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Weather · Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel weather is hot and dry all year, with zero rain days in every month. Highs run from 23C in January to 41C in July and August. The temples have no shade, so the time of day matters more than the month. Most visitors arrive early from Aswan and leave by late morning. From November to February you can stay longer in comfort. Here are the numbers by month, the best hours to visit and what to pack.
Abu Simbel lies 280 km south of Aswan, on the shore of Lake Nasser. Its weather is close to Aswan's, within a degree or two in every month. Highs go from 23C in January to 41C in July and August, and it never rains in the averages. The chart below shows highs, night lows and sunshine.
Abu Simbel weather by month
Typical daytime highs, with night lows, sea, sunshine and rain below.
| Daytime high | Night low | Sunshine, hours a day | Rain days a month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23°C | 10°C | 10 | 0 |
| February | 25°C | 12°C | 10 | 0 |
| March | 30°C | 16°C | 10 | 0 |
| April | 35°C | 21°C | 10 | 0 |
| May | 39°C | 25°C | 11 | 0 |
| June | 40°C | 26°C | 11 | 0 |
| July | 41°C | 27°C | 11 | 0 |
| August | 41°C | 28°C | 11 | 0 |
| September | 39°C | 26°C | 10 | 0 |
| October | 36°C | 23°C | 10 | 0 |
| November | 29°C | 17°C | 10 | 0 |
| December | 24°C | 12°C | 10 | 0 |
Winter, December to February, is the gentlest time. Highs are 24C in December, 23C in January and 25C in February. Nights drop to 10C to 12C, which is cold at a 4am departure from Aswan.
Spring heats up quickly. March reaches 30C and April 35C. Nights rise to 16C and 21C. The sun shines for about ten hours a day.
Summer is very hot. May is 39C, June 40C, and July and August 41C. Nights stay at 25C to 28C. There are 11 hours of sun a day and no cloud.
Autumn comes slowly. September is still 39C and October 36C. November drops to 29C, with nights of 17C.
The site opens from 6am to 5pm every day. Road trips leave Aswan around 4am and take three to three and a half hours. That early start puts you at the temples before the heat builds.
There is no shade on the forecourt or the lake path. From April to October, aim to finish by late morning. The interiors are dark and tight, with a slow queue at the sanctuary door, so allow time for that too.
Most visitors come in one block, from the first arrivals from Aswan until late morning. The site is close to empty either side. If you stay the night, you can see the temples in the late afternoon and again at opening. In summer, the late afternoon is still hot, so the morning slot is the better of the two.
Flights from Aswan take about 45 minutes and leave roughly two hours on the ground. In the hot months that short visit is a fair trade, since two hours is enough in that heat.
On 22 February and 22 October the rising sun reaches the inner sanctuary. In 2026 the February alignment ran from 6:22 to 6:44. In 2025 the October one ran from 6:54 to 7:16.
The two dates feel very different. On 22 February the day reaches about 25C and the night before drops to about 12C. You queue in the dark, so bring a warm layer. On 22 October the high is about 36C, so the heat arrives soon after the alignment ends.
In 2027, Ramadan is expected to run from about 8 February to 8 or 9 March, so the February festival falls inside it. Our sun festival page covers the crowds, tickets and timing.
For November to February, pack a fleece or jacket for the dark drive and the wait at the gate. You will shed it by mid-morning, when the day reaches 23C to 29C.
For March to October, pack a brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and more water than you think you need. Light, loose clothes with long sleeves keep the sun off.
All year, wear closed shoes with some grip. The path and the temple floors are uneven, and you will be walking before full daylight.
For a comfortable visit, choose November to February. Highs of 23C to 29C let you take your time at both temples.
For the sun alignment, choose 22 February or 22 October. February is far cooler. Book early for either date.
For the quietest site, choose a summer month and stay overnight. Very few people visit in June and July, but you must keep to the early hours.
July and August average highs of 41C, and June 40C. Winter highs are 23C to 25C. There is no shade at the site, so the morning is the time to be there in the warm months.
They are within a degree or two of each other. Aswan reaches 42C in summer, and Abu Simbel 41C. In winter both sit at 23C to 24C.
Almost never. Every month averages zero rain days, with ten to 11 hours of sun a day.
As early as possible. The site opens at 6am. Road trips from Aswan leave around 4am and arrive before the heat. If you stay overnight, opening time and the late afternoon are the quiet hours.
On 22 February, expect a cold wait in the dark and a high of about 25C. On 22 October, the high is about 36C, so it gets hot soon after sunrise.
Yes, if you go early. The site is quiet and the temples are the same. Plan to be done by late morning, with water, a hat and sunscreen.
From November to February, yes, for the early start. Nights drop to 10C to 12C. By mid-morning you will not need it.
Entry rules, opening hours, security advice and exchange rates all move. Check them at the source, not here.
Written and checked by the Nile Trip Guide editorial team · Last reviewed . Entry rules, prices and opening hours change — check anything critical against the official sources linked on this page.
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