Why Tunisia Is the Safest Country in North Africa for Female Travelers
My love story with Tunisia started in the most unexpected way, inside a hostel in Palermo, Sicily.
It was 2023, and I was in the middle of a long solo backpacking journey that began when I left my tech job in the U.S. to reconnect with the world, myself, and pursue my long-desired dream of circling the globe. That morning, I was having breakfast at the hostel in Palermo when a few guys started chatting about a ferry that crosses the Mediterranean to Tunis. They lit up when they found out I spoke French and Arabic, joking that I’d be the perfect addition to their adventure. I didn’t even think twice. I said yes. No plan, just a gut feeling and a wide open heart.
Saying Yes to the Unknown
As a Moroccan woman, Tunisia has always felt familiar in theory; we share a language, faith, culture, and a deep common history rooted in Amazigh heritage. But I had never set foot there. I'd heard their music, admired some of their artists, and understood their French colonial history. Still, I didn’t know what it would be like to walk their streets, eat their food, or meet their people.
I didn’t overthink it. I said yes to the boat crossing, yes to the journey, and yes to discovering a country that would completely shift my perspective on North Africa, especially when it comes to travel as a woman.
That spontaneous decision to cross the sea with nothing planned led to one of the most empowering and beautiful weeks of my life. I went from wandering in Tunis with no agenda to riding public louages (a shared public minivan) into the desert. I stayed in old medinas. I ate what the locals ate. I felt safe, welcomed, and seen.
In this blog, I want to show you why Tunisia is not just safe, but progressive, not only for female travelers but for Tunisian women themselves in comparison with the rest of North Africa.
A Culture of Respect: What It’s Like to Travel as a Woman in Tunisia
The Subtle Details That Matter
When you travel as a woman, especially alone, you get used to reading the room. You notice every stare, every interaction, every power dynamic. You learn to calculate risk intuitively. All your senses are activated 24/7 because you only have yourself (unless you make travel friends that you can trust enough to put your guard down for a moment or two). Tunisia gave me something rare: a feeling of ease. I didn’t have to shrink myself or be alert every moment of the day; I wasn’t constantly on edge.
What Made Me Feel Safe
Here’s what stood out:
Minimal street harassment Compared to Cairo or even parts of Morocco, Tunis and other Tunisian cities felt safe. I could walk around in modest but casual clothes without attracting unwanted attention.
Public presence of women in cafes, tea houses, on the streets, and on trains, Tunisian women are visible, active, and engaged. It makes a huge difference in how safe you feel.
Helpful locals When I asked for directions, people helped me genuinely. No one tried to follow me or push me into shops. There was a sense of boundaries that was very clear and respected.
Efficient infrastructure, Tunisia’s buses, trains, and shared taxis (louages) were accessible and relatively organized. I was never left stranded.
I felt very respected. I was traveling on a budget, which meant staying in old medinas, taking louages (shared public transport) everywhere, and immersing myself in the local culture rather than staying in fancy accommodations or being guided around. Tunisian women are empowered, and that empowerment spills into how they show up in society and how travelers are treated. It all added up to one of the most authentic travel experiences of my life.
How Tunisia Compares to Morocco and Egypt for Female Travelers
First-Hand Experience Across North Africa
Having traveled solo in Tunisia, Morocco (My home country), and Egypt, all as a North African woman, I can tell you that each country has its magic. But when it comes to safety, ease, and how women are treated on the street and in public spaces, Tunisia stands apart.
Here’s a quick breakdown based on my personal experiences:
In Tunisia, I didn’t have to explain why I was alone. Sure, Tunisians were curious about why I’m traveling alone, but I didn’t get stared at constantly or pursued by men. And I wasn’t followed or harassed. That might sound like a low bar, but if you’ve traveled as a woman in many parts of the world, you know how rare and precious that peace can be.
The Legacy of Habib Bourguiba: A Foundation for Women's Rights
The Father of Modern Tunisia
To truly understand why Tunisia feels so different for women, both locals and travelers, you need to know about Habib Bourguiba. After Tunisia gained independence from France in 1956, Bourguiba, the country's first president, made gender equality a national priority. He believed that the progress of the nation depended on the emancipation of women, and he acted on it.
The 1956 Personal Status Code
Just months after independence, Bourguiba introduced the revolutionary Personal Status Code (Code du Statut Personnel), which:
Abolished polygamy Tunisia was the first Muslim majority country to do this
Established legal divorce rights for women
Banned child marriage and set minimum marriage ages
Removed religious courts’ authority over family law
Required mutual consent in marriage
These reforms were bold, controversial, and far ahead of their time, and they laid the groundwork for the Tunisia we see today.
Education and Public Life
Under Bourguiba, girls were sent to school en masse, and women were encouraged to work, vote, and participate in public life. His vision was simple but powerful: a modern Tunisia could only thrive if its women were empowered.
Tunisia Today: Legal Protections for Women and Regional Leadership
Continuing the Legacy
Tunisia didn’t stop with Bourguiba’s early reforms. In fact, it’s considered a leader in women’s rights in North Africa and the Middle East.
In 2017, Tunisia passed Law No. 58 on Eliminating Violence Against Women, one of the most comprehensive laws of its kind in the region. It includes:
Criminalization of physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence
Legal recognition of marital rape
Emergency protection orders and the state obligation to protect survivors
Government support for shelters and legal aid
Mandated gender-based violence education
Tunisia also:
Repealed the law allowing rapists to escape punishment by marrying their victims
Created specialized police and judicial units to support survivors
Supports a growing network of women’s rights organizations and legal clinics
Why Tunisia Stands Out in the MENA Region
Tunisia continues to outpace its regional neighbors in gender equality due to a combination of long-term policy, secular legal systems, and an active civil society. Here's how it compares:
Civil society organizations like the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (ATFD) and the League of Tunisian Women Voters have played pivotal roles in pushing for reforms and holding institutions accountable. Tunisia's progress is not perfect, but it's far ahead of much of the region when it comes to both legal protection and actual day-to-day safety for women.
A Personal Reflection: What Tunisia Taught Me About Belonging
When I think about Tunisia now, it’s not just about what I saw or did, it’s about how I felt. Traveling through Tunisia, walking through old medinas, navigating bus stations, and sharing food with strangers reminded me of the power of presence and openness.
It made me feel like I belonged, not because I knew the place, but because the place made space for me as a woman. I didn’t feel like a foreigner or an outsider. I felt like a woman among women, part of something familiar yet expansive.
The Data That Supports the Feeling
Statistically, Tunisia continues to lead in gender reforms in North Africa and the Arab world. According to the World Bank and UN Women:
Tunisia has one of the highest female literacy rates in the region
The country ranks high in female participation in the workforce
A 2021 report by the OECD notes Tunisia’s gender laws are among the most progressive in North Africa
Tunisia also criminalized domestic violence in 2017 (Law No. 58), banned polygamy as early as 1956, and continues to support shelters and legal aid for women, all of which contribute to the sense of safety felt by both locals and travelers.
What Truly Matters
But numbers aside, what mattered to me was this: walking at night without fear. Talking to other women in cafes. Being able to exist fully as a woman, as a traveler, and as myself. Not every country gives you that. Tunisia did.
All of this led me to return, not just alone, but with others. In October 2024, I led my very first group trip to Tunisia with Trekking Pals, and it was an epic adventure.
Leading My First Group Trip to Tunisia with Trekking Pals
We camped under the stars in the Sahara desert, living nomad-style for a few days. We hiked the rugged Dahar Mountains, often finding ourselves alone on quiet trails surrounded by ancient Berber villages and timeless landscapes. It was off the beaten path, raw, real, and unforgettable.
Here's what one of our travelers, Sajida, had to say:
"I have traveled with trekking pals twice this year and that says something about how satisfied I am with them! My first trip with them was traveling solo to Peru in March and I had the most amazing experience! The trip was very well planned with attention to the smallest detail. I liked the fact that we were given excellent instructions and briefings about what to expect before and during the trip and the trek to Machu Picchu. Everything went seamlessly from the time I was picked up from the airport to the time I was dropped off. Habiba wasn’t accompanying us on that trip but she communicated daily with me to make sure that I was having the best experience ever.
My husband and I had the privilege to travel with Habiba for her first trip ever to Tunisia and we couldn’t be happier with this one as well. Tunisia was a beautiful country and I thank Habiba for introducing us to this hidden treasure and underrated destination. We covered a lot of ground in Tunisia which would have been otherwise impossible on our own. Habiba checked in with us often and listened to any suggestions we had to make things better. We had excellent guides and other personnel who accompanied us in both our trips. We met wonderful people from all across the world and made priceless memories. I couldn’t recommend Travel with trekking pals enough!
Tunisia isn’t just a place I love; it’s a place deeply aligned with the Trekking Pals values: authentic adventure, cultural immersion, women’s empowerment, and meaningful connection. That’s why we’ll continue to offer Tunisia as a flagship destination every year.
