What to Pack for Egypt: The Real List

Most packing lists for Egypt are copy-pasted from generic 'hot country' advice. Here's what actually matters after running trips here year-round.

Clothing: lightweight, loose, and modest wins over anything else — long linen trousers and light cotton shirts beat shorts and tank tops for both comfort (less sun on skin, surprisingly cooler) and access (mosques, some markets and rural areas appreciate covered shoulders and knees, for all genders). Bring one warm layer even in summer — desert nights and air-conditioned buses get cold fast, and winter mornings in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan can dip into the low teens Celsius.

Footwear: closed, broken-in walking shoes for temple sites and Islamic Cairo's uneven stone streets — sandals are fine for the Red Sea coast but a liability at Karnak or the Valley of the Kings, where you'll be on your feet for hours on hot stone and sand.

Practical extras that surprise first-timers: a reusable water bottle (tap water isn't for drinking, but bottled water is everywhere and cheap — reduce plastic where you can), a portable charger (long desert and Nile Valley drives between sites), a headscarf or light scarf for women visiting mosques, and a printed or downloaded copy of your hotel bookings and visa confirmation — Wi-Fi at some sites is unreliable.

What you don't need: heavy hiking boots (unless you're doing a specific desert trek), a stack of guidebooks (your guide covers the history), or an adapter for every possible plug — Egypt uses the European two-pin (Type C/F) standard.