What does 46 degree heat feel like?

[SixKeys]

Going away for 10 days to a country where it will be a min of 30 degrees at night and max of 45 in the day. Have never felt heat like this before. Planning on doing excursions very early in morning, staying in hotel and going to museums and air conditioned places during the day, then poss going out again in the evening. Can anyone help me prepare for such extreme heat? Is it oppressive? Manageable? Any tips for staying comfortable?

Oh, and I wouldn't go by train or road on the Cairo / Alexandria route - it used to be a bit dodgy with internal terrorism - not aimed at tourists at all (it used to be against the police), but some got caught up in it. I used to work in Cairo and was always advised to get an internal flight if I wanted to go to the beach / see the sites there. I hope it's safer now, but it used to be a bit Wild West.

It’s fine. You sit in the shade and you drink lots of water. We went to Egypt in June last year and this year we are going in July (although this time just to a beach resort). If your dining excursions go as early in the day as possible. Make sure you take lots of long floaty clothes. A white cotton or linen shirt is a must for keeping covered and cool.

Can you change your dates? This sounds like pain not pleasure!

Loads of good advice on here, and don't let worrying about it detract from your hols. Humid is definitely worse than dry heat. They are used to this so all things should have A/C, move about early morning, then later at night, move slower, do not expect to do too much. Floaty light loose things to wear are better any heavier materials (and actually I would go for longer sleeves and longer legs, if not for the mozzys) and watch your feet - i wore trainers but saw quite a lot of burned feet!. Hopefully your hotel will have air con, if not and you are hot, wet your sheet in cold water, wring dry, and sleep under that. If you open windows you could well be bitten. Agree about the bottled water, and the occasional full bottled sugar drink, plus salt in food, a couple of sachets of diarolyte in your bag won't do you any harm. I would avoid ice, but then I have just done 5 weeks in the far east, they stuck it in everything, and I didn't get the dreaded tummy problems, but I am not that sensitive to stuff like that. It takes at least a couple of days to acclimatise however good a traveller you are. Have a fab time

Yes, heat like that is hard work. Find water, stay in it or near it. Don't get a car with leather seats. If you're going to do anything do it in the morning or evening, not mid day.

Aside from the heat issues avoid salads, avoid mousse/milk based puddings, avoid exposed fruit like berries and instead go for things you peel like oranges etc. obviously also avoid ice.

drink twice as much water as you think you need to.

stick to that and you’ll generally avoid the gyppy tummy.

We're doing the Pyramids, and staying in a hotel that overlooks them so will leave at 6am. Step pyramid of djoser which we will get a taxi to in the evening. Abu Simbel but that will be at 6:30am when it's around 30. Valley of the Kings (basically staying on the doorstep!) and again, will be getting there for 6. Karnak Temple, again going at 6am. Luxor Temple to see the evening light show. They're all the excursions we would like to do but nothing is set in stone and we are taking it fairly easy.

Also worth being aware that Egypt is a bit odd at the moment due to the Russia Ukraine situation. The Egyptians and Russians are historically mates. It’s full of scowling rich Russians atm.

Also, FYI, I suggest you take some cortisone cream or stuff you put on babies' bottoms for diaper ( nappie) rash. With the heat it is easy to get a rash in all sorts of intimate places and can be quite irritating. A friend saved me once on a trip to Vietnam by having some. That and some anti-fungal ointment - for athletes foot which loves the heat too.

If it were me I would absolutely cancel. Those temperatures are pure torture. This is the future folks, I live in the west of Ireland and I predict we will be inundated in the future with people seeking to escape the summer heat in southern Europe and the Middle East. It's already happening to some extent.

Do NOT whatever you do, do Abu Simbel unless you are flying directly in. It is horrendous on a bus/car. It takes hours and hours and the heat will be extreme. They’ve also introduced new speed limits on the road which means it takes even longer. You’ll spend ten times as long travelling as you do seeing anything (that is not an exaggeration). Do NOT do it unless you fly. Do NOT!!!

It was 42 in the centre of Leeds last year - I managed to walk about from one place to another.

I wouldn't have sat out in it though.

I used to live in the Middle East. The hottest temperature I've experienced is 55 Celsius and it is like the heat that hits you when you open the oven door.

46 Celsius is a bit cooler than that but hard if you aren't used to it.

45 Celsius plus is basically don't leave an air conditioned environment weather!

I think we got to 40 degrees in the UK last summer. It was brief but unpleasant.

Hot countries have AC everywhere, it's much more bearable. We have a holiday place in SW Florida. It gets roastingly hot, but you stay indoors and enjoy the AC, or wallow in the pool and shade all day.

I got v v v poorly in Egypt OP. No washed salad. Just bottled water. No ice. Brush teeth with bottled water.

Can anyone help me prepare for such extreme heat? Is it oppressive? Manageable? Any tips for staying comfortable?

Well it's obviously manageable if people live there!

Freeze your water bottle with HALF water the top up with fresh water. Use an insulated water cosy to maiantain its coolness.

take plastic zip lock bags and lots of face cloths. Place them in the ziplock bags in the freezer compartment if you have one in rolled sausages. Take them with you out in a cool bag and use on the back of your neck. Instant refreshness!

Evian water spray in a can is lovely.

parasol AND sun hat. I find hats can make me too hot so I prefer a UV suitable parasol.

i

We are flying from Aswan

It's completely different if your are acclimatised and used to it

Definitely not cancelling!

Nah you don't need to cancel. Just try and avoid heat stroke. I'd plan on snoozing in the afternoon and embrace the late night culture.

It resembled two Edam cheeses and I couldn’t sit down for 3 days.

^^

😂

Hey OP, I'm currently sitting out by my pool in Cairo - home is a villa here. Pyramid view from my bedroom balcony!

It's hottish & we've had a crazy sandstorm today.

Keep hydrated, high factor sunscreen & eat little & often - include salty snacks. You'll be fine. Luxor will be scorching. Take sunglasses for the Valley of the Kings - the sand will 'dazzle' you between tombs.

Contrary to PP, you are highly unlikely to experience terrorist attacks between Cairo & Alex...😁. Or anywhere in Egypt tbh, but no, the main road outside my house goes directly & safely to Alex in a couple of hours.

Pm me/AMA, I've lived here 8 years with my family. It's a beautiful, fabulous country.

Good decision. I’ve done both, flying and driving. Driving was horrible.

take a headscarf to the temples plus a handheld fan (just a fold out paper one) plus umbrellas to use as parasols. My very cool very manly 17 year old was happily fanning himself with my fan and carrying a pink umbrella around!

It was 44 in Cyprus the year I went.

It hit 46 in the shade one time I was there. I have also experienced the same temperature in Australia. The ground was so hot it melted the soles of my shoes.

I have also been in Death Valley at 50, although I didn’t do much. My husband went for a walk in it though.