Winter is the right time for a Nile cruise, and December is the best month in it. Over the last ten years, 94% of December days in Luxor peaked between 20°C and 30°C, warm enough for the sun deck and cool enough for the temples, and not one day reached 35°C. January is the month to pack for: 81% of nights fell below 10°C (50°F). For most people, a 4-night sailing from Luxor to Aswan with an extra night in Luxor is the trip to book.
Between Luxor and Aswan the Nile runs past some of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, and a river ship is still the easiest way to see them. From May to September, though, afternoons regularly pass 40°C. To show how much better the winter is, and where it has its own catches, we went through ten years of daily records, from 2016 to 2025, from the airport weather stations at Luxor and Aswan. We also checked the current ticket prices and winter opening hours on Egypt’s official monument ticketing site.
This post is about timing and planning a cruise in the cooler months. For the choice between a large river ship, a dahabiya and a felucca, and for what to check in a cabin, see our guide to choosing a Nile cruise.
The short answer
These are the figures that matter when you plan a winter cruise. Each one is explained further down.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Best month | December. In Luxor, 94% of December days peaked between 20°C and 30°C, and none reached 35°C |
| Coldest month | January. 81% of nights in Luxor dropped below 10°C (50°F) |
| Rain | Almost none. Luxor logged 1 mm or more on 12 of about 1,400 days from November to March in ten years; Aswan on one |
| Daylight | About 10.5 to 11 hours, with sunset around 5pm in December |
| Usual cruise | 3 nights from Aswan or 4 nights from Luxor; 7 nights for the round trip |
| Main temple tickets | 3,840 EGP (about $72) for seven major sites on the way, if not included |
| Abu Simbel | A separate trip from Aswan; 822 EGP, or 1,272 EGP on the 22 February sun alignment |
| Visa | $30 for a single-entry tourist visa now; $33 from 1 January 2027 |
Weather by month: December wins, January bites
People often call Upper Egypt’s weather “mild in winter”, which is only half right. The days are mild. The nights are not, because the desert loses its heat fast once the sun goes down. In Luxor the average January low was 8°C (46°F), and on 13% of January nights the airport thermometer fell below 5°C (41°F). Temple visits and balloon flights start at exactly that hour.
December has the best balance. The highs are lower than in November but still pleasant, and fewer nights are cold than in January or February. March warms up quickly: 16% of March days in Luxor reached 35°C, and in Aswan the share was 21%.
The table gives the detail for both ends of the cruise. Aswan is a little warmer at night than Luxor, but the two follow the same pattern.
| Place and month | Average high / low | Days with a high of 20°C to 30°C | Days reaching 35°C (95°F) | Nights below 10°C (50°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luxor, November | 29°C / 15°C (85°F / 59°F) | 62% | 4% | 2% |
| Luxor, December | 25°C / 10°C (76°F / 50°F) | 94% | 0% | 47% |
| Luxor, January | 23°C / 8°C (73°F / 46°F) | 77% | 0% | 81% |
| Luxor, February | 25°C / 9°C (77°F / 49°F) | 83% | 0% | 62% |
| Luxor, March | 30°C / 14°C (86°F / 57°F) | 54% | 16% | 9% |
| Aswan, November | 30°C / 17°C (87°F / 63°F) | 50% | 12% | 0% |
| Aswan, December | 25°C / 12°C (77°F / 54°F) | 87% | 0% | 18% |
| Aswan, January | 23°C / 10°C (73°F / 50°F) | 77% | 0% | 48% |
| Aswan, February | 25°C / 12°C (78°F / 53°F) | 77% | 2% | 32% |
| Aswan, March | 31°C / 16°C (87°F / 60°F) | 47% | 21% | 3% |
Rain is not worth planning for. From November to March, Luxor airport recorded 1 mm or more on 12 days in ten years, and Aswan on a single day. Cairo is different: it is cooler and greyer, with an average January high of 19°C (67°F), so pack for both if you start the trip there.
Short days change the timetable
The one real cost of a winter cruise is daylight. In Luxor the sun rises at about 6:30am in December and sets at about 5pm, giving roughly 10.6 hours of light, against 13.7 in June. Several big sites stop admitting visitors well before dark. The last entry to the Valley of the Kings is at 4pm in winter, an hour earlier than in summer, and Philae stops at 3pm.
That is why cruise programmes start so early, and why it pays to read the daily schedule before you book. Two sites work in your favour: Luxor Temple admits visitors until 7pm and Kom Ombo until 8pm, so both can be seen in the cool of the evening, lit up. A late-day stop at either one costs you nothing.
How many nights: 3, 4 or 7?
Luxor and Aswan are a little over 200 km apart by river, and most ships cover the distance in three or four nights. The direction sets the length. Sailing from Aswan to Luxor goes with the current and is usually sold as 3 nights. Sailing from Luxor to Aswan, against the current, is usually 4 nights. A 7-night cruise simply does both legs.
| Format | Route | Suits | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 nights | Aswan to Luxor, downstream | A short trip, or travellers flying into Aswan | Little time in Luxor unless you add a hotel night |
| 4 nights | Luxor to Aswan, upstream | Most first-time visitors | Less time in Aswan than in Luxor, which suits most people |
| 7 nights | Luxor to Luxor | Slow travellers who want one unpacking | Repeated sailing past the same banks |
| Dahabiya, 4 to 5 nights | Often Esna to Aswan | Small groups and quieter mooring spots | A road transfer to Esna, and fewer cabins on popular dates |
| Lake Nasser, 3 to 4 nights | Aswan to Abu Simbel, or back | Seeing Abu Simbel without the day trip by road | A different product from the Luxor to Aswan cruise |
Our advice is the 4-night sailing from Luxor, with one hotel night in Luxor before it. Luxor has far more to see than Aswan, the West Bank alone fills a day, and winter’s 4pm last entries make a rushed day there feel even shorter. If you book a package online, compare a cruise starting in Luxor with a 3-night sailing from Aswan, and check the number of nights and which tickets are included before you pay.
Every Luxor to Aswan cruise passes through the lock at Esna, about 55 km south of Luxor. Ships queue to use it, so the time it takes varies, and it is usually not a sightseeing stop. Do not count on time ashore in Esna unless the itinerary names it.
One more thing that brochures rarely show: in Luxor and Aswan, ships often moor side by side, sometimes several abreast. You walk through the lobbies of other ships to reach the bank, and the view from your cabin window may be another ship’s cabin. It is normal, and nobody can promise you a riverside berth.
Tickets and opening hours
Most cruise packages include a guide and the entry tickets for the main stops, but some cheaper fares do not, and few include the extra tombs. If you are paying yourself, these are the foreign adult prices on Egypt’s official ticketing site. Students with a valid card pay about half. We converted at 53.55 Egyptian pounds to the dollar, the rate on 12 November 2026.
| Site | Opens | Last entry in winter | Adult ticket | In US dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnak Temple, Luxor | 6am | 4pm | 600 EGP | about $11 |
| Luxor Temple | 6am | 7pm | 500 EGP | about $9 |
| Valley of the Kings | 6am | 4pm | 750 EGP | about $14 |
| Temple of Hatshepsut | 6am | 4pm | 440 EGP | about $8 |
| Temple of Horus, Edfu | 7am (6am Sunday and Wednesday) | 4pm | 550 EGP | about $10 |
| Kom Ombo Temple | 7am | 8pm | 450 EGP | about $8 |
| Philae Temple, Aswan | 7am | 3pm | 550 EGP | about $10 |
| Abu Simbel | 6am | 4pm | 822 EGP (1,272 EGP on 22 Feb and 22 Oct) | about $15 (about $24) |
The first seven sites in the table add up to 3,840 EGP (about $72) per adult. With Abu Simbel the total is 4,662 EGP (about $87). The general Valley of the Kings ticket covers a set of tombs; some of the famous ones, such as Tutankhamun’s, have their own ticket on top. Ask your operator which tombs the package includes, and check the price on the official site before you go, because Egypt revises ticket prices regularly.
Abu Simbel and the 22 February sun
Abu Simbel is not on the Luxor to Aswan route. It sits far south of Aswan, close to the Sudanese border, and cruise passengers reach it on a long day trip by road or on a short flight, usually leaving before dawn. Winter is the most comfortable time for it, because the road trip and the open forecourt are punishing in summer heat.
Twice a year, on 22 February and 22 October, the rising sun shines down the length of the Great Temple and lights the statues in the inner sanctuary. On those two days the official ticket rises from 822 EGP to 1,272 EGP, and large crowds gather before dawn. If you want to see it, plan the whole trip around an Aswan stay over 22 February and book your hotel and transfer early.
Cold mornings, balloons and sails
Winter’s cold mornings are also its best ones. Hot-air balloons lift off from the West Bank of Luxor at sunrise, over the temples and sugar cane fields. Flights depend on the wind and can be cancelled on the day, so book a flight for your first morning in Luxor, which leaves a later morning free if it is called off. Dress for 7°C to 10°C at take-off: it is the coldest part of the day.
In Aswan the best hour is the late afternoon, on a felucca. The traditional sailing boats leave from the Corniche and circle Elephantine Island and the botanical gardens on Kitchener’s Island. In winter the light is soft and the breeze can be cool, so take a layer.
For the whole trip, pack for two seasons: light clothes, sun cream and a hat for the day, and a warm fleece or jacket for the deck after sunset and for early starts. Check before you book whether your cabin has heating as well as air conditioning.
Christmas, New Year and booking ahead
The weeks around Christmas and New Year are the busiest of the cruise season, and Egypt is busier than it has ever been. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities counted about 19 million visitors in 2025, a record and 21% more than in 2024, helped by the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza in late 2025. The best-rated ships and cabins on holiday dates go first, and some holiday sailings add a festive supplement or a compulsory gala dinner, so ask about both before you pay.
If your dates are flexible, avoid the holiday weeks themselves and you get the same weather with more choice. Most nationalities need a visa: a single-entry tourist visa costs $30, and Egypt will raise the fee to $33 on 1 January 2027. Our Egypt visa and entry page explains who can get one on arrival.
Which winter cruise to book
| If you | Book | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want the warmest settled weather | Late November or December | 94% of December days in Luxor were in the 20°C to 30°C range |
| Travel over Christmas or New Year | Book as early as you can | The holiday weeks are the busiest of the season, and 2025 was a record year for arrivals |
| Hate the cold | Avoid January, or pick a cabin with good heating | 81% of January nights in Luxor fell below 10°C |
| Want Abu Simbel at its most famous | An Aswan stay over 22 February | The alignment happens on just two mornings a year; the ticket that day costs 1,272 EGP |
| Have only a long weekend | The 3-night Aswan to Luxor sailing | Then add a hotel night in Luxor for the West Bank |
| Want time in the temples | The 4-night Luxor to Aswan sailing, plus a night in Luxor before | Winter days are short, and most Luxor sites stop admitting at 4pm |
Whatever you choose, read the itinerary by day: which sites, at what time, and which tickets are included. For more on boats and cabins, see our guide to choosing a Nile cruise. Our Egypt itineraries show how to fit a cruise around Cairo and the Red Sea, and the Cairo guide covers the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
FAQ
What is the best month for a Nile cruise?
December. In ten years of records from Luxor airport, 94% of December days had a high between 20°C and 30°C, and no day reached 35°C. Late November and February are close behind; January is just as pleasant by day but has the coldest nights.
Is it cold on a Nile cruise in January?
By day, no: the average high in Luxor is about 23°C (73°F). At night and early in the morning, yes. 81% of January nights in Luxor dropped below 10°C (50°F), so bring a warm layer for the sun deck and for sunrise trips.
Is it better to sail from Luxor to Aswan or from Aswan to Luxor?
Luxor to Aswan is usually sold as 4 nights and Aswan to Luxor as 3, because one goes against the current. The 4-night sailing gives more time overall; whichever you pick, add a hotel night in Luxor so you are not rushed on the West Bank.
Are temple tickets included in a Nile cruise?
Usually the main ones are, but not always, and extra tombs in the Valley of the Kings rarely are. If you pay yourself, the seven main sites between Luxor and Aswan cost 3,840 EGP (about $72) for a foreign adult at current official prices.
Can I see the Abu Simbel sun festival on a Nile cruise?
Not from a Luxor to Aswan ship, because Abu Simbel is well south of Aswan. You need a day trip from Aswan or a Lake Nasser cruise. The alignment happens on 22 February and 22 October, and the ticket that day costs 1,272 EGP.
Sources and checks
Last checked 12 November 2026. The weather figures are our own analysis of NOAA station data. Ticket prices and hours are from Egypt’s official ticketing site and change from time to time.
- Daily highs and lows: NOAA NCEI Global Summary of the Day for Luxor (station 62405), Aswan (62414) and Cairo (62366) airports, 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2025, about 230 to 310 days per calendar month and station. These summaries are built from regular weather reports and can miss the exact peak of a day by a little; days with no reading were left out.
- Sunrise, sunset and daylight hours: Open-Meteo historical weather API, median values for 2016 to 2025.
- Ticket prices and opening hours: the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities ticketing site, pages for Karnak, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings (also on egymonuments.gov.eg), Hatshepsut, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and Abu Simbel, read on 12 November 2026. Dollar amounts use the rate of 53.55 EGP to the dollar published by ExchangeRate-API on 12 November 2026.
- Visitor numbers: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities figures as reported by Business Today Egypt, 4 January 2026.
- Visa fee: ATTA, citing an Egyptian Cabinet decision of 13 August 2026, and Wego. We could not load the official e-Visa portal; check it before you apply.
- Abu Simbel sun alignment dates: Ahram Online.
- River distance and cruise lengths are typical figures from operators’ published itineraries; individual sailings differ.
- Links to GetYourGuide are affiliate links: if you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. They did not influence the analysis.
