Flight time & jet lag: San Francisco to Cairo

San Francisco to Cairo: Route overview

Spanning 12,004 km across the Atlantic, the westward journey from San Francisco to Cairo faces headwinds from the prevailing westerlies, placing the flight time in the 13h 50m to 15h 28m range — notably longer than the return trip east. At 10 time zones crossed eastbound, this is among the most demanding routes for jet lag. Full adjustment typically requires 7 days of deliberate sleep and light management. The route transitions between temperate and subtropical climate zones, so expect a significant change in daylight duration and intensity that influences your circadian adjustment strategy.

What makes the San Francisco–Cairo route different

Eastbound routes crossing 10 or more time zones are among the hardest for circadian adjustment because they require your body to advance its clock — effectively going to sleep earlier than it wants to, which is more difficult than staying up later.

Arrival strategy for Cairo

After flying east across 10 time zones to Cairo, your body will be significantly behind local time. If you arrive at 08:00 local, your body thinks it is 22:00. Prioritize getting bright morning light between 07:00 and 10:00 local time to advance your internal clock. Avoid the strong temptation to nap in the afternoon — if you must, limit it to 20 minutes. Target a local bedtime of 22:00 even if you do not feel sleepy, and avoid screens for 2 hours before.

Circadian rhythm analysis: San Francisco → Cairo

When you arrive in Cairo, your circadian rhythm is still running on San Francisco time. At 09:00 Cairo time, your body clock reads 23:00 — already a reasonable waking hour. The disruption is moderate, and you should be able to function with some effort. By 22:00 local time (when you should sleep), your body reads 12:00 — still mid-afternoon internally. Falling asleep will be very difficult without sleep hygiene strategies. Your circadian system adjusts at roughly 1 hour per day, so expect 7 days for full alignment.

Your body clock in Cairo (day 1)

How your body clock maps to local time upon arrival, before any adjustment.

Pre-departure preparation

To prepare for this 10-hour eastward shift to Cairo, begin adjusting 4 days before departure. Each night, move your bedtime 150 minutes earlier and wake correspondingly earlier. Seek bright light immediately upon waking. On departure day, set your watch to Cairo time and begin eating meals on that schedule. This pre-adjustment can reduce your recovery time by 1–2 days.

Your first 72 hours in Cairo

Day 1 in Cairo: Your body is ~10 hours off local time. Get bright sunlight in the morning. Avoid napping past 14:00. Eat at local mealtimes even if not hungry. Caffeine is fine before 14:00, not after. Day 2: ~9 hours off. Continue morning (07:00–10:00) light exposure. Sleep quality should improve. Day 3: ~8 hours off. Noticeable improvement. Maintain light and meal timing discipline.

Recovery timeline

Full circadian adjustment for the San Francisco → Cairo route typically takes 7 days, based on the body's natural adaptation rate of ~1 hour per day for eastbound travel. During this period, expect gradually improving sleep quality, with the most noticeable symptoms (fatigue, difficulty concentrating, appetite changes) during the first 3 days. By day 7, most travelers report feeling fully synchronized with Cairo's schedule.

Route Planner

Adjust departure date for DST-accurate results.

Jet lag adjustment plan: San Francisco → Cairo

Significant jet lag. Allow 4–7 days for full adjustment. Plan sleep and light exposure carefully.

Business hours: San Francisco vs Cairo

Seasonal and climate factors

Transatlantic flight times between San Francisco and Cairo vary seasonally: winter jet streams can reduce eastbound flights by 30–45 minutes while extending westbound flights by a similar amount. Summer typically sees more moderate wind patterns. Cairo at 30°N experiences moderate seasonal daylight variation. Summer offers longer evenings useful for westward adjustment, while winter's earlier sunsets support eastward adjustment schedules.

How the San Francisco–Cairo flight time is estimated

The 13h 50m to 15h 28m estimate for San Francisco to Cairo is derived from the 12,004-km great-circle distance. Long-haul flights spend most of their duration at optimal cruise altitude (typically 35,000–40,000 feet), achieving effective speeds of 820–900 km/h. An additional 30–50 minutes accounts for taxi, takeoff, climb, descent, approach, and taxi at both SFO and CAI. This oceanic route means actual flight paths follow organized track systems that may deviate from the great-circle distance, potentially adding 5–10% to the theoretical minimum path. Prevailing winds along this corridor can shift the actual time by 20–60 minutes in either direction.

Wind patterns and flight duration

Eastbound transatlantic flights between San Francisco and Cairo typically benefit from the North Atlantic jet stream, which flows west to east at 150–300 km/h at cruise altitude. This tailwind often reduces the actual flight time below the lower estimate. The effect is strongest in winter.

Practical travel context

As a transatlantic connection between San Francisco and Cairo, this route is primarily served by full-service carriers with seasonal charter supplements. Direct flights typically use wide-body aircraft suited to the 12,004-km distance. For stays shorter than 9 days, some travelers opt not to fully adjust to local time. Instead, they maintain a compromise schedule between origin and destination time, which can be effective for brief business trips.

Frequently asked questions: San Francisco to Cairo

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