Where would a solo female traveller be safest, out of these places...?

[Forgottenmyphone]

India - specifically Delhi and Jaipur
Marrakesh
Istanbul
Egypt - Cairo, Luxor and Aswan

Please help settle an argument! On the one hand, the female in question is a savvy, experienced traveller who won't be out drinking or clubbing, on the other hand she doesn't use Uber (prefers public transport or walking) and likes exploring!

Thanks

Also someone's experience 25 years ago isn't really up to date is it?

Not India

in india i had men trying to drag me down alleyways constantly. wouldnt go to any of those destinations.

istanbul is just full of scammers and people telling woman to only go out with husbands

I haven't been to Istanbul. I've been to all the others as either a solo female or with one other female friend/my sister.

India - as a PP said, I was stared at quite a bit but not harassed, I didn't feel in danger at any point. It felt more like I was a bit of an oddity or generally interesting as opposed to being a target!

Marrakech - definitely felt harassed but more for money/to try and get me to buy stuff than anything sexual or really aggressive. I don't think women were targeted more than men tbh. If the woman concerned is fairly confident she'd be fine I'd say. I'd recommend getting out of Marrakech though, it's a bit full on for more than 2 or 3 days - Essaouira is nice and much more chilled.

I hated Egypt despite being fascinated by the history and always having it on my list of dream destinations! The sexual harassment was awful - my friend and I were both groped, very obviously followed, catcalled, leered at and I even had a shopkeeper thrust his erection up against my thigh 🤮. Plus constant pestering to buy things, begging etc. It was a pretty miserable couple of weeks!

@Forgottenmyphone In my view Sri Lanka would be safer. I've been to Marrakech and lots of India. India was far more hassled than Morocco, and Sri Lanka significantly less than both. All travelling by public transport all the time, sightseeing, walking. India and Morocco as a lone female, Sri Lanka as single parent with young kids.
You/your friend look to enjoy similar countries to me and Sri Lanka is my favourite by far.

Thanks for all the replies. I've shown these to my DSis and it's made her reconsider her bucket list!

Completely agree with this (even though I detest Turkey) and IMO @Forgottenmyphone Sri Lanka would be preferable.
IME India is wonderful but not safe, especially for a woman; Egypt has improved but it's still er... misogynistic especially just wandering (Viator tours are awesome and help you explore safely).
Love Marrakech but only with DH - we obviously have great resting bitch faces as we once got through the souk without being approached by anyone! In a group of women you'd be okay, alone would be more exhausting.
You can do any of those places as a single female and stay safe BUT it can be really tiring just having to deal with the attention and being on your guard the whole time. To me that does not a holiday make

None of those are safe, but Istanbul maybe 🤔

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5166349-to-ask-which-country-you-would-not-visit-again-and-why?page=1

Have a read of the above thread - 1000 posts of anecdata to consider.

I went on a group tour to India - included Delhi and Jaipur. All ladies were strongly advised by our Indian guides to not go out alone at night.
They were right - one girl popped out to walk to a cash point and had a bad experience.

Having had wonderful experiences in most of these places, I'm glad my sister supported me in my decision to go, instead of trying to hold me back.

Yes, they can be dangerous. Yes, you can have bad experiences. But you can mitigate a lot of the risk by taking decent travel advice and being sensible - don't go out at night, etc.

And isn't that your sister's decision to make? It's a sorry state of affairs if we never travel anywhere through fear.

The thread a PP posted above is ridiculous - posters writing off entire countries due to one bad visit. Including such terrifying places as Wales and the US.
If you heeded the warnings of Mumsnet, you'd never go anywhere.

If you really want to help your sister, why not do some research on these places together, and help her plan the safest possible trip?

India is one of my favourite countries however you are likely to get stared at as a minimum. (I've been at holi before and been groped, as have many other women)

I say that only as a matter of fact, not to put anyone off going as it is the most amazing place. You can wear a fake wedding ring.

Istanbul never had any problems but only short visits and not sure about the other two...

That's really not a fair assessment. Many women in this thread and the one you mentioned have talked about getting sexually assaulted while visiting these countries. Should all of these women not be believed? Surely this counts as part of the research. Also, these countries have well documented histories of serious misogyny.

I don't have a sister, but if I did I would be happy to have one looking out for me the way the OP is.

I've been to all of those except Egypt and whilst I was with oh and still got harassed in all of them I would say Istanbul was the safest feeling. He was working and I went to a haman and shopping by myself and it was all fine.. Marakech we were harassed all of the time, India the level of poverty and begging etc was huge and very full on. Am experienced traveller who worked and travels round east Africa and I found it hard going.

I agree there were a couple of seemingly silly posts on that thread - however 1000 posts of 1000 women detailing their personal experiences which will not have been reported or recorded anywhere is significant.

We can each do what we want with those individual reports to see if it builds a picture to support each of our own decisions and tolerence / coping levels.

These womens experiences of sexual harrasment, threat and assault and posts are not 'ridiculous' - and should not be dismissed and ridiculed.

God none OP.

I personally experienced harassment in Egypt, Turkey and only know the stories about the others especially India...

"And others haven't had an issue in Istanbul myself included. It's way better than Egypt, India, and Morocco.

It's such a magical city. I love it."

It wasn't magical to me. Weird you have such an issue with that.

I was in Delhi on my own about 25 years ago and felt quite intimidated. Having done the backpacker bit with a friend I upgraded when I was alone. Nice hotel Connaught Square. Male staff member tried to open hotel door when I was inside (without knocking), men leered at me up as I walked (very modestly dressed) in that area (that area is "good") and I was ripped off trying to buy a good/safe train ticket for myself. I think you need to be very careful in India as a solo woman (peepholes in bedroom walls). I'd be very wary of hidden cameras nowadays.

I've no interest in the other countries mentioned. Much prefer Europe these days.

I’ve just come back from Marrakesh and it was awesome, tell her to go there and have a great time! I felt safe at all times even wondering about in the dark and on public transport. Morning in the square and markets seemed to be the worst for people trying to give you unwanted directions or take you on a tour. But easy enough to ignore them or say no thank you (some you needed to be quite firm with). Yes people in the shops will invite you in but again easy to say no or ignore.

The British man trying to manspread on the flight home was more of an issue than I experienced anywhere in Morocco.

I've only been to Egypt on that list and would not feel safe there on my own.

I came on here to suggest this.

Egypt is the only one I've been to and I was groped and harassed in several places, even with my husband and with body and head covered.

Yes, this. Sri Lanka is a much better option.

Of the four I would pick Istanbul though.

I went to India by my own, and had a couple of hairy incidents but it was an incredible time. Not on your list but I also went to Guatemala on my own and went far off the tourist trail but felt safe and had an amazing adventure.

I would be wary in all. Personal experience of India involved hotel staff trying to break into my room in the middle of the night. Terrifying experience and I would never , ever go alone. I was on a work trip so it was a nice hotel etc. nothing to do with that.

Istanbul out of all of those, would not be as concerned but would bring safety devices for hotel doors.

Yes absolutely. I've spent a lot of time in Sri Lanka and the only time I ever got any hassle was at a music festival which was over 90% young men.

The vast majority of people are lovely and civilised and it's a gorgeous country with lots to do and see.