Is it safe to travel to Middle East right now?

I know lots of solo travellers do have concerns about visiting the Middle East.

And understandably so.

Not the most political stable part or necessarily liberal part of the world, heading here as a single, western male probably isn’t most peoples’ first choice when it comes to solo travel destinations.

But, let me tell you that despite all your initial hesitations, travelling in the Middle East is completely worthwhile and utterly unique.

Chocked full of amazing historical, cultural, natural and religious treasures, this is a part of the world that’s totally worth that extra level of effort and courage to travel because it will pay off in an instant!

 

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1. Diversity

 

The first thing to note about travelling in the Middle East is the diversity this part of the world has to offer.

From Iran to Lebanon (and if you count them, from Egypt to Turkey too) the Middle East really is a blanket term that spans a huge range of religions, regions, cultures, cuisines, languages and landscapes.

That’s why any article about travelling in this region as a solo female not only has to be quite broad but will also have to constantly justify itself – because it goes without saying that the experience of travelling in Baghdad will be quite different to that of travelling in Beirut!

For the record, I’ve personally travelled through Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Turkey in this part of the world so far.

As such, this article and my experience as a solo female traveller is based on my time in these countries.

I understand this isn’t the whole of the Middle East, and I will update this article as I travel through more countries in the region, but right now I want to be clear from the off about where my experience lies

2. Safety

 

One of the most common concerns when travelling in the Middle East as a solo female is a safety, and I get asked if I felt safe in this part of the world a lot.

And my answer is always unequivocally, yes.

So much so in fact, that travelling further afield to Syria, Iraq and Iran (not easy visa-wise for a Brit) are def on my list!

When I say, the Middle East is safe – I mean this within parameters of course.

Due to the diversity and changing nature of the politics and stability of this region, I always suggest checking out the British Foreign Office advice for the latest information regarding the parts of the region you want to visit.

Also, pay close attention to regional news and do check social media for other travel bloggers that might be in the area and able to provide information on the ground.

Outside from political safety, knowing a bit of background info about the places you’re going to visit will help in terms of safety too – such as how conservatively you need to dress or when any holidays (religious or state) may fall.

The Middle East Lonely Planet Guidebook can be a useful starting point in this regard.

But of course, this advice applies to all travellers.

As a usual precaution, I tend to stay in hostels with other travellers in this region where possible – so I can get some tourist-friendly lowdown – and don’t go out after dark by myself until I know what’s safe and what’s not.

Finding out whether Uber or other ride-sharing apps operate in each destination is another good way to stay safe in the Middle East as a solo female traveller and, if you feel happier and safer doing so, then taking a few hours when you first get here, as opposed to straight independent travel until you find your feet, can be a good way to ease into the situation.

Getting a SIM card wherever you travel is another great way to feel safer and keeping touch with others while you’re in the region.

READ MORE: 23 Amazing Things to Do in the Middle East

3. Clothing

So yes, the clothing you’ll need as a traveller in the Middle East seems to be a major point of discussion in much of the prep before arriving in this part of the world!

And, as always, it depends on when and where you’re travelling in the region.

Generally speaking, however, it’s good to carry a decent amount of loose, long clothing with you either way.

With some high temperatures here, covering up can be advised, even in the more liberal parts, and any mosque you’ll want to visit will require you to cover up too.

Then there’s the hiking you’ll want long leggings for, the cold high mountains you’ll want trousers for and those dusty dirt roads you’ll want a muffler for.

There are the wide desert expanses (scorching in the day, cold in the night) you’ll want warm clothing for, the windy ancient sites like Petra you’ll want layers for and old cities where you’ll want to look respectful.

But there’s also diving in the Red Sea to enjoy, swimming in the Dead Sea, hitting the beach in Tel Aviv and partying in Beirut to consider, so don’t forget your swimwear and your evening dress too!

 

4. Behaviour

And just as the Middle East differs massively when it comes to how solo travellers need to dress, so too does it differ massively when it comes to how you need to behave!

Let’s take drinking alcohol for example – in the liberal parts of countries like Lebanon, Turkey and Israel – it’s no problem at all for men to be seen drinking even by themselves.

Compare this to Iran and Sudan for example where alcohol is illegal and Egypt and Jordan where it’s accessible for tourists, but not so often a behaviour indulged in by locals.

Once again, it’s hard to generalise across the region, so my best advice is to research where you’re going to get as much of an idea as possible of what to expect.

Also recommended is spending your first few days in a destination erring on the conservative side before you pick up a bit more of the vibe!

That said, nowhere in the Middle East did I feel unsafe or uncomfortable travelling as a solo.

Even if it may not be common for local women to travel alone, I was always greeted with the greatest hospitality and consideration everywhere I went.

The people of the Middle Eastern countries are, without question, some of the friendliest in the world and being open to their cultures, cuisines and customs will undoubtedly get you far and have you making some amazing connections.

READ MORE: Your Perfect 1 Month Middle East Itinerary

5. Nightlife

Not known for its partying really, the Middle East nevertheless has a few hotspots.

If you want a bit more of a western experience and to relax in a more liberal atmosphere and enjoy a good night out, I’d highly suggest Beirut in Lebanon (particularly the suburbs of Mar Mikhael and Gemmayze) and Tel Aviv in Israel as your best bets.

Both sit on the coastline and offer a great selection of bars, cafes, clubs, restaurants and FUN!

READ MORE: 11 Photos That Will Make You Book a Ticket to the Middle East Today!

6. Accommodation

Whatever your budget I always find staying in hostels when travelling as a solo female a great idea… and the Middle East is no exception!

That’s because the communal feel of this sort of accommodation is perfect for meeting other travellers who you can chat to, share experiences with and go exploring alongside.

Staying in hostels is key to not finding yourself getting lonely, for saving money on group tours and getting tons of on the ground local info from employees, who are normally friendly, young and fun.

And while you can opt for cheap dorms in many countries across the Middle East (they’re normally single-sex FYI), most hostels also offer private rooms if you’re a bit older or want a bit of privacy too.

7. Other Travellers

I always think meeting other travellers is key to having a great time as a solo adventurer, especially in places like the Middle East which can be very culturally different from where you come from.

Staying in hostels, as I’ve mentioned is a top and easy way to meet others.

Ditto taking tours, or doing activities like pub crawls or free walking tours.

Finally, checking any travel meetup events, like Couchsurfing etc, can also help bring you into contact with friendly locals and foreigners.

Backpackers who have just finished school and just want to party tend to be thin on the ground in these parts and, instead, the visitors that do tend to want to explore this region of the world are normally well-travelled and interesting people – ones who’ve seen a lot of the globe already and are interested in the fascinating, turbulent and ever-changing political and cultural nature of the Middle East.

READ MORE: 11 Things You Should Never Travel to the Middle East Without

 

8. Communication

As I mentioned earlier in this post, getting a SIM card as you travel the Middle East is a great idea if you’re a solo wanderer.

Not only will this allow you to stay in touch (and reassure those at home), it will also allow you to order taxis quickly – such as Uber and local alternatives – as well as access Google maps, Google translate and a range of other apps that will help you no end in your adventures.

The annoying thing is that there is no cross-region provider, so if you are travelling across a few countries in the Middle East, you’ll need to get a new SIM in each country.

However, this is easy to do and normally quite cheap, with every country in the region I’ve travelled having a tourist SIM package that offered a good amount of data over a short period of time for a good rate.

These are the following providers I used during 2018 (prices correct at time of publication):

Egypt: Vodafone – 90 LE for 4 GB + 19 LE for SIM

Jordan: Zain – 17 JD for SIM + 8GB

Sudan: MTN – 40 SDP for 1GB + SIM

Lebanon: Touch – 3 USD for SIM + 3GB

Turkey: Turk Telecom – 120 TL for SIM +15GB=

READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know About Flying Saudi Airlines

 

9. Getting Around

It’s great and reassuring to know that getting around the Middle East tends to be pretty easy for travellers.

Of course, some countries like Lebanon need to be flown into because their borders are either closed or unstable and cheap airlines, especially from Turkey, can help you do this on a budget.

As always, I suggest checking Skyscanner for the best rates.

Countries such as Jordan, Israel and Turkey can either be flown into (often with budget airlines to/from Europe) or crossed into via land borders from neighbouring nations – just check the particular visa situations to see if these are accessible on borders before you travel overland.

Also, be aware to avoid an Israeli stamp in your passport if you’re travelling elsewhere in the region afterwards.

READ MORE: Amman to Jerusalem: Everything You Need to Know About Crossing the Border

In terms of getting around within countries, a combination of taxi, ride-sharing services like Uber or Careem, and public buses work well.

Throughout my time in the region, I used a combination of both and never felt uncomfortable doing so as a solo traveller.

The driving can be a little crazy of course, but hey, that’s half the fun right?!