Whenever you tell people that you are travelling alone, they are often flabbergasted as to why you would do such a thing. Even after attempting to convince them of all the merits of solo travel, the elephant in the room requires attention; it simply doesn’t sound safe!
As a woman from New Zealand, people often tell me that they would be weary of travelling to any country in Asia on their own as they would be fearful of not following local rules of safety which would mean finding themselves in an uncomfortable or downright dangerous position.
Though I have definitely had my share of bad experiences, I always stress that bad incidents can happen anywhere. And since you are wondering about Sri Lanka in particular, I’m here to tell you that it’s perfectly safe for to travel alone there.
Sri Lanka is safe for any traveller, including solo women
In general, Sri Lankan people are very friendly and are more than happy to help you out without making you feel uncomfortable. The country has been experiencing a surge of tourism recently which has made locals much more acceptive and receptive of foreigners.
You will not be treated any differently for travelling alone. Travelling alone in Sri Lanka is perfectly safe, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman. At least, that has been my experience. In fact, locals are almost always going to be smiling to you.
Everywhere you go you can expect to see other tourists, some travelling in pairs, others in groups, and others yet all by themselves. Meeting new people is incredibly easy, especially if you are staying in a hostel or visiting tourist-favorite spots like surfing beaches.
There are certainly some things you should look out for
Like with any other country in Asia, there are some things that you should be aware of while travelling in Sri Lanka. First of all, there is a major difference between touristy places and those populated almost entirely by locals.
In Colombo, you will be perfectly fine with showing a little skin and wearing a bikini at the beach. Outside of it, you may want to cover up your arms and legs and perhaps even wear a T-shirt on the beach, especially if there are no other tourists out and about.
This is even more important when you are near religious sites. The same goes for men but women are expected to dress very modestly so you should at least carry extra clothing with you, such as a long scarf.
Locals might stare but they mean no harm
If you are like me, a white woman travelling on her own, then you will most definitely experience some uncomfortable instances where men will be staring at you no matter what you are wearing.
It’s an unfortunate part of reality and there’s not much you can do about it. However, you should not mistake those stares for something sinister. A lot of those stares will simply be borne out of curiosity and they are not meant to make you uncomfortable or feel unsafe.
In addition to that, a lot of men might try to strike up conversations with you. In fact, I had a lot of people starting a conversation by asking me if I’m married! In those situations, simply refusing them or explaining that you are indeed married will be enough to make them back off.
Use your common sense and you’ll be fine
The dangers that you might experience in Sri Lanka as a solo traveller are not different than the dangers you may face anywhere else in the world, even in your home country.
Using some common sense is the best way to make sure that you will not be placed in any situations that might endanger you, just like you should be doing in any other place.
For instance, you should never keep too much cash on you or flaunt around your wallet, your phone should be kept safely out of sight, you should never walk the streets alone at night, and you should try to stay in groups whenever possible.
Sri Lanka can be a very fun experience for a lone traveller
If you love travelling alone, you will find a lot to appreciate about Sri Lanka. The hikes are breathtaking and there are always people around so the chances of you being lost are slim, at best. You may even make some new friends!
The beaches are also beautiful though you should only swim in safe areas as the currents in Sri Lanka can be unpredictable and you don’t want to be alone at any point as enticing as that might be.
Overall, if you follow your gut and your common sense, you will have a lot of fun in Sri Lanka!
