What You Have to Know

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Every thing you should know to be ready for solo feminine journey in Egypt – together with security suggestions and journey recommendation.

Egypt could be a little trickier to journey than many different countries- particularly if you happen to’re going alone. However it’s additionally a heat, fascinating, and unbelievable nation with a lot to find, and it ought to undoubtedly be on each traveller’s checklist.

Cairo specifically was overwhelming and chaotic – however great. And regardless of seeing a thousand photographs (and climbing them in Assassins Creed!), nothing ready me for the magic of seeing the pyramids in actual life.

I do know that travelling to Egypt solo can appear daunting. I’ve been travelling the world solo for over a decade, however I used to be nonetheless nervous earlier than visiting Egypt for the primary time this 12 months.

Under, you’ll discover all my journey suggestions for solo feminine travellers visiting Egypt for the primary time. Use the contents menu beneath to skip to the sections you want – and be at liberty to ask questions within the feedback.

Is Egypt Secure for Sole Feminine Travellers?

The quick reply is YES: total, Egypt is secure for solo feminine travellers. Nonetheless, there are some things to concentrate on, which I’ll define beneath.

Irrespective of which nation you’re visiting, my recommendation to all solo feminine travellers is to stay vigilant, apply widespread sense, and keep away from harmful conditions. I’ve included some extra particular Egypt solo journey suggestions later on this article to assist out.

Crime and Terrorism

Egypt’s crime charge is usually reasonable, however crime nonetheless happens. Scams and pickpocketing are the commonest crimes towards vacationers, however there have additionally been experiences of armed robberies, muggings, sexual assaults, and break-ins. Do not forget that these are the exception, not the norm: most travellers to Egypt don’t expertise any issues.

READ MORE: Tricks to Keep away from Being Robbed Whereas Travelling

For the reason that Arab Spring in 2011, there was vital political turmoil in Egypt. Protests and demonstrations happen throughout the nation and have change into violent now and again. Keep away from any demonstrations and marches.

As of October 2024, the UK authorities’s Overseas Journey Recommendation web site states “Terrorism is a danger throughout Egypt, significantly in North Sinai.” It’s value noting, nonetheless, that they are saying the identical factor concerning the USA, and that there’s “a excessive menace of terrorist assault globally”.

In Egypt, there have been cases of terrorist assaults lately, and the authorities have elevated safety measures at vacationer websites and necessary journey checkpoints. At all times verify the most recent scenario by way of your native authorities earlier than you journey.

There are some areas in Egypt the place the FCDO advises towards all or “all however important” journey. Nonetheless, these are very distant areas such because the Egypt-Libya border, the place vacationers are extremely unlikely to journey. Click on right here for extra particulars.

Trouble and Harassment

One of many main issues with travelling solo in Egypt that I skilled was trouble from distributors (and sometimes from males) – a lot of whom merely wouldn’t go away me alone regardless of what number of occasions I stated no.

This was significantly rife in Giza, across the pyramids, since there are such a lot of vacationers visiting. We should seem to be “straightforward prey” to individuals promoting souvenirs!

Folks adopted me for as much as twenty minutes attempting to get me to purchase one thing. There have been a number of males who did the identical attempting to get me to decide on them as my “Egyptian boyfriend”!

More often than not, these conversations had been lighthearted – however the relentless promoting/following/pestering did really feel aggressive at occasions. I discovered that one of the best tactic to cope with this was to easily ignore them and preserve strolling. It felt impolite, however I felt higher after my native information assured me it’s not.

Prime Tip: If you wish to go to a bazaar or market like Outdated Cairo Bazaar, it could be value reserving a tour. A information can assist you keep away from harassment from distributors – and aid you haggle for a greater value!

Undesirable consideration

As a solo feminine traveller, undesirable consideration from males was an occasional downside. Fortunately, this was additionally fairly lighthearted more often than not – however I do know that harassment might be a difficulty. Keep away from going to bars solo or strolling alone at night time: Uber from door to door is the best choice after darkish.

There have been quite a few sexual assaults reported to the British Embassy, mostly within the touristy Crimson Sea area and sometimes dedicated by somebody the sufferer had already met.

Once I was in Sharm el Sheikh, a number of guys messaged me on Instagram attempting to get me to fulfill up with them. I strongly advocate that you simply say no to anybody who does this. Some extra suggestions:

• Keep away from sharing your dwell location on social media: publish your Instagram tales on the finish of the day.
• Don’t meet up with anybody you don’t know.
• Don’t permit resort employees to enter your room whilst you’re alone.
• Keep away from travelling in taxis alone. Use Uber or activate location sharing by way of WhatsApp if you happen to’re ever involved.
• Use respected suppliers for excursions and excursions.
  • Test evaluations earlier than reserving. Get Your Information are my favorite place to search out excursions as a result of the evaluations are verified – search for excursions which have excessive rankings from over 100 reviewers.

Well being and Hygiene

Beware the “Pharoe’s Revenge” – aka “traveller’s diarrhoea“. That is in no way particular to Egypt, however the nation has a repute amongst travellers as a spot the place getting hit with a tummy bug is widespread.

The principle tip is to keep away from ingesting faucet water. Use bottled water to brush your enamel, keep away from regionally made ice cubes (most locations use secure, store-bought ice), and keep away from sliced fruit and salad leaves that may have been washed in faucet water.

Prime Tip: My Water-to-Go filter bottle was my BEST FRIEND on this journey – take a look at my assessment for a 15% low cost.

The NHS advocate that you’ve a Poliomyelitis and Tetanus vaccination for journey to Egypt. For those who dwell within the UK you’ve in all probability already had these, however make an appointment along with your GP if you happen to’re unsure.

What to Put on

I like to recommend loose-fitting, snug clothes: costume in mild layers to guard towards the solar.

If you wish to keep away from attracting undesirable consideration, persist with lengthy clothes/skirts and trousers and keep away from issues like scorching pants, cropped tops and really low necklines. Though a lady’s selection of clothes ought to by no means be an excuse for poor behaviour, the actual fact is that in some elements of the world, sure clothes decisions can appeal to the mistaken type of consideration.

I primarily wore maxi clothes and wide-leg cropped trousers, with sleeves that coated my shoulders (principally for defense from the solar). If I wore a vest, I teamed it with a unfastened shirt or saved a shawl over my shoulders.

Comfortable footwear are a should for sightseeing, particularly on the historical websites. The bottom is uneven and sometimes sandy – and also you’ll be doing quite a lot of strolling. Closed-toe, snug trainers or strolling footwear are your greatest guess. In cities, I wore my Converse trainers – in Sharm el Sheikh, flip flops and sandals had been effective.

Prime Tip: Cross-body baggage are normally the most secure possibility. Contemplate an anti-theft bag made with slash-proof supplies – like those from Travelon.

Suggestions for Solo Feminine Journey in Egypt

Get a Native SIM or eSIM

Get an area pre-paid SIM card or an eSIM so you may keep on-line whilst you’re in Egypt (helpful for on-line maps, translations, ordering Ubers, and so on).

The principle suppliers in Egypt are Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat and WE. You should buy a pre-paid SIM at most airports, together with Cairo and Hurghada. Orange’s Holidays plan begins from 200 EGP (roughly £3 / $4).

Personally, I desire eSIMs: you may obtain them to your cellphone so there’s no want to vary SIM playing cards over. They’re normally a bit dearer, however you may set it up earlier than you arrive in Egypt after which activate the sim as quickly as you land – so you may get on-line immediately with none faff!

Airalo: From £5.50 / $7 (1GB, 7 days). Use code EMILY9237 to get £2.50 off your first buy.
Nomad: From £4.50 / $6 (1GB, 7 days). Use code EMIL96SV to get 25% off your first buy.

Study the native emergency numbers

Memorise or save these in your cellphone, in case of an emergency.

Vacationer Police: 126
Police: 122
Ambulance: 123

Have good journey insurance coverage

I can not stress sufficient the significance of journey insurance coverage. For those who encounter a difficulty – whether or not it’s a cancelled flight (fairly widespread with Egypt’s inside airways) or a medical emergency – you need that coated.

I like to recommend Security Wing Journey Insurance coverage – they’ve insurance policies particularly for long-term travellers, digital nomads, and backpackers, and supply good cowl for extra adventurous varieties of journey.

Keep away from travelling at night time

Keep away from taking public transport at night time or strolling alone in metropolis/city centres after darkish. For those who do journey at night time, for instance on an in a single day bus, take further care along with your belongings and keep away from being the final particular person left on board.

Extra security suggestions for feminine travellers

• Keep away from sharing your dwell location on social media: publish your Instagram tales on the finish of the day.
• Don’t meet up with anybody you don’t know.
• Don’t permit resort employees to enter your room whilst you’re alone.
• Keep away from travelling in taxis alone. Use Uber or activate location sharing by way of WhatsApp if you happen to’re ever involved.
• Use respected suppliers for excursions and excursions.

READ MORE: Tips on how to Shield Your Valuables whereas Travelling

Use Uber to get round – particularly in Cairo

The general public transport system in Cairo is fairly first rate and really low-cost – however whilst a seasoned solo traveller, I discovered it just a little overwhelming. Uber is definitely extremely reasonably priced and made it a lot simpler to navigate the town.

You must keep away from taking taxis alone, particularly at night time – Uber is a a lot safer possibility due to its built-in security options and placement monitoring.

Prime Tip: Arrange Uber’s Security options prematurely. You possibly can arrange a PIN verification, change on security check-ins, and add a trusted contact with whom you may shortly share your location and journey standing if you happen to’re involved.

Don’t keep within the Giza space of Cairo

It was nice waking as much as a view of the pyramids, however the neighbourhood felt just a little sketchy at night time. Just a few individuals I’ve spoken to have stated the identical.

I don’t assume Giza is especially harmful – nevertheless it felt just a little extra run-down than different elements of Cairo. It’s additionally a really touristy space, so all of the locals I encountered right here gave the impression to be attempting to promote me one thing – typically fairly aggressively.

I truly spend a number of nights in Giza with none incidents (apart from a man hitting on me in an unpleasantly “not-taking-no-for-an-answer” type of manner). However if you happen to’re new to solo journey or feeling nervous, I feel you may discover the neighbourhood just a little overwhelming.

Ebook excursions – particularly for the pyramids and different historical websites

Normally, I’m an enormous fan of exploring alone. That’s what I did all through most of my journey – and I had a good time discovering the nation. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re nervous about visiting Egypt as a solo feminine traveller, reserving a number of excursions could make exploring simpler.

It’s loads smoother to get round with a information and a driver, so you’ll probably see extra – and have a greater understanding of what you’re taking a look at. Plus, a information is normally glad to take photographs of you (I’ve dozens of foolish poses with the Sphinx!)

Having a information was additionally nice as a result of the distributors at vacationer websites left me alone. After they wouldn’t, my information all the time stepped in!

Test evaluations and ensure you’re reserving a tour firm with a very good repute – you need a information who truly is aware of their stuff. Get Your Information has a number of female-guided excursions in Egypt – these had been sensible and I might extremely advocate reserving one if you happen to’re visiting Egypt as a solo feminine traveller:

Keep in mind: it’s not impolite to be a bit impolite!

I discovered one of the simplest ways to deal with undesirable interactions (normally males) and pushy salespeople was to say “no thanks” as soon as after which simply keep silent.

Loads of distributors prefer to ask questions like “the place are you from”, and when you’ve engaged, they have an inclination to not cease! My intuition was to reply simply to be well mannered – nevertheless it felt like as quickly as I engaged even within the slightest, they wouldn’t go away me alone till I purchased one thing. See the above part on “Trouble and Harassment” for more information.

It went towards all of my British politeness to ignore and preserve strolling, nevertheless it was the simplest approach to keep away from being aggressively bought to!

Ebook in some downtime

Journey in Egypt might be traumatic and overwhelming at occasions – while nonetheless being quite a lot of enjoyable. In case you have time, I’d advocate reserving a few days at a pleasant resort or resort for some chill time. I cherished my keep at Domina Coral Bay in Sharm el Sheikh.

Don’t be scared 💕

Whilst a seasoned solo traveller, I used to be nervous about heading to Egypt alone… however I cherished it.

The general public I met had been so heat and pleasant. Tourism has nonetheless nowhere close to recovered since Covid and lots of people I interacted with, particularly in vacationer companies, had been delighted to welcome me to their nation. And it truly is a ravishing nation – stuffed with historical past, fable, and surprise.

So please don’t let the above warnings put you off. I actually consider that so long as you make smart decisions, take the precise precautions and use your widespread sense, you have to be completely secure travelling solo in Egypt.

Fast Abstract: Egypt Solo Feminine Journey

• Get an area pre-paid SIM or eSIM (use my referral codes above for a reduction)
• Study the native emergency numbers
• Have good journey insurance coverage
• Use Uber to get round – particularly at night time – and wait inside till the automobile arrives.
• Don’t keep in Giza
• Ebook excursions for the main points of interest (look out for excursions with feminine guides)
• Don’t interact with distributors simply to be well mannered. It’s not impolite to stroll away!

As I’ve stated above: don’t let the warnings make you too nervous or put you off visiting Egypt. This can be a stunning nation with a lot fascinating historical past to uncover – to not point out scrumptious meals, a singular tradition, and beautiful landscapes.

Travelling in Egypt might be trickier than different nations. Town centres are chaotic, the general public transport is usually problematic (I had a number of trains cancelled), and the distributors at vacationer sights are sometimes greater than just a little over-zealous.

However on the entire, Egypt is secure for solo feminine travellers – so long as you utilize widespread sense, keep vigilant, take care, and keep away from harmful conditions!

Bought a query about solo feminine journey in Egypt? Scroll down to depart a remark and I’ll attempt to assist!