August is the peak of the Egyptian domestic summer and the emptiest month of the year for foreign visitors. Cairo holds around 35°C, Luxor and Aswan stay in the low forties, and the Mediterranean north coast runs at full capacity. The Nile valley is at its cheapest, the Red Sea is at its warmest, and almost nobody is at the temples.
The shape of the month
August is July continued, with two differences. The humidity in Cairo and the Delta is slightly higher, which makes 35°C feel worse than the same number in Aswan. And the domestic season reaches its absolute peak before schools return at the end of the month.
The same day structure applies and is not optional: sites at opening, finished by 09:30, indoors or in water through the middle of the day, out again after 17:00.
Weather by region
- Cairo and the Delta – around 35°C by day and 24°C at night, rainless, and more humid than the south.
- Luxor and Aswan – the low forties, with warm nights. Aswan remains the hottest inhabited place in Egypt.
- The Red Sea – 35°C air and the sea at its annual peak of about 29–30°C. No wetsuit needed.
- Alexandria and the north coast – low thirties with a Mediterranean breeze, and the busiest weeks of the Egyptian year.
- The Western Desert – still closed as a practical destination.
Where August works
- The Red Sea. Warmest water of the year, excellent visibility, and the southern liveaboard season continuing to the Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone.
- Alexandria, if you want the Egyptian summer rather than the tourist one – the Bibliotheca, the catacombs, the Corniche and the seafood, with a sea breeze the interior never gets.
- Cairo on a budget. The Egyptian Museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Islamic Cairo and Coptic Cairo are all indoor or shaded, and hotel rates are low.
- The Nile valley for price. Cruises and Luxor hotels are at their annual floor, and you will have Karnak largely to yourself at dawn.
Prices and crowds
The same split as July, more extreme. Luxor, Aswan and the Nile cruises are at the bottom of their range with minimal foreign demand; the north coast is at the top of its range with maximum domestic demand. Once Egyptian schools return towards the end of August, the Mediterranean coast empties quickly and its rates fall.
See the cost of travelling Egypt.
What to pack
Loose long-sleeved cotton or linen, a wide hat, strong sunglasses, very high factor sunscreen, electrolytes and a large refillable bottle. A rash vest for the Red Sea sun, and modest clothing for mosques and churches. See what to pack for Egypt.
The August 2027 calendar
- Through August – Luxor and Aswan in the low forties; dawn sightseeing only.
- Through August – the north coast at its annual peak; Egyptian school holidays running.
- Through August – the Red Sea at its warmest, around 29–30°C.
- Early August – the Islamic New Year may fall here rather than late July, depending on the moon sighting.
- Late August – Egyptian schools return; the Mediterranean coast empties and rates fall.
- Through August – Nile valley prices at their annual floor.
- 22 October – the next Abu Simbel sun alignment, worth booking now.
Read alongside
- Egypt in July – the hottest weeks and the domestic season.
- Egypt in September – the heat breaking and the season restarting.
- Best time to visit Egypt – all twelve months compared.
- Cost of travelling Egypt – the cheapest Nile valley rates.
- What to pack for Egypt – the hot-season list.
- Is Egypt safe for travel – including heat and health.
- Egypt travel guide – regions and how to combine them.
Frequently asked
How hot is Egypt in August?
Cairo averages about 35°C by day and 24°C at night, with more humidity than the south. Luxor and Aswan stay in the low forties, and the Red Sea and north coast are cooler thanks to the breeze.
Is August a good time to visit Egypt?
For the Red Sea, Alexandria and low prices, yes. For all-day sightseeing in the Nile valley it is among the two hardest months of the year – though the temples are close to empty at dawn.
Is the Red Sea warm in August?
It is at its annual peak, around 29–30°C, which is warm enough to dive with no wetsuit at all. Sun protection matters far more than thermal protection.
Is Egypt cheap in August?
The Nile valley is at its annual floor – Luxor, Aswan and the cruise boats are at their lowest rates. The Mediterranean north coast is simultaneously at its most expensive until schools return.
When do Egyptian schools go back?
Towards the end of August, and the effect on the north coast is immediate: the resorts empty within days and rates fall sharply for September.
What can you do in Cairo in the heat?
Most of Cairo’s best sights are indoors or shaded – the Egyptian Museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum, the mosques and madrasas of Islamic Cairo, Coptic Cairo and Khan el-Khalili’s covered lanes. Save Giza for opening time.
Are the temples crowded in August?
No – it is the emptiest month of the year for foreign visitors, and at opening time Karnak and the Valley of the Kings are close to deserted. The constraint is the temperature, not the crowds.
Is there any rain in August?
Essentially none anywhere in Egypt. Even Alexandria, the wettest part of the country, is dry through the summer.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
