What to Pack for Your Trip to Egypt

Tips on what to pack for your first trip to Egypt from essential travel documents to clothing and toiletries. How to make packing much easier.

Preparing for a trip is exciting but the most stressful part is packing for the trip as you have to consider different possibilities and prepare in advance and are limited by the size of your bag and suitcase.

We have considered everything for your very first visit to Egypt, from your passport and local currency to your itinerary and toiletries. Simply follow this guide for a more enjoyable packing and planning experience.

Essentials: Travel Documents, Cards and Cash, and Phone

No matter what kind of trip you are taking to Egypt, you still need to carry your phone, credit card, and passport.

To be more specific, please make sure you have all your travel documents with you (including your passport and visa as well as the reservation confirmation for your hotels and international flights) and can reach them easily during your trip. Make copies of them in advance in case the originals go missing — this will save time if any issues occur.

Keep your purse and cards secure when packing and try not to put all your cash in one place. Put it in different pockets and spread it around your luggage to minimize any loss. It's helpful to check the customs regulations in both Egypt and your country. For example, you can only have up to 5,000 EGP (about 320 USD) when entering Egypt, according to Egypt's customs regulations.

Itinerary and Local Contact Information

Print out or write down the contact information, addresses, names, and confirmation numbers of the places you'll be staying in during your visit. It is more convenient to list them on a single sheet of paper and have an online copy as backup.

It's important to remember the key information, such as names and addresses, and have them in the local language, especially if you have to take a taxi or shuttle bus as the drivers may not be able to communicate in English.

Keep your airline, train, and cruise information in a safe location as well (written in Arabic as well, if possible). Print copies of your e-tickets because your phone might run out of power and it is also not very convenient to pass your phone around to people when traveling (also consider what will happen if someone grabs it and rushes away). If you don't mind, though, you can show your phone to people for confirmation.

Clothing

Knowing what the weather will be like during your visit is always a good idea when preparing your clothing.

Generally speaking, it will be hot and dry in Egypt all year round with an average temperature ranging from 17°C (63°F) to 29°C (84°F). The temperature during the day is always above 20°C (68°F) in most parts of the country. There might be a lot of sand in the air during some seasons, normally in spring during the Khamsin from March to June.

You should also consider the local religion, which is Islam, and be conservative in public. You can wear a swimsuit at a resort when using a swimming pool or on the beach but definitely not in a church or mosque.

Pack lightweight clothing as it is always warm in the daytime and it is better to prepare at least one warm item of clothing for the chilly nights if your trip is in winter or you are going to stay overnight in the desert.

Take a comfortable, tough pair of walking shoes no matter what time of year you go there. A trip to Egypt often requires a lot of walking, especially when visiting the pyramids, temples, and oases in the Sahara Desert.

The sunlight is strong so please make sure to pack sun protection, such as sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats, even if you visit Egypt in winter.