What to pack for Cairo in November

UV index of 5.4 burns exposed skin in under an hour.

Glare off sand and stone reflects light into tired eyes.

Mosquitoes breed in irrigation ditches throughout the Nile valley.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Tap water causes illness in most visitors within days.

Tap water isn't safe here. A filter bottle beats buying plastic twice a day.

This country runs on Type C or F. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Ten hours of daylight means phones drain before sunset most days.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Dark by 5:55pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

One carry-on avoids the checked-bag line and theft risk entirely.

Market trips and day tours need a bag that fits under the seat.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

Desert wind at 14 km/h blows sand into eyes and mouth all day.

81°F highs and 58% humidity mean sweat soaks fabric within hours.

For temples, mosques, and churches that check at the door.

Sand gets everywhere, including between skin and regular shoes.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Dehydration sets in fast when temperatures hit 81°F and you walk.

Contaminated water triggers digestive problems that derail travel plans.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

Pickpocketing targets tourists in markets and on crowded transport.

Bags vanish in busy terminals and crowded streets without warning.

Dry desert air and frequent packing prevent wrinkles in soft fabrics.

Sand embeds in clothes and requires washing every two days.

Airport announcements and street noise make quiet rest nearly impossible.

Daytime heat peaks at 81°F while nights drop to 59°F.

Ten hours of direct sun each day requires constant head protection.

Bacteria on shared surfaces and cash spread quickly in crowds.

Insect bites itch worse when sunburned skin is already raw.

One outlet per room forces you to charge devices in sequence.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Border checks at airports and checkpoints happen constantly.

Luggage passes through multiple hands at Cairo's main airport.

Bathroom humidity and dust settle on toiletries quickly.

Long flights and early museum hours make sleep hard to find.