But as political tensions ease, stereotypes of the Islamic world are dissolving. U.S.-Iranian relations have improved, and Saudi Arabia just appointed a popular prince-astronaut as the new tourism minister. As more non-Muslim Americans travel to see wonders of the Islamic world–Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock mosque, for example, or Morocco’s medieval religious schools–they need to know how to behave. During Ramadan, the lunar month when Muslims fast, it’s better not to eat on the street. And don’t snap photos of people without permission: devout Muslims observe Islam’s strictures against images of humans.
Clothes are a big issue. To enter a mosque, men must be modestly dressed, and women will need head scarves; all must remove their shoes. Women traveling to Iran should wear long coats and head scarves. PVA Travel Planning–a company based in Palo Alto, Calif., that specializes in tours to Saudi Arabia–issues every woman traveler a black abaya, the voluminous cloak Saudi women wear. No matter how strictly you adhere to modesty rules, some places remain off-limits. Non-Muslims can’t go on the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca; in the gulf states, they can’t enter most mosques.
Family is the DNA of the Islamic world, defining who you are and how you fit into society. The first question many women will get is “Are you married?” If the answer is yes, the next request may be for baby pictures. Unmarried couples traveling together should be discreet; it wouldn’t hurt to wear a dime-store wedding band. Some solo women travelers choose to say they’re widows. “It’s just a way to avoid hassle,” says Ersem Sakmar of Tursem Tours, specializing in packages to Turkey. Another way: stay sensitive to local practices, and abide by them.
