I’ve been solo traveling for 10 years. This country is the perfect destination for your first-time solo trip.

I’ve had the great pleasure of solo traveling for ten years, now having visited over 90 countries across all seven continents. As my page No Man Nomad continues to attract seasoned and curious solo travelers alike, one of my most frequently asked question is, “Which country is best for a first time solo trip?” While I have a soft spot for small towns in Italy and have yet to top the exhilarating thrill of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro alone, my first solo country still remains my top choice for newbies: Thailand.

Let’s rewind. My solo travel journey began in January 2016 with a trip to Hawaii. Hawaii felt like the “safest” option: same emergency number, same currency, same language, same country, but still an adventure to dip my toes into globetrotting alone. The verdict? I instantly fell in love and was scheming for my first international solo trip before I was on the plane headed home.

As I brainstormed for where my first “real” solo trip would be, all roads led to Thailand. At the time, Thailand had incredible backpacking culture, and as someone who had never stayed in a hostel before, I was excited at the prospect of meeting people with this newfound mindset I was developing. That two-week venture to Thailand was filled with more adventure than I could have imagined: I jumped into a 30-foot natural swimming pool in Chiang Mai, I got street food poisoning so bad I almost had to be hospitalized, I met a fellow New Yorker and went on a late night “Bourdain-inspired food tour” (which naturally ended with a bottle of “clear Thai whisky), and my love for solo travel further deepened.

The next ten years of my life led me to some great adventures: crashing a motorbike in the Philippines, scuba diving in places like Australia and the Maldives, and crossing the Drake Passage to make my way to Antarctica. However, I finally revisited Thailand, a place that fully changed the trajectory of my life, and I felt like I was that young backpacker all over again.

Thailand is an incredible place of stark contrasts. Dare I say, Thailand is the place that truly has it all. If you want a slice of peace and quiet, head to a Thai island for lazy days lounging in the sun. If you want a thrill, jump on the back of a motorbike in Bangkok and go to night markets like Chinatown or Soi Cowboy. You can eat like a queen in Thailand, with 43 restaurants throughout the country having earned Michelin stars. On the other hand, you can eat some of the world’s best street food. Tight on money? Thailand’s got you covered; some spicy noodles from a cart in Bangkok should never run you more than $5. If you want to ball on a budget, check out one of the city’s many luxurious five-star hotels, like the newly-opened KROMO Bangkok. Their infinity pool overlooking the skyline is not a bad touch.

If safety is a concern, while safety is entirely subjective to each’s own experience, know that Thailand is popular amongst solo travelers, especially women, for a reason. I walked around Bangkok shamelessly with my phone in hand donning a glittery outfit, which could naturally attract some unwanted attention, and no one seemed to care. Thailand is a place where expressing yourself is celebrated. So much so that LGBTQIA+ travelers shouldn’t fret here — the country is widely praised for being one of the most queer-friendly destinations in Asia.

So, if you want to book your first solo trip for 2026, look no further than Thailand for an experience that’s sure to change your life, hopefully on the same wavelength it changed mine ten years ago.