Traveled to the Black Desert in Egypt with my brother. We paid an Egyptian guide a 600 Egyptian Pounds, which is a little more than $100 to take us on a 2-day/1-night trip around the desert. At night, he set up a fire and made us a simple vegetarian dinner (per request) and set up our sleeping bags and a wind barrier. Continue reading

Here I am all covered up in Doha, Qatar, relaxed after arriving at my destination.

In general, getting around is Qatar is tough when you don't have your own car. The only reliable means of travel is by taxi. But don't assume you can hail one on the street, because there are no sidewalks to speak of. Continue reading

I studied abroad in Morocco for three months in the spring of 2008, and had a wonderful time there. I recommend Morocco to anyone who can get there. Morocco is home to an interesting intersection of cultures - Arab Islam from the Middle East, French cafes and fashion styles, and music and dance influenced by Sub-Saharan Africa, to name a few. Continue reading

I visited Jordan in January 2006 for my birthday. It was a fantastic time to go - few tourists, cool but clear weather. I picked Jordan because of my love of historical sites, the older the better. I also wanted a holiday where I would hike all day and relax over great food and wine in the evening. Amman is a very modern city, and most modern cabs have honest meters and very helpful drivers. Continue reading

A trip to the holy city of Varanasi is a must when visiting India. It is one of the oldest and holiest places in the country and an experience like no other. Although the city can be extremely chaotic if you keep your wits about you women can travel safely, even alone. Sunrise and sunset must be seen from a boat on the Ganges. Continue reading

Despite the fact that Ghana is considered "Africa for beginners," it tends to be off the beaten track for most Africa-bound tourists. Ghana is extremely hot, so I recommend bringing light-weight clothes, but also realize that Ghanaians value dressing nicely and conservatively. You may not feel very comfortable in very short shorts or skirts, and it would possibly draw some unwanted attention from men (and even women). Continue reading

While working as an au pair in Turkey, my host-mom always sent the driver with me when I went into Istanbul - making me feel very over-protected. But on my last day in the country, I went there without the driver and finally understood that she'd wanted to protect me from male harassment. While the majority of Turkish men I met were kind and courteous, the unsavory ones often find tourists. Continue reading

I've heard many times, even from the most seasoned women travelers, that they have hesitations about traveling to Egypt. Worries about sanitation, the differences of how women are viewed and the most common concern, "what should I wear!"

I had the same apprehensions before my two week trip down the Nile, but I was not going to let it keep me from experiencing the historically and culturally enriching experience that traveling to Egypt is. Continue reading

If you're like me, Morocco and Egypt usually come to mind when thinking of exploring Northern Africa. But if you look just in-between Libya and Algeria you'll find another little gem worth discovering- Tunisia.

Known to most Europeans as a holiday beach destination, Tunisia has much more to offer than white sand beaches and deep blue Mediterranean waters. Continue reading