Short answer: Spring in Egypt runs March to May, and the heat builds fast: Luxor's mean daily high climbs from 29.5 degrees Celsius in March to 39.0 in May. March and April suit Cairo and the Nile Valley best. The Khamsin, a hot dusty wind, mostly arrives in April and usually lasts a few hours. May is hot inland.
Key facts
- Luxor mean daily high
- 29.5 °C in March, 35.3 °C in April, 39.0 °C in May (WMO 1981-2010 normals)
- Cairo mean daily high
- 23.4 °C in March, 28.2 °C in April, 31.9 °C in May
- Khamsin timing
- Usually April, occasionally March to May (Wikipedia)
- Sham el-Nessim 2027
- Monday 3 May, the day after Coptic Easter (OfficeHolidays)
- Eid al-Fitr 2027
- 9 to 11 March, subject to moon sighting (OfficeHolidays)
- Holidays
- Eid al-Fitr, Coptic Easter, Sham el-Nessim and Eid al-Adha all fall in spring 2027 (OfficeHolidays)
How warm is Egypt in March, April and May?
Warm in March, hot in April and very hot inland in May. The table gives 1981-2010 climate normals from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World Weather Information Service, using data from the Egyptian Meteorological Authority. Highs are mean daily maximums and lows are mean daily minimums.
| City | March high / low (°C) | April high / low (°C) | May high / low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | 23.4 / 12.3 | 28.2 / 15.4 | 31.9 / 18.4 |
| Alexandria | 20.6 / 11.2 | 24.0 / 15.3 | 26.3 / 17.1 |
| Luxor | 29.5 / 11.8 | 35.3 / 16.9 | 39.0 / 21.2 |
| Aswan | 29.4 / 14.9 | 35.2 / 19.9 | 39.0 / 23.1 |
| Hurghada | 25.4 / 14.4 | 29.3 / 18.3 | 31.8 / 22.4 |
Hurghada’s sea averages 21 °C in March, 22 °C in April and 24 °C in May according to Wikipedia’s Hurghada page, because the WMO page has no sea data. Alexandria’s rainfall drops from 13.1 mm in March to 2.6 mm in April and 1.0 mm in May in the WMO figures. For one month in more depth, see Egypt weather in March.
Related tripsEgypt tour packages63 private trips from 2 to 15 days.How fast does the heat build up?
Faster in the south than in the north. From March to May the Luxor daily high rises by 9.5 °C, and Aswan’s by 9.6 °C. Cairo’s rises by 8.5 °C and Alexandria’s by 5.7 °C. In May, Luxor and Aswan sit near 39 °C by day and above 21 °C at night.
Wikivoyage calls November through March the most comfortable months for travel in Egypt, so spring runs past the end of that window in the south. The table shows why: Luxor and Aswan pass 35 °C by day in April.
What is the Khamsin?
The Khamsin is a hot, dry, sandy wind that blows across Egypt in spring. Wikipedia says it usually arrives in April but can occur between March and May. The name comes from the Arabic word for fifty, but the same page says storms rarely occur more than once a week and last a few hours at a time.
The wind can raise the temperature by as much as 20 °C in two hours and drop humidity below 5 percent, according to Wikipedia. It carries sand and dust, with winds up to 140 km/h. Wikivoyage adds that sandstorms from March to May mostly occur during the day and can temporarily raise the temperature.
What do weather officials say about spring dust?
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority has warned of sharp and rapid weather fluctuations in spring. In a 2023 outlook reported by Egypt Independent, it said khamsin winds come from the Libyan desert, raise sand and dust, and reduce visibility on roads. The Government of Canada adds that sand and dust storms can occur in spring, make driving difficult and affect flights.
The Government of Canada’s advice is to stay indoors, keep windows closed and follow local authorities, because the storms can cause respiratory problems that may be fatal for some people. Wikipedia’s Khamsin page adds that the air can turn very dry. If you have asthma or allergies, bring your medicines and check the forecast daily.
How crowded is spring?
We found no published figure for hotel occupancy or site visitor numbers by month, so we cannot rank the spring months by crowds. The fixed points are the holidays: Eid al-Fitr, Coptic Easter, Sham el-Nessim and Eid al-Adha all fall in spring 2027, as the next section shows.
Public holidays close offices and change local plans, so ask your hotel and your planner about availability for those dates before you fix a route. A weekday outside the holiday blocks is the safer choice if you want a quieter site.
What holidays fall in spring 2027?
Ramadan is expected to begin on or around 7 February 2027 (Government of Canada), so it ends before spring. OfficeHolidays lists Eid al-Fitr from 9 to 11 March 2027, Sinai Liberation Day on 25 April, Labour Day on 1 May, Coptic Easter on Sunday 2 May and Sham el-Nessim on Monday 3 May. It also lists Eid al-Adha from 16 to 18 May. Islamic dates depend on moon sighting.
Our Easter in Egypt guide covers the Coptic Easter week in more detail.
What is Sham el-Nessim?
Sham el-Nessim is Egypt’s spring holiday, held on the day after Coptic Easter. Sham el-Nessim is an official holiday: the Embassy of Denmark in Cairo lists it for Monday 13 April 2026, a day after Coptic Easter on 12 April.
Wikipedia describes customs of spending the day outdoors, picnicking in parks, along the Nile or at zoos, and eating fesikh (fermented, salted, dried grey mullet), lettuce, green onions and lupin beans. Coloured boiled eggs are exchanged. Many people hold that the festival is thousands of years old, but Wikipedia notes that precise documentation of its origin remains insufficient, so treat the age as tradition.
How should you plan a spring trip?
- Pick March or early April if you want Luxor and Aswan at 30 to 35 °C by day.
- Start temple days at 6:00. The Ministry lists the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s temple and Karnak as open 6:00 to 17:00.
- Check the Easter weeks and Sham el-Nessim Monday against your dates, because they are public holidays.
- Carry a scarf or buff and sunglasses against dust, plus water.
- For the Red Sea, May still works, with a 24 °C sea.
Our month-by-month guide compares spring with the other seasons.
How warm are the desert days and nights in spring?
Warm by day, with a real chill left at night in March. The table shows Wikipedia’s climate figures for two oases that spring trips often use. Siwa’s are 1991 to 2020 normals. Bahariya’s come from a 1971 to 2000 FAO dataset, so they are older and rougher.
| Oasis | March high / low (°C) | April high / low (°C) | May high / low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siwa | 26.2 / 10.9 | 31.6 / 14.8 | 36.1 / 19.3 |
| Bahariya | 24.8 / 9.6 | 30.7 / 13.8 | 34.5 / 17.5 |
Siwa’s record highs show how far a spring day can run above the average: 41.6°C in March, 44.8°C in April and 48.0°C in May. Pack a warm layer for a March desert camp, and plan April and May desert days around the morning. Our White Desert guide covers what a camp trip involves.
How warm is the sea?
The Red Sea passes the comfortable mark by May, while the Mediterranean stays cool. Wikipedia gives these average sea temperatures in its climate tables.
| Place | March | April | May |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurghada | 21°C | 22°C | 24°C |
| Sharm el-Sheikh | 22.6°C | 23.1°C | 24.6°C |
| Alexandria | Not checked | 18°C | 20°C |
Wikipedia also lists the Sharm el-Sheikh air temperatures in a city table that differs from its airport table, so use the sea figures as a guide and not as a forecast.
Which month suits which kind of trip?
| If you want | Aim for | Why, from the figures above |
|---|---|---|
| Luxor and Aswan sightseeing in comfort | March | Highs near 30°C, against 39°C in May |
| Cairo and Giza on foot | March or April | Highs of 23.4°C and 28.2°C |
| A desert camp | March | Highs of 25 to 26°C and lows near 10°C |
| Swimming in the Red Sea | May | Sea at 24°C or more |
| Alexandria stroll | April or May | Highs of 24.0°C and 26.3°C, little rain |
These are our matches of the published averages, not an official recommendation.
Do the clocks change in spring?
Yes. Wikipedia’s article on time in Egypt says that under Law 24 of 2023 the clocks go forward from UTC+2 to UTC+3 on the last Friday of April at 00:01. In 2027 that is Friday 30 April, by our count of the calendar.
We found no source saying whether site opening hours move with the clocks, so recheck the hours for any site after that date. Flights and trains use local time, so the change matters for early connections.
Who is at risk from the heat?
Older travellers and people on certain medicines. The CDC Yellow Book says that thirst is a late sign of dehydration, that older travellers and people taking diuretic, anticholinergic or neuroleptic medicines are at higher risk of heat illness, and that you should wear a hat, sunglasses and loose light clothing and use sunscreen.
WHO lists older adults, especially those over 65, and people with heart, lung or kidney conditions, diabetes or disabilities among those at greater risk from heat. The NHS says to avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm. In Luxor in May, with a 39.0 °C mean high, that window covers most of the sightseeing day, so finish outdoor visits by late morning.
Ask your doctor if your medicines are on that list before you plan May in Upper Egypt.
Keep readingIs Egypt safe for travel right now? What the official advisories sayOn 28 October 2026 the UK government, updated 27 October, advised against travel to North Sinai...How do you plan a hot day in Luxor?
- Be at the gate when it opens at 6:00. The Ministry lists Karnak and the Valley of the Kings from 6:00 to 17:00.
- Finish the open-air sites by late morning, before the daytime high that reaches 35°C in April.
- Rest indoors in the afternoon with water.
- Return outdoors only in the late afternoon, and check the 17:00 closing time first.
- Drink on a schedule, not when you feel thirsty.
If you would rather have a guide and driver for the west bank, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and Colossi day tour covers those sites in about six hours.
What are the common mistakes?
- Packing for the Cairo number only. Luxor in May is 7 degrees hotter than Cairo.
- Planning a swim in Alexandria in April. The sea averages 18°C.
- Ignoring the holiday block. OfficeHolidays lists several holidays between 25 April and 3 May.
- Treating the Khamsin as a forecast item. It is irregular and brief.
- Skipping sun cover in March. The highs are mild, but the sun is still strong.
What should you skip?
Skip Luxor and Aswan afternoons in May, and skip a desert camp in May unless you can start and finish early. Siwa’s May mean high is 36.1 °C and its May record is 48.0 °C.
We could not confirm any official figures for hotel occupancy or site visitor numbers by month, and we found no weather-service forecast for dust events beyond the daily report.
