What to pack for Egypt: a practical, no-nonsense list

Packing for Egypt is not complicated, but it is specific. The climate, the culture, the type of sightseeing you will do, and the practical realities of travelling in North Africa all create requirements that differ from a European city break or a Southeast Asian backpacking trip. This is a list based on what actually matters, without the padding that most packing lists include to seem thorough.

The climate context

Egypt has two seasons that matter for travellers. From October to March, the weather is warm by day (20-28°C in Cairo and Upper Egypt) and cool at night (10-15°C, occasionally lower in the desert). From April to September, it is hot. Seriously hot. Luxor and Aswan routinely exceed 40°C, Cairo sits in the mid-30s with humidity, and the desert is relentless.

The key packing challenge is managing heat and sun while respecting cultural norms about dress. Egypt is not strictly conservative by Middle Eastern standards — Cairo is a cosmopolitan city — but outside resort areas, modest clothing is both respectful and practical.

Clothing: what to bring

Light, loose-fitting, long clothing. This is the single most important principle. Loose trousers or long skirts in breathable fabrics (linen, cotton, moisture-wicking synthetics) protect you from the sun far better than sunscreen alone and are appropriate everywhere. Tight or revealing clothing draws unwanted attention, particularly for women, and is impractical in the heat.

Specifics:

• 3-4 light long-sleeved shirts or blouses (linen or cotton blend)
• 2-3 pairs of lightweight trousers or long skirts
• 1 pair of shorts or capris (for hotel pool, cruise deck, or resort areas only)
• 1 light sweater or fleece for desert evenings and air-conditioned spaces (which are often aggressively cold)
• 1 light scarf or shawl — essential for women visiting mosques, useful for sun protection, doubles as a blanket on overnight transport

Colours: Light colours reflect heat better than dark ones. Beige, white, light blue and khaki are practical and also show less dust than black (Egypt is dusty — everything you wear will have a fine layer of sand by end of day).

What not to bring: Heavy jeans (too hot), anything that needs ironing (it will not stay pressed), overly casual beachwear for city use, excessive clothing changes. You can do laundry cheaply and quickly at any hotel in Egypt.

Footwear

Comfortable walking shoes with good grip. Temple sites involve uneven stone surfaces, sandy paths, steep ramps into tombs, and distances that add up fast. A full day on the West Bank at Luxor can easily mean 15,000 steps on irregular terrain.

The best option is a pair of supportive walking sandals (Teva, Keen, or similar) that handle both walking and heat. Closed-toe breathable shoes work too. What does not work: flip-flops (no support, dangerous on temple stairs), new shoes (break them in before you go), heavy hiking boots (overkill and too hot).

A pair of light sandals or flip-flops for the hotel, the cruise deck, and evenings is useful but not essential.

Sun protection

Egypt’s sun is not a suggestion. It is an assault. Particularly in Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel), the UV index is extreme and there is often no shade at archaeological sites.

Essentials:

• Sunscreen SPF 50, water-resistant. Bring enough for the trip — quality sunscreen is expensive and hard to find outside Cairo.
• Sunglasses with UV protection. Polarised lenses are worth the investment if you are spending time near water (Nile, desert sand reflects heavily).
• A wide-brimmed hat or cap. Non-negotiable. The temples of Luxor and the Giza plateau offer almost no shade. A hat with a neck flap looks ridiculous and works perfectly.
• A buff or neck gaiter for desert excursions (protects from wind-blown sand).

Health and hygiene

Stomach protection is the priority. Traveller’s diarrhoea is extremely common in Egypt. It is almost always caused by unfamiliar bacteria in food or water, not by anything dangerous, but it can ruin days.

• Bring Imodium (loperamide) and an oral rehydration solution (ORS). These are available in Egyptian pharmacies but easier to have on hand.
• A course of ciprofloxacin, prescribed by your doctor before departure, is the standard backup for more serious cases.
• Probiotics for a week before and during the trip may help.
• Hand sanitiser or wet wipes — use before eating, especially street food.

Water: Do not drink tap water. Do not brush your teeth with tap water. Do not eat salad that may have been washed in tap water at cheap restaurants. Bottled water is everywhere and costs almost nothing.

Other medical items: Any prescription medications you take (bring enough for the trip plus spare days), basic painkillers, antihistamines (the dust can trigger allergies), plasters and antiseptic for the inevitable minor scrapes on temple stones.

Electronics

Phone + portable charger. Your phone is your navigation, translation, ride-hailing and camera device. A portable power bank (10,000 mAh minimum) is essential — full days at outdoor sites drain batteries fast.

Adaptor: Egypt uses Type C (European two-pin) sockets. If you are travelling from the UK, US or Australia, bring an adaptor. Most hotels have USB charging points but do not count on it.

Offline maps: Download Google Maps for Cairo, Luxor and Aswan before departure. Cellular data works well in cities but can be patchy between them.

Camera: Optional — phone cameras in 2026 are excellent. If you bring a dedicated camera, a wide-angle lens is more useful than a telephoto: the monuments are large and often viewed from close range.

Documents and money

• Passport (valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date)
• Visa: most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at the airport (25 USD) or an e-visa in advance. Check current requirements for your nationality.
• Printed copies of hotel reservations, flight itineraries and travel insurance. Power outages and phone problems happen; paper does not run out of battery.
• A money belt or hidden pouch for your passport and main cash supply. Pickpocketing is not rampant but occurs in crowded areas (Khan el-Khalili, public transport).
• Small denominations of Egyptian pounds for tips. Get change early and guard it — small notes are perpetually in demand.

The bag itself

A backpack or a soft-sided rolling bag works for Egypt. Hard-shell suitcases are impractical if you are moving between cities frequently — the terrain (uneven pavements, narrow hotel stairs, boat gangplanks) favours something flexible.

A small daypack for sightseeing is essential. You will carry water, sunscreen, a hat, your camera and sometimes a light layer. It does not need to be large — 15-20 litres is plenty — but it should be comfortable for hours of walking in heat.

What you do not need

• A sleeping bag (even for desert camping, blankets are provided)
• Formal clothing (Egypt is casual; a smart-casual outfit for a nice dinner is the maximum)
• Mosquito repellent (needed only for the Nile Delta and oasis areas, and only at dusk)
• A towel (every hotel provides them; a quick-dry travel towel if you are staying in hostels)
• Books about Egypt (download to your phone or e-reader)
• Too many clothes. Seriously. Laundry services are cheap, fast and available everywhere. Pack for a week even if you are staying two.

The philosophy

The best-packed bag for Egypt is the one that is lighter than you think it needs to be. You will walk a lot, you will carry it in heat, and you will buy things (a cotton scarf, a galabeya, souvenirs) that take up space on the return. Start lean. The essentials are sun protection, comfortable shoes, light modest clothing and a strong stomach. Everything else is optimisation.

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For the full picture of every monument, route and hidden corner in Egypt, the Far Guides complete guide has it all: interactive maps, up-to-date information and offline access.