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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 · Luxor
Luxor weather is hot, sunny and dry all year. Daytime highs run from 23C in January to 41C in June, July and August. It almost never rains. October to April is the comfortable time to see the temples and tombs. In summer you can still go, but sightseeing has to finish by mid-morning. Winter nights drop to 7C, which surprises most people. Here are the numbers by month, how to plan around the heat, and what to pack.
Luxor is one of the sunniest and driest places you can visit. Highs climb from 23C in January to 41C from June to August, then fall back to 24C by December. Every month averages zero rain days. The chart below shows the highs, night lows and hours of sun.
Luxor 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 | 7°C | 9 | 0 |
| February | 25°C | 9°C | 10 | 0 |
| March | 29°C | 13°C | 10 | 0 |
| April | 35°C | 18°C | 10 | 0 |
| May | 39°C | 22°C | 11 | 0 |
| June | 41°C | 25°C | 12 | 0 |
| July | 41°C | 26°C | 12 | 0 |
| August | 41°C | 26°C | 12 | 0 |
| September | 38°C | 23°C | 11 | 0 |
| October | 34°C | 20°C | 10 | 0 |
| November | 28°C | 13°C | 10 | 0 |
| December | 24°C | 9°C | 9 | 0 |
Winter, December to February, is the most comfortable time for sightseeing. Highs are 24C in December, 23C in January and 25C in February. Nights are cold for Egypt, at 7C to 9C. You get nine or ten hours of sun a day.
Spring gets hot quickly. March is 29C, then April jumps to 35C. Nights rise from 13C to 18C. Late March and April can bring the khamsin, a hot wind from the south that lifts sand for a day or two.
Summer, May to August, is very hot. May reaches 39C, and June, July and August all average 41C. Nights stay at 22C to 26C. There are 11 to 12 hours of sun a day, with no cloud to speak of.
Autumn cools from a high base. September is still 38C, though the second half of the month is easier than the first. October drops to 34C and November to 28C. Nights fall from 23C in September to 13C in November.
From November to February you can sightsee all day. A full morning on the West Bank followed by Karnak in the afternoon works well at 23C to 28C. Days are shorter in November and December, so start early on the West Bank.
In March, April and October, start early and take a break at midday. At 29C to 35C the open sites are fine in the morning and late afternoon. Karnak and Luxor Temple look best in low afternoon light anyway.
From May to September, finish outdoor sightseeing by mid-morning. Guides start at first light, around 5am in summer, and have you back indoors by about eleven. Medinet Habu opens its gates at 6am. Tombs in the Valley of the Kings have no airflow and hold the heat, so do them first. Luxor Temple is lit after dark and makes a cooler evening visit.
The upside of summer is space. In August the temples are as empty as they ever get. If you handle heat well and keep to the early schedule, it is a real option.
Rain is not something to plan for in Luxor. Every month averages zero rain days, so leave the umbrella at home.
Wind and dust matter more. The khamsin can blow from late March into April, bringing sand and haze for a day or two. Hot air balloons need calm mornings. They get them more often in March, and every flight depends on the wind on the day.
For December to February, pack for warm days and cold nights. A fleece or warm jacket is the item people forget. Evenings on a Nile cruise deck are cold, and a balloon flight means standing in a dark field before sunrise.
For March, April, October and November, pack light, loose clothes and one warm layer for the evening. Add a scarf for dust if you travel in spring.
For May to September, pack loose cotton or linen with long sleeves, a brimmed hat with a cord, sunglasses and lots of sunscreen. Bring rehydration salts. Wear closed shoes with grip for the tombs, which have ramps and steps.
For long sightseeing days, choose November, February or March. Highs of 25C to 29C give you full days without the peak prices of December and January.
For the coolest weather, choose December or January, at 23C to 24C. These are the busiest and priciest months of the year, so book early.
For the lowest prices and the emptiest sites, choose June to August. Plan for 41C and early starts every day.
For a special date, 2 August 2027 brings a total solar eclipse over Luxor, lasting about six minutes. It falls in the hottest stretch of the year, so plan the rest of that day around the heat.
Yes, by day. December highs are about 24C with nine hours of sun. Nights drop to about 9C, so bring a warm layer for the evenings and early starts.
June, July and August all average highs of 41C, and May reaches 39C. Single days can be hotter. Nights in summer stay at 25C to 26C. Sightseeing in summer means starting at first light and finishing by mid-morning.
June, July and August are level at an average high of 41C. July and August have the warmest nights, at 26C.
Almost never. Every month averages zero rain days. Sunshine runs from nine hours a day in winter to 12 in summer.
Colder than most people expect. January nights average 7C, and December and February 9C. A Nile cruise deck after dark and a dawn balloon flight both need a fleece or jacket.
It is hard work. May averages 39C. You can still see the main sites if you start at dawn and spend the afternoon indoors or by a pool. April, at 35C, is the last comfortable month of spring.
Aswan is slightly hotter. Its summer highs reach 42C against 41C in Luxor. In winter the two are close, at 23C to 24C in January and December.
November, February and March balance warm days with less heat. December and January are cooler still, at 23C to 24C, but busiest. October to April all work for full days of sightseeing.
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
A real itinerary with real prices, usually within 24 hours. Nothing is booked and nothing is charged until you say yes.
5 days · Short break
Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then a flight south for one night in Luxor covering both banks, and a flight back. Five days, two cities, both domestic flights in the price and every day guided privately.
from US$1,480 / per person
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
