What You Must Know

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Every thing it’s essential to know to be ready for solo feminine journey in Egypt – together with security ideas and journey recommendation.

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

Cairo particularly 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 yr.

Beneath, you’ll discover all my journey ideas for solo feminine travellers visiting Egypt for the primary time. Use the contents menu under to skip to the sections you want – and be happy to ask questions within the feedback.

Is Egypt Secure for Sole Feminine Travellers?

The brief reply is YES: total, Egypt is secure for solo feminine travellers. Nevertheless, there are some things to pay attention to, which I’ll define under.

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

Crime and Terrorism

Egypt’s crime price is typically reasonable, however crime nonetheless happens. Scams and pickpocketing are the commonest crimes in opposition to vacationers, however there have additionally been reviews 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

Because the Arab Spring in 2011, there was important political turmoil in Egypt. Protests and demonstrations happen throughout the nation and have change into violent occasionally. Keep away from any demonstrations and marches.

As of October 2024, the UK authorities’s International Journey Recommendation web site states “Terrorism is a danger throughout Egypt, notably 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 situations of terrorist assaults in recent times, and the authorities have elevated safety measures at vacationer websites and necessary journey checkpoints. At all times examine the newest state of affairs by way of your native authorities earlier than you journey.

There are some areas in Egypt the place the FCDO advises in opposition to all or “all however important” journey. Nevertheless, 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 depart me alone irrespective of what number of occasions I stated no.

This was notably rife in Giza, across the pyramids, since there are such a lot of vacationers visiting. We should look like “simple prey” to folks promoting souvenirs!

Folks adopted me for as much as twenty minutes making an attempt to get me to purchase one thing. There have been a number of males who did the identical making an attempt 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 the very best tactic to take care of this was to easily ignore them and maintain 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 Previous Cairo Bazaar, it is perhaps value reserving a tour. A information might help you keep away from harassment from distributors – and assist you haggle for a greater worth!

Undesirable consideration

As a solo feminine traveller, undesirable consideration from males was an occasional drawback. Fortunately, this was additionally fairly lighthearted more often than not – however I do know that harassment will be a problem. 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 plenty of 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 making an attempt to get me to fulfill up with them. I strongly suggest that you just say no to anybody who does this. Some extra ideas:

• Keep away from sharing your stay location on social media: submit your Instagram tales on the finish of the day.
• Don’t meet up with anybody you don’t know.
• Don’t enable 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 should you’re ever involved.
• Use respected suppliers for excursions and excursions.
  • Test opinions earlier than reserving. Get Your Information are my favorite place to seek out excursions as a result of the opinions 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 under no circumstances particular to Egypt, however the nation has a repute amongst travellers as a spot the place getting hit with a tummy bug is frequent.

The principle tip is to keep away from ingesting faucet water. Use bottled water to brush your tooth, keep away from domestically 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 evaluation for a 15% low cost.

The NHS suggest that you’ve got a Poliomyelitis and Tetanus vaccination for journey to Egypt. Should you stay within the UK you’ve in all probability already had these, however make an appointment together with your GP should you’re undecided.

What to Put on

I like to recommend loose-fitting, comfy clothes: costume in gentle layers to guard in opposition to the solar.

If you wish to keep away from attracting undesirable consideration, stick with lengthy attire/skirts and trousers and keep away from issues like scorching pants, cropped tops and really low necklines. Though a girl’s selection of clothes ought to by no means be an excuse for poor behaviour, the actual fact is that in some components of the world, sure clothes selections can entice the fallacious sort of consideration.

I primarily wore maxi attire and wide-leg cropped trousers, with sleeves that coated my shoulders (largely for cover from the solar). If I wore a vest, I teamed it with a free shirt or stored a shawl over my shoulders.

Cozy sneakers are a should for sightseeing, particularly on the historical websites. The bottom is uneven and sometimes sandy – and also you’ll be doing a whole lot of strolling. Closed-toe, comfy trainers or strolling sneakers are your finest wager. In cities, I wore my Converse trainers – in Sharm el Sheikh, flip flops and sandals had been positive.

Prime Tip: Cross-body luggage are often the most secure possibility. Think about an anti-theft bag made with slash-proof supplies – like those from Travelon.

Ideas for Solo Feminine Journey in Egypt

Get a Native SIM or eSIM

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

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 choose eSIMs: you possibly can obtain them to your telephone so there’s no want to alter SIM playing cards over. They’re often a bit costlier, however you possibly can 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 right away 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.

Be taught the native emergency numbers

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

Vacationer Police: 126
Police: 122
Ambulance: 123

Have good journey insurance coverage

I can’t stress sufficient the significance of journey insurance coverage. Should you encounter a problem – whether or not it’s a cancelled flight (fairly frequent 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. Should you do journey at night time, for instance on an in a single day bus, take additional care together with your belongings and keep away from being the final individual left on board.

Extra security ideas for feminine travellers

• Keep away from sharing your stay location on social media: submit your Instagram tales on the finish of the day.
• Don’t meet up with anybody you don’t know.
• Don’t enable 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 should you’re ever involved.
• Use respected suppliers for excursions and excursions.

READ MORE: How one can Defend 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 a little bit overwhelming. Uber is definitely extremely inexpensive and made it a lot simpler to navigate town.

You need to keep away from taking taxis alone, particularly at night time – Uber is a a lot safer possibility because of its built-in security options and site 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 possibly can rapidly share your location and journey standing should you’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 a little bit sketchy at night time. A couple of folks I’ve spoken to have stated the identical.

I don’t suppose Giza is especially harmful – nevertheless it felt a little bit extra run-down than different components of Cairo. It’s additionally a really touristy space, so all of the locals I encountered right here appeared to be making an attempt to promote me one thing – usually fairly aggressively.

I truly spend a number of nights in Giza with none incidents (aside from a man hitting on me in an unpleasantly “not-taking-no-for-an-answer” kind of approach). However should you’re new to solo journey or feeling nervous, I feel you would possibly discover the neighbourhood a little bit overwhelming.

E book 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. Nevertheless, should you’re nervous about visiting Egypt as a solo feminine traveller, reserving a number of excursions could make exploring simpler.

It’s rather a lot smoother to get round with a information and a driver, so you’ll doubtless see extra – and have a greater understanding of what you’re taking a look at. Plus, a information is often comfortable 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. Once they wouldn’t, my information all the time stepped in!

Test opinions and be sure to’re reserving a tour firm with an excellent repute – you desire a information who truly is aware of their stuff. Get Your Information has a number of female-guided excursions in Egypt – these had been good and I’d extremely suggest reserving one should you’re visiting Egypt as a solo feminine traveller:

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

I discovered the easiest way to deal with undesirable interactions (often males) and pushy salespeople was to say “no thanks” as soon as after which simply keep silent.

Numerous 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 depart me alone till I purchased one thing. See the above part on “Trouble and Harassment” for more information.

It went in opposition to all of my British politeness to ignore and maintain strolling, nevertheless it was the best strategy to keep away from being aggressively offered to!

E book in some downtime

Journey in Egypt will be demanding and overwhelming at occasions – while nonetheless being a whole lot of enjoyable. If in case you have time, I’d suggest reserving a few days at a pleasant resort or resort for some chill time. I liked 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 liked 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 lovely nation – filled with historical past, delusion, and surprise.

So please don’t let the above warnings put you off. I truthfully imagine that so long as you make wise selections, take the suitable precautions and use your frequent 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)
• Be taught 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
• E book excursions for the foremost points of interest (look out for excursions with feminine guides)
• Don’t have interaction with distributors simply to be well mannered. It’s not impolite to stroll away!

RELATED POST: Greatest Group Excursions for Solo Feminine Travellers

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 lovely landscapes.

Travelling in Egypt will 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 a little bit over-zealous.

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

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