Luxor Travel Forum

My guide book (a new Globetrotter) says to wear long trousers and long sleeve shirts so not to offend what are conservative Muslims. Is this correct? Has anyone been in shorts and t-shirts and found a problem?

Hi Andrew,

When I was in Luxor there were a lot of tourists in and around the temples in T-shirts, shorts and sandals and nobody bothered them. Same is true around the city streets. Since the temples are relics of a long-discarded religion I don't think there is anyone to impose a dress code in these places. And with the intense heat over there, covering up too much is inviting heat stroke!

Perhaps the advice refers to when entering mosques?

Your travel guide is correct. The fact that few locals might not comment or object does NOT mean that they are not upset or offended by not observing the dress code.

Short sleeves T shirt are OK but Shorts are definitely offensive and not acceptable.

I don't know how can any one could suggest that wearing full cloths can cause heat stoke, It does not. Actually clothes will protect your skin.

When I was there I wore shorts and t-shirts in and around temples and nobody said anything. The only time I wore long pants and shirts is when I went to mosques and churches. Happy Travels.

When we were in Egypt we saw many tourists (mostly from Europe) not observing the dress code - women in camisole tops with very short shorts, etc. I found it offensive - simply because all the books and tour companies tell people not to do this as it is offensive to the locals. No, the locals will not bother you - but they are dependent on tourist dollars. I would encourage you to attempt to be respectful of the culture by doing what is asked of you.

I think I'm preparing to be hot and bothered :(

Thanks for all the replies, very helpful. I always try to observe local customs hence the post to double check what the book says.

Andrew, when we were in Egypt, everybody was wearing shorts & T-shirts.
We even asked our guide who told us it was fine for men.
Western wear is quite popular in Egypt, especially Cairo.
Women have stricter policies and we made every effort, especially when visiting Mosques and churches to wear long pants and for the women to wear head scarves.
Having said that, in Luxor, Pyramids, Karnak, Thebes, etc., we always wore shorts.
Arms/breasts and cleavage was always covered by our women folk who wore light cotton shirts over their tanks or sleeveless undershirt.
*Hypocritical since the women were always being ogled and followed by the Egyptians who supposedly were observing Rhamadan*

Additionally, when we visited restaurants, we also wore long pants.
I think the Egyptians are accustomed to Western tourists and more than any other country with a large Muslim population have done a fantastic job at accepting our ways. We should be mindful however to never disrespect.

Shorts are a no-no in all Middle-Eastern countries. Only toddlers wear them. No man who respects himself would ever wear them, except close to a beach.

You'll always find tourists to tell you they went all over Egypt in shorts. As an expat, I can tell you that shorts are a way of shouting to everyone : "I am a tourist, please rip me off". You'll never see a diplomat or a journalist visiting Egypt in a short, even while on vacation, because this looks dumb and suggests that one has little or no education.

For the anecdote, let me mention that Egyptians belonging to the elite identify tourists wearing shorts / scantily clad tourists as coming from the lower social classes.

Because I wear shorts I have no little or no education, that's rich. I wore my shorts at the temple sites and on the cruise ship which I found ok since mostly everybody there are tourists and you'll find lots of them with shorts on. In Cairo, Luxor or Aswan, don't wear the shorts.

Antonio, I agree with you.
It does not go unnoticed where the true lack of education (the poster) who is not only clueless but, spineless in posting under a pseudo and temporary trolling account.

The mark of education is in tolerance and allowing one self to become accustomed and learn as much as possible from other cultures.
I could've chosen to wear the dingy, dirty, often stained galabeas I saw the merchants wearing and, perhaps, have passed off as more educated (as perhaps the poster wears) but, I don't judge a person's background by the clothes they wear nor make assumptions based on that.
All of us were teachers traveling in a group, doing sight seeing tours.
The Egyptians who *might* have found our dress code intolerable and of lower class/dumb, certainly didn't have any trouble putting a hand out for $.
This would imply a sense of hypocrisy and lack of social education themselves which, well, quite frankly, is obvious in many MANY ways and become apparent when one does visit Egypt.

One final note: We found it amusing how much of factual information is re-written by the Egyptians and the tour operators once there.
Having certain information presented as "fact" - such as the museum dedicated to the 6 day war where Egypt "defeated Israel" (according to the guide and the information one is given there) - you cannot miss it, you will see the impressive fire power displayed outside.
Or, how Aswan's Dam is the biggest, most important dam in the world...(actually it is rated #29 9 being in North America, even Indonesia having one bigger than they)!

Final note, our diplomats and our general public do not wear shorts when visiting either but, even if they did or, if I found the custom of wearing a male version of a dress or, insisting on the women folk to wear uncomfortable gear while visiting OUR country, I would hope to show more constraint, tolerance and certainly MUCH MORE education in accepting that it may just be that person's culture rather than an indication of how smart he/she may be.

I'm generally given to tolerance and sympathy to the culture where I visit but.....long trousers in 55c uh-uh! Think of me as a stupid tourist but at least in shorts I didn't pass out!

Thank you one and all for your replies - much appreciated.

It doesn't matter how much of a stupid tourist you are or aren't, the sun will still hurt your legs if they are not covered. I'm not talking about sunburn here, but the fact that the sun is so hot; it actually hurts exposed skin.
The stupid thing is to think that you will be more comfortable in shorts rather than long pants.
I'm sure that it must be very rewarding for certain types of people to be able to ignore the customs of inferior races in inferior and backward countries. Especially when, in their ignorance, the hope of getting that magic dollar ($$$$$$$) acts as deterrent to the expression of their natural abhorrence!
I hope the OP has a great time in Egypt. (And doesn't get his legs burned lol)
Best wishes.
Edward.

No need to turn this into arrogance or insults (once again by an apparent local).
Name calling, assumptions and such is no way to be an ambassador of your country, especially when much of your revenues are generated through tourist dollar.

It is not rewarding as you say for "certain types of people" to "ignore" customs.
Need, rather than "custom" is what usually drives a person to beg.
It is a double edged sword.
Begging begets expectation and expectation begets resentment when the next person doesn't meet the monetary criteria which has been established through "easy" gets rather than education and hard work.
Seeing a child, in the street, choosing to beg or scam for money rather than learning a trade or, going to school is a sure way to discredit and eventually dishonor a civilization!
I'm sorry to see that you and others truly believe begging and expectations of $$$ and the "magic dollar" is truly customary.
Culturally, it's a part of your country I'd rather not concentrate on. I'll stick to the more positive aspects of it such as the Nile, the Luxor and Karnak temples and various other beautiful scenic wonders which abound.

No need to get testy ourluxor. I come from a country (Canada) that bends over backwards to different cultures and lets them keep their customs some of which I don't agree with. I wore shorts at the temples and out in the desert and the sun never hurt my legs. Like I said in my earlier post when in the cities wear long pants but at the temples where it is mostly tourists I found it ok to wear shorts.

Well Mr Jennings. With my Australian standard factor 60 sun block my legs were fine as was the rest of my exposed skin. In fact I came back looking pretty much the same as when I went.

It is quite interesting to hear that. Do you care to apply that on your home country Cuba and the Cuban people.

Isn't fleeing your original country is kind of a begging?

By the way I'd rather be subjected to the Egyptian way of begging than the American way, which is armed robbery and mugging. Who are you kidding? Almost every American city is infested by these gangsters that are nothing more than violent beggars.

*rolling eyes and shaking head in pity*

Let's maintain this thread and VT travel forum where it belongs. Helping people with tips rather than personal insults.
I apologize if I've hit a nerve with you.

I agree. The original thread has nothing about begging and the question was about clothes, Why then did you have started this discussion about begging? Why all this derogatory reference to the poor Egyptians. Your post is full of unnecessary and uncalled for comments,and has nothing to do with original question.

I mentioned your home land of Cuba to draw to your attention that poverty is every where. I mention the crime rate in American cities to show you that Egyptian beggars are not so bad compared to what awaits tourist visiting American cities, so have some fairness.

Read the original question in the thread? If you want to stair the tread away than we have the right also to take the thread in any other direction

Dear Homanded,
Quote "especially when much of your revenues are generated through tourist dollar."
This is exactly what I was getting at, nothing about begging etc. The locals won't show their disapproval of the offensive dress of Westerners because they are frightened of losing the opportunity to make the "tourist dollar",(either honestly or by stealth lol) which they cannot survive without.
This amounts to blackmail! Your very statement admits it! I cannot believe that you do not see it also. I would call it blackmail, others might refer to it as typical quiet American imperialism.
Andrew, sorry if my jibes offended you. It wasn't meant that way, it was a bit tongue-in-cheek.
Regards,
Edward.

Read all the posts. The derogatory comments started with Catw saying people were uneducated and stupid because they want to wear shorts.
You say American cities have crime rates, this is true. There is also a crime rate in Egypt and the whole of the Middle East, its called terrorism but Americans and western countries still give these countries money either by way of tourism or by way of government.

No offense taken. In fact I hadn't read your reply as offensive. Plus it takes a lot to offend me ;)

Our original post not only specifies the effort which we put into dressing appropriately when visiting certain areas of Egypt but, how mindful we should be to respect culture.
Additionally, we compliment the Egyptians in their understanding and acceptance of our culture.

"Western wear is quite popular in Egypt, especially Cairo.
Women have stricter policies and we made every effort, especially when visiting Mosques and churches to wear long pants and for the women to wear head scarves."

"Additionally, when we visited restaurants, we also wore long pants.
I think the Egyptians are accustomed to Western tourists and more than any other country with a large Muslim population have done a fantastic job at accepting our ways. We should be mindful however to never disrespect"

For that advice we get: 'No man who respects himself would ever wear them, except close to a beach"

AND: "even while on vacation, because this looks dumb and suggests that one has little or no education."
AND: "For the anecdote, let me mention that Egyptians belonging to the elite identify tourists wearing shorts / scantily clad tourists as coming from the lower social classes."

When referring to the begging, I referred to "those who may have had a problem with our manner of dress certainly did not seem to object to our $$$ - meaning, if so, it was certainly a double standard.

By the way, I think the TOTAL demoralization which has taken place in Cuba, with the terribly crumbling of a socialization which includes not only begging but stealing, prostitution, and desperate means of surviving is one of the main reasons which I am opposed to travel to that island nation, although it is my own homeland.
I'm on the political side of the coin, very close to me because of relatives living there that, traveling there enriches the government however, I do not pass judgement on those who wish to travel there.
For me it's a personal choice but rejoice in those who have had a positive experience there.

If you have read anything about me in my home page, you will see that my parents never once took anything from anyone. They were hardworking individuals and sacrificed a lot. We didn't consider ourselves beggars but rather immigrants.
Immigrating to escape hardship to another country is not begging as long as one pulls their own weight.

Finally, I agree about the crime rate in our country! I live in a crime ridden city, Miami. It is deplorable.
Unfortunately, I leave that to the politicians and the elected officials. Would I like to see tougher sentencing (perhaps, many mimicking your own country's which I think would truly put the fear of God into a criminal's soul and make him think twice about committing crimes)? HELL YEAH! But, it's not about me.

Interseting .....skimmed through the whole thread ...
In general the locals could care less about TOURIST men wearing shorts while sightseeing but the true mentality of Arab Middle Eastern culture is one that redicule &( belittle ,is that a word !) men wearing shorts.Outside the tourist trail well if you happen to be a resident, shorts won`t be well received and you wont be able to hop around everywhere say in local or gov. entities ,institutions wearing them while going about your daily life as people generally dont feel comfortable around them no matter how westernized they are,you might be even asked to go change and wear proper clothes then come back or refused entry in some offices ...etc.
Rule of thumb , if you`re a guy with nice legs then fine wear shorts by all means but with a louzy^&$%#* set of legs then spare us the eyesore .....

No problem for me then - I'm a bronze Adonis, probably have to fight you girls off (and the guys come to think of it).

*stepping in, shoving Mel aside, swinging 2x4 wildly through air*

MINE!

Oh, I just checked with my wife. She says for bronze Adonis read "sad old geezer living in fantasy land"

My daughter wants to add a comment to this thread too. She says how can the men in the middle east dis guys wearing shorts when they all wear dresses?

oops typo interesting ,ridicule

HA HA HA you guys are so funny .....
The catch is those dresses are long/maxi (not mini )and long sleeved hence they serve the purpose of covering up .However the majority in the region dont wear such attire.

Although it may not seem like it to the casual observer, certainly in Luxor, the galabeya is the most common attire for men and boys. Yes, many men (especially the younger ones and those in offices or involved with tourists) will wear their Western clothing while they are at work, but when relaxing time comes around they will all don their galabeyas.
In the streets, the galabeya is definitely the most commonly seen form of dress for Egyptian men. I have a couple, but when I've worn them outside the neighbours just laugh at me, the stinkers!

The guy that sold me the felucca ride (Said) had on the long robes he said its great air conditioning. I asked him if he was like the Scots and had nothing on underneath so he lifted up his robe and underneath he had on Adidas shorts! I kid you not.

haha, I like that story Andrew.
Ed and I each bought the obligatory galybea on our cruise and although hesitant about them at first, they were quite - uhmmmm...."liberating"
I found them cool and enjoyable to wear.