Short answer: Pack light layers, closed walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, sun cream, printed documents, prescription medicines with a doctor's letter and a Type C or F plug adapter. Winter needs a warm jacket for Nile evenings and desert nights. Summer needs breathable long sleeves. Leave drones at home, because Egypt prohibits them.
Key facts
- Plug types
- C and F, nominal 220 V, 50 Hz (Wikipedia)
- Drones
- Strictly prohibited in Egypt (Government of Canada)
- Medicines
- Bring a GP letter naming the condition, the amount carried and personal use (GOV.UK)
- Cash allowance
- Declare foreign currency above $10,000 on arrival; a separate limit applies to local currency (GOV.UK)
- Winter nights
- Desert nights can be very cold in winter; bring a warm layer (Wikipedia)
- Spare lithium batteries
- Carry-on only (IATA)
- Sun protection
- WHO: shade and clothing first, sunscreen for skin clothing cannot cover
What should you pack for Egypt?
Pack for a hot, dry country with cool evenings in winter and strict rules on a few items. The core kit is breathable clothing in layers, closed walking shoes, sun protection, documents, medicines and a plug adapter. Everything else depends on the month and on what your plan includes: a Nile ship, a desert night or a beach.
This list is organised by what you do rather than by body part. It was checked on 29 October 2026 against government travel advice, health agencies and reference sources, and it avoids any list of places. For what to wear at mosques and churches, see our companion article on what to wear in Egypt.
Related tripsEgypt safari toursDesert trips of 2 to 8 days with 4x4 vehicles and camps.Which documents and papers go in the hand luggage?
Keep the originals and a spare set apart. Pack the passport, the visa or e-visa printout, hotel confirmations, tour vouchers, spare passport photos and an offline list of emergency contacts. Carry printed and digital copies, and store the copies away from the originals. GOV.UK also advises keeping copies of your documents in case of theft.
- Passport, with the visa or e-visa printout.
- Spare passport photos and an offline list of emergency contacts.
- Booking confirmations and transfer details, printed.
- A doctor’s letter for any prescription medicine.
- Names and numbers of two people at home.
Currency rules also matter. GOV.UK says you must declare foreign currency worth more than $10,000 on arrival, and it sets a separate limit on carrying local currency.
What does each season need?
Summer needs the lightest fabrics and winter needs one warm layer. The table uses the sources named in each row, plus the practical experience of our guides.
| Season | Conditions | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Summer, May to September | July mean daily highs are 41.4 °C in both Aswan and Luxor (World Meteorological Organization, WMO, 1981 to 2010) | Lightweight, fully covered, sweat-absorbing clothes; a hat; extra shirts |
| Winter, November to April | Cooler evenings on the river, with a January mean low of 5.9 °C in Luxor (WMO); interior desert nights can be much colder (Wikipedia, Climate of Egypt) | Breathable layers, a jumper, thicker trousers, a light jacket |
| Dec to Feb | The coolest months, with early starts at temples | Warm jacket or fleece |
| Mar to May and Sep to Nov | Between the extremes; check the forecast for your dates | Fewer layers; keep sun protection |
| Spring dust | Sand and dust storms can occur in spring (Government of Canada) | Scarf or buff for dust and sun |
The Climate of Egypt page adds that the inland desert has wide day-to-night swings and that winter nights in the interior of Upper Egypt can fall to or below freezing. That is why a day of 25 °C can still need a fleece after dark.
What goes in the bag for a Nile cruise?
Bring daytime clothes for sightseeing, a few smart-casual outfits for evening, swimwear if the ship has a pool and shoes for the deck. Two or three smart-casual outfits cover the evenings on most ships: collared shirts with trousers for men, a dress or blouse with skirt or trousers for women. Add one dressier outfit if a gala dinner is planned.
Dress on Nile ships is generally relaxed, and a suit jacket is rarely needed. Ask your cruise contact whether a themed dinner is planned, since that is the one evening where an extra outfit helps.
Cabin storage on river boats is limited, so soft duffels pack better than hard cases. Laundry arrangements differ from ship to ship, so ask before you leave whether yours has a laundry service and plan how many changes of clothes you need.
What should you pack for a desert night?
A fleece, a windproof layer, closed shoes and a head covering for dust. Wikipedia notes that desert nights can be very cold in winter. Add breathable long trousers, closed shoes with good grip against sand and rocks, a small backpack and a headscarf against dust.
No source we opened gives a measured night temperature for a specific desert camp, so plan for a cold night and take layers you can add.
- Wear breathable long trousers and choose light colours, which stay cooler in the sun.
- Add a fleece and a wind layer to the day bag.
- Take closed shoes, not flip-flops.
- Carry a reusable water bottle and a scarf or buff.
- Charge torch and phone before leaving the hotel.
Travelling in the Western Desert may need a permit. The Government of Canada says travel to certain areas requires a permit from the Ministry of Interior, so confirm the route and paperwork with whoever organises the trip.
Which shoes do you need?
Two or three pairs cover most plans. Take a cushioned lightweight walking shoe, a strapped sandal for evenings and slip-resistant footwear for pools and decks, plus closed shoes for the desert. Break in new shoes before you fly to avoid blisters.
Walking sandals are a middle path in heat, because they give support while staying airy. Sites mean steps, sand and uneven stone, so a flat grip sole beats a smooth leather sole.
What health items should you carry?
Carry enough prescription medicine for the whole trip plus extra for delays, a doctor’s letter and a basic first-aid set. CDC advises carrying enough medicine for the trip with extra in case of delays, and a card in the local language listing blood type, conditions, allergies and generic drug names. It also warns that some prescription drugs may be illegal in Egypt, so confirm yours with the embassy before you travel.
GOV.UK says some prescribed and over-the-counter medicines may be controlled, that permission from Egypt’s Ministry of Health may be needed, and that you should carry a letter from your GP stating the condition, the amount and that it is for personal use only. Without the right documents, it says, you may not be allowed to take the medicine in.
- Pain and fever relief, and any motion-sickness tablets.
- Oral rehydration salts and an anti-diarrhoea remedy; CDC covers what to carry in its Egypt traveller health page.
- Insect repellent: CDC says to use one with 20 percent or more DEET for ticks and mosquitoes.
- Hand sanitiser with at least 60 percent alcohol (CDC).
- Sun cream, lip balm, hat and sunglasses.
Our separate article on vaccines, water and heat covers health advice in more depth.
How much sun protection is enough?
Treat shade and clothing as the first layer, and sunscreen as the cover for skin that clothing leaves out. WHO advises protection when the UV index is 3 or above, a broad-brimmed hat, wraparound sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B, and broad-spectrum sunscreen on exposed skin. It adds that sunscreen should not be used to stay out longer in the sun.
CDC says SPF 15 or higher. For Upper Egypt in summer we suggest a higher factor than that, reapplied often. A light scarf also shields neck and shoulders.
Which electronics and chargers are worth the weight?
Take a phone with offline maps, a power bank, a plug adapter and one camera. Egypt uses types C and F, so a European-style adapter is the right shape, and Wikipedia says many modern chargers accept 100 to 240 V. Leave 120 V-only hair tools at home.
IATA says spare lithium batteries cannot go in checked baggage, so keep power banks in your hand luggage. The Government of Canada says drones are strictly prohibited in Egypt and that officials are likely to confiscate undeclared electronics, so declare large camera equipment and leave drones behind.
What extra do children and older travellers need?
Add more sun and heat gear, because both groups are at higher risk. WHO lists older adults, young children and people with heart, lung or kidney conditions or diabetes among those at greater risk from heat, and says children are especially vulnerable to sunburn. NHS advice for hot weather is to wear light, loose, light-coloured clothing, drink cold drinks when active and avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm.
In practice that means a second hat, a refillable bottle per person, oral rehydration powder in the day bag and a small cooling cloth. Pack medicines for the whole group in one pouch, with the doctor’s letter on top. For children, include their usual medicines and a few snacks they know, since sealed packaged food is generally safer according to CDC.
Keep readingEgypt desert regions: permits, seasons and safety rules for oases, White Desert, Siwa, Fayoum and SinaiEgypt has desert trips in the Western Desert oases, in Fayoum, in South Sinai and in...What can you leave at home?
Leave formal wear, heavy luggage and anything you would be upset to lose. Cabin space on river boats is limited, so leave room in your suitcase for purchases at markets. Jeans are fine if lightweight, but breathable cotton is more comfortable in summer.
Shorts are fine at beach resorts and hotels, while knee-length or longer is more respectful in cities and markets. Small shops and taxis often need cash, so carry small Egyptian notes.
What belongs in the daily bag?
The day bag is the one you carry through temples, so keep it light. It needs a refillable water bottle, a hat, sun cream, sunglasses, hand sanitiser with at least 60 percent alcohol (CDC), a copy of your passport and visa page, and a few small Egyptian notes for tips and toilets. GOV.UK advises carrying a copy of your documents rather than the originals when you are out sightseeing.
Add a scarf or buff, tissues, a small first-aid strip and a charged phone. NHS advice for hot weather is to avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm, which is why most site visits start early and finish before midday. Keep the day bag on your front in crowds, because the GOV.UK safety page warns about pickpocketing.
How do you pack in the last 24 hours?
Lay everything out once, remove a third and check the weight limit. Put the day bag together first: documents, medicines, power bank, adapter, sunglasses and a water bottle. Then fill the main bag with layers you can mix.
If you are comparing itineraries, the climate and pace of each one shapes this list more than the country does. A cruise week needs evening outfits, a safari needs fleece and boots, and a city break needs walking shoes. You can browse the options on our Egypt tour packages page, or send your dates to the trip planning form and we will tell you what to bring for that route.
