Luxor Weather

January is Luxor's canonical peak season — high 23°C / 73°F, low 6°C / 43°F. Genuinely the best month to visit, with cool mornings perfect for Valley of the Kings hiking + warm afternoons for the Nile + felucca sunsets. The smart January move: book hotels + Nile cruises 3-4 months ahead. The first week (Dec 23-Jan 5) sees Christmas-New Year rates triple at Sofitel Winter Palace + Hilton Luxor + the apex Nile cruises (Oberoi + Mövenpick). The second + third weeks of January are still busy but rates moderate. Hot air balloon launches daily at sunrise — $80-130 per person. Cool morning launches mean you'll want layers (mornings genuinely cool at 6-10°C). Valley of the Kings + Hatshepsut at 06:00 opening are uncrowded and pleasant; by 11:00 the tour groups dominate. Coptic Christmas January 7 — Egypt's Coptic Christian minority celebrates. Some local restaurants close but tourist sites operate normally. Dress for the cool mornings + warm afternoons — light jacket + long pants + long-sleeve shirt early, short sleeves + sun hat by 11:00.

February is Luxor's second canonical peak month — high 25°C / 77°F, low 8°C / 46°F. Slightly warmer afternoons than January, mornings still cool. Abu Simbel Sun Festival February 22 — the canonical Egyptian temple photographer's moment. Twice a year (Feb 22 + Oct 22), the sunrise sunlight penetrates 60m into the Abu Simbel Great Temple inner sanctuary and illuminates 3 of the 4 seated statues (Ramses II + Ra-Horakhty + Amun-Ra; the fourth, Ptah god of darkness, never receives sunlight by design). Book Abu Simbel day flight ($150-200) 4-6 months ahead for the Sun Festival window. Sites + flights book solid. Valentine's Day at Sofitel Winter Palace 1886 Restaurant + Old Cataract Hotel Aswan book 2-3 weeks ahead. The Nile cruise + dhow sunset + 1886 Restaurant Valentine's combo is the canonical Luxor romantic itinerary. Weather still genuinely pleasant for Valley of the Kings + Hatshepsut hiking. Hot air balloon launches daily. The smart February move: target the second + third weeks for the year's best Luxor weather + balanced pricing (avoiding Sun Festival surge week + Valentine's surge week).

November is Luxor's canonical peak season start — high 28°C / 82°F, low 12°C / 54°F. Genuinely perfect weather. Mornings cool for Valley of the Kings hiking, afternoons warm for the Nile + felucca sunsets. The smart November move: book hotels + Nile cruises 2-3 months ahead. The Sofitel Winter Palace + Hilton Luxor + apex Nile cruises (Oberoi + Mövenpick) hit peak rates. Hot air balloon $80-130 fully booked 2-4 days ahead — book through hotel concierge. Valley of the Kings + Hatshepsut at 06:00 opening uncrowded; by 11:00 the November tour groups dominate. Karnak Sound & Light Show evenings ($12) popular — book ahead.