Founding contributor · Mumbai
Ananya Iyer
Spiti Valley Expert · Northeast Pioneer
Spiti Valley ExpertNortheast PioneerFounding 200
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About
I quit advertising in 2019 and have spent the last six years living out of two backpacks across India. Spiti is my one true love — three winters there now, two on a Royal Enfield I do not recommend renting. I write because the intel that kept me safe was buried in old TripAdvisor threads and women-only Facebook groups, and that is not a good system.
My specialty is the offbeat Indian itinerary: places where you can be the only woman on the bus and still come home with a story you want to tell. I have opinions about hostels, strong feelings about local SIM cards, and one very firm rule: never accept the first auto-rickshaw quote at a railway station.
Instagram: @ananya.offbeat
Cards by Ananya
Tokyo
Japan
Tokyo is one of the safest cities in the world for solo women — violent crime and harassment are genuinely rare, day or night.
Varanasi
India
Allow 3 full days minimum — Varanasi cannot be rushed and rushing makes you a better scam target.
Seoul
South Korea
Seoul is extremely safe for solo women — violent crime rates are among the lowest globally and CCTV coverage is extensive across the city.
Mumbai
India
Mumbai local trains have women-only coaches — use them; the general coaches during peak hour are not safe.
Kasol
India
Kasol is a tiny Parvati Valley village — the trek culture is real but the drug culture is equally real; know what you're walking into.
Dubai
UAE
Dubai is physically very safe for solo women — violent crime is exceptionally rare and tourist areas have a heavy, visible security presence.
Spiti Valley
India
Spiti is a remote Himalayan desert valley sitting at 3,800–4,500m altitude — altitude sickness is a real risk. Spend at least one night in Shimla or two nights in Manali before entering the valley.
Goa
India
Goa taxi union blocks Uber/Ola in most areas — use GoaMiles app (govt-backed, fixed fares).
Bangkok
Thailand
Bangkok is broadly safe for solo women during the day — the risks are scams rather than violence, so stay aware rather than fearful.
Paris
France
Pickpocketing is the real risk in Paris — it is extremely common around the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, and the Louvre. Wear a cross-body bag in front and keep your phone in a pocket, not your hand.
Hanoi
Vietnam
Hanoi is generally safe but requires active scam awareness — the most common are motorbike taxi overcharging, tampered taxi meters, and 'free walking tour' guides who route you through commission shops.
Rishikesh
India
Avoid Lakshman Jhula bridge after 9pm — groups of men, no police, zero lighting. Use Ram Jhula side instead.
Manali
India
Old Manali is for backpackers and café culture; New Manali has ATMs, pharmacies, and reliable transport.
Recent answers
Any local sisters in Spiti Valley right now? I'm doing my third winter there and have intel on which homestays are actually warm (literally and figuratively) in April. Happy to share over DM.
10 Apr19 helpful
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