If you like to travel, no matter when, you must travel to Egypt. The pyramids, the temples of Luxor, the Nile, its museums and obelisks, absolutely everything is wonderful and you must see it. Once in a lifetime we must all walk through so much history.
But What is the best time to travel to Egypt?? Good question, after all the general idea is that in Egypt you literally die of heat. Let's see, then, the climate of Egypt and what time of year is the most convenient to visit.
Egypt and its climate
I have heard that Egypt has only two seasons, one hot and one really hot. That is, almost the temperatures do not vary throughout the year. But is it really so? No. The truth is that with a long coastline on the Mediterranean and a lot of desert in its geography, one can experience the full range of climates, from snow to the most arid heat.
Consider that the Nile valley and also its delta are very fertile lands and that makes up around 55% of the country's landmass, where 99% of its people also live. Here it is true that the temperature tends to be stable, skyrocketing in the summer, but still tolerable all year round. It rains throughout the country but very little, and only the winter months. Of course, one must not think that Egyptian winters are like the ones one can imagine. No, there are no temperatures that low.
If we think of all the interesting destinations in Egypt, then we can talk about the weather in Cairo, the weather in Alexandria, the weather in Aswan and the weather in Hurghada. The climate in the country's capital is hot all year round. temperatures fluctuate between 34ºC in summer and 18ºC in winter. The months of March and April can register a lot of wind, sometimes causing sandstorms, while from July to August temperatures rise a few degrees.
The good thing is that there low humidity so even though it's hot, you don't suffer terribly. Of course, Cairo has a lot of environmental pollution and that makes the afternoons suffocating, so it is always convenient to take a rest, a nap, after noon.
Alexandria is a city that is on the north coast of the Mediterranean and for this reason it enjoys more pleasant temperatures. Little rain, although it is generally a more humid place than the rest of Egypt. The sea breeze it helps a lot, but when it blows the wind coming from the Sahara, the khamaseenYou definitely don't have a good time. The best month to splash around and enjoy the coast is August, as the waters are a pleasant 26ºC.
The climate in Aswan is typical of the desert., the same as that of Luxor. arid and hot, in a nutshell. It is one of the hottest places in the country: hot, dry and sunny. Luckily, in winter, the humidity does not exceed 40 or 42%. Also it has super short and warm winters. Think that it barely rains 1 mm of water throughout the year and sometimes, not even that. Finally, how is the weather in the Hurghada resort?
Hurghada is on the east coast of the country and here the sun shines all year round. It rains very little and if it rains it does it only in winter. The best time to visit this destination is in early fall and late spring, when temperatures are warmer and tourist numbers are low. The weather is desert subtropical and the waters in general have a pleasant 24ºC.
Having said all this, When is the best time to travel to Egypt? Without a doubt between October and April, when daytime temperatures are pleasant and nights are cool, all with guaranteed sun. That is, when the best conditions exist to walk through Cairo or get into the desert without dying in the attempt.
Let us remember that Egypt is, for the most part, a dry country, with a lot of sunlight and very little rain. The hottest months of the year are June, July and August, and the coolest of all is January. The rain is scarce to more than not being able, except in the coast. So, if it rains, it does between December and March. In summer the temperature can reach a terrible 40ºCDreadful in a city with narrow streets and very little shade.
That if, when talking about the best time to travel to Egypt, we think about the weather. But it's true that There are other issues to consider when trying to think about a trip to Egypt.. For example, what do we want to do, what experiences do we want to have? The truth is that the mass of tourists arrive between November and February, but if you can go outside of that time (spring or autumn), it's much better because you avoid the crowd and still don't die of heat.
When is better, autumn or spring? If you are one of those who do not have problems, it is always better fall for spring comes with the khamaseen wind, hot and sandy. Luckily not constant, so it is not that you have to say goodbye forever to a spring in Egypt.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Egypt is a Muslim country and there is Ramadan. This festival lasts for a month (with the dates changing from year to year), so it's not something to miss. Because? It is that since it is something spiritual, there are fasts that last from dawn to dusk, throughout the country, and for this reason many sites reduce their opening hours. If this doesn't bother you, it's still something attractive and cultural.
One of the favorite activities when one visits Egypt is to do a Nile cruise. Can it be done always, at any time of the year? Good question. In principle, yes, but if you keep in mind that Egyptian summers are extremely hot, you might want to think twice. Yes ok many cruise ships and sailboats have air conditioning or swimming pools on board, the old women feluccas No. That is, to think carefully about what type of boat you hire.
As the crow flies I leave you some Tips on the best time to travel to Egypt:
- January is the coolest month, ideal for walking and being outdoors. In Ferro you can still visit Abu Simbel. March enjoys good weather, although the temperature begins to rise, and there are fewer tourists. April is ideal for enjoying the coast, May is good for exploring Aswan and taking a cruise on the Nile. June has little tourism, but the sun can start to be very strong.
- July has almost no tourism but the heat is stifling. August is even hotter but at the same time it is a super quiet month, with almost no tourism. In the following month, September, the heat begins to loosen and in the middle of the month it is the season for diving and snorkeling in the Red Sea. Tourism begins to be noticed from October, and by November and December everything is agitated again.