10 Tips for Women Travelling Solo in Egypt

Egypt is a land of great mystery and wonder, attracting travellers since the times of the Pharaohs. Whether it’s visiting the legendary Pyramids of Giza or diving in the Red Sea or mosque-hopping in Islamic Cairo or even a pilgrimage to important religious sites – Egypt is a place people dream of visiting.

Women in particular have a unique set of challenges when travelling in Egypt, challenges that men do not face. But women can travel solo in Egypt. It just takes a few tricks and some street smarts to keep you safe and your travels relatively smooth.

Below are my top 10 tips for solo women when planning trips to Egypt:

1. Be aware of the ACTUAL dangers in Egypt. I’m not going to sugarcoat it and tell you Egypt is as safe as a quaint little town in the English Cotswolds. It’s not. There are some dangers – the white slave trade is prevalent in Egypt, foreign women have no rights or social standing of any kind, the Nile contains parasites (don’t swim in it), and sanitation standards are a big concern. So you have to be careful what you eat. Just do your homework and know the actual dangers.

2. Don’t go off with someone you just met. You aren’t on your home turf and you don’t speak the language, so use some caution and prudence in regards to people you don’t know. Don’t go down to the Cairo docks and hire a random felucca to sail you down the Nile. This is one common way tourists get into trouble. Don’t let cab drivers pick up extra people after they agreed to drive you somewhere. Overall, be extra cautious when going off somewhere with someone you just met. You can by all means engage in a conversation at a monument, but when they invite you to their cousin’s house for nescafe, play the odds and kindly decline.

3. Don’t be afraid. Besides ruining your trip through anxiety and worry; fear also attracts trouble. Be strong, be confident, don’t be a victim. 

4. Don’t smile at men or make eye contact with them. This is seen as an invitation to harass you. Walk confidently. Hold your head high, looking straight ahead; walking with an air of “Don’t mess with me". You’ll be amazed at how far this can get you in deterring unwanted male advances.

5. Walk with a purpose. Walk like you belong there and like you know where you’re going. Walk like this is YOUR street that you’ve walked a thousand times and YOU are the local. Don’t leisurely stroll. The Egyptian men are far more likely to harass a woman who’s strolling around, taking her time, than one who is walking with a purpose like she has a place to be. 

6. Protect your personal space. Keep men or kids on the street out of your personal space and always be conscious of who is near that personal bubble around you. This will help keep you from being physically harassed or touched in an uncomfortable or inappropriate way.

7. The 5 Star hotels are your haven. If you have a problem or need help; head for the nearest high-end hotel. The staff of this hotel are trained to provide excellent customer service and they are a great resource if you need help, have a question or need directions. 

9. Dress conservatively. Leave those short shorts and skimpy tank tops at home. Save the bikinis for by the pool. Egypt is a conservative culture so dress the part to both show respect and reduce unwanted attention. That doesn’t mean you can’t dress cute or have to wear a burqa; in fact the only burqas you’ll see in Egypt are worn by Saudi women. In Egypt, wear long pants and long sleeve shirts that cover your midriff and avoid plunging necklines.

10. Make friends with fellow solo travellers or groups of women travellers. They likely are going the same places you are and could make for great travel companions. And don’t forget to have fun! Egypt is a vibrant country filled with some of the coolest ancient ruins of any civilization.

Take time to be in awe of the incredible ancient tombs and monuments you will see. Travelling is inherently filled with bumps and potholes along the way. You are stepping outside of your comfort zone, into countries and cities where you are not a local and the culture may be widely different from yours.

If approached from a perspective of practical adventure, travelling in places like Egypt by yourself can be relatively safe and those travelling snaffus you do run into can be regarded as cultural experiences and great stories to share with your friends.

About the author: Genevieve Hathaway is a journalist, world traveller, alpinist, archaeologist and professional storyteller. You can follow Genevieve's travel adventures, advice and tips on her website ArchaeoAdventures and follow her work regarding women and alpinism on her women's climbing magazine, Alpine Athena.

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