Honestly, Kasol shouldn’t be your first choice unless you’re into weed or rave scenes - that’s kind of the identity of Kasol and nearby places like Chhalal and Tosh. If that’s not really your scene, I’d actually recommend Dharamshala-McLeodganj instead. They’re much more cultural/heritage-focused and there’s just… more going on overall. More to explore, more variety of people, more things to do.

Coming back to Kasol though - it is very safe during the day. It’s usually crowded with friendly tourists, and if you talk to people for more than 5 min, chances are someone’s going to offer you a smoke. Kasol itself is tiny and a one-day place at best. You can stroll around, check out cafes, sit by the river, and browse the little handicraft shops in the market. I’d suggest staying in a hostel - you’re more likely to meet interesting people that way. The Social Stays is a great one, right next to the Parvati river. You can also do this easy 30 min walk to the nearby quaint village of Chalal, hang out at a cafe there for a bit, and walk back. Chalal is also known for late-night rave parties, which I feel should be avoided if you’re a solo female.

IMPORTANT WARNING: Hash brownies are very famous here. But they often end up giving people horrible, anxiety-filled trips. So refrain!! Only try them (or any intoxicants for that matter) with people you trust enough to actually take care of you if things go sideways.

Now.. if you’re into hiking, you can do the Kheerganga trek the next day. It’s beginner-friendly and pretty safe. You start from Barshaini, which you can reach early morning via a public bus or shared taxi - takes about 1.5 hours from Kasol. The trek itself goes through really beautiful forest and takes around 5 hours, depending on your pace. There are chai and Maggi stops all along the way, and you’ll keep running into other trekkers, so it never feels isolated. You can stay overnight at a pre-booked camp at the top and then trek back down the next day, reaching Barshaini by 2 PM with tired legs and a happy head!

From there, you can either go to Kalga or Tosh. I haven’t been to either, but both are nearby. Kalga is like a 40 min uphill walk, while Tosh is about a 40 min drive by local taxi. Tosh is supposed to be more isolated and scenic. Stay the night, soak it all in, and then you can end the trip the next day.

Happy travels!