Weather in Luxor Egypt in December: Temps & Packing

Weather in Luxor Egypt in December brings sunny 23°C afternoons and desert nights that fall close to 10°C. This guide explains the weather in Luxor Egypt in December hour by hour and week by week so you can pack and plan with confidence.

Weather in Luxor Egypt in December: From Dawn to Midnight and Week to Week

• Short answer: December is one of the best months of the year in the Nile Valley. Sunny afternoons reach about 23°C (74°F) and nights fall to between 7°C and 11°C (45°F to 52°F). Rain barely exists. If you want a verdict on the weather in Luxor Egypt in December: pack for two climates in a single day.
• That last point is the real lesson of Luxor December weather. The averages look gentle but the swing between a sunrise balloon launch and a 2 pm temple courtyard is around 15 degrees. This guide follows the day hour by hour and then the month week by week so you can match your plans to the Luxor weather December delivers in practice.
• A note on sources: the figures below come from long-term records for Luxor Airport and from published December climate averages. They describe a typical December and not a promise for one specific date. Nobody can honestly forecast the weather for December 2027 today. You can still plan with confidence because Luxor December weather is among the most stable in Egypt: a 30-year analysis of early December gives the temperature a variation of only about 2 to 3 degrees Celsius. Luxor weather December data from the airport station is also among the best documented in the country.

Weather in Luxor Egypt in December at a Glance

Here is the weather in Luxor Egypt in December in one table before we get into the detail.

Read the table as a shape and not as a promise. Luxor temperature December readings cluster tightly around the average but a single afternoon can land a few degrees either side. That is why the sections below explain how the Luxor December weather behaves through the day and through the month.

Luxor Temperature December: What the Numbers Mean

The Luxor temperature December average high sits at 23°C to 24°C. Early in the month afternoons can reach 26°C and a few days touch 30°C. By the last week the typical afternoon has slipped to about 22°C (72°F). Records show highs only rarely climbing above 30°C and rarely staying below 18°C.

Luxor temperature December nights are the colder half of the story. The milder end of the range is 11°C. A clear still night with the desert radiating its heat upward can drop to 7°C. January is a little colder again with a typical low near 9°C so December is the last month before the real chill.

Feels-like temperature matters more than the thermometer here. Direct sun on pale stone makes a 23°C afternoon feel like 26°C. In shade or in a breeze off the Nile it feels closer to 20°C. After sunset the dry air lets warmth escape fast and 10°C feels sharper than it sounds. Anyone reading the Luxor temperature December averages should add that feels-like swing to their plans.

Luxor December Weather: Rain and Humidity

Rain: December rainfall averages 0 to 1 mm. Most years pass without a single wet day. A shower in Luxor is a story people tell afterwards so the Luxor December weather is effectively dry.

Humidity: Around 54% to 56%. That is dry enough that sweat evaporates quickly and walking feels easy. Skin and lips still dry out so carry lip balm and moisturiser. Compared with the damp Mediterranean coast the weather in Luxor Egypt in December feels clean and light.

Luxor Weather December: Sun and Wind

• Sunshine: About 9 hours a day with 26 to 30 sunny days in a typical month. Cloud is rare and usually thin. Luxor weather December skies are some of the clearest in Egypt.
• Daylight: A little over 10 hours. The sun rises around 6:30 am and sets close to 5 pm. Short days shape every Luxor December weather itinerary.
• Wind: A light northwest breeze at 7 to 9 mph. It is pleasant at midday and adds a chill on the river after dark.
• UV: Moderate at 3 to 5. A winter sun at this latitude still burns on a full day of open sites so Luxor weather December does not excuse skipping sunscreen.

A Luxor December Weather Day From Dawn to Midnight

Monthly averages hide the shape of a day. This is how the Luxor December weather moves from dawn to midnight and what each stretch means for your plans.

6:00 to 8:30 am: Cold Air and Soft Light

Luxor temperature December mornings begin near 9°C to 11°C. Hot air balloons lift off over the West Bank around sunrise and the basket is cold enough for a fleece and a windproof layer. The air aloft feels sharper than on the ground. By 8 am the sun has cleared the horizon and the thermometer is climbing past 15°C.

The West Bank temples and tombs open early and the first hours are the quietest. If you like empty courtyards and soft side light on the carvings this is your slot. It is also the coldest hour of the Luxor December weather day so dress for it.

8:30 am to 12:00 pm: The Best Window of the Day

Temperatures rise from about 17°C to 22°C. This is the most comfortable stretch of Luxor December weather and the best time for physical sightseeing. Climbing to a tomb entrance or walking a long temple avenue feels easy rather than draining. Tomb interiors are comfortable in December and you will not need the cooling breaks that summer visitors rely on. Many travellers who ask about the weather in Luxor Egypt in December are really asking about this window. Luxor temperature December mid mornings feel like early autumn in northern Europe.

12:00 to 3:30 pm: Warm Without Being Harsh

The daily peak arrives with highs of 23°C to 24°C on an average day. The sun is strong at this hour with UV between 3 and 5. Open courtyards offer little shade. A hat and sunglasses are enough for most people but sunscreen is not optional on a full day outdoors. The Luxor temperature December peak is pleasant rather than punishing.

This is also the natural lunch break. A terrace under an awning or a hotel pool deck suits it well. Pools are usually fine for a quick dip in the middle of the day but unheated water will feel cool.

3:30 to 6:00 pm: Golden Light and the First Chill

The sun sets close to 5 pm and the temperature drops quickly after it. A 20°C afternoon at 4 pm becomes a 15°C evening by 6 pm. The Luxor weather December light is the best of the day for photography. Sandstone turns gold and the Nile goes soft. Put your jacket in the bag before you need it. Luxor December weather flips like a switch at sunset.

6:00 pm to Midnight: Properly Cold

Evenings run from 15°C down to the low teens. A felucca ride after sunset or dinner on a riverside terrace calls for a jacket and sometimes a scarf. Outdoor dining is common and lovely but ask for a table out of the wind. Heaters appear on many terraces for good reason. This is where the Luxor temperature December nights remind you that the desert is still a desert.

Luxor Weather December From the First Week to the Last

December is not one weather. The first week and the last week feel noticeably different. Daily highs fall from about 26°C at the start of the month to 22°C by the end. Luxor December weather is gentle at both ends but the direction of travel is always towards the cold.

December 1 to 10: The Warm Edge

December 5 averages a high of 25.3°C and a low of 11.7°C across 30 years of records. Some years push hotter. December 1 to 4 in 2025 reached 28°C to 30°C. This is the best stretch for travellers who want pool afternoons and light clothing. The same date has seen readings from 8.7°C to 31°C over three decades so a spare layer still earns its place in the weather in Luxor Egypt in December. Luxor temperature December warmth peaks in this window.

December 11 to 20: Settled Winter

The middle of the month is the most representative Luxor temperature December window. Highs sit around 23°C to 24°C and lows near 9°C to 11°C. Skies are clear and the breeze is steady. If you want a single typical week to plan around this is it. Luxor weather December guides that give one number are usually describing this week.

December 21 to 31: Coldest Nights and Peak Demand

Highs ease to about 22°C and nights reach their lowest point of the month at 7°C to 9°C. This is also when demand peaks. Luxor crowd levels in December are rated high and holiday weeks fill hotels and cabins early. The Luxor weather December cold snap is mild by European standards but it is real. If you are weighing is December a good time to visit Egypt the answer for weather is yes and the answer for availability is book early.

For a wider look at the month beyond the weather see our guide to Luxor in December. It adds context to the Luxor December weather figures above.

How Luxor December Weather Compares With the Rest of Egypt

Aswan and Cairo Along the Nile

Egypt does not have one December climate. Moving along the Nile changes what you pack and changes how the Luxor December weather feels by comparison.

• Aswan: Further south and usually a little warmer in the afternoon. The Aswan Egypt weather in December guide has the details.
• Luxor: Warm days and cold nights. Luxor weather December sits in the middle of the Nile Valley range.
• Cairo: Noticeably cooler with a more obvious winter feel. See Cairo Egypt weather in December for the numbers and Cairo weather December January if your trip crosses the new year.

If heat is what you are chasing the hottest place in Egypt in December is in the south and not in the capital. The Luxor temperature December average is a useful middle reference for both directions. Luxor December weather is generally warmer and sunnier than the capital.

The Red Sea Coast

Many travellers pair the temples of Luxor with a beach week. Sea water on the Red Sea sits around 24°C to 25°C (75°F to 77°F) in December. That is swimmable for most people and good for snorkelling and diving with a thin wetsuit. Check Hurghada sea temperature December before you commit and read the weather in December Hurghada page for air temperatures. The resort towns run cooler at night than their summer reputation suggests and cooler in the evening than the weather in Luxor Egypt in December at midday.

Undecided between resorts? Our comparison of Hurghada or Sharm el Sheikh in December covers it. Divers should also read about diving in Egypt in December.

What to Pack for the Luxor Temperature December Swing

Luxor weather December packing is about layers more than bulk. Pack for a 15 degree daily swing and you will be right. The full list lives in our guide to packing for Egypt in December. The Luxor December weather version looks like this:

• Base layers: Breathable cotton or linen shirts with sleeves that cover shoulders. They suit both the sun and temple dress norms.
• Mid layer: A fleece or light sweater for early starts and evenings when Luxor weather December turns cold.
• Outer layer: A windproof jacket for balloon flights and river evenings.
• Trousers: Lightweight long trousers or knee length skirts. They work all day and cope with dusty ground.
• Footwear: Closed walking shoes with grip. Temple floors and tomb steps are uneven.
• Sun kit: A wide brim hat and sunglasses and SPF 30 or higher.
• Skin care: Lip balm and moisturiser for the dry air that comes with the Luxor temperature December pattern.
• Small extras: A scarf for dusk and a refillable water bottle.

Planning Your Days Around the Luxor December Weather

Good timing makes the Luxor December weather work for you instead of against you. The rule is simple: do the long and physical sites when the air is cool and the open courtyards when the sun is low.

West Bank in the Morning

Start with the Valley of the Kings and the Theban necropolis between 6:30 and 11:00 am. Temperatures are lowest and queues are shortest. Hatshepsut's temple has almost no shade so the earlier you go the better. These are the sites that punish a midday visit even in the weather in Luxor Egypt in December.

East Bank in the Late Afternoon

Karnak and Luxor Temple suit the hours after 3:30 pm. The light turns warm and the heat has gone. Luxor Temple at dusk when the floodlights come on is one of the best reasons to visit in this season. Keep a jacket close because the Luxor temperature December curve falls fast once the sun goes.

Balloons and Nile Cruises

Balloon flights depend on wind rather than cold so December is a reliable month for them. Dress for the pre-dawn chill and shed layers on the ground. A Nile cruise in December benefits from the calm dry Luxor December weather. Sun decks are comfortable at midday and cabins are warm at night. For ideas beyond Luxor browse things to do in Egypt in December and places to visit in Egypt in December.

What Luxor December Weather Does Well and Where It Bites

No month is perfect. Here is an honest tally of the Luxor December weather.

What works:

• Comfortable sightseeing: Highs near 23°C make long days on foot realistic.
• Clear skies: Almost no rain and 9 hours of sun a day in Luxor weather December.
• Easy photography: Low winter light and clean air.
• Stable pattern: Luxor temperature December averages vary by only a few degrees from year to year.
• Lower heat stress: Heat warnings are not a factor in the weather in Luxor Egypt in December.

Where it bites:

• Cold mornings: Balloon flights and sunrise starts need real layers.
• Early dusk: The light is gone by 5 pm so afternoons are shorter.
• Peak demand: Hotels and cruise cabins fill early around the holidays.
• Unheated pools: Water is cool even when the afternoon is warm.

If you travel in December expecting a beach climate you will be disappointed. If you expect clear dry winter sun you will not be. That is the honest summary of Luxor temperature December conditions.

Picture This: 4:40 pm at Karnak

The coach has dropped you at the gate and the courtyard is nearly empty. The sandstone has turned the colour of honey. You are wearing a T-shirt and carrying a jacket you have not needed since lunch. Then the sun touches the first pylon and the air changes. You put the jacket on and you notice that you are not rushing.

Nothing about this scene is luck because the Luxor December weather rewards good timing. It is the product of the right month and the right hour. We build trips around that timing every day. If you would like a Luxor itinerary where the early starts and the late visits are already placed where the weather is best then message us on WhatsApp and tell us your dates. Or if you prefer to start from a blank page you can plan a tailor-made Egypt trip and we will shape it around the weather and around you.

Luxor December Weather FAQs

What is the weather in Luxor Egypt in December?

The weather in Luxor Egypt in December is dry and sunny with daytime highs around 23°C to 24°C (74°F to 75°F) and nights between 7°C and 11°C (45°F to 52°F). Rainfall is close to zero and the sun shines for about 9 hours a day. That makes Luxor December weather one of the most reliable winter climates in Egypt.

How hot is the Luxor temperature in December?

The Luxor temperature December average high is 23°C to 24°C. Early in the month highs can reach 26°C to 30°C while the last week settles near 22°C. It is warm but not hot and heat stress is low.

How cold is the Luxor weather in December at night?

Luxor weather December nights typically fall to between 7°C and 11°C (45°F to 52°F). The coldest nights come in the final week and the same cold carries into January. A jacket and a scarf are enough for most visitors. Anyone checking Luxor December weather for a sunrise activity should add a fleece.

Does it rain in Luxor in December?

Almost never. Monthly rainfall averages 0 to 1 mm and most Decembers have no rainy days at all. You do not need rain gear for the Luxor temperature December period.

What is the Luxor December weather forecast for 2027?

No reliable forecast exists this far ahead but planning for the weather in Luxor Egypt in December 2027 is still sensible. A typical Luxor December weather pattern is the best guide and it is stable: highs near 23°C and lows near 10°C with almost no rain. Check a live forecast about a week before you travel.

Is December a good time to visit Luxor?

Yes. The weather in Luxor Egypt in December gives comfortable sightseeing temperatures and clear skies. Luxor temperature December levels are ideal for long days on foot. The trade offs are cold mornings and evenings and higher demand around the holidays so book flights and hotels early.