January in Egypt is "mid-winter", and thus one of the best months to visit as temperatures are much cooler than in the summer months and those around summer.
"Winter" in Egypt isn't like winter in many North American and European cities, as much milder temperatures make it a pleasant time of year to visit.
To see whether you want to plan your trip to Egypt in January, read on for average temperatures, best places in Egypt to visit in January, as well as some tips on what to wear for the weather in Egypt in January.
Egypt Weather in January: Overview
- Average temperature range in Cairo and Alexandria (north of the country): 9°C–19°C (48°F–66°F)
- Average temperature range in Hurghada and Luxor (middle to south of the country): 11°C–23°C (52°F–73°F)
- Rainfall: 0–70 mm on average in January (0–3 inches) depending on location
- Rainy days: around 11 days in the north (Alexandria, Cairo) but 0 days in the south
- Sunny days: most days (rain is usually light and brief)
In January, most days will be either sunny, or a mix of sunny with a little bit of rain. Mostly, the weather in Egypt in January is very moderate and pleasant, making it one of the most popular times of year to visit.
Get to know more ideas about planning a trip to Egypt>>>
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Our trip to Li Jiang and Shaxi Yunnan
We arrived at Lijiang on 9/8. We enjoyed the time in Lijiang a lot with good hotel selection and a well planned program. We went onto Shaxi for the local singing festival of the local minority groups. It was a fantastic experience. What makes the trip most memorable is our guide Alice. She took excellent care of us, anticipating our every need. She was personable, warm and very knowledgeable. We shared many laughters and traded stories. She brought smiles to us during the entire trip. We will specifically ask for her again when we come back to Yunnan. Five star service. More
Consumer,
Sep 2023
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Great trip around Shanghai
This was our first time ever visiting Shanghai so we wanted to see good places to go to and good food to eat in Shanghai. That's why we booked with China Highlights. They're very responsive and quick to arrange our 3 day trip. Our guide name is Qi and she is a very sweet and helpful person. She knew we wanted to explore many local foods, so she brought us some local breakfast foods when she picked us up from our hotel, just so we can try everything! She was knowledgeable as well about the culture and history of the places we went to. Will definitely recommend this tour and use China Highlights again for our next trip to China! More
Sherry,
Sep 2023
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Great way to see the city
Private tour with China highlights made seeing Xi'an super easy. We saved a lot of time with a private driver, and our guide Jenny took really good care of us, sending instructions for where to meet once getting off the train and made everything feel really safe and easy. She also accommodated a number of last minute changes to our itinerary without batting an eye. She was very patient, knowledgeable and friendly. It was great having a guide who grew up locally in the area to show us around (which is not always the case, from my previous experiences elsewhere). Would definitely recommend! More
Stephanie N,
Sep 2023
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One Day Beijing Trip (Great Wall, Summer Palace) With Jennifer
My tour guide Jennifer made this quick one day trip to Beijing great! The day started out a bit overcast and rainy when I landed, but Jennifer’s positive attitude and kind communication (along with her being able to keep up/put up with my jokes) made it fine.Despite this, Jennifer and our driver Chen were able to swing an extra photo shoot stop at the Olympic Stadium. I guess it gives me an excuse to come back to visit again, and when I do - I will use China Highlights and this great fantastic team. More
Alan Landau,
Sep 2023
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Mervyn is what we call a perfect tour guide!
Mervyn is what we call a perfect tour guide! She is extremely informative all the way through. She knows hers stuff and she is also enthusiastic, knowledgeable, personable and very willing to help. The whole day was perfect. A great amount of walking and a lots of physical activity ( hiking) and she was all smiling, accommodating and keeping us informative. She was absolutely the best tour guide we've ever encountered in China. Her English is perfect! Everything was so well organized. Her knowledge of the local culture and history is impressive. Fantastic More
pdaroundthewrorld,
Sep 2023
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Best Great Wall experience
Used China Highlights for a private all-day tour of Jinshanling portion of the Great Wall. One of the best days of my life! Tour guide Alan and a driver met me at my hotel and the ride was very comfortable. Alan was extremely knowledgable and friendly, I really enjoyed talking with him. The scenery was astoundingly beautiful; this is a less touristy portion of the Wall. The hiking was fun, Alan brought plenty of water, and showed me things I would not have noticed by myself. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a local restaurant for lunch that Alan had arranged - delicious! Once in a lifetime experience. More
LZviajera,
Sep 2023
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Wonderful experience!
Our tour guide was Mervyn, and she was amazing! She had great knowledge of Xi'an and the silk road, and we learned so many things we didn't know before. The Muslim quarter is a must-see, with so many streets of food. Terracotta warriors were breathtaking. We did a Hanfu experience and enjoyed walking the city at night in our tang Dynasty outfits. We wish we spent more than 2 days here as there's so much to do. Definitely recommend this tour and will be visiting again! More
Laura A,
Sep 2023
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Unforgettable trip to Guilin
We enjoyed an incredible two day trip in Guilin, taking a brief half-day boat cruise on the Li River and cycling around Yangshuo in the afternoon with our guide Gary. Gary met us at the airport and made us feel very welcome, providing us with five-star service. He gave us a lot of insight about Guilin and the Guangxi region and even gave us a tai chi lesson on the boat. He provided us excellent dining suggestions for the evening as well as suggestions of things to do. Thank you Gary for making our trip to Guilin so memorable! More
Regis B,
Sep 2023
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars
We were paired with great guides on every city, very knowleadgeble and hardworking people that made our trip fabulous. Jack in Beijing was brilliant and very resourceful making sure we enjoyed the city even when he wasn't with us. In Xi'An we were paired with Crystal that was incredibly smart and made sure we felt we had not only a guide but a friend to rely on in Xi'An, we loved how she made sure we tried the best food and fruit available and helped us from arrival to departure from Xi'An. Finally, kudos to Gary (Wei Li) that worked with us in Guiling and Yangshuo. Gary is a local to Guiling and truly proud of his city and origins. We learned a lot from him and he trully went above and beyond to ensure we had a great time in Guiling adjusting the itinerary to our liking and taking time to explain everything. On our flight out of Guiling we had a bit of an issue with our tickets (booked by ourselves) and Gary promptly lent a hand to help us sort it out with the airport staff, trully a champion. If you are heading to Guiling with Chinahighlights, make sure to have Gary as your guide. More
Moises,
Sep 2023
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Amazing tour!
Our guide, Linda, was by far the best person to have for our tours of The Forbidden City, Tianamen Square, and Mutianyu Great Wall. She was an encyclopedia with great knowledge of Chinese History and was able to explain every detail of what we were seeing. She picked us up with a very nice car and driver from our hotel both days, at the time most convenient to us, and dropped us back off wherever we wanted at the end of our tours. Both the Forbidden City and the Great Wall are marvels of human and Chinese achievements and are a must to see in Beijing. Visiting them both with a tour guide that feels more like a friend was certainly helping enjoying it even more. More
Robin Z,
Sep 2023
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Stunning Yellow Mountain and beautiful Ancient Villages
We had the most fantastic experience with our tour guide, Jack Fan, who is very knowledgeable about the Yellow Mountain and was able to get us quickly to the most stunning highlights. He was our "photographer" anytime we wanted a photo and that was very often. We made the most of our time having him guiding us. He was truly the mountain man as he is a local there. He is very passionate about what he does. He loves history, nature, and travel, which is a must for a guide. He provided historical facts about the stunning Ancient villages at Hong Cun and Xidi. He answered any questions we had about history, nature, and current things we had. I felt like he was a professor, and we were his students in a very good way. He was NEVER late, and neither was our driver. They never bought us anywhere to "sell" us things. He took us to buy tea only when we asked to buy a specific tea, staying much later than he should have! I wanted to check out lotus and rice fields, which was not on the itinerary, but he squeezed it in for us. We were very well taken care of. I highly recommend Jack for a tour guide who speaks English. More
annemompt,
Sep 2023
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An Unforgettable Tibetan Adventure - Qinghai Train Ride Y971
I recently embarked on an unforgettable journey to Tibet, a land steeped in mysticism and rich cultural heritage. My train trip on the famous scenic Qinghai route on train Y971 Lhasa played a significant role in making this trip an extraordinary experience.Upon my arrival in Lhasa via an overnight train, I was warmly welcomed by the guide assigned Tenzin Lhatse. He had waited for more than 3 hours as he was not informed there was a change in the train schedule. Nontheless, it did not dampen his warm attitude and the seamless transferfrom the train station to the hotel set a positive tone for my stay.The highlight of my stay was undoubtedly the visit to the iconic Potala Palace. The sheer grandeur and architectural brilliance of this historic site left me in awe. The guidance of my knowledgeable tour guide, who revealed the stories behind each shrine, enriched my experience. However, the strict visitor limits and rules underscored the importance of preserving this ancient marvel. The Old Barkhor Street Walking Tour was a journey through time. From Jokhang Temple to the bustling local market, each stop offered insights into Tibetan daily life and folk customs. The Pandatsang Compound's history and the cup of Tibetan sweet tea at Ani Tsangkhung Nunnery added unique flavors to the tour.Overall, my journey through Tibet was an incredible odyssey into a world of spirituality, culture, and natural beauty. I'm glad to have taken this step with my wife to challenge the train ride which was totally worthy of this lifetime. More
GOH-family-tours,
Sep 2023
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Wonderful trip to the Chinese Silk Road
Special shout out to our guide for the Gansu leg, Helen, who was the most caring guide we have come across in all of our travels. Make sure you ask for her! More
ED,
Sep 2023
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Fantastic first trip in Shanghai
My partner and I were visiting China for the first time. Our tour guide was Martin, who was friendly and very knowledgeable. He adjusted the tour to our needs and gave us an extensive tour of Shanghai as well as many fascinating insights on China. He also went above and beyond and offered us plenty of recommendations on what to do in the evenings, how to get there, and even made bookings for us. Martin, thanks again! More
Regis,
Sep 2023
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Yangshuo is magical from the misty…
The guide Lily has a great knowledge in hidden gems and the history about the places. Very memorable experience that i have thanks to them. More
Dony Yugo,
Sep 2023
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Beijing is AMAZING
Linda Wang our amazing tour guide helped us to have an unforgettable trip to all the best of Beijing. From organizing the driver (also excellent) to drop us/pick us up exactly when we were leaving busy tourist sites, excellent food recommendations, fascinating knowledge relevant to us and our children (13yo and 11yo) making The Forbidden City, Tiannamen Square, Great Wall, Beijing Zoo and The Hutongs thoroughly enjoyable. Handling all the entrance/exit passport and ticket requirements, interpreting, answering any questions we had about local culture, we were so comfortable and happy, never rushed, everything you could want and more. More
Michelle A,
Sep 2023
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Incredible 2 day tour of Jiuzhaiguo
Our tour guide Mary spoke perfect English, was so nice to us and took us to all the best sights in Jiuzhaiguo. It was an unforgettable tour with incredible views! More
Declan O,
Sep 2023
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Helen is the best Panda tour guide going around!
I had a fantastic Panda tour with Helen in Chengdu City. From the moment she picked me up, my energy was low from a heap of travelling, but Helen quickly brought me up a notch with her breathtaking passion for Pandas. Not only did she provide a fantastic experience accommodating my every need, but she was also a genuinely kind and joyful company to tour the city with. I can't recommend Helen enough - you won't regret it! More
Isaac C,
Sep 2023
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Two days in Xi’an
What an amazing few days in Xi’an! Our guide Jenny was first class - very knowledgeable and very helpful, she went out of her way to make sure we had the best experience like ordering us coffees & food and booking dinners for us. The highlight was of course visiting the Terracotta Warriors, but we also really enjoyed visiting a local family to make dumplings. Can’t recommend this trip and Jenny enough! More
Marvin K,
Sep 2023
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Fantastic experiences in Guilin and the beautiful surroundings together with Vincent.
Lib230524097 More
Go44854472794,
Sep 2023
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Egypt Regional Weather in January: Averages
Location | Min. Temp. | Max. Temp. | Rainfall |
---|---|---|---|
Alexandria | 9°C (48°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (3 in) |
Cairo (and Giza) | 10°C (50°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Luxor | 7°C (45°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0.0 in) |
Aswan | 10°C (50°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 0 |
Hurghada | 11°C (52°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 0 |
Sharm el-Sheikh | 14°C (57°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Alexandria is the place with the most rain in Egypt, but most days that you'll be there in January, even if it rains, you'll see the sun too. The rest of Egypt sees very little rain, particularly the further south you go, where Egypt generally gets drier. This includes cities like Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada.
In terms of the temperature, the further south you go, the warmer your days will be. Beachside cities like Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh will be warmer than Alexandria or Cairo, but nowhere in Egypt is particularly cold in the daytime. If you're out in the evening you might want to wrap up to make sure you don't get cold.
You could get some ideas about how long to spend when planning your Egypt trip>>>
Best Places to Visit in Egypt in January
In Egypt in January, we recommend visiting Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan, as mild/warm temperatures mean that it is pleasant to be out exploring the sights that Egypt has to offer…
1. Cairo

Cairo is Egypt's capital, and probably where you'll start your travels in Egypt as this is where the main international airport is. January is a great time to visit Cairo as the days are less hot, and you'll be able to walk around outside for longer and explore more that the city has to offer.
There is a lot to see in the city, including the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, the famous Tahrir Square, as well as Khan Al-Khalili for a little bit of souvenir shopping.
See our handpicked itineraries including Cairo for various durations: 5 days, 7 days, 8 days, 10 days, 12 days, 14 days, and 21 days...
2. Alexandria

Located in the north of Egypt, Alexandria is Egypt's second largest city.
Being along the Mediterranean Sea meant that it played an important part in both Egypt's and the region's history. January is a good time to visit the city, explore Alexandria National Museum, and walk the streets that Alexander the Great walked in 331 BC.
Get to know more ideas about planning a family trip to Egypt>>>
3. Luxor

As home to many tombs and temples, Luxor is an important sight to visit during your time in Egypt, and is best visited in the winter months (such as January), when the temperatures are more bearable.
It is a dry city, and walking around the ruins, temples and tombs can be exhausting in the summer heat, so we highly recommend visiting in January to see the Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings, amongst many other sights. (Tips for Taking the Hot Air Balloons in Luxor)
4.Aswan

In the south of Egypt, Aswan is a hub along the Nile that is well-known for its Nile cruises and felucca rides (the traditional wooden sailing boats that sail the Nile). (Best Times to Take a Nile Cruise: Aswan–Luxor)
In January, temperatures are nice there and not too hot, so you'll be able to enjoy the sights and boat rides around Aswan without feeling the heat too much.
Is January a Good Time to Enjoy the Beach in Egypt? (Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada)
While the other (more seaside) cities — Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, etc. — aren't necessarily best visited in January, it doesn't mean that you can't visit them in January.
Temperatures are still high enough to enjoy your time by the beach, but you would probably be better to visit during another month when there are fewer tourists and prices are lower, as the higher temperatures won't matter as much on the beach (in fact they might be welcomed).
Check out the Best and Worst Times to Visit Egypt.
Crowds and Cost
January is an expensive time of year to visit Egypt, as it is one of the most popular times to visit due to the lower temperatures in many of the main tourist cities. Apart from December, January is the busiest month due to a combination of school holidays and weather.
It being a peak time to visit also means that there will be bigger crowds at the most popular sites, including the Pyramids of Giza, for example, or in the Valley of the Kings.
For a better understanding of the cost of an Egypt tour, read How Much Does a Trip to Egypt Cost?
What to Wear in Egypt in January
During your time in Egypt, you'll want to make sure you've got an additional layer with you, like a sweater or a fleece jacket.
If you are going to be out in the evenings, we recommend wearing a coat or a jacket, too, as temperatures can drop a little lower. This is especially the case for Cairo, Alexandria, and Luxor. You will also want to wear closed shoes during the evenings, but you can wear sandals during the daytime.
For those visiting the beach, you'll be less chilly in the evenings, but it is still a good idea to bring an additional layer to wrap up when you're out at dinner or at your evening activities.
UV levels will be high regardless of where you are in the country, so we also recommend bringing sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses for your time in Egypt.
Monthly Weather in Egypt
Travel to Egypt with Global Highlights
Global Highlights can help you plan your trip to Egypt, and we can give you suggestions on when is the best time of the year to travel to the specific places that you want to visit! Just contact us, and let us know where you'd like to go and when you had in mind, and we can work with you to make sure that you don't get surprised by bad weather conditions and make the best of the weather.
Why Travel with Global Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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