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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
Hurghada weather · May
Hurghada in May is hot, with highs of about 34C and eleven hours of sun a day. The sea warms to about 25C, good for long swims. Prices are low across Egypt. Watch for Eid al-Adha, expected on 16 May 2027, when coastal hotels fill up.
May in Hurghada averages a high of 34C and a low of 23C. The sea is about 25C, the first month it feels properly warm. Sunshine reaches about eleven hours a day, with no rain to plan for. The chart shows May as the step up into summer.
Hurghada weather by month
Typical daytime highs, with night lows, sea, sunshine and rain below.
| Daytime high | Night low | Sea temperature | Sunshine, hours a day | Rain days a month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C | 12°C | 23°C | 9 | 0 |
| February | 23°C | 12°C | 22°C | 10 | 0 |
| March | 26°C | 15°C | 22°C | 10 | 0 |
| April | 30°C | 19°C | 23°C | 10 | 0 |
| May | 34°C | 23°C | 25°C | 11 | 0 |
| June | 36°C | 26°C | 27°C | 12 | 0 |
| July | 37°C | 28°C | 28°C | 13 | 0 |
| August | 37°C | 28°C | 29°C | 12 | 0 |
| September | 35°C | 26°C | 28°C | 11 | 0 |
| October | 32°C | 22°C | 27°C | 10 | 0 |
| November | 28°C | 18°C | 26°C | 9 | 0 |
| December | 24°C | 13°C | 25°C | 9 | 0 |
May is one of the best value months on the Red Sea. The water is warm, the days are long, and rates are low.
It suits a beach or diving holiday best. At 34C, plan the hottest hours around the pool or the sea.
It is a hard month for Luxor. Highs there reach about 39C, so temple visits mean very early starts.
Yes. The sea averages about 25C in May, two degrees up on April. Most people can stay in for a long snorkel.
A thin wetsuit or a rash vest is enough for most snorkellers now. Divers on deeper dives may still want a bit more.
The sea keeps warming through the summer, to about 29C in August.
The wind picks up in May, to about 13 knots on average. Windfinder's Hurghada airport records from 2000 to 2026 show it rising from here to midsummer.
That breeze helps on hot afternoons. It also brings the first good run of kite days, with El Gouna the main spot, about 20 minutes north.
On a strong day, offshore boats can be cancelled. Plan wreck trips for early in your stay.
Egypt in May is quiet, with low prices. That makes it a strong month for a good-value beach week.
May 2027 is busy with Egyptian holidays. Labour Day is 1 May, Coptic Easter 2 May and Sham el-Nessim, the spring festival, 3 May.
Eid al-Adha is expected on 16 May 2027, with Arafat Day on 15 May. Coastal hotels fill with Egyptian families, so book early for that week.
UK schools usually have a half-term break in late May. Expect a little more demand that week.
Pack light, loose clothes and plenty of sun protection. Eleven hours of strong sun is a lot.
A wide-brimmed hat and a refillable water bottle are worth the space in your bag.
You will hardly need a jumper. Nights average about 23C, warm enough for dinner outdoors.
By mid-May the middle of the day in Luxor is too hot for sightseeing. Highs average about 39C.
If you go, leave Hurghada in the early hours or stay the night before. See the West Bank at dawn and finish by ten.
Cairo averages about 32C. It is hot but easier than Luxor, and the museums are indoors.
April is four degrees cooler, at 30C, and the sea is about 23C. It is better for Luxor, but the water is fresher.
June gets hotter still, at 36C, with nights at 26C. The sea reaches about 27C, and the wind rises to about 14 knots.
May is the month the beach takes over from the temples. It is hot, but not yet midsummer hot.
It is hot, with highs around 34C, but most people find it fine by the sea. The breeze helps. Plan shade in the early afternoon.
About 25C on average. It is warm enough for long swims, and many snorkellers drop the wetsuit.
It is expected on 16 May 2027, with Arafat Day on 15 May. Coastal hotels fill with Egyptian families, so book early.
Yes. Egypt is in its quiet, low-price season in May. Eid week and the UK half-term can push coastal prices up.
Yes. The wind averages about 13 knots, up from spring. It keeps rising to about 14 knots in June.
Yes, with a very early start. Luxor averages about 39C, so sightseeing ends by mid-morning.
No, not in any meaningful way. Long-term averages show no regular rain days.
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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