and frankly, the paradigm that it is only women who face risk or that risk is something specific to women needs to end. Your gender is not a specific at risk category.

The problem is that this fear has direct real world consequences. Half of the population who are dreaming of setting off on their very own round the world adventure are allowing fear, doubt and insecurity stop them from doing just that.

Women all over the world are denying themselves the opportunity to travel the world because they listen to the half truths, scaremongering and paranoid nonsense that is perpetuated by the mass media, society in general and even other women! Honestly the biggest perpetuators of the myth that it is too dangerous for women to travel, is other women!

I mean what happened to that feisty independence? That empowered gender identity? Of course women shouldn’t be travelling the world alone! They can’t even leave the house in safety at home! It is obvious that women are far too weak and defenceless to face what the world throws at them. We all know that it is far too dangerous for a woman to dare to backpack around the world on her own! Right?

Of course not.

If you listen to all the uninformed doomsayers and the mass media, you could be forgiven for believing that the world is full of muggers, rapists, thieves, terrorists, pirates and murderers just waiting for all you naive, vulnerable, defenceless women to step out into the big scary world.

You could also be forgiven for thinking that women are more at risk just by the mere fact of their gender. They aren’t. Given the fear mongering and misinformation out there, it’s a surprise anyone goes anywhere.

Of course there are dangers out there, of course women experience the world differently to men, of course women have practical concerns and of course they should take reasonable safety precautions when travelling, those are simple tenets that should be a given, but here’s the big secret …

It is just as safe for women to travel the world as any man.

Solo female backpacker travel, solo travel, solo gap year

The Reality Of Risk.

Despite what the mass media and your fretting mothers might tell you, thousands of women travel around the world every single day and come back home safe and sound. Bad things do sometimes happen yes, but no more so than they do at home and certainly in very small numbers compared to the incidents of women travelling safely and soundly without any problems. Travelling the world is statistically very safe, and the probability of anything bad happening to you is pretty low.

According to the Office For National Statistics and The Foreign Commonwealth Office for example, the evidence shows that out of the tens millions of outbound travellers, only tens of thousands needed consular assistance for anything ranging from being a victim of a crime to losing their passport. These statistics show that those travellers who were the victims of crime were in the absolute statistical minority, and mirroring the country specific trends in the Crime Survey Of England And Wales, that men were more likely to be the victims of most types of violent crime from assault to mugging, violent assault or murder, and women led the statistics in rape and sexual assault but numbers were a statistical improbability. They happen, yes, but not at the levels the scaremongering media would have you believe.

To be more specific in the data and use those same statistics for a specific crime that most women in particular tend to quote as their main fear when talking about becoming a victim, in the 2018 to 2019 period there were 71.7 million UK outbound travellers, and 116 rapes and 154 cases of sexual assaults that travellers needed police, medical or consular assistance for. These numbers are relatively consistent year on year, decade on decade.

So out of tens of millions, the actual cases where women were victims of a violent crime were in the hundreds. Hundreds. Out of tens of millions. Two hundred and seventy. Out of seventy one point seven million! Those are pretty good odds!

Those are pretty low crime rates by any international standards. This isn’t to say that each and every one of these cases isn’t horrific for the individuals involved, they are terrible crimes and I have every sympathy for those survivors, but it does show travel is on average overwhelmingly very safe.

Bad things can happen to good people anywhere, anytime.

These statistics also don’t say that bad things don’t happen, of course they do, nor do they say that some level of concern isn’t justified, because it is, but not to the levels of fearmongering that are often reached by women and in the media.

Precaution is good. Fear is not.

Risk of course does exist, it just needs to be put into a little bit of perspective.

Dealing With Different Cultures.

It is important to acknowledge the fact that men and women will of course experience the world very differently, they are of course very different biologically, pyschologically and emotionally and the way we process and interpret the world is very different. That much is a factual given and not in doubt. That is why I am not talking about the experience of travelling as a woman, because it is just as important to stress that this difference is not in and of itself a danger or a risk factor.

Men and women are viewed and treated differently in many parts of the world, but does this automatically mean it is more dangerous for women? No.

There are many countries around the world with differing cultural, religious and societal paradigms, and there are many societies where men and women are treated or viewed differently than they are in the average western society. This for many women is one of the factors that does play into a heightened sense of fear in women travellers, but it is essential to remember that difference does not automatically make it more dangerous to travel to those places.

There are places that will challenge female travellers on many levels, there are countries that have different paradigms on gender than you have, you may encounter situations that challenge your own political or social belief systems or even make you feel uncomfortable. That does not necessarily make them dangerous. It is really important to make that distinction, because although feeling uncomfortable or challenged is completely understandable, far too often those feelings are conflated to feeling at risk or in danger. That is not the case. In fact being challenged and exploring different cultural viewpoints is one of the reasons to and the best parts of travel!

Dealing With Harassment.

Harassment is perhaps one of the biggest contributors to the heightened levels of fear in women travellers and in many ways does have a detrimental effect on the travel experience for many women. That doesn’t however mean that women are at more risk, or that women face an unparalleled level of danger when they travel.

Harassment is a fact and it does happen. It is horrible, inexcusable and no one should ever have to go through it. It is completely understandable why many women would feel uncomfortable at the prospect  – or experience – of being harrassed and is one factor that explains the generally higher levels of fear in women despite the much lower risk of actually becoming a victim of a specific crime or being in actual danger, but it can also not justify the common assertion that women are at more risk when they travel.

It happens to men and women on average equally, but often – at least outwardly – in very different ways, women are less likely than men to be randomly verbally abused with the threat of physical violence for example, but are more likely to encounter a range of sexual orientated harassment. That isn’t to say each gender doesn’t experience the full spectrum too because they do, but some generalisation is necessary.

It also does not happen on the level that is often portrayed either in the media or by others. Harrassment happens yes,no doubt, but if it happened on the scale that is often portrayed no woman would ever be able to go out in public because it would be constant, every minute of every single day. There has to be some level of moderation there because the day to day experience of the majority cannot reflect that.

Yes you may come across a situation where you are harrassed when you travel, but a lot of harrassment, whilst unpleasant, is not necessarily a risk factor or a danger.

The big problem when talking about harassment is that the definition is so far ranging and so open that it includes everything from actually defined crimes such as sexual harassment and interactions that are actually considered a risk factor or a danger to everyday occurrences that are at best an annoyance and even incidents that are misconstrued by ideological dogma that views everything and anything as a full on assault.

There are scales of harassment and they really do have to be viewed as such. Men staring in India for example is often cited by women travellers as something that makes them feel uncomfortable, but this is largely a cultural phenomenon and Indian men often stare at everything, all the time, in large groups, including the big 6″2 guy lumbering around looking a little lost. Uncomfortable? Maybe. A danger? No. This perspective is really important.

Many women also have stories of unwanted advances, and yes that in some circumstances is actual harrassment, but to paint every single incidence as such is intellectually and ideologically dishonest. Depending on the circumstance this isn’t always harassment. There is a difference between someone saying hello and an interaction that results in threats, stalking or other actions which are specifically and rightly defined as a crime and should be treated as such, in both preparation for and punishment of.

For those times where you will encounter harassment that goes above being able to ignore and move on, there are some things you can do:

  • Move toward potential assistance in a public space and ask for assistance without escalating the situation. Seek out an officer of the law or other official if possible, hotel or hostel staff, a family sitting at a restaurant or a bartender even, anyone.
  • If you are travelling or on any type of transport then move away as soon as possible, swap places with someone if you can and ask a conductor, driver or crew for assistance.
  • Report it officially at the soonest possible opportunity when there is a chance of getting evidence.

Harassment does happen, and unfortunately it is very likely that it will happen to you when travelling just as much as it is likely at home. But it is important to remember that is no reason not to travel, nor is it a reason to be afraid of travel.

Some harassment is absolutely a risk factor and should be treated as such with the safety tips and advice detailed below, but some harassment should not be conflated to that level either and should be treated as just a random encounter with an arsehole. Everyone, regardless of gender or where they are or what they are doing, will come across people like that from time to time, but the absolute majority of people you meet on the road will be awesome.

How Female Travellers Can Reduce Risk And Stay Safe When Travelling.

Now that the actual risk has been put into some perspective, let’s look at the things you can do to minimise the actual risk that is out there, reduce any potential danger to manageable levels and travel the world safely.

The trick to keeping yourself safe simply lies in …

Understanding the risks and dangers,

and ..

Reducing the risk as much as possible.

That’s it. There is no grand reveal of a big secret here, it really is that simple. There are risks out there, but it is important to remember that they are first of all statistically low and second of all easily managed.

You have to know exactly how to understand the dangers and minimize the risk of course, but that is what this article can help you with. There are many ways in which you can do this. Research is one of the biggest weapons in your arsenal, being aware of the dangers and how to avoid them, or knowing how to deal with them if things do go wrong is one of the best things you can do to prepare. To read how to do this in much greater detail, read here.

Apart from that there are a number of tips and tricks any woman can use when out on the road to reduce the risk of anything negative happening to them and to keep themselves safe.

Be Confident.

The absolute majority of the time crimes that happen against you on the road are opportunistic and are by nature commited by those who prey on the weak. Confidence is just a natural weapon against people who may potentially want to do you harm or take advantage of you. Acting like you know where you are, what you are doing and showing that you are confident, even if you may not feel like it inside, sets off a huge subconscious alert of ‘don’t mess with me’. Again this applies equally to both genders, but is something that women in particular tend not to do.

I get that this doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people, that is completely understandable, but the phrase fake it until you make it is really relevant here. Solo travel will eventually instil a natural confidence in you but until then create your own confidence! Watch your body language, walk tall but relaxed, raise your head and make eye contact. Shift your focus to the positive in the situation (like the fact that you are kicking arse outside of your comfort zone rather than the fact you feel nervous outside of it). Look confident and feel confident and chances are you will exude confidence. No one but you needs to know you are really nervous.

Predators – and this goes for some low level harassment as much as physical crimes – are in general looking for victims who look and appear weak, it is instinctive, so be the opposite! People who behave and look like targets are generally the ones who become victims, so don’t let this happen to you. Just be confident!

Use Your Common Sense.

Yes, it really is that simple sometimes and this really isn’t meant to be condescending. Travelling alone can be very safe indeed if you just use your basic common sense. You do it all the time at home, probably without even realising it, so there is no reason why you wouldn’t do it while travelling either. This is the kind of thing that most ‘solo female safety tips’ and articles consist of, don’t walk down that dark alley in the middle of the night on your own, don’t accept that lift from the three friendly guys you met in the middle of nowhere, don’t broadcast where you are staying or what dorm or room you are in and don’t drink so much that you have no control over what you do. It is all about using that basic common sense we all have to avoid putting yourself in a situation that could potentially be risky further down the line. This is all about using simple common sense precautions to completely avoid risky situations from even developing.

I know it can be easy to lower your guard when you are travelling and having fun, and no one will ever tell you not to enjoy yourself (it is your gap year or backpacking trip after all) but simply use your instinct and common sense as a baseline and you will generally be fine. This really isn’t rocket science, and this really is all it can take to keep you safe most of the time.

Stay Alert And Develop Situational Awareness.

Again this is something that applies to both genders, but is so important that it is worth mentioning again here. Just be alert and aware of your surroundings, your belongings and the people around you at all times. Don’t take your eye of your pack or any of your belongings, even if you do think it is absolutely safe. Be aware of the people approaching you and be mindful of the common scams or diversion tactics of pickpockets or thieves. When a stranger approaches you and starts chatting, odds are they may simply be curious about you and where you are from (in many parts of the world it is still highly unusual to see a woman travelling alone, or anyone trvelling at all for that matter, and the vast majority of time it may just be someone wanting to chat and learn about you), but there is also a smaller chance that they may also be a tout leading up to one of the many scams they use to separate you from your cash or someone wanting to do you harm. Be friendly, but be aware too.

Of course it is important to remember that you shouldn’t take this to the extremes of being overly paranoid and thinking everyone is out to get you, where even the most innocent of hello’s from a friendly traveller invokes screams of hysteria and cries of ‘rapist, mugger, murderer!’ Before you empty a can of pepper spray in the guys face and throw your pack at him for good measure before running off in hysterics, just reign the overreaction in a bit. The poor guy just said hello for crying out loud! But a healthy dose of awareness and friendly mistrust, providing you don’t let it get to that paranoid level, can be a good thing.

Lower Your Profile.

Lowering your profile is a major part of keeping yourself safe. It is just as true for men too, as are the majority of these tips in fact, but applied specifically to women this basically can be translated into be selective in what you wear and when, dressing according to local custom and being respectful to local culture and norms in your behaviour. Melt into the crowd, don’t stand out and you won’t make yourself a target.

Now behaviour is such a wide ranging subject it is impossible to cover in a single post, but what it boils down to is not drawing attention to yourself in any negative way. Don’t be loud and boistrous, don’t be that annoyingly demanding tourist, don’t talk about culturally or politically sensitive topics, don’t advertise the fact that you have just arrived in country, don’t know where you are and have a ton of cash and expensive jewellry on you. Again a lot of this is common sense, but basically you want to blend in, not stand out.

One of the easiest ways you can do this is your clothing. Wearing a bikini top and shorts may be appropriate in Malibu for example where a lot of women will be wearing the same, but it just isn’t appropriate walking around Haft-e Tir Square in Tehran or the middle of Cairo in Egypt. Drawing unwanted attention to themselves by wearing inappropriate clothing and not conforming to cultural norms can lead to problems in many different ways.

Simple, loose, comfortable clothing such as cargo pants or shorts or a long skirt or dress, plus a T shirt or top that covers the shoulders and is not too revealing is more than adequate in most situations, with the added precaution of a shawl or sarong so you can cover up your head and hair, lower legs or any still exposed skin if you visit a mosque or if the situation requires it. Now please don’t assume this means you have to cover up completely, it doesn’t at all, what it means is don’t wear clothing that will draw attention to you and be respectful, especially if the country you are in is particularly conservative.

Visiting any religious building or site in many countries is slightly different as there will be specific religious requirements for both men and women and they will sometimes require you to dress in a certain way, whether that is removing shoes, wearing a specific sarong, covering up exposed skin that is acceptable outside such as shoulders, or covering your hair or any number of other traditional norms. This is an issue for men too, although often to a much lesser extent, and is often an issue of respect for religion and customs as it is about gender. It is my experience that people are generally very welcoming and will excuse the odd faux pax such as forgetting to take your shoes off in places of worship (someone will usually politely let you know if you have forgotten), providing that an effort is being made to respect local culture.

Wear A Wedding Ring.

Seriously I know this sounds strange but even if you are not married wear a cheap band on your wedding finger. I know this is controversial and I agree completely on it’s own it won’t do anything, but it can be a useful tool when used in context and it works as part of an overall strategy of blending in.

And before anyone starts this doesn’t have anything to do with feminism or the role of women in society, it has everything to do with using it as part of your disguise, a prop, just to blend in.

Theoretically if you are in a bar or a situation where guys may come up to you, flirt with you or give you any kind of attention you don’t want (or if you do want it of course the ring is easily removable), especially in cultures where machismo is prevalent and attention can be persistent, a simple flash of the wedding ring should make many guys making advances politely move on to someone else.

Of course it is important to remember that on it’s own wearing a wedding ring isn’t going to be a magic bullet to deflect any and all unwanted attention. If it only deflects half of potentially unwanted advances, that is a half you haven’t had to deal with. This is again all about lowering your profile and using it as a simple tool, a single thin layer of armour if you like, deflecting any unwanted or potentially unwanted attention away from yourself. Consider it a bit of camouflage, a deflection technique. In and of itself it won’t do much, but used in conjunction with other tools such as sensible dress to match a country’s culture or the correct body language to convey the message you want, then it can be one valuable tool in your box of tricks.

Don’t Draw Attention To Yourself.

Along the same lines as lowering your profile, not drawing attention to yourself will mean you are much less likely to be singled out as a target for trouble.

Unfortunately there are sometimes some things that you cannot change about your appearance and you will always stand out to some extent. If you are tall, white and blonde for example, you will always get attention in parts of Asia, South or Central America and the Middle East purely because you are different from the norm. Most of the time this goes no further than stares or long looks, especially in places like India where staring is a cultural norm, and whilst this can sometimes be a little disconcerting is generally nothing to worry about.

There are some things you can do however, and again, most of this goes back to basic common sense. Think about the things you have or the way you look that may draw the attention of potential thieves or people who may want to do you harm. Even if you normally look like a jewellery shop has exploded all over you at home, it isn’t exactly the smartest idea to wear all your bling on your travels. Just leave all the fancy rings and bracelets at home. Don’t be flashing huge wads of cash about or walk around carrying a massive £3000 DSLR camera around your neck while staring at the latest iPad and not paying attention to your laptop on the table. You may as well just be wearing a big neon sign that says ‘I’m a target!’

And again, just as when you are thinking about lowering your profile, not drawing attention to yourself can go far beyond appearance and can also mean moderating your behaviour. This overlap exists because it is such an easy and important tool in keeping you safe. This doesn’t even mean you have to conform to local standards or expectations of women, just be polite and respectful. For example, don’t drink too much and get loud, obnoxious and abusive, especially if you are in a traditionally conservative, polite country, you’ll just attract a lot of attention you don’t want.

If you keep in mind that most crimes (of course there are exceptions to this rule) are both opportunistic and predatory, not drawing the attention of any thief, mugger or worse in the first place is the first and best line of defence.

Learn Some Emergency Phrases.

Learning a little bit of the local language is always an important part of blending in, and even learning the very basics such as ‘hello’, ‘thankyou’ or ‘how much is this?’ will have a profound impact on your experience in a country. On a practical level learning phrases such as ‘no thank you’ or ‘leave me alone’ will be enough to make touts think you are an expat not a tourist and will often stop them bothering you as much.

Learning very specific emergency phrases however significantly reduces your risk levels and raises your chances of getting out of a bad spot if something does go wrong. Wherever you go make sure you know how to say ‘help’ or ‘call the police’ or something simialar, anything that will allow you to tell a local there is an emergency and that you need help. Even if you can’t communicate exactly why there and then, that initial phrase should be enough to illicite help and put that first barrier of safety between you and any potential danger.

Be Sensitive To Local Culture And Tradition.

Understanding the place you are in and the culture you are visiting is essential when backpacking so you can be sensitive to local customs and manners. For women it does take on a slightly added dimension as there are many places, particularly but not limited to the Middle East, where social norms and conventions demand certain considerations from women, and for backpackers it is wise to know what they are and make concessions to them.

Many Muslim countries for example, especially those where Sharia law operates more stringently, are very conservative and regimented when it comes to women and this can manifest itself for backpackers in terms of what you choose to wear and how you behave. There will never be an expectation for you to cover up completely the way some Muslim women do, especially if you are not a Muslim, you are a guest there after all, but if you show respect to your host country by making some concessions to modesty then you will lower your profile and divert attention away from yourself as well as being able to delve deeper into the heart and culture of the places you are visiting. If you wear wildly inappropriate clothing, such as the oblivious women who walk off the cruise ships in Egypt wearing hot pants and bikini tops in a predominantly Muslim country, then you will draw unwanted attention to yourself. In countries such as the UAE for example it is considered completely appropriate to wear whatever you like in tourist resorts or private beaches, but not outside of those areas. The further away from touristy areas you get, the more attention inappropriate dress will draw to you.

Also be aware of cultural differences when travelling. Catching a guy’s eye and giving a friendly smile back home may be considered completely innocent and friendly, but can often be interpreted as a sexual advance in the Middle East for example. If you are unsure it can often be a good idea to look around and follow the social cues of the local women.

This isn’t to say that you should completely deny yourself the opportunities to meet or interact with locals. If you do that out of fear or an over exaggerated sense of personal safety then you would be doing yourself a huge disservice and will deny yourself one of the best things about backpacking. So again, be reasonably cautious, but not paranoid.

Remember That You Can Pre Book From Time To Time.

The accepted independent traveller norm is to just turn up, find a place to stay that suits your taste and budget, and barter for a room. This is absolutely the best way to travel the majority of the time, it is cheaper, easier and more flexible. You will find much nicer places to stay, and it is completely safe for anyone – man or woman – to do.

There are occasional exceptions to this rule though.

When you are just arriving in a new country for example, it can be a good idea to pre book a nice private room for a few nights as you rest, acclimatize and get used to your new surroundings. The same is true for those times when you are travelling when there is a religious festival or event and you know everywhere will be booked up, or you simply can’t avoid arriving in a new town or city really late at night. The last thing you want to be doing is wondering about a strange new place in the dark when most businesses are shut and not many people are about. Just do some research online before you leave your previous destination, find a place to stay and book one night somewhere. It doesn’t even have to be fancy. You can easily find somewhere else a day or two later if you like. The most important thing is that you have somewhere to go as soon as you arrive.  As well as the obvious safety applications this also gives you a lot of peace of mind, and that can be just as important as self confidence.

Always Let Someone Know Of Your Plans.

This seems a little antithetical to the idea of independent solo travel, but always make sure someone knows your plans and where you will be going. This doesn’t have to be an hour by hour itinerary account of course and you can still enjoy the spontenaity of independent travel, but just keep family or friends at home updated with your rough location, especially if you decide on a whim to change your plans and catch that ferry over to an island you had never planned on going to, or if you are going on a specific trek for the day or out on a specific experience, you can always let the staff at the hostel or front desk of the hotel know and what time you expect to be back. Remember, US Citizens can use the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to enroll your trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Take Advantage Of Gendered Transport Options.

In many countries across the world you will find that there are public transport options that are for women only. Generally these take the form of female only carriages or seat sections just for women on selected trains and buses, but these can be found right across Japan, Malaysia, India, Egypt, Brazil, Mexico and parts of Indonesia and the Philippines amongst many others. They are not universal however, some parts of each country may have them and some may not, and there are a whole range of social, legal, moral and ethical debates about their usefulness and existence in the first place that I will not get into here. But they are technically designed to stop harassment and make women feel safe on public transport, so where they are available – if you feel the need to use them and you have the option to do so – then it is not going to do you any harm. 

I really hope these simple tips and encouragement have eased your fears a little and given you the confidence to go backpacking around the world on your own terms, because it really is safe to do so! With reasonable common sense precautions you will reduce a lot of the already low amount of risk to your personal safety and security and have an amazing time. Backpacking the world will be one of the best times of your life, and you should not let simple fear of what may or may not happen stop you from discovering not only what is out there, but who you are as a person too.

So Go, Grabe Your Backpack And Get That Ticket! Explore. Dream. Discover!

Did you enjoy this article? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below or on my Facebook or Twitter pages and please feel free to share it with any or all of the social media buttons. If you want to get more great backpacking tips, advice and inspiration, please subscribe to updates via email in the box to your right.

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Covering everything from what you need to know before you go, how to stay safe on the road, how to deal with and avoid danger or difficult situations and what to do if something does go wrong, this consultation service is an absolute must for anyone about to embark on their first gap year or round the world adventure!

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Michael Huxley is a published author, professional adventurer and founder of the travel website, Bemused Backpacker. He has spent the last twenty years travelling to over 100 countries on almost every continent, slowly building Bemused Backpacker into a successful business after leaving a former career in emergency nursing and travel medicine, and continues to travel the world on numerous adventures every year.

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Posted in Travel Safety
153 comments on “Solo Female Backpacker Safety Tips.
  1. vickyinglis says:

    Great advice. Like you say, in general the places we visit are no less safe than home, for men as well as women, and a good deal of common sense and awareness of your surroundings will keep you out of harm’s way, just as you would do day-to-day at home.

    Confidence is another key thing. Most people that show interest in you will not have malicious intent, and instead be curious to find out about you, where you came from and what you think of their country. Don’t be too afraid or over cautious to speak to them and make friends as this could lead to some of your best travel experiences of your trip.

    • Thank you. You are absolutely right, in fact many of the places backpackers visit are actually a lot safer than many Western countries if you compare the crime rates. Great advice on not allowing fear to stop you from interacting with people too. Caution can be a good thing, but only if it doesn’t spill over into paranoia. Thank you for the comment.

  2. Globalmouse says:

    This is such a great post and one anyone considering going solo travelling for the first time should read. Some brilliant advice to help stay safe and really help with confidence – which I think is one the best ways to stay safe. (Love the wedding ring tip!!)

    • Thank you so much globalmouse, I really hope the article inspires confidence in potential solo travellers everywhere into feeling safe on their travels, because you are right that confidence is absolutely one of the best ways to stay safe.

  3. mimiadventures2013 says:

    Great post! So many myths and tales about women travelling on their own, which just aren’t true. You need a good head on you, you’ll need to do some things that seem strange but will keep you safe. I always wear a ring on my wedding finger now, I also if travelling in eastern countries, dye my hair (not permanent), as I have reddish hair which is strange to some cultures as is blonde. I wack on a dark brown semi permanent hair dye that lasts for about a month, just so I blend in a bit more and don’t draw attention to myself.
    Also If I am somewhere where I feel uncomfortable, I grab a local newspaper or magazine and just sit and “read” it, nothing shouts tourist more than someone reading something in English or reading a map but if your sat their reading something in their language, they’ll most likely pass you by 🙂

    • That’s a fantastic tip! I’ve never thought of that one. Newspaper or dyeing your hair! But you are right blending in and looking like someone who belongs will deflect a lot of attention away from you. Thank you for the comment and for the extra tips both are appreciated!

  4. DevisCarla says:

    Great article, traveling solo has a very different experience as compared to family traveling. Very well said that you should be sensitive to local customs. The tips are really helpful, thanks for sharing.

  5. alicesgapyearadventures says:

    I actually bought the book and it was really good and inspiring! Just like you said in the post it gave me so much confidence! I totally recommend it to any woman who is thinking of travelling!

  6. According to statistics and facts, males are the ones who are often killed during their travels.

    • Very true Raphael. The British Crime Survey (my first degree was in Criminology and I did my dissertation on gender differences and the fear of crime) states that young men are statistically more at risk of most types of violent assault, yet women have a much higher perceived fear of the crime. The exact same thing can be translated to this issue, where women’s perceived fear of what may happen is often far greater than the actual risk. Reasonable and sensible safety precautions should still always be taken of course, but that doesn’t mean that fear should turn into paranoia and stop women from travelling. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

  7. Marysia says:

    I have been bragging about it for ages. Common sense, common sense! Majority of places we visit are not more dangerous than home. Always pack your common sense with you and you will be fine!

  8. This is a great article, and after buying and reading your book I just wanted to say it was so reassuring for my own trip! I totally recommend it to anyone who is thinking of getting it. The section on scams to watch out for was super helpful, so thank you! Really glad I found your website!

  9. Hey I loved the post. Thanks for some great advices. I have a kind of a silly question though: Wouldn’t people wonder why you are wearing a wedding ring and not traveling with your husband? I have traveled a while, I know some dangers about traveling alone and the precautions you need to take. And also have found sometimes strange people that won’t take no for an answer. How can you manage a situation like that?

    • Hi Vane, thanks for the comment, I’m really glad you liked it. 🙂 It isn’t a silly question at all, so many women ask the same questions and worry about the same things, this is why I wrote this article and the books. In answer to your first question yes I’m sure some people may wonder that, but this isn’t about engaging people in conversation, the idea is to use it as a bit of camouflage to steer people you may not want to talk to away from you. If they ask, and you are comfortable telling them, then it is easy to say it is just a ring, but the majority of low level attention – such as men hitting on you for example – can be deflected by simple tricks like this. Most people will assume your husband is around somewhere and leave you be. For those people it doesn’t work on straight away a simple explanation or excuse such as ‘I’m meeting him’ or something similar will suffice. Now, when someone really doesn’t take no for an answer that is a whole different matter and you will need to know how to recognise, avoid and even deescalate increasing risk or even potentially violent situations, and that is something I wrote about extensively in the Gap Year Safety book. Feel free to email me on the contact page if you want more detailed information. 🙂

  10. Nera says:

    way back in 1992 I started backpacking. I was young, Sri Lankan – born, lived all my life where I was born, and studied here too – and doing something that South Asians (male or female) rarely did back then, and female south Asians certainly did not. Since then been many times to northern India, Myanmar, Europe, Kenya, Phillipines, Nepal, Luxanburg …loads. ALWAYS had good experiences. And unexpectedly i discovered that being – and looking every inch – a South Asian, actually helped a lot. Other travelers found me entertaining, locals found it highly interesting. So I’d say to young female South Asians ( I know by now a lot more do travel ) – get on the road! It may be a bit off our culture – but its great fun and very doable!

  11. Elena says:

    Wearing a wedding ring is a pretty good one, especialy in Muslim countries…

  12. himachal says:

    Travelling is the best thing for several people in whole of this world.I really hope the post inspires confidence in potential solo travellers everywhere into feeling safe on their travels.

  13. I think this is great advice for any type of female traveller not just backpackers. Its these types of posts that inspire (and reassure) people who may not have been confident enough to take the solo travel leap before.

    • Thank you Kate, and you are absolutely right. Backpacker or traveller, it doesn’t matter. I hope women are inspired and reassured by the article and the books too. 🙂 Solo travel can be amazing, and with the right knowledge and preparation, very safe too, regardless of gender. 🙂

  14. I hate it when bloggers write articles about the danger of certain places, and tell readers about their muggings and why they would never go to said place again. Most of these bloggers got mugged because they behaved stupidly. Like you said it just scares people off and doesn’t do anybody a favour. If you behave the right way you will find that locals will be nothing but friendly to you.

    • I know exactly what you mean. One person had one bad experience or got unlucky, so that inevitably means that everyone else who goes there will have the same experience, right? Some people just don’t think.

  15. Joanne Evans says:

    Excellent post! I will definitely keep coming back to your site as I plan my own trip!

  16. Adele says:

    Okay, good tips, but for a woman with two small children (not very small 6 and 9) who likes to travel the world, I think we might add a few more things.

    • Fair enough Adelle I don’t disagree that travelling with children brings extra challenges and logistical problems, but this article focuses on solo female travellers, not family travellers. What things would you add?

  17. Laura Patrick says:

    These are some amazing tips and I just wanted to say thank you so much for your excellent advice (and your patience) with all my questions on the consultation. You have really given me a huge boost of confidence. Thank you again. 🙂 Xo

  18. Dee Tanjutco says:

    Thank you so much for this!

  19. bumper says:

    Great read and great advice, really useful. Thank you.

  20. Rina says:

    Hi Michael, please name a few places that I can stay safely in khao San road for six days. Thank you

  21. Joanne says:

    These are so helpful! I have to admit I’m really nervous about the idea of travelling alone as a woman as I feel that women are definitely targeted more for most crimes. I’d love to have a consultation with you if that’s ok?

    • Of course it is Joanne, just fill in the form on the consultation page and we’ll get you set up with an appointment. And don’t worry, the truth is it is men who are statistically targeted far more often in the absolute majority of crimes, it is about learning how to reduce the risk to yourself as much as possible, and with the right knowledge and training you can definitely do that.

  22. Janet D says:

    I think many thefts on the road happen because travellers don’t conceal where their valuables are. I am always amazed
    at some of the seemingly stupid things I see. Common sense I guess is different for each of us.
    Keep up the great work!

    • I completely agree Betty. A lot of the time it isn’t stupidity but a sheer lack of awareness and complacency that causes the problem, but you are right in that putting everything on show, leaving your fancy laptop on the table while you go to get another coffee, carrying your expensive DSLR, go pro and drone case around with you, etc, all these things are Christmas to opportunistic thieves and put a massive neon target over your head.

  23. Josie says:

    Great info. Lucky me I discovered your site by chance and I’ve book-marked it for later!

  24. Alison says:

    Yes! This! It is so important to have expert safety tips (and great advice too by the way) but it is just as important not to be fearful. Thank you.

  25. Becki McDonald says:

    Thank you so much for this post. I am about to start my own solo trip and am SO nervous about it as well as being super excited, this has really helped calm my nerves a bit. Thank you xo

  26. Julie says:

    Such an excellent post, and so important for any woman wanting to travel the world.

  27. AlexB says:

    This is a must read for every female traveller, I love the way you aren’t scaremongering like some sites I have read, but are giving honest advice on being prepared, thank you. Xo

  28. Amelie says:

    Hi! Do you have any advice for what to do after a female is sexually assaulted while traveling alone (and not alone) in a place where police cannot be relied on for proper help and how to avoid stigma from peers about it (which is usually why numbers on sexual assault are wrong, because it’s something that’s so underreported)? I appreciate the safety tips, however, I have never seen a blog that advises people on what to do after this specific kind of incident, so thought I would ask.

    • Hi Amelie, thanks so much for the comment, I have replied to you in much more detail in an email so I hope that helps, but I do agree that it is a very important topic and that it should be discussed, I will definitely consider putting a post up. What do other people think? Is this something you would like to see?

  29. Laura Fitzpatrick says:

    I love your site and I love the honest advice you give for women travelling solo. Too many other sites go to extremes of either putting the fear of god into you or the ultra feminist every woman is a fearless, empowered baddass heroine who can conquer the world. I hate those two extremes and there needs to be so much more of a conversation like you are having with simple, honest advice. Seriously, thank you.

  30. Danielle says:

    Amazing advice and so helpful! Travel is definitely safe as long as you take the right precautions, its knowing what those precautions are that make the difference.

  31. Khaleesi says:

    Thanks for these tips, they have honestly given me a lot of reassurance for when I travel myself. I know it sounds daft as a lot of them are common sense and I would do these things at home like not getting (too) drunk and knowing how I can get home and stuff, I don’t know why I thought I wouldn’t do that abroad.

    • That’s the whole point Khaleesi (awesome handle) you wouldn’t in general. I know a lot of people let their guard down on holiday, they want to party, have fun, etc and that is absolutely fine you can absolutely still do that but just maintain the level of awareness and common sense you would have at home too.

  32. Lena Fischer says:

    Amazing post, I love how you give excellent tips and advice to make travellers safer but don’t push the fear that so many articles on this subject do.

  33. Claire Foster says:

    I have just ended a serious 7 year relationship (He was useless) so I’m planning a 6 month solo backpack of Europe next year and I’m very nervous to say the least! But I’m keen to just get out there and see what I am capable of! Thank you so much for this article was very helpful and made me feel much more confident about my decision.

    • Sorry to hear about the relationship ending Claire, but going travelling is a really good way to right your ship again. You have nothing at all to be worried about, I promise you. Get out there and have an amazing time!

  34. Leanne Woodful says:

    It is so good to read a post that is well balanced on the issue of female safety when travelling without all the hyperbole, because it is such an important topic. Good job!

  35. hanna says:

    Amazing post with some excellent tips, thank you.

  36. Breilyn says:

    Tips like this are so important for female travellers wherever they go. Thanks for sharing.

  37. Lisa says:

    Excellent tips and advice, I think it is so easy when you are travelling not to think of all the little things that would keep you safe like you would at home. Great reminders.

  38. Michelle Hannigan says:

    I think it is quite easy to say be confident, but quite another to actually be it. Other than that I do think these are great tips.

    • I absolutely agree it isn’t always easy, but that doesn’t make it impossible. And even if you don’t feel confident, sometimes just acting as if you are is enough to a) give you that little boost you need and b) make people think twice about messing with you.

  39. Kylie says:

    I have just discovered your site and am loving these tips. I’m planning my gap year at the moment for Asia and maybe Australia (haven’t quite decided yet) and am a little daunted. But thank you for all the helpful tips.

  40. Joanne Keegan says:

    You are so right that women shouldn’t be afraid of travelling the world, but a few precautions never hurt either! 😉

  41. Amanda Walker says:

    Love this post, I have read a lot of blogs on this issue (and I have to say you are the first guy to even talk about it) and I’m honestly not sure where I stand. I do think that women are in more danger when they travel simply because of the nature of predatory criminals, but then there is so much reinforcement of that fear, again mostly by women, too that it is hard to tell what is what sometimes. Regardless, I think this is an excellent post and your tips are spot on. Well done for bringing up such an important topic.

    • Thanks Amanda, I think it is a fascinating subject. I’m glad you enjoyed it and I absolutely see where you are coming from, there is a lot of fear and fearmongering that happens in this topic, with the actual facts getting lost along the way, so I tend to try and stick to the actual facts and statistics of the issue. Basically speaking fear is one thing, women in general are very fearful of crime, far more than they have to be. (This has been supported by decades of annual research in the British Crime Survey). But being afraid of something does not automatically mean it is actually dangerous. And that is where a lot of the mud comes into the picture. So many women counter my argument that it is not dangerous for women to travel with ‘well I’m afraid this might happen…’ Okay, I’m sorry but that doesn’t mean it will. Secondly you do have a point about the nature of predatory criminals. they seek out and actively target those they perceive as weaker, but that doesn’t automatically mean JUST women. Men are in fact much more likely to become victims of most other types of crime and all other types of violent crime other than sexual assault/rape. That one example where women are at more risk is a horrific crime, there is no denying that, and I think the sheer horror of that crime does skew peoples perceptions of being a victim, but chances are still very low (overall) of actually becoming one (statistically it is hundreds of victims out of millions of annual travellers according to official government/consulate data) I have all the sympathy in the world for those victims but that doesn’t mean the fear of the crime should be pushed out of proportion and constantly reinforced as you say. That is why I try and balance out that fear a little and give practical solutions to reducing individual risk factors for all travellers.

  42. Jo 0'Grady says:

    Great tips but more importantly a very thought provoking post. Thank you for writing this.

  43. Steph says:

    Love this! Such important information for all women travellers.

  44. Joanne says:

    I agree not making yourself stand out and paying attention to everyone around you is key to staying safe. Thank you for the great tips.

  45. Rebecca says:

    Such an important post. Women do face more risk when travelling and it is important that we all take steps to reduce that risk wherever we are.

  46. Kelly says:

    Love these tips, staying safe is such an important issue and I don’t think real advice gets enough attention beyond ‘it’s all so scary’.

  47. Rachel says:

    Excellent tips and ideas on staying safe. It’s a genuine concern of mine so thank you.

  48. Excellent article and really informative at the same time. I greatly appreciate what you write about and respect you for doing it.

  49. Charlotte says:

    This is such good advice, and I would add that confidence in and of itself is such an important thing so acting like you are confident even when you don’t feel it is absolutely spot on. Love it! Thank you.

  50. Olivia Brooks says:

    Agree with so, so much of this! Not sure about the wedding ring tip though.

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Hi, I'm Michael! I'm a former nurse turned published author and world travelling professional adventurer! I have spent over twenty years travelling over 100 countries and I want to inspire you to do the same! Want to know more about me? Just click here!

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