I’ve watched thousands of travelers arrive in Egypt overpacked, underpacked, or just wrong-packed. Here’s the practical list I send every client before they fly out.
The essentials
- Comfortable walking shoes — broken in. Temple visits involve uneven stone, sometimes hours of walking. Skip the new boots.
- Layers — daytime in temples is hot, but cruise-ship air-conditioning is aggressive, and Aswan evenings drop fast in winter.
- Wide-brim hat + sunglasses + high-SPF sunscreen — Egyptian sun is no joke even in winter.
- Refillable water bottle — most ships and hotels offer filtered refill stations now.
- Modest clothing for temple visits — shoulders and knees covered. Linen scarves work for both sexes as cover-ups.
- Smart-casual evening wear — most 5-star ships have a dress code at dinner (collared shirt, no shorts).
What to skip
- Heavy jackets or coats — even in January, a light fleece + windbreaker is enough.
- Hairdryers / hair tools — every 4-star+ hotel and cruise ship has them.
- Too many shoes — one walking pair + one evening pair is plenty.
- Bulky guidebooks — your Egyptologist guide knows more than any book.
- Egyptian pounds — exchange at the airport on arrival or use ATMs. USD/EUR widely accepted at tourist sites.
Smart additions most people forget
- Small bills of EGP or USD — for tips at hotels, ship crew, drivers, and bathroom attendants. $1-$2 bills are gold.
- Universal power adapter — Egypt uses European 2-prong (Type C/F), 220V.
- A small daypack — for temple visits with water, sunscreen, and a light scarf.
- Imodium + hand sanitizer — practical, just in case.
- A printed copy of your itinerary + visa — phones die, internet is patchy at remote temples.
Dahabiya travelers — one extra thing
Bring your own bottle (wine, whisky, whatever you like) — most dahabiyas are BYO with no corkage. The Princess Sarah Dahabiya has glassware and an ice bucket; you just supply the bottle.
