The best time to visit Hurghada: a month-by-month guide
Hurghada runs all year, but each season feels different. Here is what to expect from the weather, the sea and the crowds — and which trips suit which months.
Hurghada is one of the few places with no closed season. There is sun almost every day, and the Red Sea never cools the way other seas do. That does not make the months interchangeable, though — March and August are genuinely different holidays, and not only by temperature.
Spring: March to May
The window most people who have worked here for years will point you at. Warm without being heavy, a sea that has recovered from winter, and calmer wind than the colder months. This is the best stretch for full-day island trips where you spend hours on a boat.
It suits the longer overland trips too, such as the Cairo and desert package — the desert road is entirely comfortable at this time of year.
Summer: June to August
The hottest months and the warmest water. If you are coming to swim and snorkel, this is the sea at its best, and the surface temperature suits anyone who dislikes a cold entry.
One practical rule: start early. Most of our boat trips leave in the morning for a single reason — ten in the morning to three in the afternoon is the hardest part of the day on your skin, and you spend it on an open deck. Sunscreen, a hat and a light long-sleeved shirt are not optional in these months.
Autumn: September to November
Many people consider this the best period of all: the summer heat breaks gradually while the water is still holding its summer warmth. October and November in particular give you a mild day for moving around and a warm sea for snorkelling.
It is an excellent time to combine a sea day like Orange Bay with a desert trip in the same week, because neither is uncomfortable.
Winter: December to February
Sunny, pleasant days — and evenings that get colder than visitors expect. Wind is stronger, which sometimes means a boat trip is cancelled for safety. When that happens we cancel and refund in full; it is not a judgement call made on the morning by a guide.
Winter is far and away the best season for overland trips. The Luxor day trip and the sunset safari with Bedouin dinner are at their best when the sun is not something to survive. Bring a jacket for the desert evening — the gap between noon and night out there is large.
The short version
- Here mainly for the sea? May to October.
- Here to move around and see things? October to April.
- Want both? October and November, then March and April.
Whichever month you pick, every available date and the seats left on it are on the trips page — those numbers are live and change with each booking.