What to pack for Egypt in May

A UV index of 11.9 burns exposed skin in under 15 minutes.

Glare off sand and rock is intense enough to cause headaches.

Insects breed in the Nile delta near parks and settlements.

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

Heat exhaustion, dehydration, and insect bites all happen in May.

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.

Midday heat keeps you indoors, so your phone dies from AC and screens.

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

Overhead bins fit it, and you skip the chaos of checked luggage.

Day trips into the desert need water, snacks, and sun gear.

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

Coastal wind cuts through a t-shirt fast.

Wind at 22 km/h blows dust into your face and throat all day.

Anything heavier than linen is a mistake at 93°F.

UV hits 11.9 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

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

Desert sand gets everywhere, so open footwear beats closed shoes in this heat.

Direct sun for 13.7 hours means your scalp and neck need constant shade.

Sweating in dry air makes you lose electrolytes faster than you realize.

Cold water at 3pm is worth the weight.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Tap water isn't safe, so diarrhea is a real risk.

Unsafe water causes stomach trouble that derails your whole trip.

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.

Cairo and tourist zones have pickpockets who target foreigners.

Bags get lost in crowded souks and busy transport hubs.

Sand gets into everything, so cubes keep clothes and gear separate.

Sweat soaks clothes daily, and laundry access is spotty outside cities.

Loud calls to prayer, traffic, and construction start before dawn.

Highs of 93°F rule out long pants for most of the day.

Lips crack and blister at UV 11.9 without protection.

Touching money, guides, and animals without washing spreads infection fast.

Sunburned skin swells around insect bites and gets infected easily.

Charging ports get sandy and corroded, so short cables mean fewer failures.

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

Checkpoints and border crossings require your passport constantly.

Hostel and guesthouse lockers are basic, so locks matter.

Long daylight and early heat mean broken sleep on buses and trains.