Is Northeast India safe for solo female travel?

A very baffling ask

“Would you write a blog on ‘Is Northeast safe for women to travel?’”” My colleague asked me a couple of days back.

This came as a surprise to me. I asked, “But why do we need to do that?”

“Many people check for this information over the internet” came the response.

“Really?” I was surprised, baffled, and rather confused.

I kept wondering why? Why would people search the internet on whether North Eastern India is safe for women travellers? I could not even relate to the idea of how someone can think like that. Maybe because I have been there. Maybe because I have experienced the places and their cultures.

Solo female travel safety in Northeast India

I kept thinking about all the trips I have taken to the North East. Whether it’s the beautiful road journey to Tawang in Arunachal or the Cherry Blossom time in Meghalaya or spotting one horned rhinos in Kaziranga in Assam or enjoying the Hornbill festival in Nagaland. Not even for once did I or anyone in the group feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

An ecosystem run and nurtured by women

When I think of my travels to northeastern states, the last one being to Meghalaya, the first image that comes to my mind is of women running the businesses. At local shops, in the market, in the homestays, hotels almost everywhere. The ecosystem functions with women running small and large businesses.

I remember a particular time when one of my fellow travellers asked our driver – ‘Why do we see more women at work places than men?’

And the driver replied ‘Here it is like that, Madam’.

And to elaborate, he added that in this tribe, the Khasi tribe, they have a system where family property is inherited through women and they are the key decision makers of the house.

Not an easily relatable idea right? Maybe because we all have been systemed like that.

And it’s not only about the presence of women in the society or how they are able to roam freely, but much more than that.

A safe world for all to travel and live

Women safety and empowerment is engraved in their culture. They don’t find it weird or maybe don’t even think about it. There is respect and transparency.

And that’s where a ‘Safe World’ begins. A place where there is equality, a sense of freedom which is not given to you but it’s a part of you.

Travel safely to the Northeast….Just go!

So, when you travel as a solo woman to North East India, whether it’s to Sikkim, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram or any of the other states, don’t worry at all. Just go there, experience the culture, talk to locals, understand the tribes, enjoy the hospitality, show respect and feel the place.

And this is not just my experience in the North Eastern states of India. Our co-founder, Akanksha too had a similar experience on her solo trip to Meghalaya, and it was her third trip to the place!

As far as women safety while traveling solo is concerned, we need to be aware of it in all the places, be it in any part of the world. This is true even for men. Be conscious about what is happening around you, be aware of your surroundings and people, avoid late night travels, double check on every detail if you feel so. It doesn’t mean you can’t move freely, it just means that you are moving around responsibly.

To put it simply, you don’t need travel safety tips to visit the North East of India. It’s safe to travel there. But you need to be respectful and mindful.

If you still wonder about travel safety for women in Northeast India, let’s try to change that. Join us on our women group trips to experience the best of the North Eastern states with us. Join us on a women trip to Nagaland to experience the Hornbill festival, or visit the breathtaking waterfalls and living root bridges on our Meghalaya women group travel, or even the untouched beauty of Arunachal Pradesh on the women tour to Ziro Valley.

The options are endless!

This blog is originally written by Devanshi Batra. Busy creating itineraries for trips, coordinating with vendors and tour leads, Devenshi loves to make travel hassle-free and enjoyable for all. She’s currently managing Operations at F5 Escapes.

Want to know more about team F5? Get in touch.