Female Travel in Iran: Crazy or What?
Women travelers planning a trip to Iran are often concerned with their safety and not being sure as to what is appropriate to wear. They may also have heard myths on how to behave or act and uncertain as to what to pack.
So we decided to write a quick little post on what Jeanine S. (the first woman to take one of our tours — solo) had to say about females travelling in Iran…
“Hi Steve, I am having the time of my life! Here are just a few of the hundreds of pictures taken with the wonderful Iranian people who approached me. Will send more if you like. My favorite thing about this country is not the heritage sites, but rather the people. Thank you!!
“What should I wear”
Lonely Planet writer and author Virginia Maxwell says,
“Since the revolution of 1979 all women in Iran, including foreigners, have been required by law to wear loose-fitting clothes to disguise their figures. They must also cover their hair. This form of dressing is known as hejab, a term that refers in general to ‘modest’ dress, and is also used to refer specifically to the hair-covering.”
Take a look at Jeanine S.in the photos above to see what she wore while traveling.
“Will I be Safe?”
Attacks against against foreign women are almost unheard of in Iran. When traveling solo you are naturally safer when using the services of female guides such as the ones our luxury travel partners automatically provide during one of our tours. Here is a related article, “How are Americans treated?”
“How Should I Behave?”
Maxwell also wrote,
“Most Iranian women only travel with their fathers, brothers and husbands, so Western women travelling by themselves or with male friends may be considered as being of dubious moral standing.”
Be aware of this and make sure you stay with your female guide and designated driver. Like meeting new people in general, if you smile, are polite, use common sense and act calm when faced with unknown situations; you will be surprised at how great trip you will have in Iran.
“What Should I Bring?”
If you need to be sure to bring enough female care products to last your entire time in Iran, since things like tampons are expensive and sometimes difficult to find in all areas of the country. To see other things that would be good to bring, go here.