YaFandem
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Everything before you go

When to come

Egypt does not have four seasons, it has two: the one you walk about in, and the one you wait out until evening. Here is the average afternoon high, month by month.

Camel riders at sunset near the Giza pyramids.
  • Mild — a whole day outdoors
  • Warm — shade in the afternoon
  • Very hot — morning and evening only
  • Fierce — the afternoon rest is not a custom, it is a necessity

  • Cairo and Giza

    1. January : 19 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    2. February : 21 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    3. March : 24 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    4. April : 28 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    5. May : 32 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    6. June : 35 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    7. July : 35 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    8. August : 35 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    9. September : 33 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    10. October : 30 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    11. November : 25 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    12. December : 21 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high

    October to April, no hesitation. In summer, do the pyramids at opening and Islamic Cairo after five.

  • Luxor and Aswan

    1. January : 23 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    2. February : 25 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    3. March : 30 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    4. April : 35 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    5. May : 39 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    6. June : 41 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    7. July : 41 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    8. August : 41 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    9. September : 39 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    10. October : 36 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    11. November : 29 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    12. December : 24 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high

    November to March. From May to September the west bank is a sunrise visit or nothing at all — this is the hottest part of Egypt.

  • Red Sea and Sinai

    1. January : 22 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    2. February : 24 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    3. March : 26 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    4. April : 30 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    5. May : 35 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    6. June : 38 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    7. July : 38 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    8. August : 38 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    9. September : 36 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    10. October : 33 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    11. November : 28 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    12. December : 24 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high

    All year for the water, which stays warm through winter. Summer is punishing on land and perfect below it.

  • Alexandria and the coast

    1. January : 18 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    2. February : 19 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    3. March : 21 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    4. April : 24 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    5. May : 27 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    6. June : 29 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    7. July : 31 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    8. August : 31 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    9. September : 30 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    10. October : 28 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    11. November : 24 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    12. December : 20 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high

    The one Egypt with a real winter: grey, windy, and it rains. Summers are mild — this is where Cairo goes to breathe.

  • Siwa and the Western Desert

    1. January : 19 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    2. February : 22 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    3. March : 25 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    4. April : 30 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    5. May : 34 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    6. June : 38 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    7. July : 38 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    8. August : 37 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    9. September : 35 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    10. October : 31 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    11. November : 25 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high
    12. December : 21 degrees Celsius, average afternoon high

    October to April. The desert is not only hot by day: winter nights drop close to freezing, so bring something warm.

Two dates to check before booking: Ramadan, which shifts the whole day and shuts kitchens until sunset, and the khamsin, the sand wind that blows in bouts between March and May. Neither is a reason to stay away; ignoring them spoils a trip.

Where to check