Best Time for a Nile Cruise, Month by Month

05 Oct, 2026

The most comfortable months for a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan are November to March, when average daily highs in Luxor run from 23.0 to 29.5 °C. From May to September highs reach 39.0 °C or more in both cities, and the boats' sundeck pools do the cooling.

Key Takeaways

Month by month

Average daily high and low, in degrees Celsius.

Month

Luxor (high / low)

Aswan (high / low)

January

23.0 / 5.9 °C

22.9 / 8.8 °C

February

25.1 / 7.8 °C

24.8 / 11.0 °C

March

29.5 / 11.8 °C

29.4 / 14.9 °C

April

35.3 / 16.9 °C

35.2 / 19.9 °C

May

39.0 / 21.2 °C

39.0 / 23.1 °C

June

41.3 / 23.5 °C

41.2 / 26.1 °C

July

41.4 / 24.7 °C

41.4 / 26.2 °C

August

41.0 / 24.4 °C

41.2 / 26.0 °C

September

39.3 / 22.2 °C

39.5 / 25.0 °C

October

35.3 / 18.4 °C

35.7 / 20.8 °C

November

29.0 / 12.3 °C

29.0 / 15.6 °C

December

24.3 / 7.8 °C

24.2 / 11.3 °C

What the numbers mean for a cruise

November to March: highs between 22.9 and 29.5 °C make the temple visits, which are outdoors and on foot, comfortable all day. Nights are cool, with lows as low as 5.9 °C in Luxor in January and 8.8 °C in Aswan, so a sweater matters on the sundeck. This is also the season of the December and New Year holiday trips under Christmas and New Year tours.

April and October: highs of 35.2 to 35.7 °C. Browse the boats under Nile river cruises, and plan the longest outdoor visits for the morning.

May to September: highs from 39.0 to 41.4 °C in both cities, and lows that stay above 21 °C. If you travel then, choose a boat with a pool and plan temple visits for the early morning. The luxury boats on the luxury Nile cruises page are a good place to compare facilities.

Choosing the boat for the season

The MS Nile Style Nile Cruise, 4 and 5 Night Sailings has a sundeck pool; the Steigenberger Minerva Nile Cruise, Luxor to Aswan has a pool and a gym; the Steigenberger Regency Nile Cruise, Luxor to Aswan has panoramic windows, a pool and a Jacuzzi; and the MS Crown Jewel Nile Cruise, Luxor to Aswan is a five-star boat with a pool and a large sun deck.

Two companion guides cover the rest of the decision: which direction to sail and whether to choose a dahabiya. For the whole country, read the best time to visit Egypt and how the climate varies across Egypt.

Over the holidays

The three holiday trips each pair Cairo with a Nile boat. The 8 Days Egypt Christmas Holiday spends three nights in Cairo and four on a five-star boat from Luxor to Aswan, ending at Abu Simbel. The 7 Days Egypt Tour in December gives three nights in Cairo for Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum and three on a boat from Aswan to Luxor. The 8 Days Egypt New Year Tour spends four nights in Cairo and three on the river, with a free day in Cairo. Some sailings run on a fixed weekday: the Mayflower and the Nile Style leave Luxor every Monday and the Adonis every Thursday, so pick your dates around those.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best month for a Nile cruise? January is the coolest, with a Luxor average high of 23.0 °C. November and March are warmer, at 29.0 and 29.5 °C.

Is a Nile cruise too hot in summer? Highs reach 41.4 °C in July in both Luxor and Aswan. Choose a boat with a pool and start temple visits early.

Are the nights cold? In winter, yes: Luxor averages 5.9 °C at night in January.

Where do the boats sail? Between Luxor and Aswan in Upper Egypt.