The Best Time to Visit Hurghada: A Month-by-Month Guide
When is the water warmest, when does the sea settle, and which month suits diving or a desert safari? A practical guide to timing your Hurghada holiday.
The short answer: Hurghada works all year round. The longer — and more useful — answer is that each season gives you a completely different holiday, and picking the wrong month for a particular activity can cost you a whole day.
Winter (December – February)
Sunny days of 20–24°C, nights dropping to 12–14°C. The sea sits at 21–23°C, swimmable in a shorty wetsuit but genuinely cool if you are not used to it. This is comfortably the best season for desert safari trips, because the desert is pleasant instead of punishing, and the best season for the Cairo and Pyramids day trip, where hours of walking between monuments becomes a pleasure rather than an endurance test.
One thing to plan around: January and February are the windiest months of the year. Boat trips are occasionally cancelled by the harbour authority for safety, so we always suggest keeping one spare day in your itinerary.
Spring (March – May)
In our view the best all-round season. Air temperatures of 25–32°C, the sea climbing from 22°C to 26°C, and the wind easing off. Everything is comfortably available: the Orange Bay trip, Dolphin House and the diving trips are all at their best. April and May in particular combine near-perfect weather with prices below the summer peak.
Summer (June – August)
Hot: 35–40°C during the day. But the sea reaches 28–29°C and turns into a warm bath, and underwater visibility is at its yearly best. This is the sea season without question — a day on a boat or on Mahmya beach passes easily. On the other hand we would avoid full-day land trips such as Luxor in July and August, or take the private version that starts earlier and finishes earlier.
A practical tip: in these months book desert trips for the late afternoon only, such as the quad bike sunset tour.
Autumn (September – November)
The season most repeat visitors quietly prefer. Temperatures drift down from 33°C to 27°C, the sea stays warm at 26–28°C right through November, and the wind settles. October in particular is what we recommend to anyone who wants both the sea and the desert in one holiday.
What about rain?
Effectively none. Hurghada records under 5 mm of rain across an entire year. You will not need an umbrella — you will need high-factor sunscreen in every single month.
Quick summary
- Diving and snorkelling: May – November (warmest water, best visibility).
- Desert safari: October – April.
- Cairo and Luxor day trips: November – March.
- Best balance of weather and price: April, May, October.
Not sure which excursion suits your dates? Message us with your travel dates and group size and we will suggest the right programme, or browse all excursions directly.
