Holidays to Egypt in December

Holidays to Egypt in December can be a truly magical experience. The weather is absolutely wonderful at this time of year, and being the start of the peak tourist season, the atmosphere is simply fantastic. For many people, December is the perfect time to visit Egypt.

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Visiting Egypt in December

Tens of thousands of people from around the world book holidays to Egypt in December. This makes December, which is the start of the winter season, the busiest time of the year in terms of tourism. Make no mistake; this is the most popular time for a visit to the Land of the Pharaohs, especially if you want to enjoy cooler temperatures.

Since this is the start of Egypt’s peak season, it is common to encounter large crowds of tourists at major archaeological sites such as the Pyramids of Giza near Cairo, Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, and Ramses II’s rock-hewn temples at Abu Simbel.

If you would prefer to avoid large crowds of tourists, this can easily be done simply with our Egypt private tours by visiting the most popular historical sites early in the morning or in the late afternoon. Bear in mind that many historic sites, including the Pyramids of Giza, open at 08h00 and the large tourist buses usually start arriving at around 09h30.

Holidays to Egypt in December

The majestic Giza Plateau with its famous pyramids

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Planning and Booking Holidays to Egypt in December

As we have already said, December is part of the peak holiday season in Egypt. This can make it difficult to find good hotel accommodation with affordable rates. If you want to visit Egypt in December, we strongly recommend making all your bookings well in advance. The same applies to a Nile cruise in December, which should also be booked well in advance.

The easiest and most convenient way to enjoy holidays to Egypt in December is to book your trip through a reputable Egypt tour operator that offers customizable and/or tailor made Egypt December packages. Again, to secure the best possible deal, it is crucial to book your tour well in advance.

Christmas and New Year in Egypt

Spending Christmas and New in Egypt is a wondrous experience, and one which is guaranteed to leave you with lifelong memories. Just imagine strolling through the ruins of ancient temples and other iconic sites on Christmas day, or starting your New Year at magnificent Abu Simbel Temples or the Giza necropolis, standing before the Great Pyramid of Giza, or even inside the Great Pyramid.

Why wake up to a cold and wet Christmas in Europe or elsewhere when instead, you could wake up to lots of sunshine and the many breathtaking relics of Ancient Egypt.

With wonderfully pleasant daytime temperatures guaranteed, Christmas and New Year Egypt tours are immensely popular, as are Christmas and New Year Nile River cruises. 4-day and 5-day Nile River cruises in particular are extremely popular, so again, it is crucial to book well in advance. To see most of Egypt’s most famous attractions during holidays to Egypt in December, we would strongly recommend booking a good quality Nile cruise package holiday.

Recommended: Egypt Christmas Tours and Nile Cruises

Festivals in Egypt in December

There are always festivals or celebrations of some sort in Egypt, but these festivals and their dates are typically announced at various times of the year, and often with very little notice.

In terms of regular annual festivals, there is only one in December. This is the Sphinx Festival which lasts for five days. During these five days there are a wide variety of seminars, demonstrations, choreography sessions and a range of performances. The Sphinx Festival is essentially all about Egyptian tradition and culture.

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Weather in Egypt in December

There is a common misconception that the weather is always very hot in Egypt, but in reality, this is not always the case, and December, January and February are a perfect example.

In Cairo, Egypt’s capital city, average temperatures range from 17C to 23C (66F to 73F) during the day and from 9C to 12C (48F to 53F) in the evenings. If you head south to places like Aswan, Luxor and Abu Simbel, you will find that the days are somewhat warmer, and the nights somewhat colder. In these areas, daily maximum temperatures range from around 23C to 26C (73F to 79F) with daily minimum temperatures at night ranging from around 7C to 9C (44F to 48F).

In places like Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam, the average daytime high is 23C (73.4F). This makes December a particularly good time to visit Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt’s most popular coastal resort and one of the country’s top holiday destinations.

Tourists arriving from countries with warm climates might find the weather in Egypt to be a bit on the cold side in December, and especially in the evenings. However, these cool temperatures are ideal for visiting Egypt’s historic sites or for exploring Egypt’s bustling cities like Cairo.

Knowing what sort of weather to expect makes it easier to know what sort of clothing to pack for holidays to Egypt in December so that you won’t be forced to buy additional clothing when you arrive in the country. Considering how low minimum nighttime temperatures can drop, It is definitely advisable to pack in a few extra layers of clothing and 1 or 2 light jackets.

What to wear in Egypt in December?

If your plan is to visit Egypt in December, you are probably wondering what to wear in Egypt at this time of the year. A lot of people make the mistake of traveling to Egypt believing that it is a very hot country year round, but this is definitely not the case.

The weather in December is generally quite cool and even slightly cold at this time of year, especially in the evenings. After all, in December Is the first of Egypt three winter months, with January being the country’s coldest month.

On most days, you could comfortably wear a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, but there are times when long pants and a long-sleeve shirt are more suitable. Again, this is especially true in the evenings when you will probably need an extra layer of clothing to stay warm.

What to pack for Egypt in December?

When packing for holidays to Egypt in December, you don’t really need to give too much thought to what sort of clothes to pack. Male travelers should pack in a few pairs of shorts, some trousers, some t-shirts or long sleeve shirts, and a jacket to wear in the evenings.

Female travelers should pack in similar items of clothing, maybe substituting trousers with dresses. It is also a good idea to pack in a head scarf if you plan on visiting any mosques while in the country, although this is something which you could simply buy in Egypt.

In addition to what has been said above, here are 10 other things which you should consider packing for your trip to Egypt:

  1. A good pair of sunglasses – while some days in December are cloudy, you will almost certain have lots of blue skies and sunshine.
  2. A wide-brimmed hat to protect your face from the sun if you are concerned about sunburn when visiting Egypt’s famous archaeological sites and/or when sailing on the Nile River.
  3. Good quality sunscreen lotion, especially if you are going to be wearing short pants and t-shirts, or if you intend spending time on one or more of Egypt’s beautiful beaches.
  4. A universal power adapter if you are from a country outside of the Middle East.
  5. Portable charger for charging your phone during tours and day trips.
  6. A neck wallet which you can tuck away under your top when you are in crowded areas. A neck wallet helps you to keep your money and cards secure, and avoid having your money and cards stolen by pickpockets.
  7. A small to medium sized backpack for storing personal belongings during tours and outings, and for holding any goods you may purchase while you are out and about.
  8. An insulated water bottle for keeping your water or other beverages cool during tours.
  9. A good quality insect repellent for keeping mosquitos and other bugs at bay.
  10. Some anti-diarrhea treatment in case you end up with an upset stomach.

Epic Holidays to Egypt in December, with Lifelong Memories Guaranteed!

If your dream is to visit Egypt in December, or even at any other time of the year, Egypt Tours Plus has the knowledge, experience and expertise to make your dream come true. Our private guided Egypt tours include world-class accommodation, admission to all listed attractions, your own guides, your own personal drivers, and deluxe air-conditioned vehicles so you can enjoy Egypt’s ancient sites and other popular attractions in comfort and style.

Contact us now to begin planning your Egypt tour package, or to book one of our bespoke holidays to Egypt in December today.

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Last Updated on March 27, 2024