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What to Pack for a Trip to Egypt as a Woman (to be Stylish, Comfortable & Modest)

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Wondering what to pack for a trip to Egypt as a stylish woman? This post is breaking down how to dress in this fascinating country + sharing some of my packing tips for this trip & outfits!

Karnak Temple
Packing for a trip to Egypt can be a bit tricky if you’re a woman, especially if you’re a woman who likes to look stylish whilst traveling. This post is here to help! I’ll offer my packing tips for Egypt + a rundown of everything I wore + brought along on this trip. (I was in Egypt for a full week on this adventure.)

G Adventures is holding a cyber sale where group tour packages are up to 20% off!

  • Click here to see G Adventures tour packages for Egypt. 

How to Dress as a Woman in Egypt

When packing for a trip to Egypt as a woman it’s important to remember that Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country. Therefore, you should pack modest clothing that will work well in the hot temperatures of Egypt. By dressing modestly I mean, your shoulders, cleavage, and knees should be covered, and you should avoid tight, clingy clothing.

Now, it’s not the end of the world if any of these parts aren’t covered…it’s just not considered respectful to many of the people in this bustling country. It also might get you some unwanted attention (especially if you’re traveling solo) if you aren’t dressed modestly. You’ll notice in many of the highly touristic areas (Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza, Karnak Temple, etc.), though, that not everyone will abide by this dress code.

What I Wore to the Pyramids of Giza
1 of my fave outfits I had packed for this trip!

It is not necessary to wear a hijab in Egypt. Many of the local women will be wearing them, but it is not expected for women who are touring to wear them. (Unless you want to, of course. The locals will really appreciate your attempt at wearing one!)

If you plan to tour any mosques, though, it is a good idea to carry a scarf with you so you can cover your head. I almost always wore a lightweight scarf anyways, as I liked the added security it provided, to make sure my cleavage was never accidentally showing.

Scarf for Egypt
I wore a lightweight scarf, like this one, almost daily while in Egypt.

(Obviously) Keep in Mind the Heat When Packing!

Egypt is generally always going to be warm, no matter what time of year you visit. Cairo’s temperatures will be a bit milder, but if you’re visiting Luxor…even in winter the average temps are in the upper 70s (Fahrenheit)! (I have an entire post dedicated to how to dress comfortably and stylishly for the heat in Luxor!)

I had visited Egypt in May. This is just when the temps are starting to get nearly unbearable. This had its perks, though, as many places were quieter, with not as many tourists. (Except in Cairo – the Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum were still bonkers busy despite the heat!)

Behind the Scenes of My Pyramids of Giza Photos
There are always going to be crowds here!

Wearing lightweight, natural fabrics will be your best bet! This way you can still be covered but also comfortable. (Look for items that are 100% cotton, silk or linen.)

That being said, though, those items tend to be a bit pricier. Only about half of what I packed for this trip contained natural fibers. I did wear several dresses that contained synthetic fabrics – so, they were significantly less expensive – but were still perfectly comfortable (for me at least). I’ll talk more about exactly what I packed in a moment, though!

Temple of Horus at Edfu
This dress contained synthetic fabrics, but it was still perfectly comfortable.

What I Packed for a Week+ in Egypt

*A good rule of thumb: Pack one change of clothing per day, and also have 1 or 2 additional outfits along that you can change into at night, after you’ve showered.

I had 7 full days in Egypt. (The 8th day I just woke up and hopped on a plane to Jordan.) Now, I like to wear dresses. I like the way they look, and I just feel more comfortable while wearing one. So, the vast majority of what I packed consisted of lightweight maxi dresses that had some kind of sleeve. (I also liked the added protection from the sun, as my sunscreen application throughout the day can be terrible!)

And, if you’re hoping to only pack a carry-on bag, this isn’t the packing list for you. Sorry. I am also a style blogger, so only packing a carry-on rarely happens around here. (I also was heading to Jordan for 4 days after this and did re-wear some of these outfits…if they weren’t too smelly!) *I used this checked bag to pack all of my clothing + toiletries in. Click here to see it. 

What to Pack for a Trip to Egypt as a Woman (to be Stylish, Comfortable & Modest)

However, if you want to dress comfortably yet stylishly and still respect the Egyptian culture by dressing modestly, this is the packing list for you! (Who doesn’t want to look stylish in their photos next to the pyramids?!)

Here is exactly what I packed for clothing, and I’ll share each outfit with its corresponding post below.

*Note: if you are visiting in winter, then you will want to adjust the packing list a bit, as the temps will be chillier than when I was there in May. I would swap out some dresses for more pants + button-up shirt combos. Here are also some suggestions for additional items to pack:

So, yeah, I packed quite a bit! I did, however, wear all of this while in Egypt and re-wore quite a bit of it while in Jordan too. And the reason there are more outfits than days is because a couple of these outfits were just for changing into for dinner after I showered from being in the heat all day. (We had also taken a Nile River Cruise where most people showered and looked nice for dinner. Most people also looked nice at Mena House in Cairo after exploring for the day.) I’ll list each outfit below.

Another Packing Essential – Use a VPN When Traveling to Egypt

VPN is short for “virtual private network.” A VPN (like IPVanish) sets up a private connection between your device and whatever network you are connected to – so, no one can see your browsing data. It is important to use a VPN anytime you are connected to public Wifi (such as at a restaurant, resort, hotel, cafe, airport, etc.). This is because when you connect to a public network no matter where you are, you run the risk of a hacker grabbing your unencrypted data. Trust me, speaking from experience here…this can put a real damper on your trip if your banking, phone or email get hacked while you’re traveling in Egypt!

VPNs can also help you save on flights within Egypt, help you watch Netflix shows not available in the US and more! You can read more about using a VPN in my post “Why I Use a VPN When Traveling and at Home (And You Should Too).”

  • Click here to download IPVanish VPN.
  • Pro tip: if you are only planning to use a VPN for your vacation (and not daily life), purchase a monthly plan that is less than $4 per month, right before you leave for your trip. Use the VPN for the duration of your trip, come home and cancel the plan. This way you’ll have only spent a few dollars… but you’ll save yourself a HUGE headache.

My Outfits Worn in Egypt

Egypt Outfit Idea for Dinner at Mena House Cairo

What I Wore to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

"The Mummy" Brendan Fraser/Rick O'Connell Inspired Outfit for Egypt

How to Dress Comfortably Yet Stylishly for the Heat in Luxor, Egypt

Nile River Cruise Outfit Idea

Outfit Idea for Visiting Abu Simbel

What to Wear in Aswan (for the Ladies)

What I Wore for Visiting Edfu & Kom Ombo

What I Wore to the Pyramids of Giza

The only outfit not listed above was my maxi skirt + T-shirt outfit I wore for a night at the Nubian Village, and I also wore this for my plane ride to Jordan. It’s a comfortable outfit. However, out of all my outfits, this one felt a bit too clingy for my preference…at least this particular skirt. I have looser fitting maxi skirts that would have been better! I did, however, love wearing this white T. (I also wore it nonstop when we were in the Amazon, along with lightweight travel pants.)

What to Pack for a Trip to Egypt for Women (to be Stylish, Comfortable & Modest)
My maxi skirt outfit…
Toiletries I Packed (and a Few Other Things)…

Again, I pack above and beyond for toiletries (even if they are all travel-sized)! This is also why I check a bag – there isn’t any way that’s all coming in a carry-on bag with me. I’m high-maintenance – but, I still travel all the time. (There’s no changing me at this point!)

The majority of women would be able to pack half of this stuff and be OK – but, I’m being honest with what I all packed and used for this trip to Egypt. If you have any questions at all, fire away in the comments below!

G Adventures is holding cyber sales where group tour packages are up to 20% off!

  • Click here to see G Adventures tour packages for Egypt. 

Travel Insurance

As of 2022, many destinations require having travel medical insurance that covers COVID-19. Squaremouth is the only site that currently lets you filter travel insurance policies for COVID-19 coverage. I, personally, use Squaremouth for finding the best insurance policies for my travels, and I have already used them for trips planned in 2022. They’re also recommended by Forbes! You can click here to get your free travel insurance quote or enter your information via the widget below.

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Visa Requirements

To check if your country requires a Visa for traveling to Egypt, click here.

What to Pack for a Trip to Egypt for Women (to be Stylish, Comfortable & Modest)
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*c/o = courtesy of, meaning the company gave me the product to be used on my blog, and I did not pay for it. All opinions are my own, and I am not being compensated for a positive review.

Hi! I’m Lindsey, the voice behind Have Clothes, Will Travel. I’m an online shopping aficionado from a small town in Wisconsin who has also lived in Russia, Argentina, Japan & Australia.

10 Comments

  1. Thank you for your very informative blog. I travel extensively and your comments were so helpful. I’m headed to Egypt in a week and have used many of your ideas/suggestions. I like wearing dresses or skirts when I travel and had decided I should wear pants to keep with the below the knee/modest attire. I ended up buying a number of maxi dresses and I know I will feel much better in the still 90 degree heat.

    Reply

  2. This is so helpful! I would not know what to pack. Maxi dresses do sound perfect, since they’re breezy and modest.

    Reply

  3. You travelled so stylishly around Egypt! Thanks for sharing! 🙂 I always need more than just a carry on case, I overpack!

    Reply

  5. I don’t consider that high maintenance…I like having stuff for just in case!! And I never go carryon!!
    I loved these posts, and it’s going to help me in AZ too!!
    XOXO
    Jodie

    Reply

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