Tell me about Egypt for a holiday

[BrimFire]

As a single female.
Although I’ve done plenty of back packer holidays, I do prefer easy first world holidays.
However the lure of sun and history means I do think I should do Egypt. I’ve been put off over the years by the tales of crowds, commercialisation, rubbish, hassle from the locals and the shits. However I don’t really know whats it’s like in 2026.

Is anywhere actually quite nice for an easy holiday ?

Please do not go on any horse or camel rides there, they are treated abhorrently.
If you look at Egypt Equine Aid, they do outreach and welfare. Beyond awful things happening there and no cruelty or welfare laws to stop it

Don't give them your tourism ££.

I went with my daughter one year. We definitely got hassled more than the times I’ve been with husband. However, it wasn’t that significant. Depends how young you are I think. We used to go for the diving and snorkelling and loved it.

I've been twice, but Cairo, Luxor, Nile etc. with no problems.
Or do you want a beach holiday ?

We went as two (blonde) females to Luxor. It was far from an easy holiday. We were pestered constantly, even in our hotel (by the male staff). Fascinating place to visit but exhausting. And at times quite intimidating as some of the local men became very aggressive when we said no or ignored them. I’ve travelled solo all over the world with very few problems but Egypt is not somewhere I would visit on my own.

I've been 3 times and have no desire to rush back.
Cairo as a child- very busy, hustle bustle but the museum, King tuts death mask, the pyramids, sphinx etc were amazing to see. Lots of touts around the pyramids though.

Sharm about 15yrs ago- All inclusive hotel. We scuba dive, so that was our main purpose that trip. We did go to the local town to wander about and there were absolutely no woman to be seen and it felt soulless. One highlight was a trip to Mt Sinai. We arrived in the earlier hours and walked up the mountain in time to see the sunrise. It was very moving. We weren't expecting there to be snow and ice up there! St Katherines monastery, the burning bush and the museum at the bottom were equally fascinating.

Luxor about 8yrs ago- The tombs and temples were amazing, but I hated stepping out of the hotel. It was very different going for a walk with my female friend compared to when our DH's came along. Men touting for taxis, horse rides, come into my shop etc etc. At any tourist site, people asking for 'baksheesh' which is essentially a tip for anything and everything- even when the person has not helped in anyway. We were buying towels in a shop, the woman was helpful, showed us the colours and sizes. She handed the towels to a man to ring up on the till and it was HIM that expected a tip- for using the till! Another time we got a taxi back from the tombs, but the driver decided we had to stop at his 'cousins' alabaster shop. He got extremely annoyed when we refused to get out of the taxi and have a look.

None of us were ever ill but I agree it felt exhausting and stressful leaving the hotel. I've always travelled independently, but its the one place that I'd consider a small bus tour to see the sites.

We were discussing Egypt yesterday. We went on our honeymoon, though a couple of decades ago, and I would never go back except on an organised, escorted tour. Even with legs, arms and head covered, and with my husband, I was hissed at often and groped on several occasions in Cairo (Luxor wasn’t as bad). The constant haggling for every bottle of water and having to pay baksheesh for everything was really dispiriting. The history is fascinating but it wasn’t a pleasant environment. I think the Red Sea is a completely different experience.

I went years ago and had an okay time but I've since found out how prevelant fgm is there - 3 out of 4 girls are cut. And that would stop me ever visiting again.

https://www.unicef.org/media/128176/file/FGM-Egypt-2021.pdf

Yeah, thanks everyone.
Sadly it seems to be much as I imagined.

Absolutely this.

And the horrible men who try and grab you / gawp at you. Why on earth would you want to go there? So many other nice places to go.

I went to Hurghada last September on my own. I did a mix of beach days and days out. I went on an amazing excursion to Luxor which has been on my bucket list forever and a couple of really good boat trips. The Luxor trip was a small group of six of us, we had a driver, a guide and an Egyptologist, it was so well organised and incredible value for money.
I had a fabulous time and would go to Egypt on my own again.
I found the Egyptians were nothing but friendly, welcoming and very respectful towards me. From the guy that helped me with my sun lounger and blew up my inflatable to the amazing Egyptologist in Luxor, everyone was lovely.

I didn’t enjoy it. Leery and pushy men and having my exit from a shop blocked until I bought something- no thanks.