Booking choice: The half-day West Bank tour, from $11 per person. Check dates Tour details
Luxor has two seasons that matter to a visitor: the summer, when the West Bank is an oven by 10:00, and the winter, when it is pleasant all day and everybody comes. For 2026-27 the balloons are back after a summer break, and the Ministry has been rebuilding the temple's visitor centre for the rush.
This post sets out the weather, the peak weeks, the holidays that move crowds and prices, and how far ahead to book.
The quick answer
November to February is the comfortable window: highs of 23 to 29°C and nights down to about 7°C in January. The busiest weeks are Christmas to New Year and the Chinese New Year holiday from 6 February 2027. Ramadan is expected from about 8 or 9 February to 9 or 10 March 2027. Be at Hatshepsut's temple at 06:00 and book Christmas dates now.
What is the weather in Luxor from October to April?
Warm days and cold mornings. January averages 23°C at midday and 7°C before dawn; by April the highs are back at 35°C.
The figures below are the World Meteorological Organization 1991-2020 averages for Luxor, as published on Wikipedia's Luxor climate table. Rain is close to zero all year. What catches people out is the morning: a 06:00 start in a balloon basket or at the temple gate in January is genuinely cold, often under 10°C. Bring a fleece.
Hatshepsut's temple faces east into a bare limestone bowl. Even in winter the terraces heat up by late morning, and there is little shade between the ramps. Sunrise and sunset times below are calculated for Luxor in local time (UTC+2).
| Month | Average high | Average low | Sunrise / sunset | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 35.5°C | 19.6°C | 06:47 / 18:23 (15 Oct, summer time) | Still hot; go at opening |
| November | 29.1°C | 13.4°C | 05:57 / 17:09 (1 Nov) | Our pick: warm, before the peak |
| December | 24.2°C | 8.6°C | 06:31 / 17:03 (21 Dec) | Mild days, busy at the holidays |
| January | 22.8°C | 7.1°C | 06:37 / 17:19 (15 Jan) | Coolest, cold dawns |
| February | 25.3°C | 8.9°C | 06:25 / 17:42 (15 Feb) | Busy with half terms and Asia |
| March | 29.7°C | 12.8°C | 06:00 / 17:58 (15 Mar) | Warming fast |
| April | 35.0°C | 17.5°C | 05:27 / 18:12 (15 Apr) | Hot by 10:00 |
When is Hatshepsut's temple most crowded in winter?
Between about 09:00 and 13:00 on any winter day, and all day in the Christmas to New Year week. The first hour after the 06:00 opening is the quiet one.
Most tour groups follow the same loop: Valley of the Kings first, then Hatshepsut, then the Colossi. Day trips from Hurghada arrive after a four-hour drive, which puts them on the West Bank from late morning. That is when the ramps fill. Go the other way round or go early.
Guests on the private half day who started early are glad they did. One wrote that "we were the very first people to enter the Valley of the Kings right at 6:00 AM" (M2861DHkeithk). In December another guest mentioned "the lines to get into some of the more popular tombs" (Eileen S.), and the guide steered the group to quieter ones.
The Ministry has been rebuilding the Hatshepsut visitor centre with 11 electronic ticket gates, due before the winter season, as Egypt Independent reported in April 2026. It should speed up the queue at the window.
Private car and guide, out of the hotel at dawn: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut and the Colossi before the heat.
Check dates for the half-day West Bank tourWhich holidays fall in the 2026-27 season?
Christmas and New Year, Coptic Christmas on 7 January, Chinese New Year on 6 February 2027, then Ramadan from about 8 or 9 February and Eid al-Fitr around 9 to 11 March 2027.
Western Christmas and New Year bring the biggest single wave of European visitors. Coptic Christmas on 7 January is a public holiday in Egypt. Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027, and Chinese groups travel in the holiday week that follows. UK and European school half terms land in mid February too.
Ramadan 2027 is expected to start on 8 or 9 February, depending on the moon sighting, with Egypt's Dar al-Ifta making the call. Wego's Egypt calendar puts it at about 9 February to 10 March, with Eid al-Fitr around 11 March. Sites stay open. Local restaurants may close by day, drivers and guides are fasting, and Eid itself brings Egyptian families to the temples.
| Date | Event | Effect on a Hatshepsut visit |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Dec 2026 to 2 Jan 2027 | Christmas and New Year | Peak crowds, hotels full |
| 7 Jan 2027 | Coptic Christmas (public holiday) | Local visitors, sites open |
| 25 Jan 2027 | Revolution Day and Police Day (public holiday) | Busier with Egyptian visitors |
| 6 Feb 2027 and the week after | Chinese New Year | More Asian groups |
| Mid February | UK and European half terms | Families, busy weekends |
| About 8-9 Feb to 9-10 Mar 2027 | Ramadan (expected) | Sites open, slower local pace |
| About 9-11 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (expected) | Egyptian holiday crowds |
Is winter the best time for a balloon flight over Luxor?
Yes. Flights resumed on 15 September 2026 after a summer pause, and the cool, still mornings of November to February are the most comfortable. Wind can still ground a whole morning.
Balloons over the West Bank were paused for the summer of 2026 and came back on 15 September with test flights, CairoScene reported. In December and January the launch is around sunrise, about 06:20 to 06:40, which means a hotel pickup at around 05:00.
The Civil Aviation Authority grounds every operator when the morning wind is too strong. It did so on 13 March 2026, according to Egypt Today. Put the balloon on your first morning, so a cancelled flight can move to the next day. The route follows the wind, so nobody can promise you a pass over the temple.
The sunrise balloon ride with transfers gets you back to the hotel by breakfast. The balloon and West Bank day goes straight on to the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut.
Sunrise over the West Bank with hotel transfers both ways. Fly on your first morning, so a wind cancellation can move to the next day.
Explore the sunrise balloon ride Tour detailsHow far ahead should you book Luxor for winter 2026-27?
For Christmas, New Year and mid February: now. For the rest of the season, two to four weeks ahead is enough for tours; hotels on the Nile fill earlier.
Private tours are the easy part. A guide and a car can usually be found a few days out, except in the holiday weeks. Balloon seats and the good Nile-view rooms go first. Every tour on this site cancels free up to 24 hours before, so booking early costs nothing if your plans change.
Gate tickets do not need booking ahead. Buy them at the window by card on the day, or on the official platform. Ticket prices are in our 2026 price list.
| Travel dates | Book tours by | Why |
|---|---|---|
| November to mid December | 1 to 2 weeks ahead | Good weather, before the rush |
| 20 December to 3 January | As early as you can | Holiday peak, balloons sell out |
| January | 2 to 3 weeks ahead | Quieter after New Year |
| February | 3 to 4 weeks ahead | Chinese New Year, half terms |
| Ramadan (about 8 Feb to 10 Mar) | 2 weeks ahead | Tours run, check meal plans |
| Late March to April | 1 week ahead | Demand falls as heat rises |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Luxor in winter?
November. Highs are around 29°C, mornings are mild and the holiday crowds have not arrived. January is the coolest month and the busiest after the Christmas week.
Is Luxor cold in January?
At dawn, yes: the average low is about 7°C. Midday is around 23°C. Bring a warm layer for balloon flights and early temple visits.
When is Ramadan 2027 in Egypt?
It is expected to start on 8 or 9 February 2027 and end around 9 or 10 March, with Eid al-Fitr following. Egypt confirms the date by moon sighting.
Do Luxor balloons fly in winter?
Yes, winter is the main season. Flights resumed on 15 September 2026 after a summer pause. Strong wind can still cancel a morning, so fly early in your stay.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Half-Day Valley of the Kings & Hatshepsut Tour
- Private English-speaking Egyptologist
- Air-conditioned car with hotel pickup in Luxor
- Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut's temple, Colossi of Memnon
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride over Luxor
Hatshepsut's terraces from the air at dawn
Valley of the Kings, Queens & Hatshepsut Day Tour
- Private Egyptologist guide and air-conditioned car
- Pickup anywhere in Luxor (airport $10 extra)
- Entry to the Valley of the Kings (3 tombs), Hatshepsut, Habu, Deir el-Medina and the Valley of the Queens
