If you are planning to travel alone, which place or city should you choose first? In fact, no matter how you choose, one thing you should pay attention to is safety. Traveling can be full of problems, but you may have to rely on yourself at this time. Recommended routes
1. Silk Road
3 to 5 weeks
This Silk Road across Europe and Asia connects people who have witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations. Historical sites, marks of cultural exchanges and ethnic groups from the Western Regions with different customs. Modern means of transportation connect various sites on the Silk Road. Except for the difficulty of obtaining visas in Central Asia, traveling on the Silk Road has become convenient and safe.
Starting from Xi'an, we first went to the Shaanxi History Museum to hunt for treasures, then headed west to the Maijishan Grottoes in Gansu, which is famous for its exquisite statues, and then to the Lanzhou Gansu Provincial Museum for a refresher on the Silk Road special exhibition. Background knowledge.
Then you enter the Hexi Corridor, where you can go to Zhangye Grand Buddha Temple to see the largest indoor statue of the Reclining Buddha in Nirvana in Asia, as well as Danxia, ??which is loved by photography enthusiasts, and then go to Jiayuguan to appreciate the elegance of the Great Wall.
If you have sufficient physical strength, you can connect the hanging Great Wall, Jiayuguan Tower and the first pier of the Great Wall in one day of hiking. In Dunhuang, the last stop of the Hexi Corridor, you should set aside at least two days to admire the murals at Mogao Grottoes, ride camels at Mingsha Mountain, watch the sunrise at Yadan Devil City, or go to Yumen Pass and Xinyang Guan Siyou.
The next stop is Xinjiang. First, go to Hami to see Hami Palace and Hami King Tomb, which are neighbors. In the evening, go to Devil City to enjoy the setting sun. Then go to Turpan to admire the majestic and unique Sugong Pagoda, and then go to the two nearby well-preserved Silk Road ruins - Jiaohe Ancient City and Gaochang Ancient City.
Take the train to Korla, go to Tiemenguan to walk the Silk Road, and see the ruins of the Seven Star Buddha Temple. Then go to Kuqa to explore the heritage of the ancient Kucha Kingdom around the city: the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves and the ruins of the Subash Buddhist Temple. The fiery red mysterious Grand Canyon of the Tianshan Mountains is north of Kuqa. Continue west to reach the exotic Kashgar, stroll around the old city, and join in the fun at the Sunday Bazaar.
Take another day to set foot on the Pamir Plateau along the China-Pakistan Highway and visit Taxkorgan. During the epidemic, you can only visit here. After the epidemic, if you are still not satisfied, you can continue to cross the border along the Silk Road, take an international bus from Kashgar to Osh, Kyrgyzstan, spend a day visiting the old city and bazaar and then go there. The capital is Bishkek.
If you have enough time, you can spend 3 days walking around Lake Issyk-Kul, the second largest alpine lake in the world. The alpine canyons around Karakol on the east coast of the lake have excellent hiking routes.
Take a shuttle bus from Bishkek to Almaty, Kazakhstan, and reunite with the Scythian Golden Warriors in the museum.
Then take the night train to Shymkent and transit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. After visiting one or two museums and the Grand Bazaar, take the train to Samarkand and Bukhara, spending two days each to visit these two places. city, and finally to Khiva, the "museum city", walking through ancient castles, mausoleums and seminaries.
Dangers and troubles
1. When traveling in southern Xinjiang, return to the hotel as early as possible in the evening. When talking to others, do not comment on the other person’s religious beliefs, do not discuss ethnic relations, and do not violate local customs and taboos.
2. Most of the countries on the Silk Road believe in Islam, so you basically can’t eat pork along the way, and you have little chance of drinking wine. Remember, don't even mention the word "pig".
3. In Central Asian countries, police trouble still occasionally occurs. Don't carry too much cash with you to prevent your wallet from falling into the hands of thieves or the police. Prepare copies of your passport and valid visa in advance. If you are stopped by the police on the street, just show them. Writing down the names and badge numbers of police officers can act as a deterrent to them.
2. Travel around Southeast Asia
4 weeks
It is a wise choice to make Southeast Asia your first solo travel destination. The pace here is slow and the life is Convenience, tourism development is relatively mature.
This route includes beautiful natural scenery, ancient imperial ruins, colonial-style bustling cities, and endless aftertaste of delicious food. You don’t even need to buy a plane ticket to complete this “big trip on a small budget”.
With Vietnam as your first stop, you can take a train or bus directly from Nanning, Guangxi to Hanoi, and spend 2 days enjoying the old town and street food here.
After going to Halong Bay to enjoy "Guilin on the Sea", go south along the coastline to Hue to see the capital influenced by the architectural layout of the Forbidden City, and then to Hoi An Ancient City to experience the ancient Vietnamese style.
Then take a train to the seaside resort of Nha Trang. In addition to eating seafood and taking mud baths, there are several natural beaches around that are worth visiting. After a short stay in the romantic mountain town of Da Lat or Mui Ne, which is "half desert, half sea water", head to the bustling Ho Chi Minh City and feel the French style of the city amidst the roar of motorcycles.
Take a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, but it is recommended to spend more time at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap to appreciate the charm of this great monument.
Then it is easy to reach Bangkok, Thailand. After eating, drinking and spending money, we pass through the ancient capital of Ayutthaya and the ancient Lopburi and arrive at Sukhothai, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Siam. You can rent a bicycle to explore There are more than 70 temple ruins in the ancient city.
Continue to go north to Chiang Mai and look for the "small town story" sung by Teresa Teng. The surrounding Pai County, Mae Hong Son or Chiang Rai are all worth visiting. The mountain town of Mae Salong to the north of Chiang Rai is closely related to China Deep roots.
If time is limited, you can take a ferry from Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong to Huay Xay, Laos, and then take a slow boat on the Mekong River directly to Luang Prabang.
If you have enough time, return to Chiang Mai, transfer to Nong Khai via Khon Kaen, and take a bus from here to Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
After visiting the golden lotus-patterned Pagoda on the national emblem of Laos, head north and spend a few days in the beautiful Vang Vieng to experience the fun of rafting and cave hiking.
Afterwards, we will arrive in the leisurely Luang Prabang on the Mekong River, where we can admire the ancient temples and play in the nearby waterfalls. The donation at 6 a.m. will leave you amazed and moved. Finally, take the international bus from Luang Prabang back to Kunming to end the trip.
Practical information
1. When talking with local people, try to avoid offending each other. Respect the "sacred objects" in the other party's culture, such as the government, religion, royal family (Thailand), etc., and do not criticize or discuss them publicly. Sleeves above the elbows and trousers above the knees are safer dressing rules, especially when visiting religious areas.
2. There are a lot of courses for you to learn in Southeast Asia, such as cooking, going to temples to meditate, or learning Muay Thai. You can visit Pacific
Discovery, which offers a wide range of courses in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
3. Touring Southeast Asia by bicycle or motorcycle has become increasingly popular, and of course, you can combine cycling with taking public transportation. The main north-south road in Vietnam almost runs along the coastline, making it the first choice for cycling tours. It is also fashionable to rent a motorcycle for short sightseeing, but remember to inspect the vehicle and wear a helmet when renting, and always pay attention to safety.
3. Roaming the Balkan Peninsula
3 to 4 weeks
This route along the Adriatic coastline is not eye-catching, but The richness of its attractions is unparalleled - the crystal clear waters are dotted with small islands, and the mountains behind hide a dream world of peaks, caves, lakes and waterfalls.
In palaces, castles, churches and fortresses, the dramatic history of Eastern Europe is within reach.
Start in the small and lively country of Slovenia. Its charming capital, Ljubljana, is a walking tour with its castle, beautiful buildings and bridges, and excellent museums.
Then take a train to the pleasant town of Bled in the Julian Alps in the northwest and stay for 2 days. You can use it as a base camp to explore the surrounding mountainous areas.
Then drive into Croatia, first go to the inland Plitvice Lakes National Park, where you can enjoy dozens of strangely colored karst lakes, and then along the small seaside beaches of the Dalmatian coast. The town heads all the way south to Dubrovnik, where you'll find marble streets, Baroque buildings and spectacular city walls.
Then we entered Bosnia and Herzegovina. With limited time, we only went to Mostar to see the legendary old bridge and visit the multi-ethnic communities that had recovered from the Balkan War. Or explore the culturally diverse capital city of Sarajevo, and don’t miss the street corner that led to the outbreak of World War I and the Tunnel Museum, a relic of the Bosnian War.
Continue going south and reach Montenegro. The Bay of Kotor is surrounded by mountains and is dotted with charming towns. You can climb to the top of Kotor’s city walls and look out over the wonderful fjord, or enjoy the stunning beaches in Budva’s Old Town.
Although Perast is small, it has 16 churches and 17 palaces waiting for your visit. Arrive in Albania and after a short stop at the lakes and fortress of Shkodra, arrive in the lively and colorful capital Tirana.
Berat, which is listed on the World Heritage List in the south of the capital, has white Ottoman buildings that extend all the way to the hilltop castle and is known as the "City of a Thousand Windows."
Ohrid in southern Macedonia is worth your stay for two days to visit the majestic old town, solemn and beautiful churches, elegant rolling peaks and a 34-kilometer lakeshore overlooking Lake Ohrid. line of medieval castle.
After that, we entered Greece from Bitola and visited Meteora, famous for its rock monasteries, and Delphi, where the Temple of Apollo is located, two small UNESCO World Heritage cities. Then arrive in Athens.
Practical information
1. If you want to travel the entire journey, you need to apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa. Slovenia, Montenegro and Greece use the euro, while other countries use local currencies. ATMs that accept UnionPay cards are not common, but most merchants accept credit card payments, but it is still recommended to bring enough cash in euros or US dollars.
2. May to June and September to October are the best times to travel to Eastern Europe, when the weather and prices are very pleasant. In summer, hotel prices increase by as much as 50%. In winter, the climate is cold and some resort towns are inaccessible.
3. It is very convenient to travel in this area by long-distance bus. The transportation network between the above cities is developed and there are many trains. Trains can also be chosen as the main mode of transportation between some cities, but long-distance trains are prone to delays.
4. Trip to the Andes Mountains
6 to 8 weeks
The Andes Mountains have the most primitive purity and wilderness of nature, as well as the fusion of indigenous culture and colonial culture. The former glory of the Inca civilization - Machu Picchu - is just a brief moment in the history of human civilization. The ancient way of life continues in language, clothing, food and festivals.
There are many backpackers walking on this route. Don’t hesitate and join their team immediately.
Start your trip with fine Peruvian cuisine in Lima's restaurants, and check out its parks and museums. After adjusting for the jet lag, we set off to visit Pisco’s Bird Island, have fun in the desert of Ica, and then come to Nazca, where we took a small plane to see the mysterious Nazca Lines.
Continue south to trendy Arequipa, with its stunning monasteries, canyons and volcanoes.
Then take a long-distance bus to Cusco. This ancient Inca capital and its surrounding attractions are worth spending a week visiting.
Visit the Inca ruins, ancient salt fields and handicraft markets in the Sacred Valley, the colorful Rainbow Mountain and the incomparable Machu Picchu. If you have enough time and energy, take a 4-day Inca Trail Take a hike, which will give you a more unforgettable experience.
Say goodbye to Cusco and take a comfortable tourist bus to Puno, a small town on the edge of Lake Titicaca. After taking a boat trip to visit the floating islands made of reeds by the Uros people, take a bus Transit to Bolivia, stay in the lakeside town of Copacabana, which is much more comfortable than Puno, and visit the Islands of the Sun and the Islands of the Moon.
Then go to La Paz, a mountain town that uses cable cars as its daily means of transportation. It will open your eyes and the Witch Market will satisfy your shopping desires.
When everything is ready, immediately set off for the breathtakingly beautiful Salar de Uyuni!
After leaving the salt lake, you will enter the driest desert in the world - Chile San Pedro de Atacama’s magical landscape is worth spending two days exploring.
After that, fly to the capital Santiago, where you can visit museums, taste wine, and feast at food stalls in the market. Then go to the nearby port city of Valparaiso to experience the charm of this graffiti city.
Next, you can take a flight from Santiago to the isolated Easter Island in the Pacific to visit the mysterious giant stone statues; you can also choose to fly to the southernmost tip of the South American continent, in the magnificent Torres del Paine country Hike in the park to see penguins in Tierra del Fuego; or take an international coach to Mendoza to continue your trip to Argentina. Health & Fitness
When traveling, there are plenty of opportunities to laze by the pool or tuck into a delicious buffet. So staying in shape and healthy while traveling is no easy task. However, keeping an eye on your physical condition at all times can not only improve your awareness of safety precautions, but also help you take better measures when you are sick and unwell. Stay Balanced
It's okay to indulge a little bit when you're on vacation, but ditching your routine completely can make you sluggish, irritable, and tire easily—not a good symptom when you're traveling. If you don't eat more than usual during your trip, you're likely to drink more, so try to burn off more energy than usual through exercise. Use your hotel's gym, or if you don't have one, practice sit-ups, squats or yoga in your room, in the park or on the beach. If you're not a big fan of exercise, take advantage of other opportunities: Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or sign up for an activity like kayaking, hiking, or a group walking tour.
Traveling with medicines and buying medicines during the trip
You may have missed some medicines, or you may have run out of some medicines, then you need to go to a local pharmacy to buy them. You must not assume that this is as simple as buying medicine at home.
In some countries, especially developing countries, the instructions printed on the package and the instructions inside may be different. Don't buy medications overseas unless you absolutely have to. Remember to check the expiry date as expired medicine may not be effective or may cause side effects on the body.
If traveling with medications, remember to bring a letter from your doctor authorizing you to take them. Travelers need to check the local regulations at their destination to ensure that the drugs they bring can be entered legally. For example, the United Arab Emirates has restrictions on codeine, and you cannot bring the drug into the country without a prescription.
5 Habits to Maintain Good Hygiene While Traveling
1. Wash your hands as often as possible and keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your small backpack when soap and water are not available. case can be used.
2. If the tap water at your destination is not suitable for drinking, you should not use tap water to rinse your toothbrush.
3. Wear flip-flops in the public shower room. Doing this can prevent fungal infections such as tinea pedis. If you have open wounds on your feet, showering in flip-flops can also help prevent you from picking up other nasty germs.
4. If you are not sure whether the tableware provided by the restaurant is clean, you can choose disposable bamboo chopsticks or use your own camping spoon.
5. Drink more water to replenish water and maintain a healthy urinary tract - don't avoid drinking water because you are worried about not being able to find the toilet. Safety
Traveling alone means you need to be extra careful about safety. This is not to say that traveling alone is unsafe – in fact, traveling alone is often safer than traveling with a partner or group, which can easily lead to travelers letting their guard down. But when there is no one around to accompany you or no one to help you solve the problem in an emergency, you will know that it is necessary and worthwhile to understand the safety risks at your destination, which will help you to be more alert during your trip. , to avoid falling into danger.
20 Ways to Stay Safe
1. Make sure to send travel documents (including copies of your bank cards) to your own email and to friends or family at home. This makes it easy to get copies when needed.
2. Pack lightly and travel lightly, which makes it convenient to manage your luggage. Be wary of anyone offering to carry your bag - while most people mean it, some do have bad intentions.
3. Contact your family regularly so that they know where you are, what the situation is like at your destination, and whether they should be more vigilant.
4. Arrange to arrive at your destination during the day so you don’t have to look for accommodation at night. If this is not possible, arrange transportation to your accommodation or call a taxi.
5. Ask the accommodation staff to mark safe areas and dangerous areas on the map. They are likely to have first-hand knowledge on this issue.
6. Lock important things in a room safe or locker, and carry everyday valuables with you—but not in your back pocket or top of your backpack.
7. If you can’t lock your valuables away, hide them in your luggage – tampon boxes or condom packaging are great places to stash cash and credit cards.
8. Carry the business card of your accommodation when you go out, which should show the specific address of your accommodation in the local language.
9. Stay vigilant at all times. Drinking alcohol will make you lower your guard. If you must drink, don't drink from strangers and don't let your drink out of your sight.
10. It may make you happy to receive attention from others, but be wary of people or groups who try to make friends with you. In a foreign country, it is not easy to spot a liar.
11. Do not reveal your place of accommodation to strangers. Your place of stay should be your safe haven.
12. Wherever you go, have confidence - know where you are going and what you are going to do.
13. Be polite to strangers, but don’t ignore your own safety out of politeness – don’t be afraid to say no.
14. Don’t be too ostentatious – don’t wear expensive jewelry or show off your new camera. Plus, wearing hippie pants is a way of declaring that you’re an “innocent tourist.” Try to dress like a local (or a foreigner who lives and works there) to blend in more quickly.
15. Find out the transportation system of your destination in advance (safety, cost, how to use tickets, and main routes).
16. If you plan to go out at night, take a taxi back to your accommodation - don't risk walking back. If public transportation is risky, try to avoid taking it.
17. Keep contact points for your accommodation, travel insurance company, your country’s local consulate, and the main emergency contact number at your destination.
18. If you plan to have sex with someone you don't know well, tell someone you trust where you are going. Explain to your partner that you are doing this to protect your own personal safety.
19. It is better to withdraw small amounts of cash multiple times than to carry a lot of money with you. Keep some extra cash with you just in case.
20. If you're not sure where else you can be more vigilant, watch "Taken" again (again). Women's Safety
Unfortunately, in real life, women traveling alone tend to attract more unnecessary attention overseas than men traveling alone. Therefore, women need to take extra precautions while on the road.
1. Pay attention to local customs. In some countries and regions, women's social behavior and dress can lead local men to take aggressive actions.
2. Never admit that you are traveling alone. Pretending to meet your boyfriend or husband is a good excuse to get away from unwanted attention.
3. You can consider wearing a wedding ring (find out in advance which finger the wedding ring will be worn on where you are going). Some countries, including the United States, recommend that women traveling alone to the Middle East wear a wedding ring.
4. Women’s dormitories and women’s carriages are meant to give women more sense of security. You should seize these opportunities.
5. Be wary when using free accommodation programs like Couchsurfing. There have been reports of women being assaulted in such projects.
6. Consider bringing personal safety equipment such as a whistle, pepper spray or door alarm. Note that generally, pepper spray cannot be brought into the cabin as carry-on baggage. Carrying pepper spray may be illegal in some countries.
7. Consider installing an alarm or other personal safety app on your phone.
8. If you have been violated, know what your rights are as a victim. In some countries, including the United Arab Emirates, sex outside of marriage is considered akin to rape and is illegal, and simply calling the police can land you in jail.