Egypt month by month
Egypt in August
In short: August is much like July: hot, dry and with the warmest sea of the year. Cairo is 34°C (93°F), Luxor and Aswan 41°C (106°F) and the Red Sea 34°C (93°F) with sea water of 29°C (84°F). For a beach holiday with a touch of culture August works well; for an intensive tour of the south you are better off waiting until autumn.
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Warmest sea water of the year: 29°C, well suited to snorkelling and diving.
Cairo works with early mornings and museums in the afternoon.
Nile and temples at their quietest and cheapest, but 41°C in the afternoon.
The weather in Egypt in August
Cairo reaches 34°C (93°F) by day and cools to 23°C (73°F) at night. Luxor and Aswan sit at 41°C (106°F) with nights of 24°C (75°F). On the Red Sea it is 34°C (93°F) by day and 26°C (79°F) at night; the sea is 29°C (84°F). Expect 11 hours of sun a day and no rain. On the coast the air is more humid, so it feels slightly closer than in the desert.
Who is August right for?
Families in the summer holidays who mainly want the sea, and divers who appreciate the warm water; our guide to Egypt with kids shows how to pace it. For culture travellers August is a compromise: cheap and quiet, but the temples in the south only in the early morning. If you do not cope well with heat, travel in October or November.
Our advice for August
Choose a Red Sea hotel with a house reef, shade and a good pool, and add Cairo at the start or the end; Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh helps you pick the resort. For Luxor, fly there and back in a day rather than staying for days. Keep a long break every afternoon; the evenings are warm and sociable.
Figures
Temperatures in Egypt in August
Average daytime highs and night-time lows per destination in August, in Celsius and Fahrenheit. You can see at a glance where it is comfortable and where you adjust the programme.
| Destination | Daytime | At night | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | 34°C (93°F) | 23°C (73°F) | Hot and dry, evenings warm and lively |
| Luxor & Aswan | 41°C (106°F) | 24°C (75°F) | Extremely hot by day, morning programme only |
| Red Sea (Hurghada) | 34°C (93°F) | 26°C (79°F) | Sea water 29°C, 34°C by day, warm nights |
Averages over several years; a single year can differ slightly. About 11 hours of sunshine a day, sea water at Hurghada around 29°C (84°F).
Other months
Egypt month by month
Practical
What to pack
Light clothing that covers your skin, a hat, high-factor sun cream, a water bottle and a UV shirt for the sea. A thin cardigan for the air conditioning in vehicles, hotels and museums.
What you can do
The Red Sea as a base: snorkelling, diving, a day at sea. Cairo for the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum. If you want to see the Nile, choose a short cruise with a pool and morning visits.
Booking and prices
Red Sea hotels are busy in August because the summer holidays coincide with the Egyptian summer season. Book early. Cairo, Luxor and the Nile cruises have plenty of availability now and are cheap.
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Frequently asked questions
How hot is Egypt in August?
By day it averages 34°C (93°F) in Cairo, 41°C (106°F) in Luxor and Aswan and 34°C (93°F) on the Red Sea. Nights stay at 23 to 26°C (73 to 79°F). The sea is 29°C (84°F) and you get about 11 hours of sun a day.
Is August a good time to visit Egypt?
Yes, for a beach trip with some culture; for an intensive tour of the south, autumn is more comfortable. Cairo works with early mornings, the Red Sea has the warmest sea water of the year and prices along the Nile are low.
Is August a good month for the Red Sea?
Yes, for swimming, snorkelling and diving August is very good, with sea water of 29°C. It is busy, though: the summer holidays and the Egyptian summer season overlap, so book early.
Can you visit Luxor and Aswan in August?
Yes, but only with a morning programme and the afternoon indoors or on the water. It reaches 41°C. A short Nile cruise with a pool is more pleasant than separate drives.
Is August cheap in Egypt?
Along the Nile, yes: hotels in Luxor and Aswan and Nile cruises are at their cheapest in August. On the Red Sea, prices in the summer season are normal to high.
Where is it warmest in Egypt in August?
In August it is warmest in Luxor and Aswan: 41°C (106°F) by day. Next come Sharm el-Sheikh at 37°C (99°F) and Marsa Alam at 36°C (97°F). Cairo reaches 34°C (93°F) and Alexandria 31°C (88°F). The sea is 29°C (84°F) at Hurghada and 29°C (84°F) at Marsa Alam.
What is the weather like in early and late August in Egypt?
Early August is still close to July: about 35°C (95°F) in Cairo and 41°C (106°F) in Luxor. By late August the figures move towards September: about 32°C (90°F) in Cairo and 38°C (100°F) in Luxor. Over the month the Red Sea water is between about 28°C (82°F) and 28°C (82°F).
Read on
Best time to visit Egypt
Month by month: when Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea are at their most comfortable.
Weather in Egypt
Temperatures per month for Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm el-Sheikh, with the sea temperature.
Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh
Beach and an easy link with Luxor, or reefs and Mount Sinai: how to choose the Red Sea finish to your tour.
Historic Cairo (5 days)
Compact private tour of Cairo: pyramids, museums and the old city.
Egypt with kids
Which family tour fits, the best school holidays and how to handle sun, food and water on a private tour.
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