Solo Female Travel in Egypt has been my most rewarding and inspiring trip to date. Not only has it been my biggest adventure, but travelling the country solo has allowed me to fully absorb all the mind-blowing experiences it offers without any distractions.

Egypt is a place to which I feel a deep spiritual connection. It also inspired me to start this blog. I have now visited Egypt twice, each time solo, and I plan to return many more times as there is still much to see and do. However, the most frequently asked questions are regarding safety for females travelling solo in Egypt. Is Egypt safe for solo female travel?

Is Egypt safe for solo female travel or in general?

In all honesty, I felt more scared before going than I did whilst there. Fear is installed in you at the mere mention of solo female travel in Egypt. Nevertheless, despite the scaremongering received before my initial trip, I felt extremely safe in Egypt from the outset and not unnerved at all.

Egypt naturally saw a rapid decline in tourism following the 2011 revolution. It is, though (or certainly was pre-Covid) back on the rise.

Some scaremongering included the risks of terrorism. However, the reality is terrorism can happen anywhere. And, in any event, travelling solo is not going to make you any more or less vulnerable to acts of terrorism.

Egyptians are generally friendly and welcoming to tourists and keen to highlight the best side of their nation.

How about solo female travel in Egypt

With sufficient research and preparation, women can travel to most destinations alone. That said, it may not be wise to pick Egypt as your first solo travel experience if you’re not in the usual tourist areas such as Hurghada or Sharm. Due to language barriers and cultural differences, you may want to take the initial step elsewhere or, alternatively, join a group for the whole or part of your trip.

G Adventures offer numerous tours to Egypt. They also employ local guides, focus on sustainability, and keep tour sizes small. It is also a great way to meet other people, should you wish to.

How to Get Around Egypt as a Solo Traveller

Travel around Egypt is easy, whether by Uber, taxi, plane or train. There are also bus services between cities and towns. When flagging a taxi on the streets of the major cities, agree on a price first. Additionally, don’t be afraid to haggle, as the first price given can often be reduced. Note that number plates can be tricky to read when catching an Uber, but look for the number in the corner if you can’t read Arabic.

Public transport in Egypt is decent, domestic flights are good, and the trains are the same standard as in the UK. For longer journeys (e.g. Cairo to Aswan), take a sleeper train if you don’t want to fly. My preferred mode of transport is train and Uber/taxi. Which mode of transportation you take depends on time, but the train and car routes are more scenic and adventurous. Tour companies can also transit you between cities while stopping at tourist attractions.

I would suggest getting a SIM card if you do not have an international phone plan, as this will assist you in navigating cities and ordering Uber.

When it comes to valuables, take a common-sense approach. Don’t keep your phone and other expensive items on display, and have small notes and change easily accessible. I didn’t experience any problems with theft, but, it’s best to avoid unwanted attention. 

Naturally, dressing according to culture is not only respectful but, as mentioned above, avoids unwanted attention.

There are numerous hawkers around the main tourist attractions, and they can sometimes be persistent, but if you’re strong in your conviction and firm with your “no”, they’ll leave you alone.

See also Egypt Travel Tips and Useful Information for a handy quick reference guide. This document will further assist you in preparation for your Egypt trip and also provides details of tour companies which I used.

Reasons to visit Egypt

If the reasons aren’t already obvious, here’s a few:

• Because it’s spiritually rewarding and in this fast-paced and often immoral society, it is good to get back in touch with our true essence.

• Because it’s very affordable and it is possible to visit Egypt and have an outstanding, adventurous and varied trip without breaking the bank. Instead of leaving broke, you will feel more enriched by the Egypt experience.

• Because anyone interested in ancient history and culture has to visit the country that houses some of the oldest, most notable examples of human civilization and engineering, which is still unfathomable today.

• Because it has the only ancient wonder of the world still standing. How many times have you seen the pyramids depicted on TV, in books, on Youtube, souvenirs? No doubt, countless. Now it’s time to experience it first-hand. It will be a surreal experience!

• Because there is so much more to Egypt than the pyramids. Don’t get me wrong, the Pyramids are a must, but don’t leave out Abu Simbel, the Red Pyramid, Saqqara, the Nubian villages in Aswan, Luxor and scuba diving in the Red Sea.

• Because as well as marvelling at ancient wonders, you can also hit the beach. As fascinating as Egypt is, it can also be very tiring trying to cram in everything. If you want some downtime towards the end of your trip, check out one of the all-inclusive beach resorts at Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.

• Because although Egypt has been robbed of numerous artefacts, it still houses the largest museum dedicated to a single civilization. Between 1881 and 1952, the British ruled Egypt and took many antiquities and monuments. There are now more than 700,000 artefacts scattered around the world, as seen in places like The Louvre and the recent Tutankhamun exhibition at the Saatchi Museum in London.

• Because, quite possibly, this trip could be a life-changing experience.

• Because why would it not be on anyone’s travel bucket list?

In conclusion

Is Egypt safe for solo female travel? I’ve travelled to Egypt solo four times, and at the time of updating this post, I am planning my fourth trip, so I can confirm it most definitely is.

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