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Nile Cruises Luxor to Aswan: Routes, Boats and Prices
Classic Egypt Tours: Cairo, Luxor and Aswan Itineraries
Nile Cruise and Red Sea Holidays: Two-Week Egypt Trips
White Desert Tours from Cairo: Oases and Desert Camping
Short Breaks in Egypt: Three and Four Day Cairo Trips
Tailor-made Egypt Tours: Private Trips Built Around You
Weather · Aswan
Aswan weather is hot and dry, and it is the hottest stop on a Nile trip. Daytime highs run from 23C in January to 42C in June, July and August. Every month averages zero rain days. October to April is the comfortable time to visit. From May to September, sightseeing has to happen early in the morning or on the water. Below are the numbers by month, how the heat shapes your day, and what to pack.
Aswan sits far south on the Nile and is a degree or so hotter than Luxor in summer. Highs go from 23C in January to 42C from June to August. It is very dry, with zero rain days in the averages. The chart below shows highs, night lows and sunshine for each month.
Aswan 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 | 26°C | 12°C | 10 | 0 |
| March | 30°C | 15°C | 10 | 0 |
| April | 35°C | 20°C | 11 | 0 |
| May | 39°C | 25°C | 11 | 0 |
| June | 42°C | 27°C | 12 | 0 |
| July | 42°C | 28°C | 12 | 0 |
| August | 42°C | 28°C | 12 | 0 |
| September | 40°C | 25°C | 11 | 0 |
| October | 36°C | 22°C | 10 | 0 |
| November | 30°C | 16°C | 10 | 0 |
| December | 24°C | 11°C | 9 | 0 |
Winter, December to February, is warm by day and mild at night. Highs are 24C in December, 23C in January and 26C in February. Nights are 10C to 12C. You get nine or ten hours of sun a day.
Spring heats up fast. March reaches 30C and April 35C, with nights of 15C and 20C. Late March and April can bring the khamsin, a hot wind that lifts sand for a day or two.
Summer is very hot. May averages 39C, and June, July and August all reach 42C. Nights stay at 25C to 28C, so the town barely cools down. Sun runs at 11 to 12 hours a day.
Autumn cools slowly. September is 40C, October 36C and November 30C. Nights fall from 25C to 16C over those three months. By late November the days are comfortable again.
From November to February you can sightsee at any time of day. Philae, the quarries and a felucca trip fit easily into one day at 23C to 30C.
In Aswan much of the day is spent on the water, which helps in the heat. Philae is reached by boat, and a felucca on the river feels cooler than a temple courtyard. Save the boat trips for the warmer hours.
From April to October, see the dry land sites first. The unfinished obelisk has no shade and the granite holds the heat, so go early. Elephantine Island opens from 8am to 4pm, so a morning visit is the cooler choice.
Abu Simbel trips leave Aswan around 4am and take three to three and a half hours by road. The early start is partly about the heat. Abu Simbel's averages sit within a degree or two of Aswan's. Our Abu Simbel weather page has its numbers.
You can forget about rain. Aswan averages zero rain days in every month of the year.
The wind matters more. In March the felucca sailing is at its best, with warm afternoons, cool evenings and a reliable breeze. The khamsin, from late March into April, can bring a day or two of sand and haze.
For December to February, bring light clothes for the day and a jumper for the evening. Nights at 10C to 12C feel cool on a boat deck. A 4am start for Abu Simbel needs a warm layer too.
For March, April, October and November, bring loose, light clothes, a hat and one warmer layer. A scarf helps against dust in spring and wind on the river.
For May to September, bring long, loose cotton or linen, a brimmed hat with a cord for wind on the boats, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen. Carry water everywhere, and pack rehydration salts.
For sightseeing in comfort, choose November to February, when highs sit between 23C and 30C.
For felucca sailing, choose March. It is warm, breezy and still below the heat of April.
For the Abu Simbel sun festival, the dates are 22 February and 22 October. February is the cooler of the two, at 26C in Aswan against 36C in October. In 2027, Ramadan is expected to cover the February date.
For the lowest prices, choose June or July. Both are very quiet. Expect 42C, so plan early mornings and long afternoon breaks.
Yes. December highs are about 24C, with nine hours of sun. Nights drop to about 11C, so bring a jumper for the evening.
June, July and August average highs of 42C, and September is still 40C. Single days can run hotter. Summer nights stay at 27C to 28C.
A little. Aswan reaches 42C in summer against 41C in Luxor. Aswan's nights are also warmer, with January lows of 10C against 7C in Luxor.
Very rarely. Every month averages zero rain days, and the sun shines for nine to 12 hours a day.
November to February for comfortable sightseeing, at 23C to 30C. March is the best month for felucca sailing. October works too, at 36C, if you start early.
Yes, with a plan. Start at dawn, keep land sites for the morning and spend the hot hours on a boat or indoors. Prices are low and the sites are quiet.
In January nights average 10C, in December 11C and in February 12C. That is mild, but it feels cool on a boat deck after a warm day.
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.
Plan this trip
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5 days · Nile cruise
Four nights sailing south from Luxor to Aswan: Karnak and Luxor temples on the first afternoon, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Philae. Full board throughout, with sightseeing in a shared group of about fifteen.
from US$1,095 / per person
16 days · Classic Egypt
Sixteen days and very little left out: Cairo, a flight to Aswan, three nights sailing down to Luxor, two more days of Luxor on land, three nights on the Red Sea, then back to Cairo for Saqqara and Dahshur.
from US$3,910 / per person
