Plenty of our volunteers fly to India on their own, and many add a week of travel before or after their program, or head off alone for a weekend while they’re here. It’s natural to wonder whether that’s safe. Solo travelers, women included, explore India every day, and with good planning and sensible habits you can too. Check your own government’s travel advice before you go, then keep these tips in mind.
1. Tell us where you’re going
While you’re on your program, our team can be reached at any hour, and that includes weekends away. Before you set off, tell your coordinator where you’re going, how you’re getting there and where you’re staying. They can suggest reliable hotels, help you book trains and warn you about anything to watch out for. If you’d rather not plan at all, our weekend trips take care of transport, hotels and guides.
Traveling before or after your program? Leave your plans with someone at home and check in with them regularly.
2. You won’t be alone for long
You may arrive on your own, but you’ll share your accommodation with volunteers from all over the world, and most of them are just as keen to explore. Weekend plans tend to take shape over dinner. Traveling with others is safer and cheaper, and the friendships often last well beyond the trip. Even when you do go alone, people will strike up conversations everywhere: on trains, in cafes and at temples.
3. Arrive in daylight, with your first night booked
Try to reach a new town before dark, and book your first night’s accommodation before you set off, choosing somewhere with plenty of recent reviews. Many hostels have women-only dorms. At airports and big stations, use a prepaid taxi booth or a ride-hailing app rather than the drivers who approach you.
4. Choose your transport with care
Trains are the best way to cover long distances. Book a reserved seat or berth, lock and chain your bag on overnight journeys (a small padlock and chain cost little at any market), and keep your phone and passport on you. For long bus journeys, pick a well-reviewed operator. In cities, ride-hailing apps show the price up front and let you share your trip with a friend; in an auto-rickshaw, agree on the fare before you get in.
5. Dress to blend in, and keep valuables close
India is conservative, so cover your shoulders and knees, especially in small towns and at religious sites. A cotton kurta or salwar suit from a local market is cheap, cool and draws far less attention; see what to wear in India for more. Leave expensive jewelry at home, carry a copy of your passport and only the cash you need for the day, and keep your phone out of sight in crowds.
6. Be wary of strangers who are too helpful
Most people who offer help mean it, but a few, especially around stations and tourist sights, are after your money. Be suspicious if someone tells you your hotel has closed or burned down, insists on taking you to an “official” tourist office, or offers you a deal on gems to resell at home. Book directly with your hotel or through an app, and walk away politely. After dark, turn down invitations from people you have only just met, and stay with people you trust.
7. Be confident, and say no when you want to
Walk with purpose, even when you’re not sure where you’re going, and step into a shop or cafe to check your map. Expect people to stare and to ask for selfies, particularly away from the big cities. It is usually harmless curiosity, but you never have to agree: a smile and a firm “no” are enough. If anyone makes you uncomfortable, speak up loudly and move toward other people, especially women or families; bystanders usually step in. India’s emergency number is 112. For a woman’s perspective, read what it’s like to volunteer in India as a solo woman.
8. Learn a few words of Hindi
Your orientation covers everyday phrases, and they make a real difference: a greeting in Hindi earns smiles, and knowing your numbers helps when you’re agreeing on a fare. Download Hindi for offline use in Google Translate before you travel; its camera mode can read signs and menus for you.
Traveling alone in India is one of the most rewarding things you can do. You meet more people, notice more and come home more confident. For ideas on where to go, see our pick of places in India for solo travelers, and for everyday safety while you volunteer, our six safety tips. Want to talk a trip through? Email info@volunteeringindia.com.