Best Time to Visit Egypt for a Luxury Trip, Month by Month

For a luxury trip, the best time to visit Egypt is November to March, the most comfortable months. Average highs in Luxor and Aswan stay between 23°C (73°F) and 30°C (86°F), and in Cairo between 19°C (66°F) and 25°C (77°F). Christmas and New Year bring higher hotel and Nile-cruise occupancy in Luxor and Aswan. From June to August, Luxor and Aswan average 41°C (106°F).

Average highs month by month in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan

The figures below are average daily highs from the WMO World Weather Information Service, with data supplied by Egypt's national meteorological service. They are monthly averages, not forecasts or records. Luxor and Aswan, the two ends of the Nile cruise route, run several degrees hotter than Cairo from April to October.

Nights are cooler than the highs suggest. In January, Cairo averages a low of 10°C (50°F) and Luxor a low of 6°C (43°F), which matters for early starts on the West Bank and for evenings on deck.

November to March: the best time to visit Egypt

From November to March, average highs in Luxor and Aswan run from 23°C (73°F) to 30°C (86°F). These are the months when a full day at Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu or Philae is easiest to manage. Cairo is cooler still, between 19°C (66°F) and 25°C (77°F), so a jacket is useful for Giza in the morning.

November and March are the mild edges of the season, with highs of 29°C (84°F) to 30°C (86°F) in Luxor and Aswan. December, January and February are the coolest months. Within the season, the dates to plan around are the holidays: Christmas and New Year bring higher hotel and Nile-cruise occupancy in Luxor and Aswan, and in 2027 Ramadan falls across February and early March.

April, May, September and October: the warm shoulders

April and October already average 35°C (95°F) in Luxor, and May and September 39°C (102°F). Cairo stays milder, at 28°C (82°F) in April and 30°C (86°F) in October. In these months, keep temple visits for the early morning and the middle of the day for the hotel or the ship. October has one date of its own, the second of the two Abu Simbel sun days, described below.

June to August: the hot months

June, July and August average 41°C (106°F) in both Luxor and Aswan, and 35°C (95°F) in Cairo. These are averages, not records. Touring Upper Egypt in summer means very early starts and long afternoons indoors. On the Red Sea, Hurghada averages 35°C (95°F) in July and August, and the sea at Sharm El Sheikh is at its warmest in August, at about 29°C (84°F); at its coolest, in February, it averages about 22°C (72°F).

Ramadan, Eid and public holidays in 2027

Islamic holidays follow the moon, so their dates stay expected dates until they are announced. Where the sources disagree on the day, the table gives the month only.

Egypt's other fixed national holidays in 2027 fall on January 25, April 25, May 1, June 30, July 23 and October 6. Ramadan does not close the sites, but opening hours change, so the touring day is planned around the hours published for each site.

Abu Simbel's sun days: February 22 and October 22

On two days a year, February 22 and October 22, sunlight reaches the inner statues of the temple at Abu Simbel, according to Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Abu Simbel is about 280 km (174 miles) by road from Aswan, roughly 3 to 3.5 hours each way by private car. The Cairo and a Nile Cruise, 10 Days journey includes a day at Abu Simbel, and its dates can be set before you confirm so that day falls on a sun day, subject to availability.

When to book, and what to book first

For a trip over Christmas and New Year, settle the Nile vessel first, because those holidays push up Nile-cruise occupancy in Luxor and Aswan. The same applies to a private dahabiya charter: a whole boat can be chartered for one group only where a vessel is free for the dates. The options are on the luxury Nile cruises page, and the journeys that combine the Nile with Cairo are under luxury Egypt tours.

Every journey is a starting point: its length, hotels and pace can be adjusted before you confirm, subject to availability. Nothing is booked until you accept a written proposal, and sending a request costs nothing. For the length of the trip itself, see how many days you need in Egypt.