{"id":20567,"date":"2017-06-16T14:13:17","date_gmt":"2017-06-16T04:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures?p=20567&preview=true&preview_id=20567"},"modified":"2024-08-15T13:25:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T03:25:15","slug":"solo-female-travel-in-egypt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/solo-female-travel-in-egypt\/","title":{"rendered":"What it\u2019s really like to visit Egypt as a solo female traveller"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having traversed nearly 100 countries, many of them alone, I like to think I\u2019m a pretty fearless traveller. But I won\u2019t deny I was a little apprehensive about travelling to Egypt<\/a> on my own \u2013 the ongoing threat of terrorism in the region combined with Egypt\u2019s political instability and reputation for sexual harassment doesn\u2019t exactly inspire confidence in a lone female traveller.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But, Egypt! With its awe-inspiring ancient relics and endless opportunities for adventure and cultural immersion, it\u2019s the ultimate travel destination. And with visitor arrivals so low at the moment, I couldn\u2019t resist the opportunity to explore the sights without the crowds.<\/p>\n

So, off I went! Here\u2019s my advice for other solo ladies considering a trip.<\/p>\n

Come prepared\u2026for Egypt to challenge your perceptions<\/h3>\n

I was blown away by how incredibly welcomed I felt in Egypt \u2013 indeed, the first word most locals learn in English is \u201cwelcome,\u201d which you can expect to hear often. Travelling alone as a woman, however, is an unfathomable concept to most Egyptians, so you can expect to receive more attention than most women will be used to dealing with in their own country.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>While some of this attention will be unwelcome, most of it will be the opposite \u2013 as a lone female you\u2019re more likely to be befriended by Egypt\u2019s naturally hospitable locals, and you\u2019ll miss out on some memorable moments if you\u2019re too scared to speak to them or indulge requests for selfies.<\/p>\n

Egypt Experience<\/a><\/div>
12 days<\/span><\/div>
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Egypt Adventure<\/a><\/div>
8 days<\/span><\/div>
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Premium Egypt<\/a><\/div>
9 days<\/span><\/div>
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Consider taking a tour<\/h3>\n
\"Luxor<\/a>

Luxor Temple is exquisite at night.<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019ve met plenty of women who have travelled to Egypt independently and had a good time, but I felt more comfortable signing up for a small group tour<\/a><\/strong> taking in Cairo, Aswan and Luxor for the first part of my trip, then staying on for a few days in Luxor, and then in Cairo, on my own. This allowed me to ease into the destination in the comfort of a group before tackling it on my own.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: WHY A GROUP TOUR IN THE MIDDLE EAST WAS THE RIGHT DECISION FOR ME<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019d feel comfortable returning solo, but some women might find travelling here independently for the first time a little challenging, due to\u2026<\/p>\n

The hassle factor<\/h3>\n

Google \u2018Egyptian men\u2019, and you\u2019ll find plenty of online stories from women about their negative experiences with local men. And while sexual harassment and catcalls (ranging from \u201chello, my future wife!\u201d to more sleazy lines) are unfortunately common, as they are in many countries, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a far lower volume of unwanted attention than I expected.<\/p>\n

The most daring line used in an effort to lure me into a Luxor souvenir shop was \u201cshow me your beautiful eyes\u201d (I kept walking). As a tall, blonde, decidedly un-Egyptian-looking woman, I was bracing for more hassle in Cairo. To the contrary \u2013 \u00a0aside from a few curious stares, I didn\u2019t have any problems exploring the downtown area, where I stayed on my own. The streets buzzed with families into the wee hours, and I loved soaking up the atmosphere \u2013 and posing for a few family photos \u2013 as I strolled between kushari<\/em> (the national dish) restaurants, museums and galleries.<\/p>\n

\"Local<\/a>

Don’t leave Cairo without eating at one of its famous kushari restaurants.<\/p><\/div>\n

READ MORE: WHAT TRAVELLING THE WORLD SOLO HAS TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIFE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Getting around<\/h3>\n

I hired a driver in Luxor for an afternoon to explore the sights of the west bank that weren\u2019t included in my tour (don\u2019t miss Nefertari\u2019s tomb!), which was well worth the E\u00a3250 (about US$20) to avoid the hassle of negotiating with taxi drivers at each stop, and I recommend this option to other solos who aren\u2019t keen to fork out for expensive organised day trips.<\/p>\n

I also signed up for several excellent Urban Adventures<\/a><\/strong> in Cairo, and I don\u2019t feel like I could have explored Egypt\u2019s cosmopolitan capital in anywhere near as much depth, or as easily or comfortably, if I\u2019d opted to go it alone.<\/p>\n

\"Street<\/a>

The street art of downtown Cairo hints at the city’s troubled past.<\/p><\/div>\n

As for travelling between tourist areas, solo women may find it more comfortable to fly, which costs about the same as first-class train tickets (the safest option).<\/p>\n

CAIRO VS ALEXANDRIA: A GUIDE TO EGYPT’S TWO LARGEST CITIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Tips for solo women travellers to Egypt <\/a><\/h3>\n