What to Pack for Egypt?
Your Essential Egypt Packing Checklist:
When travelling in Egypt , I’d recommend you pack the following 16 essential items:
1) Passport and Tickets: Obviously. Make sure you bring them back with you too ;)
2) Money: It’s best to bring a mix so that you are never caught short. Cash (local currency & one other major currency), traveller’s checks, and an ATM card. If possible, it is reccomended that you have some small denomincations of notes kept aside for tipping. Read more about tipping in Egypt and money in egypt
3) Travel Insurance Documents: Make sure you carry your proof of coverage and 24 hour emergency phone number close by you at all times.
The first thing any doctor will ask for is travel insurance; either that or enough cash upfront to take care of you. Find out more about Egypt Travel Insurance. And be sure to read about how to stay healthy in Egypt before you go.
4) Sunscreen: Don’t trust Egyptian made sunscreen or any brands that are unknown to you. I have learned this fact the hard way! If you don’t fancy spending the first few days of your trip bright pink and hiding away in the shade it’s a good idea to bring plenty of high factor sunscreen in your Egypt packing. If you must buy it abroad, it’s worth spending the extra on well known brands such as Nivea, SolBar or Oil of Olay.
5) Re-hydration Sachets: These sachets contain salts, which when mixed with water create a drink that (tastes pretty unpleasant) replaces fluids and minerals lost through dehydration and diarrhoea. When you’ve too been ill to hold anything down, or indeed in, these will perk you up quicker than anything else. Most chemists stock brands of these such as Diaoralyte or Electrolade.
6) Diarrhoea Medication: The chances of catching diarrhoea are better than average in Egypt . But don’t let that put you off. It’s worth every stomach rumble. The fastest way to beat any bout of the ‘Cairo Quickstep’ is do it au natural, and let the virus pass right through you. Blocking yourself up, only blocks it in and recovery time is generally longer.
However, there’s nothing worse than sitting with buttocks clenched for the duration of a lengthy, desert bus journey through a bumpy, undulating landscape. So, if you do find yourself ill on a day when you can’t just sit around and wait for it to pass, it’s worth carrying diarrhoea medication such as Imodium to minimise the chances of any embarrassing accidents.
7) Antibacterial Hand Wash or Sanitizer Gel: A relatively recent addition the Egypt traveller’s checklist is hand santizer gel. Available in almost any chemist or large supermarket, this nifty, pocket sized godsend will greatly reduce your chance of needing any of the previously discussed medication. Don't forget to include in your Egypt packing.
Use this gel frequently, and generously, especially before eating food and after handling cash or using the bathroom. Read more advice about how to stay healthy in Egypt.
8) Water Bottle: Water is cheap and widely available in Egypt . Small bottles are often too small and large ones to big, so bring your own water flask that’s easier to carry and you can fill up as you go.
9) Torch: Very useful item when travelling in the desert, away from major towns or when climbing Mount Sinai (where it’s paramount). Do not fret if you forget however, Egypt has lots of torches for sale.
10) Bug Spray: If you prefer not to be eaten alive mosquitoes, bring bug spray. You can find it in Egypt itself, or if you prefer bring it from home. The most effect form are those which contain the ingredient DEET or N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide
11) Warm clothes (if travelling in the winter months): Don’t underestimate how cool Egypt can be outside of the summer months, especially in the desert and along the coastline. During this period it’s a good idea to bring a warm fleece, scarf and maybe event a hat. To read more about the weather in Egypt click here…
12) Sun Glasses: Equally useful for the following: Protecting eyes from the glare of the sun and the sea, looking cool, and hiding those hangovers.
13) A Hat: Do not underestimate the power of the Egyptian sun at any time of year. Heat exhaustion is nothing to laugh about, and heat stroke can kill. What are the best ways to protect yourself? Drink water, wear sunscreen, and wear a hat!
14) Travel Adaptor: Egypt uses two pronged, rounded plugs with 220 volts. It’s a good idea to bring a couple of them should you need to recharge both your camera and phone simultaneously.
15) Mobile Phone: Many people prefer to remain incommunicado when they travel. But the usefulness of a mobile phone cannot be denied for booking hotels, meeting friends, reconfirming flights and sourcing help in case of emergency. Egyptian Sim cards and credit are cheap and readily available. You just need an ‘unlocked’ mobile phone. You can still remain out of touch if you don’t give out your number.
And finally, if you're consider what to pack for Egypt don't forget:
16) An Open Mind and a Sense of Humour: The hassle factor can be pretty high in Egypt and it’s easy to loose one's cool with persistent salesmen on a hot day.
Please remember these people are just trying to earn a living and mean you no harm. Simply say ‘La Shukran” (meaning ‘no thank you’ – Learn Basic Arabic) and walk on.
Similarly frustrating is the apparent lack of urgency or rush. Things rarely happen when they are supposed to happen and even movie theatres show films later than scheduled. Buses are late, people are late and the lie that, “it will take just five minutes sir” is told to tourists constantly.
The more relaxed you are about the logistical elements of your trip the better a time you are likely to have. So take a deep breath and shake it off.
This is Egypt and you cannot change it. But it may well change you.
