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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
Sharm el Sheikh weather · December
Sharm el Sheikh in December is mild and sunny, with highs of about 24C and nights of about 16C. The sea is 25C, warmer than the air. There are about 8 hours of sun a day and about one rain day in the month. Christmas and New Year are the priciest weeks of the year. Below are swimming, wind, holidays, packing and day trips.
Yes, for winter sun. 24C by day is warm for a UK winter, and the flight is about five and a half hours.
It is a mild month, so expect warm rather than hot beach days. Evenings cool down fast after sunset.
December suits couples, families at Christmas and anyone who wants sun without heat. Divers need a thicker wetsuit as the month goes on.
Yes. At 25C the sea is warmer than the air, so swimming is pleasant. The chilly moment is stepping out into the breeze.
Divers and snorkellers usually want a wetsuit by December. A rash vest is enough for a short swim on a sunny day.
Keep a towel and a warm top close by on the beach. Late afternoon cools quickly.
Winter wind is usually lighter than summer wind on this coast. Even so, a strong northerly can stop the Tiran boats for a day or two.
Ras Mohammed is about 20 km south of town. Book it early in your stay so there is time to rebook.
On the boat home, the wind feels cold. A fleece or windproof top makes the ride much nicer.
Across Egypt, December is very busy and priced at peak. Christmas and New Year are the two most expensive weeks of the year.
25 December is a normal working day in Egypt. Coptic Christmas, the public holiday, is on 7 January. Resorts mark the Western Christmas for their guests.
Many Red Sea resorts hold a New Year's Eve dinner. Ask whether yours is compulsory and what it costs. Early December is the better-value part of the month.
Pack summer clothes for the day and a jumper or light jacket for nights at about 16C.
Bring a rash vest, reef shoes and sunscreen. The sun is still strong on a boat.
If you plan Mount Sinai, pack a proper warm coat, hat and gloves. The summit is very cold before dawn in winter.
Mount Sinai is about three hours inland. The sunrise climb is cold in December, and the monastery is normally shut on Fridays and Sundays and around Orthodox feasts.
Cairo is about 20C in December and about an hour away by air. Luxor is about 24C, one of its best months for temples. It works better as its own leg with a Nile cruise.
Petra is a long trip by coach and ferry. It is cool in December, so bring a warm layer for the early start.
We sell the trips of one Egyptian operator, Memphis Tours. They have no set Sharm itinerary. Send a request and we will ask them for a tailor-made December trip.
November is warmer, at 28C by day and 20C at night. The sea is 27C, with 9 hours of sun.
January is cooler, at 22C by day and 14C at night. The sea is 24C, with the same 8 hours of sun.
So December is the step into winter. The sea is still warm, and the air turns mild.
Mild and sunny. Highs are about 24C and nights about 16C. You will want a jumper in the evening.
Yes. The sea is about 25C, warmer than the air. Divers and snorkellers usually want a wetsuit.
Yes. Christmas and New Year are the two most expensive weeks of the year. Book early, or go in early December.
Resorts mark 25 December for guests, but it is a normal working day in Egypt. Coptic Christmas, the public holiday, is on 7 January.
Rarely. The average is one rain day in the month.
They are close. Our Hurghada weather in December page has its numbers side by side with this one.
Yes, but the summit is very cold before dawn. Bring a warm coat, hat and gloves.
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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A real itinerary with real prices, usually within 24 hours. Nothing is booked and nothing is charged until you say yes.
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