What to pack for Egypt in October

UV index 7.5 burns skin in under 20 minutes.

Glare off sand and stone reflects light straight into your eyes.

Mosquitoes breed near any water source, even in October.

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

Cuts from sharp rocks and insect stings need more than a bandage.

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.

Eleven hours of daylight means cameras drain batteries fast.

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

Desert day trips need water, sun gear, and a camera without checked luggage.

Day trips from base camps need water, sun gear, and a camera.

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

Sand blows at 19 km/h and settles in every layer.

Anything heavier than linen is a mistake at 88°F.

UV hits 7.5 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

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

Desert terrain tears regular shoes; open soles let sand drain.

Eleven and a half hours of direct sun needs a brim.

Walking dunes in 88°F depletes electrolytes before thirst kicks in.

Cold water at 3pm is worth the weight.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Tap water causes illness; oral salts keep dehydration from turning serious.

Unfamiliar bacteria will find your stomach.

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.

International border crossings and crowded sites make theft a real risk.

Crowded souks and transport hubs mean bags vanish without a trace or warning.

Sand gets into everything, so compartments keep clothes and gear from mixing.

Nineteen kilometers per hour winds blow dust onto fabric that won't wash out.

Long drives and early starts to beat heat make silence valuable.

Highs of 88°F mean legs stay bare most days.

Lips crack in dry heat faster than lotion can fix.

Handwashing stations are sparse in desert sites.

Sand and sweat open insect bites to infection faster than you'd expect.

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

Border officials will ask for it constantly, so keep it separate from your pack.

Guesthouses and shared transport mean locking your bag matters.

Early starts to beat the heat mean sleeping upright in vehicles and shared rooms.