Shweta SinghA Tangled life of a Solo Traveler
Fear, Freedom, and Everything in Between for a Woman
As the year 2025 approaches, a question I’ve been asked countless times still lingers:
“Is solo Traveling safe for women in India?”
Even after Traveling solo for almost a decade, this question unsettles me. And it always sends unsettling emotions in me. The fears. The risks. The stereotypes.
As much as the excitement is dancing over the roof, a hint of nervousness in my gut always gives me another level of anxiety.
My journey into solo travel began nearly ten years ago, and it has been a ride filled with experiences and learnings.
The First Leap – Bhutan and the Taste of Freedom
My first solo trip was to Bhutan, a country renowned for its serene landscapes and reputation as one of the safest places in the world. To say I was excited would be an understatement.
As a first-time solo traveller, I planned my itinerary detail by detail. The accommodations were taken from recommendations by friends and I chose to eat only at places with over 4 ratings. I kept up with the script until I set foot in Thimpu.
I was struck with the first breeze of the place. It felt like it had already started dictating my actions, so on my first Monday night in Thimphu, I made a silly decision to venture out into a local club, convinced that a quiet night out wouldn’t hurt. The place was nearly empty when I arrived, with just a performer singing and playing the guitar. I sat close to the stage, ordered a drink, and let myself relax. I was such naive.
Fifteen minutes later, a group of Spanish tourists walked in. Soon, we were chatting and sharing stories. It was my first interaction with strangers in a foreign land, and it felt exhilarating—until two local drunkards entered the bar.
Somehow, they understood that I was an odd man out. Soon, they started calling me out, which was insulting and intimidating. I felt a cold wave of fear wash over me, but before I could respond, one of the guys from the group I’d been talking to stepped in. He confronted the men, calming the situation. We left together, and they dropped me safely back at my hotel.
I spent the entire in disbelief, replaying the incident in my mind. I may have gotten a few panic attacks. Bhutan was my “safe” choice, but even here, my safety felt fragile.
Being a Woman Traveler
Society often treats women’s freedom as conditional. For a solo female traveler, every choice is scrutinized:
- Where to stay?
- What to wear?
- When to step out?
- Who to trust?
Our freedom comes with an asterisk, a set of invisible rules we must follow to stay safe. Even the joy of solo travel is often compromised by the constant vigilance required to survive.
We’re raised to believe that independence is the key to a fulfilling life. But no one tells us about the countless ways we’ll have to safeguard that independence.
My Lessons from the Road
Over time, solo travel taught me resilience. I learned to read situations, trust my instincts, and act quickly when needed.
One incident that tested my risk-absorbing capacity happened in Orissa. After a visit to Chilika Lake, I noticed a group of men following me. I felt their eyes on me as I walked, they even started following my cab.
This time, I wasn’t the naive Traveler I had been in Bhutan. I stayed calm and devised a plan. I asked my driver to take a different yet longer route into a crowded marketplace, passing through the chaos until I was certain I’d lost them. That evening, I reached my hotel safely, grateful for the skills I’d picked up along the way.
These experiences have made me stronger, but not everyone is as fortunate. The news is filled with stories of women Travelers facing horrific violence.
The Dark Side of Solo Travel
One incident that shook me to my core was the rape of a Brazilian tourist in India. Not long after, a doctor was assaulted in a hospital in Kolkata. These stories filled me with rage and grief. For a brief moment, I considered giving up solo travel altogether.
But then a thought struck me:
Why should I let fear dictate my life? Why should someone else’s actions rob me of my freedom?
These questions became my motivation to continue. Solo travel isn’t just about seeing new places—its about finding a new home at every place you visit, it’s about reclaiming your space in a world that often tries to shrink it.
Why I Travel Solo Despite the Risks
Traveling solo is not about seeking comfort. It’s about seeking something more.
- No matter how we perceive solo travelling, there is always an element of risk anyway. Regardless of your gender, country, or the time of the day.
- You don’t travel solo because you want to be comfortable. You travel solo because there is something out there, and it’s worth discovering what that is.
- You get to live different versions of yourself in the same life.
- The people you meet along the way who become your new family.
Yes, solo travel comes with risks. But so does staying in your comfort zone. For me, the risks of travelling are far outweighed by the rewards of freedom, growth, and discovery.
My Travel Manifestation
One thing I’ve learned from my travels is that courage is contagious. So, the one thing I want women to learn is breaking barriers and this is what I want to pass them.
People think that women are usually jealous of each other, but we care most about each other’s freedom. But do they ever wonder where these feelings comes from? More often than not, it stems from missed opportunities. It’s a reflection of the freedom someone else couldn’t claim for themselves.
The Power of Solo Travel
Solo travel has been my greatest teacher. It’s shown me parts of myself I never knew existed. It’s taught me:
- To adapt to unexpected challenges.
- To embrace the world with an open heart, even when it feels unkind.
- In my most recent travel to Goa – To be a good listener
These lessons have shaped me in ways no school or textbook ever could. They’ve given me a sense of liberation that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
The Question That Still Remains
As I continue my journey, one question still lingers in my mind:
“How can I make solo travel safer?”
The answer isn’t simple, and perhaps it never will be. But here’s what I do know:
Traveling solo isn’t about eliminating risk—it’s about choosing freedom despite the risks. It’s about stepping into the world with courage, knowing that what you’ll discover is worth it.
And for me, that discovery has been life-changing.
