The Middle East

Local food, busy markets, historic sights.

Meet your travel co-pilot, Ashley

Book a 1:1 personal travel consultation with travel advisor Ashley to download everything you need to know via WhatsApp.

Book with Ashley

مرحب, I’m Ashley, a full-time traveler and student of the Middle East. I love this region for its friendliness, its hospitality, and its focus on community and family. I know that the Middle East can be a misunderstood place, and I hope to help more travellers visit and have incredible experiences like I have!

✔️ Writing a cookbook on Iraqi food, alongside local women

✔️ Traveled to 10+ Middle Eastern countries, all of them solo

✔️ Specialise in seeking out the best local food, coffee and nature

✔️ I can advise on these cities: Cairo, Dubai, Istanbul, and these (full) countries: Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE.

Get to know Ashley

  • If I’m in a city, I love my creature comforts, otherwise anything goes—I’ve hitchhiked, slept on floors and rooftops, and showered with a bucket of cold water, because nothing else was available.

  • A really cozy seaside village, with cute shops, cafes, and local cats. Or a truly great bazaar. Or Japan.

  • I am an advanced wilderness medic. It has, unfortunately, come in handy.

★★★★★

  • “Ashley got me off the tourist path and encouraged me to spend time really getting to know Cairo, which made me trust her even more and gave our chat a personal touch. I’m a foodie, and her food recommendations were really exciting because she introduced me to different local options that I hadn't even heard of. I love that she gave me cheap eats and other ways to make the most of the city’s culinary scene in a way the average tourist wouldn’t.”

    — Charlotte, October 2024

  • Because no guidebook or travel blog can match real, honest, and up-to-date advice from someone who knows the destination intimately and puts your interests first. Just one consultation will save you hours of pre-trip angst and research time and give you all the confidence you need to hit the ground running.

  • TKTK

  • Every Advisor in our network is carefully vetted through a multi-step verification process to ensure she’s knowledgeable, trustworthy, reliable, and uniquely equipped to help independent travelers plan their dream trip.

  • Advisor consultations take place in a private 1:1 WhatsApp Group chat. TKTK HOW LONG Prior to your scheduled consultation, you will receive AN INVITE from SOLOTRVLR’S COMMUNITY MANAGER {?) to join the GROUP CHAT where you will be met by your Local Advisor.

    From there, you'll be able to TKTKTKTKTTK ask questions and get feedback/advice. There is no set structure for how you and your Advisor use your time together. Consultations are meant to be collaborative and tailored to your needs and taste.

    Once the time is up, SoloTrvlr’s Admin will close the chat. You’ll receive a TK within 48 hours. 

  • You can ask anything travel-related, from whether (and where) it’s safe to walk alone at night to practicalities like where to buy tampons (and how to ask for them!) Need dining advice? Your Local Advisor will share her go-to neighborhood spots and steer you to a hyper-local Italian cooking class taught by a beloved nonna. She’ll also be quick to jump in and let you know if something you’re considering doing is overrated—and tell you what to do instead.

  • No problem! If you need more time with your Local Advisor, just contact us via WhatsApp or by email and we’ll help you book a follow-up session. 

  • Our Advisors do their best to keep their calendars up to date, however, if you would like to book further in advance (i.e. upcoming months where an Advisor hasn't added her availability yet) or none of the listed times work for you, please email us at support@solotrvlr.com and we’ll work with you to find an alternate time.

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