○ Luxor, Egypt Hotels & Travel Guide—
← All guides
Guides ·Essentials

When to visit Luxor

October to April is the sensible window; May to September is 40-45°C and only cheap. The sweet spot is late November through early March.

Guide
Essentials
Length
6 min read
Region
Luxor
Winter light on the columns of Karnak Temple Winter light on the columns of Karnak Temple

The good months (Nov-Mar)

Daytime highs are 22-28°C, evenings drop to 10-15°C — pack a fleece. Sites are pleasant all day. This is high season: Nile-view hotels run $150-300, book at least six weeks ahead for Christmas week and February half-term. The balloon flies almost every morning; visibility is excellent.

The shoulder (Oct and Apr)

Highs of 30-35°C, still hot enough to want early starts but manageable. Prices dip 20-30%. Late April can hit the khamsin — a hot southerly wind that shuts down the balloon and coats everything in fine dust. Watch a five-day forecast before flying.

The hard months (May-Sep)

42-46°C is normal, occasionally 48°C in July-August. Tourism halves. Hotels drop to $50-120 for four-star Nile-view; the Winter Palace can be had for under $150. If you go, be at Karnak at 6am, back at the pool by 10, out again after 5pm. Never do the Valley of the Kings midday — the tomb interiors become saunas.

Ramadan and holidays

Ramadan (moving each year — check dates) changes rhythms rather than closes things. Sites open normal hours; restaurants outside hotels may close during daylight fasting but reopen at sunset for iftar. It's an atmospheric time. Coptic Christmas (Jan 7) is a public holiday; Islamic New Year and Eid see big domestic tourist crowds at the temples.

Frequently asked questions

What people ask before they set off on this one.

Best single month to visit?

February. Consistent 22-26°C days, cool evenings, and the site openings are all reliable.

Is August really unbearable?

For sightseeing yes, unless you commit to a 5:30am start and afternoon pool. Rooms are cheap though.

Does it ever rain in Luxor?

A handful of days per year, usually a brief winter shower. Don’t plan around it.

Any month to avoid outright?

Late April for the khamsin risk if the balloon matters to you. Otherwise no.

Where to stay

Hotels in Luxor

Rooms worth pairing with this guide.
Browse

Hotels we cover across Luxor

24 with a full page

More guides to Luxor

All guides
Cross the Nile, pick a room

Compare hotels across the East Bank, West Bank and Karnak Village — every booking funds one verified tonne of carbon removal.

Find a hotel