What to Pack for Egypt and Jordan in the Fall

Last updated on January 16th, 2024 at 12:55 pm

Our recent trip to Egypt and Jordan was a bucket list item for me. Months of research and planning went into this 3-week trip. As usual for me, one of the biggest challenges was what to pack. I always want clothes that are practical and comfortable, but don’t look practical. If you are planning a trip to either of these awesome places, here are some ideas of what to pack for Egypt and Jordan in the fall.

First, there are some considerations that need to be made when packing for both of these countries. Both countries are very conservative in terms of dress for women. It might be frustrating at first, but I was glad I chose options that didn’t cause any unwanted attention from men on the street. You will see women dressed in tank tops and shorts, but I don’t recommend adding those items to your packing list for Egypt and Jordan.

Second, what time of year are you traveling? We chose November because I refused to crawl around in Egyptian tombs when it was 115 degrees outside. It was still very warm, but not oppressive like the summer is.

Now, for the important stuff!

What to Pack

Shoes

Hands down, this is THE most important item you will need. Comfort is key as you will be walking all day, many times on uneven surfaces and up/down stairs.

To be honest, I cringe when I hear comfortable shoes. To me, it equals zero style. Fortunately, I found a couple of options that were prefect for walking all day while still looking cute.

Sandals– I highly recommend adding one pair of sandals to your packing list. I wore this pair several days and they looked cute with the pants I wore. Plus, they were incredibly comfortable. I ordered true to size, and they were perfect.

Sneakers– You will want at least one pair of comfortable sneakers on your packing list. I opted for this pair and they worked out great.

I also ended up packing a black pair for our trip and I ended up wearing them several times. If you have room in your luggage, two pair of sneakers isn’t too many.

Clothing

Let me preface this by saying I packed for practicality first while still trying to look put together. As you can tell from my shoe selections, I am NOT a travel-fashion blogger. In fact, we often pack with only carryon luggage. Because of our active tour schedule, I chose to pack pants rather than dresses or skirts. This worked well for me and allowed me to do mixing and matching.

Pants– I can highly recommend these pants. As you can see, I opted for neutral colors for my capsule wardrobe, but there are several color options. Additionally, the cuffed bottoms were perfect for the sand covered terrain in Egypt and Jordan.

Linen pants also work great. You can’t go wrong with white or khaki linen pants for travel pictures in Egypt and Jordan.

Lastly, I packed a pair of athletic joggers for our camel ride up Mt. Sinai and for exploring Petra. Having a separate pair for these activities worked well and was worth the space in our carryon. If you are planning to visit Petra, you can read more about hiking the Monastery.

Tops– Traveling in conservative countries creates challenges when packing, especially with tops. You want to make sure your shoulders and elbows are covered. Plus, you don’t want to wear a deep V-neck shirt. As much as I wished I could wear short sleeve shirts or tanks on our warm days, I was happy I went with longer sleeves. I never felt uncomfortable or out of place wherever we were touring.

With this in mind, I packed long sleeve cotton shirts that were light weight. Linen would also be a good choice. I did wear tanks under my shirts but stayed away from a deep neckline.

This button-down linen shirt works well and adds some versatility in how it can be worn. Looking back, I should have gotten more than one color.

You can never go wrong with a striped cotton shirt. I loved having this option and I wore it often.

Lastly, I ended up packing a few lightweight cotton tops that I already had in my wardrobe. Fortunately, I had some that coordinated with the color palette I was working with. This one is a good example of what I wore throughout Egypt and Jordan.

As with packing pants, I chose an athletic shirt for Mt. Sinai and Petra. One difference, I did pack a short sleeve shirt for this. For both of these activities, I felt perfectly comfortable in short sleeves. Petra, in particular, is touristy and it’s easier to get by with clothing you might not otherwise wear. Any shirt you are comfortable in will work.

Accessories

Admittedly, I packed pretty light for this trip, so I didn’t take a lot of extra items, but there are a handful that I believe are very useful.

Jacket– I know I have been talking about the warm weather, but both Egypt and Jordan can be cool in the mornings and night. I opted to take a Columbia hooded rain jacket that was lightweight. I definitely used this in Jordan in the mornings. It’s a great item to pack for Egypt and Jordan in the fall.

Scarf-If you looked in my backpack, you would always find a scarf. Due to some of the religious sites we were visiting, I always had one in case I needed to cover by head. They also come in handy if you are wearing capris that aren’t long enough. You can quickly wrap one around your waist. They take up very little space, so pack a couple for variety. This one is a good example of what I packed.

Backpack– I carried a backpack with me every day. Between the bottles of water, portable chargers and a few other items, having a backpack worked extremely well. I really like this one. It has a lot of pockets and organizers, but not too many. It is practical, but still stylish. I was happy with this one on our trip.

Travel Accessories

There are a couple of items you will want to take with you on your trip to Egypt and Jordan. Thankfully, they don’t take up much space and they make life much easier.

Adapters– While not fun, absolutely necessary for charging your electronics. Also, easy to forget about when making your packing list. One word of caution, make sure to take them out of the outlet when you switch hotels! These are the exact ones we used.

Portable Charger– Another item that was worth its weight in gold! I took so many pictures and videos that I absolutely needed to charge my phone during the day. This one worked well for us and fit easily in my backpack.

Tech Organizer– Not a necessary item, but I found it to be very handy. Besides keeping me organized, this organizer was easy to slip in my backpack during travel.

UV Blocking Umbrella– Finally, an umbrella to block the UV rays can come in very handy, especially in Egypt. Touring the Valley of the Kings can be brutal on a sunny day. With no way to escape the sun’s rays, this umbrella offers a little relief. It might be worth packing for Egypt and Jordan, even in the fall.

Enjoy Your Trip

Packing for a trip to Egypt and Jordan may seem daunting due to cultural norms and customs but try not to overthink it. I hope this list of what to pack for Egypt and Jordan in the fall is helpful. My biggest takeaways are pack for the culture you are visiting and with some comfort in mind. Also, don’t overpack! Most likely, you will be moving throughout the country, and it makes travel so much easier. Finally, enjoy your trip! It is an awesome trip with truly incredible sites.

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