WEATHER
Egypt has year-round sun, and almost no rain except in Alexandria, which has a more Mediterranean climate than the rest of the country. Daytime temperatures range from pleasantly warm in the winter to very hot in the summer. Northerly cities such as Cairo and Alexandria are generally about 5ºC cooler than southerly areas such as Aswan and Abu Simbel. Nights in the desert can be extremely cold.

The Egyptian summer is hot and dry in most of the country, and humid in the Delta and along the Mediterranean Coast. In recent years the humidity has spread to Cairo, and the city swelters in August! Winter is mild with some rain, but usually it is bright, sunny days with cold nights.

During the summertime, sun protection is the most important single consideration  during your Egypt  trip, especially for the fair-skinned. Wearing a sunhat is essential. 

Travel clothing should be light and comfortable, 100% cotton clothing is the best and robust shoes are a must!

The climate of Egypt is characterized by a hot season from May to October and a cool season from October to May. Extreme Temperatures during both seasons are moderated by the prevailing northern winds.

In the coastal region average annual temperatures range from a maximum of 37° C (99° F) to a minimum of 14° C (57° F). Wide variations of temperature occur in the deserts, ranging from a maximum of 46° C (114° F), during daylight hours, to a minimum of 6° C (42° F) after sunset. During the winter season desert temperatures often drop to 0° C (32° F).

The most humid area is along the Mediterranean coast, where the average annual rainfall is about 200mm. Precipitation decreases rapidly to the south; Cairo receives on average only about 29mm of rain each year, and in many desert locations it may rain only once in several years!

There are 5 days called Khamsin between March and April, when sandstorms can occur sporadically, blowing in different places according to the wind direction.

Winter (between October and May) weather is colder than most people anticipate, and cold winds blow over the desert at sunrise and sunset. Even when it is warm outside, it can be surprisingly cold inside the massive stone Temples. In winter, showers can fall everywhere, so bring a few items of light but warm clothing, so that you can cope with the cold early mornings and the occasional, and unseasonable, cold snap.

Bring one or two dressy outfits along for evenings out, especially for parties, and special occasions or just to get out of your tour clothes! .

Also bring a swimsuit, as most good hotels and cruise ships have nice, warm, swimming pools. 

If you are heading out into the desert, you will get dry quickly, so make sure that you have a good stock of water with you. Egyptian mineral water is available everywhere at less than 3LE per bottle. Remember to cover your head  at all time

The following table for you as a guide so that you know  what to expect and what to bring:

TIME DIFFERENCE
Time zone is GMT + 2 hours in winter

Last Updated: Sep 21st, 2011