Some countries have bad reputations as holiday destinations for solo female travellers.
Are they deserved?
One adventurer posted a video that sheds some light on what they’re really like to visit for women on their own.
For the clip, author and content creator Sabina Trojanova (@girlvsglobe) rated countries she was told not to visit as a solo female traveller, giving them a mark out of 10 based on how safe she felt while there.
Here are the 31-year-old’s verdicts and her recommendations for what to do while there.
‘India is a country that sadly struggles with high rates of violence towards women,’ Sabina explains to MailOnline. ‘Despite having a positive experience myself, these statistics are something I reflected in my rating.’
She adds: ‘I have just returned from my second trip to India and I thoroughly recommend the state of Kerala as a slightly less hectic introduction to the country.’
Sabina Trojanova (pictured above) has given safety ratings out of 10 for countries she was told not to visit as a solo female traveller, based on how safe she felt while travelling there. She’s photographed above in Kyrgyzstan, where she enjoyed a three-day horse-riding trip
Sabina recommends visiting Kerala in India (pictured above) as it offers a ‘less hectic introduction to the country’
Guatemala – 8/10
In Guatemala, Sabina – who has visited 66 countries – recommends hiking Volcan de Fuego, an active stratovolcano. She describes the hike as ‘physically challenging’ but with ‘spectacular views’.
Palestine – 8/10
Sabina, who visited the West Bank, explains: ‘I had a wonderful experience in Palestine but lowered my score due to general safety concerns stemming from the Israeli occupation.’
Sabina rated Palestine 8/10 for safety. She’s pictured above in Nablus in the West Bank, which she describes as one of her ‘favourite’ places
Sabina reveals: ‘I had a wonderful experience in Palestine, but lowered my score due to general safety concerns stemming from the Israeli occupation.’ In the two images above she’s pictured in Nablus, which she describes as one of her ‘favourite places’
She tells MailOnline Travel she recommends visiting Nablus, an ancient city in the West Bank, as ‘it’s the original home of knafeh [a spun pastry dessert] and one of my favourite places in the world’.
Kyrgyzstan – 7/10
‘If you are serious about getting “off the beaten path”, this is the place to do it,’ the experienced traveller declares.
‘Kyrgyzstan only has limited tourism infrastructure, which makes for a true adventure trip. I went on a three-day horse trip to Song-Kul, a remote freshwater lake nestled among the mountains and it was a truly unforgettable trip.’
The travel expert enjoyed hiking Volcan de Fuego (pictured above), an active stratovolcano in Guatemala
Mexico – 8/10
Sabina, who is based in London, can’t choose just one recommendation for Mexico, saying: ‘There is so much to do in Mexico, that it’s impossible to choose just one activity!
‘My main suggestion would be to swap out the obvious and highly commercialised Yucatan Peninsula for less touristy places.’
Albania – 9/10
Sabina explains that Gjirokaster in Albania (pictured above) is an ‘excellent choice’ for ‘history lovers’
The solo traveller says: ‘A true European gem for adventure travellers! It’s difficult to choose just one place but Gjirokaster and Berat are both excellent choices for history lovers.’
Gjirokaster and Berat are both historic cities that have been awarded Unesco status.
Kosovo – 7/10
Sabina explains: ‘Kosovo is a small country (whose “country” status is still disputed) and you can easily see it in a few days. That makes it perfect for shorter breaks from the UK.’
How does Sabina reach her ratings?
She explains: ‘My ratings are a mix of subjective experiences from my travels and broader safety trends in each country.
‘It is never my intention to promote a rose-tinted view of foreign countries or ignore their darker realities.
‘But I also find the narrative that travelling abroad as a woman is dangerous – a narrative pushed heavily by certain segments of society – incredibly problematic. The sad truth is that existing as a woman anywhere is dangerous.
‘In the UK, a woman is killed by a man every three days. In a 2021 survey of 1,000 women living in the UK, 97 per cent of participants reported being harassed or assaulted. With that said, some countries are considered less safe for women than others.’
Would she give anywhere a perfect 10?
No. The experienced traveller reveals: ‘In my view, such a score is not possible in today’s world.’
Would she recommend visiting each of the destinations as a solo woman traveller?
Sabina near Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan (7/10). The adventurer, who’s visited 66 countries, wants to show women ‘that solo travel is not something to be afraid of’
Sabina tells MailOnline Travel: ‘Yes and no. If you are going abroad for the first time, these are not the places I’d recommend.
‘It’s best to start off easy, build your confidence and then tackle these more “challenging” destinations.
‘For solo travel beginners, I’d recommend either staying closer to home, choosing destinations without a big language or culture barrier, or visiting destinations like Thailand that are popular among other solo travellers.’
She adds: ‘I find it incredibly important to show women that solo travel is not something to be afraid of. Bad things can happen abroad, just as they can happen at home.
‘It’s vital that travellers do their research before going abroad and listen to government guidelines, especially in conflict zones. But beyond these rather obvious limitations, women should not stop themselves travelling solo out of fear.’
Want more from Sabina? Follow her on Instagram – @girlvsglobe, on Facebook – @girlvsglobe – and TikTok… @girlvsglobe.
