But solo backpacking trips for women are often accompanied by various anxieties and worries—fear of encountering bad people, fear of accidents, fear of not knowing how to handle unexpected travel situations, and so on. It’s natural to have some concerns, but as long as you stay clear-headed, remain aware of your surroundings, and master some basic travel essentials, solo budget traveling can become quite simple.
Gear
Don’t waste money on unnecessary gear!
Some girls think they need to buy all kinds of equipment before a trip—hiking shoes, backpacks, windbreakers, and so on. In reality, most of this “gear” is optional because it’s often not really necessary. If you’re climbing Mount Everest or crossing Hoh Xil, then professional gear is a must. But for ordinary travel—moving through towns and villages, even very remote areas—as long as you’re not doing extreme sports, there’s no need to buy that kind of equipment. A comfortable pair of travel shoes is enough to handle non-extreme, long-distance travel. The more remote the destination, the less you’ll actually walk. In fact, in remote areas, you rarely walk much because you usually rely on long-distance buses or trains to get around, and small towns and villages aren’t very big—you can walk to the end in no time. The time spent walking isn’t even as much as when traveling in a big city. As for backpacks, choose a medium to large-sized one. If it’s too big, the weight alone will be too much to bear. Carrying such a heavy load on your back while traveling can be quite depressing. One seasonal jacket is enough, or if you’re going somewhere a bit colder, a lightweight down jacket will suffice.
Luggage
Don’t try to move your “home” with you!
Women can be high-maintenance creatures, needing every kind of item, so when some girls decide to travel, they often pack a huge amount of luggage for no apparent reason—feeling they need to bring this and that, afraid something might happen if they don’t. In the end, they find the luggage is impossible to carry or simply overloaded. Girls with little travel experience should never overestimate their own strength. One female budget traveler, h’Hun, recalled her budget travels and said: “When I left, my bag weighed 20 jin (10 kg).Later, as I traveled north and the weather got colder, I ended up wearing more and more of my clothes, so by the time I reached the far north, most of the clothes were on my body, and the bag weighed about 15 jin (7.5 kg). Sounds light, right? But when a slim woman carries a 15 jin bag and hikes all day, it still feels heavy. That weight was within my tolerance, but the heavier it is, the harder it gets. As for women who think they can just set off with a 20–30 kg backpack, try carrying that bag around for a few hours first and see if you’d still want to take it on a long trip.”
For long-term travelers, the longer you travel, the less luggage you actually need. Over time, you’ll realize you don’t need as much stuff. Take clothes, for example—a thick coat (like a down jacket) is enough, just one, and you’ll usually wear it most of the time. For similar items like T-shirts, two are enough—one to wear, one to pack, so you always have a clean one ready after washing. Two pairs of pants are sufficient—one to wear, one to pack, such as jeans plus a lightweight quick-dry pair. Jeans are almost universally useful and can handle many situations. Also, bring some essential medications—just one pack of anti-inflammatory pills, one of cold medicine, a small packet of band-aids, and a few packets of anti-diarrhea pills. If you really get seriously ill, medication alone won’t help—you’ll need to go to a hospital. For women, the key to packing isn’t “what to bring,” but rather repeatedly checking “what you can leave behind”—if you can avoid bringing something, don’t. Don’t think you need to bring everything, or you’ll suffer terribly on the road.
Accommodation
Stay in a single room whenever possible!
For solo travelers, youth hostels are a great choice—not only are they cost-effective, but they also make it easy to meet others, share rides, and usually offer hot showers and clean beds. But if your destination has no hostels and you’re stuck with cheap guesthouses, then a sleeping bag liner is especially important. It’s not for warmth, but for cleanliness. The sheets and blankets in some low-cost guesthouses may not have been washed in ages. The dirt and odor are one thing, but the risk of picking up some kind of skin disease is another—so a sleeping bag liner is essential. If you’re worried about weight, get a lightweight one—around 500–600g, which is also quite affordable. You can find them online for around 20–30 yuan. If you’re staying only in international hostels, you can generally skip the liner, as the beds there are usually clean.
When traveling, safety is paramount for women, especially when staying in non-hostel guesthouses. Solo female travelers should try to book single rooms and avoid sharing with strangers. You never know who the other person is—if they steal your valuables while you sleep and disappear, no one will be held responsible. This isn’t about having serious trust issues, but just a gentle reminder: at night, use something heavy like your backpack or a stool to block the door and windows.
Money
Don’t carry too much cash in your wallet!
Every trip comes with a budget, but don’t keep most of your travel funds in cash in your wallet. The simplest approach is to carry a bank card and withdraw enough money locally when needed. For instance, if you estimate your expenses for the next day won’t exceed 100 yuan, then just put 100 yuan in your wallet. For budget travel, money tends to be spent slowly, so one withdrawal can last several days. And if your wallet is lost, stolen, or robbed, you’ll only lose around 100 yuan.
Other bank cards, ID documents, or extra cash can be hidden close to your body—for example, by sewing a small hidden pocket inside your clothes, just big enough to hold a card. This way, it’s not obvious and can store important items. If you’re sharing a room with strangers, secretly stash all your valuable and important belongings in this pocket and keep it fastened for safety. Of course, using an invisible waist wallet works just as well.
Tips
Travel Tips for Women
Women are more vulnerable to harm while traveling, and when traveling solo, it’s crucial to know how to protect yourself. Here are some personal safety tips for women:
1. Avoid arriving at a new place late at night. If you can’t avoid it, make sure to book your accommodation for the first night in advance.
2. Wear a ring similar to a wedding band to help avoid unwanted attention from men. The best response to annoying advances is a polite but firm refusal.
3. When registering, write only your surname, without adding titles like “Ms.,” “Miss,” or “Mrs.”
4. If you need to take a night train or boat, choose the upper bunk if you’re not in a hard seat section.
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