10 things to know for travel to Egypt

Oct 16

“A beautiful thing is never perfect.”

-Egyptian Proverb

I recently got back from Egypt, and it was beyond magical! But as I was unpacking, I realized I wish I had more relevant packing tips and tricks before embarking on my trip. I read all the blogs and watched all the TikToks, but a lot was missing.

If you are a mood dresser (Gemini sun over here) then the key is to curate and edit, edit, edit. Everyone emphasized how conservative Egypt was-and don’t get me wrong, it is, and you definitely want to respect the culture, but you don’t have to wear muumuus or long-sleeved jumpsuits the whole time. Unless, of course, you want to!

My thing was, I didn’t want to spend a bunch of money on clothes that I was never going to wear again. Packing was a complete nightmare because on top of being a mood dresser, I also tend to overpack. So, if you can relate, don’t worry…Follow these packing tips, and you will have everything you need.

I also included a checklist at the bottom. P.S. I added some links to similar things I brought. I don’t get any kickbacks- I just created a packing list that I wish I had before traveling to Egypt!

Mood dressers beware.

The main concern is that Egyptians dress pretty conservative. And even though it’s best to embrace modesty, it doesn’t mean you have to be fully covered all the time. A great linen scarf will be your best friend, trust me. Obviously, you’ll want to pack strong sunscreen and a good sun hat. As far as shoes, you’ll want one sneaker/closed-toe shoe, a comfortable walking sandal, and flip-flops. The monuments and pyramids are dusty, so keep that in mind when packing for those days.

This is a trip where you move around a lot, via trains, planes and ships, so do yourself a favor pack everything for Egypt in a carry-on suitcase. Just roll everything up, and since everything you’ll be packing is lightweight, you will have enough room for a 10-day trip.

You could do a bunch of maxi dresses to layer with a scarf or button-up shirt. If you go to any resorts or do a Nile cruise, you can wear shorts and beachwear, but think Palm Springs, not Vegas. Cairo is a big modern city so you can wear whatever you want, as long as you err on the conservative side.

10 Things You Need to Know for Travel to Egypt

1. When Packing for Egypt, a Linen Scarf Should be #1 on Your List

Bring one or two lightweight linen gauze scarves that can cover your shoulders if necessary. For example, it is necessary to have your head and shoulders covered in a mosque. So, keep a lightweight scarf in your bag every day to be safe.

2. Don’t forget a Power Bank to Keep Your Phone Charged

You will be using your phone all day for navigation, photos, videos, and Uber, so make sure you have backup power. Grab one that can charge up to 3 devices simultaneously.

3. Bring a Crossbody purse or belt bag

I brought this Lululemon crossbody that cinches up so you can wear it in front of the body or as a crossbody. I also brought a belt bag. You just want to make sure that your bag is secure and close to the body.

4. Pack Two Long Sleeve Button-Down Shirts

While Egypt is more progressive, you want to be respectful of the culture and religious beliefs. But also, Egypt is HOT. So I brought two button-down shirts and some laundry detergent to hand wash one while wearing the other.

5. Bring a Few Comfortable Maxi Dresses

I went to Egypt in late September, so I waited until the end of the summer season and picked up a bunch of maxis on sale, but here’s a great option. I brought three maxis; one white, one black and one beige. There are a lot of great options on Amazon as well. The key is to mix and match to save space.

6. Wear Comfortable Shoes for the Pyramids and Temples

You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so pack your favorite sneakers that are comfortable and protective. For example, sandals are not a good option for walking around the Pyramids of Giza.

My favorite sneakers are Golden Goose, and I took a pair of my old ones (because they were broken in), and I wore them pretty much every day. So just make sure you pack a pair that you can wear every day without getting blisters. And then pack some cute minimal sandals, and don’t forget your flip-flops for the pool.

7. Remember to Bring a Converter & Power Plug Adapter

In Egypt, the power plugs and sockets are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 220 V, and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. The frequency in Egypt (50 Hz) differs from the frequency in the U.S. (60 Hz). Therefore, you should use a voltage converter which also changes the frequency. If your converter cannot change the frequency, be warned! I blew out my straightener and curling iron on day one.

8. Pack Sunscreen, Sunglasses, and Hat to Block the Sun

I wore a hat the entire trip, which was helpful because, as I said, I blew out all my appliances in my converter on day one! Go for a wide brim straw hat or a baseball hat. Also, don’t forget to pack sunglasses. My mom forgot hers at the hotel one day, and she was bummed all day.

9. Hit the bank before you leave the U.S.

Go to the bank and get $500 in cash broken up in this order- 200 one-dollar bills, 20 five-dollar bills, 10 ten-dollar bills, and 5 twenties. I never had a problem using U.S. cash. I brought 100 one-dollar bills, and I wish I had brought 200. Everything requires a tip-even the bathrooms, so you will need those dollar bills. I had a hard time getting smaller Egyptian bills in change, so half the time, I spent $5 every time I had to use the bathroom. A lot of your budget goes towards tips. So be prepared. Also, when you land in Cairo, you’ll need to purchase your visa before entering customs. Make sure you have USD 25 in exact change. They like crisp dollar bills for some reason.

10.Grab a SIM card at the Cairo Airport

Getting a SIM card through Vodafone was a no-brainer. I was the only one that had service on the Nile River cruise, which we were on for a few days. I think it was about USD 30 and it lasted me for two weeks.

Packing List for Egypt

Passport
Credit cards, ATM Card and $500 in cash.
$25 in cash for your visa upon arrival
A hardcopy of your Travel Insurance policy
Comfortable sandals like Birkenstocks or Teva’s
Comfortable sneakers/closed-toe walking shoes
Several Maxi dresses
Two button-down shirts
A lightweight sweater or light jacket
Loose-fitting wide-leg pants
2 Lightweight scarfs
T-shirts
Bathing suit
Packable hat
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Cell Phone
Secure crossbody
Power adapter
Power bank

Trust in God but tie up your camel. -Arabic Proverb

Traveling during Covid

The world is crazy right now, and everyone told us that travel during Covid would be a nightmare. But we had zero problems. We traveled through Dubai on Emirates, which by the way, was AMAZING. I used Alaska miles to book business class, and it was a game-changer. For travel insurance, we used World Nomads travel insurance.

Egypt was asking for a Q.R. code or stamp, but all the testing centers we researched (I’m based in Portland, Oregon) didn’t do either. So, we did two PCR tests just to be safe, and everything was fine. Coming home, we had someone come to our hotel and test us, and we received the results the next day. It cost around USD 120. If you plan to go to Egypt soon, I can connect you with an AMAZING guide that can create your dream trip! Hope this list helps and if you have any questions about travel to Egypt feel free to DM me on Instagram or send me an email to martha@phlighteraimes.com

Aim for the light!

-Martha

Check out my Songs from the Akasha playlist on Spotify! Spirit likes to send messages through numbers, dreams, songs, and lyrics. You can use the playlist as an oracle. Just ask Spirit to send you a message, close your eyes, and scroll through the playlist. Open your eyes and play the title your finger stops on and listen to the song with headphones. Pay attention to any memories, downloads or messages that come to mind. Remember, your life is a walking meditation!