Egypt in November: The Start of the Comfortable Season

Yes, November is one of the most comfortable months to visit Egypt. Luxor and Aswan average daily highs of 29°C (84°F), down from 35°C (95°F) to 36°C (97°F) in October, and Cairo averages 25°C (77°F). No national public holidays fall in November, the Christmas and New Year rush has not begun, and the Red Sea still averages 26°C (79°F).

Egypt in November: temperatures by city

November is the month the heat breaks in Upper Egypt. Between October and November, Luxor's average high drops from 35°C (95°F) to 29°C (84°F), and Aswan's from 36°C (97°F) to 29°C (84°F). The table gives November's averages from the WMO World Weather Information Service, with October's highs alongside for comparison.

Luxor's November average high is its lowest since February, which is why a full program at Karnak, the West Bank or Edfu is easier now than at any point of the summer and early autumn. The other change is at night: Luxor averages a low of 12°C (54°F) in November, against 18°C (64°F) in October, so early starts and evenings on deck now call for a jacket.

What is busy in November, and what is not

November is inside Egypt's peak season, which runs roughly from October to April, but the busiest dates come later, in the Christmas and New Year weeks, when occupancy rises in the hotels of Luxor and Aswan and on the Nile ships that sail between them. No national public holidays fall in November or December, in 2026 or in 2027, so there are no Egyptian holiday weekends to plan around.

What to book first is the thing with the fewest places. On the Nile, a dahabiya has only a handful of cabins, and a whole boat can be chartered for one group only where a vessel is free for the dates. If the trip runs on into the holidays, the Nile vessel matters even more, for the occupancy reason above.

For the Christian calendar, November 25 is the start of the Coptic Nativity fast: 43 days without meat or other animal products, though fish is allowed, leading to Coptic Christmas on January 7.

A Nile cruise or a dahabiya in November

With highs of 29°C (84°F) between Luxor and Aswan, November suits both ways of sailing the Nile. A cruise ship gives you four nights in one cabin: the Luxury Nile Cruise, Luxor to Aswan sails south for 4 nights on The Oberoi Philae, with a private guide at Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. A dahabiya is smaller and slower: the ultra-luxury Nour El Nil Dahabiya, 6 Days spends 5 nights between Esna and Aswan, mooring at El Kab, Edfu, Gebel el Silsileh and Kom Ombo, with a swim from a Nile island on the way.

On a cruise ship the ship is shared with other guests and the guided visits are private; a dahabiya is shared with its other guests unless your group charters the whole boat. The vessels are compared on the luxury Nile cruises page.

The Grand Egyptian Museum in November

The Grand Egyptian Museum held its official opening on Saturday, November 1, 2025, and opened to the public on November 4. Its Tutankhamun galleries show the complete collection together for the first time since the tomb's discovery in 1922, more than 5,000 objects. The galleries open at 9:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and at 9:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with last entry an hour before they close. The timed entry slot is only the window for going in; it does not limit how long you stay.

With milder November days in Cairo, an evening visit on a Wednesday or Saturday pairs well with a morning at Giza. How a private visit works is set out in the Grand Egyptian Museum with a private guide.

The Red Sea in November

The Red Sea is still warm in November: the water averages 26°C (79°F) at Hurghada and at Sharm El Sheikh, and the air reaches average highs of 27°C (81°F). Sources describe the wind differently. One Red Sea snorkeling guide calls the seas calm from April to October and slightly windier from November to March, other sources name other months, and boat routes to the reefs can change with wind and waves on the day.

The Cairo, Upper Egypt and Hurghada, 11 Days journey ends with 3 nights at The Oberoi Beach Resort, Sahl Hasheesh, after a night each in Aswan and Luxor, with free days that leave room for snorkeling or diving as optional extras.

What to pack for November

November needs two wardrobes in one bag. By day, light layers and sun protection for highs near 29°C (84°F) in the south; for early mornings and evenings, a warm sweater or a light jacket, since Luxor averages 12°C (54°F) at night and Cairo 15°C (59°F). Cover shoulders and knees for temples and holy sites, and bring a scarf for mosque visits in Cairo, where women cover their hair and shoes come off before the prayer hall.

Journeys that fit November

Beyond the two Nile programs and the Red Sea journey above, any journey on the site can be lengthened, shortened or moved to other hotels before you confirm, subject to availability. For the year as a whole, see the best time to visit Egypt; for the holiday weeks that follow, read Christmas in Egypt and the December weather.