November is one of the most balanced months to visit Egypt: around 29 °C (84 °F) in the afternoon in Luxor, 25 °C (77 °F) in Cairo, almost no rain and a Red Sea that is still warm. Verdict: ✅ excellent, for a cultural circuit as well as for a temples-and-beach combination. The only caveat: high season is starting and prices are rising.
The furnace of summer is over, nights are cool again in Upper Egypt and the light is clear. This page covers November in detail; to compare with the rest of the year, see our page on the best time to visit Egypt.
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Egypt in November: key facts
- Verdict: ✅ excellent everywhere, clear skies
- Luxor: 29.1 °C (84 °F) in the afternoon, 13.4 °C (56 °F) at night, 0.5 mm (0.0 in) of rain
- Cairo: 24.9 °C (77 °F), 15.6 °C (60 °F); Aswan: 29.8 °C (86 °F), 16.2 °C (61 °F)
- Red Sea: around 28 °C (82 °F) in the afternoon, sea still warm, a good time for the beach and diving
- Crowds and prices: heavy and high, high season is starting
- Time difference: Egypt (UTC+2 in November) is 2 hours ahead of London (GMT) and 7 hours ahead of New York (EST, from 1 November)
Weather in Egypt in November
November is the transition between the still-hot autumn and the mild winter. Every region of the country is rated ✅ in our overview: Cairo, the Nile valley, the Red Sea and even the oases.
| City | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo | 24.9 °C (77 °F) | 15.6 °C (60 °F) |
| Luxor | 29.1 °C (84 °F) | 13.4 °C (56 °F) |
| Aswan | 29.8 °C (86 °F) | 16.2 °C (61 °F) |
| Hurghada (Red Sea) | 27.8 °C (82 °F) | 17.7 °C (64 °F) |
| Sharm El Sheikh (Sinai) | 27.8 °C (82 °F) | 19.6 °C (67 °F) |
Between October and November, maximums drop by about 6 °C (11 °F) in Luxor (from 35.5 °C (96 °F) to 29.1 °C (84 °F)): this is what makes outdoor sightseeing comfortable again. Rain remains anecdotal (0.5 mm (0.0 in) in Luxor).
Where to go in Egypt in November
Luxor, Aswan and the Nile cruise
November opens the ideal cruise season, which lasts until February. It is still hot in the middle of the day (29 to 30 °C, 84 to 86 °F): schedule visits early in the morning and late in the afternoon, and enjoy the boat during the hot hours.
Cairo and Giza
At 25 °C (77 °F) in the afternoon, November is one of the best times for the Giza plateau, Saqqara, Islamic Cairo and the museums.
The Red Sea
April-May and October-November are the most pleasant months for the beach and diving: around 28 °C (82 °F) in the afternoon, nights of 18 to 20 °C (64 to 68 °F) and a sea that keeps the warmth of summer. November suits a Cairo, Luxor then Hurghada combination very well. You can also try that combination a month earlier: our page on Egypt in October compares the heat and the sea.
The oases and the Western Desert
The White Desert and Siwa are best visited from November to February. According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 4 August 2026), the advice against all but essential travel in the Western Desert has exceptions that include Siwa, the White Desert and the oasis towns of Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga, but it advises against all travel within 20 km (12 mi) of the Egypt-Libya border: check its current advice before any excursion.
Things to do in Egypt in November
- A full circuit Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, with temperatures at last bearable
- A temples-and-beach combination, as the Red Sea is still warm
- Diving and snorkelling on the Red Sea reefs
- A hot-air balloon flight over Luxor at sunrise
- A honeymoon: November is one of the periods we recommend (cruise, then Red Sea)
Events in November
There is no major fixed national festival in November. The Abu Simbel sun phenomenon, which lights up the back of the sanctuary, takes place around 22 October and 22 February. Muslim holidays follow the lunar calendar and change every year: check the dates before you book.
Crowds and prices in November
High season is starting: crowds are heavy and prices high, especially around school holidays in Europe and North America at the start of the month. The middle of the month is generally a little less busy than the end-of-year holidays. Book flights and your cruise 1 to 2 months ahead outside holidays, 3 to 5 months for the busiest periods.
What to pack for Egypt in November
- Light, covering clothes in cotton or linen
- A jacket or sweater for evenings and dawn starts
- A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a water bottle
- Swimsuits and a snorkel mask for the Red Sea
- Closed shoes for the sites and the Valley of the Kings
Before you go
Entry formalities (visa and passport) depend on your nationality: see our page on the entry requirements for Egypt. Time difference in November: Egypt (UTC+2) is 2 hours ahead of London and 7 hours ahead of New York.
If November does not suit you
Neighbouring months: October is hotter early in the month (35.5 °C (96 °F) in Luxor) but excellent for combining temples and beach. Egypt in December is mild and dry everywhere, quiet until mid-December. Egypt in February is ideal for Upper Egypt, and Egypt in April for the Red Sea.
Other destinations in November: compare with the best time to visit Jordan, which has a similar climate, Marrakech in November or Djerba in November. All our ideas are on the page where to go in November. To plan your circuit, read our Egypt travel guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Egypt in November?
Hot and dry without excess: around 29 °C (84 °F) in the afternoon in Luxor, 25 °C (77 °F) in Cairo and 28 °C (82 °F) on the Red Sea, with nights of 13 to 20 °C (55 to 68 °F) depending on the region (1991-2020 normals).
Can you swim in Egypt in November?
Yes: the Red Sea keeps the warmth of summer and the air is around 28 °C (82 °F) in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh. November is one of the best months for the beach and diving.
Is November a good month for a Nile cruise?
Yes, it opens the best season (November to February). It is still 29 to 30 °C (84 to 86 °F) in the afternoon: sightsee early in the morning and late in the day.
Is it too hot in Egypt in November?
No. The extreme heat of summer is over: Luxor is about 6 °C (11 °F) cooler than in October. The sun is still strong, so protect yourself in the middle of the day.
Is Egypt expensive in November?
Prices are high, as high season is starting, in particular around school holidays at the start of the month. They are generally lower than over the end-of-year holidays.
November or December for Egypt?
November is warmer and suits the Red Sea better. December is cooler (24 °C, 75 °F, in Luxor), ideal for the temples, but prices soar over the holidays.
Our sources
- Egyptian Meteorological Authority, via the World Meteorological Organization 1991-2020 climate normals (NOAA archive): Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh stations
- Safety information read on 26 October 2026: UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Egypt (GOV.UK, updated 4 August 2026)
- Time-difference calculation from UTC offsets, with the UK and US clock-change rules from GOV.UK, When do the clocks change, and NIST, Daylight Saving Time
- Data already published on our page the best time to visit Egypt
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
