7 Great Weekend Getaways To Do Solo

While it can be scary at first, going on solo weekend getaways can be an eye-opening and rewarding experience that allows you to see different places in a new way.

Travelling with a large group of people can be a taxing. Activities, schedules, and accommodations all have to be agreed upon and planned ahead of time to make sure everyone is happy. Travelling alone, on the other hand, is a lot less complicated.

If you’re planning to go on a trip by yourself, check out the best places to travel alone below!

Weekend Getaways for Solo Travellers

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1) Chiang Mai, Thailand

Average travel time from Singapore: 3 h 5 min

What’s shiok: Beautiful ancient temples, breathtaking landscapes, markets and bazaars, exquisite Thai food, diverse nomad communities

Best solo-traveller activities

Volunteer at the Elephant Nature Park

For a memorable and rewarding experience, head on over to Elephant Nature Park, an elephant sanctuary and rescue centre. You can spend the whole day interacting with elephants. You’re not allowed to ride them though!

Visit Old City temples

Chiang Mai plays host to several ancient temples, with most of them located in Old City. Some must-see temples include Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Sri Suphan.

Buy some souvenirs at Bo Sang Handicraft Village

Located in San Kamphaeng, Bo Sang Handicraft Village is home to street-side shops and an umbrella factory where you can watch craftsmen and women create umbrellas from scratch.

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 Khao soi / CC BY-NC 2.0 / Axel Drainville

[/one_half][one_half_last] Must-Eats

If you’re looking to sample some delectable and authentic Thai meals, Chiang Mai’s got you covered. One of Chiang Mai’s culinary treasures is khao soi, which is basically a mix of soft and crispy noodles in curry cream soup. Other must-eats include the world-renowned pad thai (stir-fried noodles) and khao kha moo (braised pork leg served over rice with egg).

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Best areas to stay

Chiang Mai Old City – Old City is Chiang Mai’s most popular tourist area and is the city’s historical centre. Here, you’ll find the most popular tourist attractions as well as affordable hotels and restaurants.

Nimman Road – The trendy part of town, Nimman Road is where you’ll find a young and lively atmosphere as well as several shopping options and affordable hotels.

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar – For those looking to shop, the Night Bazaar area is a great place to stay at. As far as hotel accommodations go, this area has an eclectic selection of boutique and luxury hotels.

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Best Atas Hotel: The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai

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Best Budget Hotel: Doze Hostel

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2) Hanoi, Vietnam

Average travel time from Singapore: 3 h 25 min

What’s shiok: Delicious Vietnamese street food, historical sites and museums, vibrant nightlife

Best solo-traveller activities

Spend the night on Halong Bay Cruise

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, as such, is a must-see for all first-time visitors. For an unforgettable stay, book a room on Halong Bay Cruise.

Attend a cooking class

There are several cooking classes available in Hanoi. If you’re a fan of Vietnamese food and want to learn how to cook them up yourself, attending a Hanoi cooking class is your best bet.

Marvel at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

nother UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hanoi and is definitely a sight to behold.

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Must-eats in 

One of the best things about Vietnam is definitely its food. Hanoi’s most popular dishes include bun rieu cua (vermicelli soup with crab, tomatoes, pork, and tofu), banh cuon (steamed rice rolls), and banh goi (crispy dumplings).

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Bun Rieu Cua / Flickr / Thanh-Tung Nguyen

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Best areas to stay

Hanoi Old Quarter – Old Quarter is easily Hanoi’s most popular and lively area. It’s where all the action is, with a vibrant nightlife scene, affordable hotels, and great food choices.

West Lake – West Lake is Hanoi’s quieter part of town and is home to many expats. There are several restaurants to choose from as well as a few attractions and Buddhist temples.

Ba Dinh – If you want to still be close to the attractions of Hanoi without having to stay in busy Old Quarter, make a beeline for Ba Dinh. It’s a quieter area but with several tourist attractions to visit.

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Best Atas Hotel: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

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Best Budget Hotel: Luxury Backpackers Hotel

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3) Bali, Indonesia

Average travel time from Singapore: 2 h 40 min

What’s shiok: Beautiful beaches, affordable backpacker hostels, diverse nomad communities, delicious street food, vibrant nightlife

Best solo-traveller activities

Attend a yoga class and socialize

Bali is the premier location for yoga retreats, so what better way to spend your trip than to attend a yoga class? Participating in a yoga class is not only healthy, but also gives you the opportunity to socialize with other solo-travellers in the area.

Visit the Monkey Forest

Located in Ubud, the Monkey Forest is a popular area to see some wild monkeys. However, they can be very aggressive so don’t interact with them unless you have bananas!

Hang out at any of the beach clubs

There are several beach clubs in Bali for you to choose from. They’re a great place to meet some cool people, have some drinks, take a dip in the pool, and listen to some live music.

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Pisang Goreng / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 / Choo Yut Shing

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Must-Eats

Bali has a diverse mix of both luxurious and affordable eats. If you’re looking for more local flavours, head straight for the street food stalls and sample some pisang goreng (fried banana), sate ayam (barbecued chicken), and mie goreng (stir-fried noodles).

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Best areas to stay

Ubud – If you’re looking to get away from the crowds at Bali, escape to Ubud, Bali’s cultural centre. Here, you’ll find the best yoga retreats as well as a noticeably steadier and laid-back island vibe.

Seminyak – Seminyak is a great place to get a taste of Bali’s nightlife and offers a wide selection of mid-range to upscale hotel accommodations.

Canggu – Canggu is where all the surfer dudes convene and where you’ll find a much more relaxed atmosphere. There are several cafes, restaurants, hotels, and beaches to choose from.

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Best Atas Hotel: Soori Bali

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Best Budget Hotel: J Hotels Kuta

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4) Krabi, Thailand

Average travel time from Singapore: 1 h 45 min

What’s shiok: Stunning beaches, clear waters, several diving spots, lush jungles, several islands to explore

Best solo-traveller activities

Chill out on Railay Beach

Railay Beach is easily Krabi’s most beautiful and most visited beach. You’ll find fine white sand, amazing views of the sea, and fantastic limestone cliffs. If you’re up to it, you can go on a half-day rock-climbing tour!

Visit the Tiger Cave Temple

The Tiger Cave Temple located in Wat Tham Sua is one of Krabi’s natural wonders. Legend has it a tiger used to live there, thus the name. Be prepared to climb up the temple’s 1,237 steps to get a breathtaking view of the surrounding islands.

Go on an island-hopping tour

Krabi is home to so many beautiful islands, it would be a shame to not be able to visit them all. Go on the many island-hopping tours Krabi has to offer.

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Khao man kai / CC BY-NC 2.0 / Junko Matsuo

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Must-Eats

Krabi is a great place to sample some authentic Thai food such as som tam (green papaya salad), khao man kai (oiled chicken rice), and kanom jeen (Thai spaghetti).

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Best areas to stay

Railay – Only reachable by boat, Railay is something of a secluded peninsula featuring great beaches and a number of good resorts. Shopping, dining, and entertainment venues here have a very laid-back, Bohemian vibe.

Krabi Town – Krabi Town is a good place to stay for those on a shoestring budget. It’s the top destination for backpackers and offers visitors a quaint, provincial vibe.

Nopparat Thara – This area has a strong local feel and is generally very peaceful. There are a number of budget-friendly hotels, shops, and restaurants.

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Best Atas Hotel: Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

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Best Budget Hotel: Snoozz Hotel, Krabi

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5) Luang Prabang, Laos

Average travel time from Singapore: 3 h 10 min

What’s shiok: UNESCO World Heritage Site, Buddhist temples and monasteries, strong Laotian culture

Best solo-traveller activities

Visit the Elephant Village Sanctuary

The Elephant Village Sanctuary is a great place for you to get personal with one of the world’s most magnificent animals. Proceeds from your visit will help support the sanctuary and the people working there.

Visit the Pak Ou Caves

These caves are where locals burn incense and offer their prayers. There are two caves to visit: Tham Ting and Tham Theung which both serve as shrines dedicated to the river spirit and Buddha.

Participate in the alms giving ceremony

This daily Laotian tradition dates back to the 14th century and is a way for the locals to give alms to the monks. Bear in mind that there are a number of unspoken rules with regards to etiquette when attending the ceremony.

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Must-Eats

Luang Prabang has a rich culinary history and several traditional dishes still remain very popular to this day. Some must-eats in Luang Prabang include the ever-popular or lam (traditional stew), sou oa (seasoned fatty pork sausage), and khao piak (rice flour noodle soup).

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Best areas to stay

Old Town – Old Town is Luang Prabang’s most popular area and is where most tourists flock to as it’s close to a lot of the popular tourist attractions in the area. There are a number of boutique hotels available as well.

Mekong Riverfront – In this area, you’ll find a lot of affordable guesthouses to check in to. It offers a more peaceful atmosphere as opposed to Old Town.

Nam Khan Riverfront – Along the Nam Khan river, you’ll find an area catering to backpacking tourists with a number of bars, restaurants serving Western food, and a lot of cheap hostels.

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Best Atas Hotel: The Luang Say Residence

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Best Budget Hotel: Villa Deux Rivieres

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6) Yangon, Myanmar

Average travel time from Singapore: 3 h

What’s shiok: Stunning pagodas and temples, exquisite local dishes, relaxed vibes

Best solo-traveller activities

Visit all the amazing pagodas

Yangon is home to several beautiful pagodas and you’d be missing out if you didn’t get to visit at least a couple of them. The most popular ones are Shwedagon Pagoda, Sule Pagoda, Swal Taw Pagoda, and Chauk Htet Kyi Pagoda.

Spend the day at Bogyoke Park

Bogyoke Park is one of Yangon’s more popular areas and is a good place to just sit back and admire the surrounding greenery.

Sample some street food in Chinatown Yangon

Chinatown is one of Yangon’s busiest areas, especially at night when the food stalls start getting really busy. There’s a wide selection of affordable but tasty dishes.

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Mohinga / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Charles Haynes

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Must-Eats

The most popular dishes in Yangon include mohinga (rice noodle and fish soup), laphet thote (tea leaf salad), and kyay-oh (vermicelli soup with chicken or pork).

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Best areas to stay

Downtown Yangon – If you want to stay where all the action is, base yourself in Downtown Yangon where you’ll find an abundance of hotels, museums, pagodas, and other tourist attractions.

East Yangon – East Yangon is a relatively large area and there are a number of places to choose from. However, if you don’t want to stay in the city centre but still want to be close to some tourist attractions, East Yangon is the place to be.

South Yangon – South Yangon is the least busy of the three and is a relatively peaceful area. Sure, there are fewer things to see and do here, but you’ll still get to see St. Francis’ Catholic Church and the Mogaung pagoda.

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Best Atas Hotel: The Strand Yangon

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Best Budget Hotel: Scott @ 31st Street Hostel

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7) Siem Reap, Cambodia

Average travel time from Singapore to Siem Reap: 2 h 15 min

What’s shiok: Ancient temple ruins, exotic food, night markets, rich Cambodian culture

Best solo-traveller activities

Ride a hot air balloon

What better way to see Siem Reap than from above on a hot air balloon? Hopping on a hot air balloon during sunrise or sunset is an exquisite experience and much more relaxing than taking a loud helicopter ride.

Explore Angkor National Park

Here, you’ll be able to see Cambodia’s world-famous temples such as Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm as seen on Tomb Raider. It’s a good idea to join a guided tour or hire a vespa.

Take a pottery class

Teach yourself something new while you’re on vacation and take a pottery class in Siem Reap. The Khmer Ceramic Fine Arts Centre offers pottery classes to visitors.

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Must-Eats

There’s no shortage of exotic food in Siem Reap and your solo trip wouldn’t be complete if you didn’t get to try at least one of the following local delicacies: prahok (crushed, salted, and fermented fish paste), nom banh chok (Cambodia rice noodle), and chili fried insects! [/one_half_last]

Best areas to stay

Old French Quarter – If it’s your first time in Siem Reap, it’s best to stay at the Old French Quarter as it’s close to all the main tourist attractions and thoroughfares.

Wat Bo Road – Travelling on a budget? Stay at Wat Bo Road where you’ll find a nice selection of affordable hotel accommodations and eateries.

Old Market – Old Market is the best area to stay for those looking to get a taste of Siem Reap nightlife. This vibrant neighbourfood is also close to Angkor Wat and other notable parts of the city.

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Best Atas Hotel: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort

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Best Budget Hotel: Lub d Cambodia Siem Reap

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And that’s it! 7 rich and unique destinations that you can explore on your next solo weekend getaway. Where would you go first?