Weather in Sharm El Sheikh in December January | Settle the Group Chat Debate

Weather in Sharm El Sheikh in December January looks similar on paper but the sea and the nights and the wind tell a different story. This guide to weather in Sharm El Sheikh in December and January settles five common group debates with clear numbers.

Weather in Sharm El Sheikh in December January: Five Questions From One Group Chat

The group chat is called Sinai Winter. Five friends have one week off and one disagreement. Dana wants to swim. Omar hates the cold. Lior is certified to dive. Hana wants a sunrise on a mountain. Pavel is paying for the flights.

They are a composite built from how groups usually plan this trip and not real clients. Every message in the chat asks the same thing in a different way. What is the weather in Sharm El Sheikh in December and January and does the month change anything?

It does change a few things. Not many but the ones that matter. This guide answers one question per friend and then compares the two months side by side. For the later month on its own see our guides to january weather in sharm el sheikh and sharm el sheikh in january.

Weather in Sharm El Sheikh in December and January at a Glance

These are averages and not forecasts. Individual days can run a few degrees either way so check a live forecast before you fly. The gap between the two months is about three degrees by day and by night and about two degrees in the sea. That looks small on paper. In practice it decides who swims and who wears a jacket.

Question 1: Who Wants to Swim?

Dana types first. Is the sea warm enough or are we paying for a beach we cannot use?

The honest answer depends on the month.

The Sea in December

Early December sits near 25°C and late December near 24°C. That is cool by summer standards but comfortable for most adults. A swim of twenty minutes or more is realistic and snorkeling in a thin wetsuit is easy. December is the one winter month when Dana can treat the sea as the main event.

The Sea in January

By January the sea settles around 22°C. Air and water now match on a typical afternoon but water pulls heat from the body far faster than air does. A short swim is fine for most adults. A long one is not. Wind on wet skin makes it feel colder still. Plan short dips around midday and keep a robe at the water’s edge.

Heated Pools in Both Months

If Dana wants regular laps ask about heated pools before booking. Many hotel pools are not heated in winter. A sheltered pool in full sun is pleasant in both months and a heated one is a real advantage in January. Browse Swimming for water options.

Verdict for Dana: December for easy swimming and January if short dips and a heated pool are enough.

Question 2: Who Hates the Cold?

Omar answers next. I do not want to wear a coat on a beach holiday.

Omar is right to ask. The gap shows up at the edges of the day.

Daytime Weather in Sharm El Sheikh in December and January

December afternoons reach about 25°C and feel like early summer in a sheltered spot. January afternoons reach about 22°C and feel pleasant out of the wind and cool in it. The sun is strong in both months and skies are clear on almost every day.

Wind changes the picture more than the month does. If it blows above 25 km/h and you sit out of the sun subtract three to five degrees from the forecast high to get the real feel. If you sit in shelter in full sun add two or three. A 22°C afternoon on an open sunbed can feel like 17 or 18°C. The same afternoon behind a wall can feel like 25°C.

Evenings and Nights

After sunset December drops to about 16°C and January to about 13°C. The wind stays. Outdoor tables at Naama Bay are lively but exposed so choose a venue with heaters or a glazed terrace. SOHO Square is easy in a light jacket. The narrow streets of Old Market block much of the wind and feel warmer than the open bay. For a warm indoor evening try a Turkish Bath session.

Verdict for Omar: December. A jacket is optional in December evenings and necessary in January.

Question 3: Who Is Diving?

Lior joins the chat. Does the month change the dives?

Barely. The reef does not follow the calendar. Visibility is often good in both months and the marine park sites are as rich in winter as in summer. What changes is the wetsuit and the crowd.

The suit thicknesses are common choices and not rules. Cold tolerance varies so confirm what your dive centre supplies. The coldest part of a winter dive day is often the surface interval so bring a warm jacket and a hot drink.

Day trips go to Ras Mohammed at the tip of the peninsula and to Tiran Island in the straits. Longer trips to famous wrecks need calm seas so operators decide on the day. Browse Diving for trip types and diving holidays egypt for stays built around the reef.

For divers who prefer to stay dry there is the SeaScope and the Glass Boat. Both show the reef without a wetsuit.

Verdict for Lior: either month. Choose on price and boat crowds and bring the right suit.

Question 4: Who Wants a Mountain Sunrise?

Hana has been waiting. Is the climb worth doing in winter?

It is worth doing and it is cold in both months. Jabal Mousa and St. Catherine’s Monastery sit high in the southern Sinai mountains. The pickup is long before dawn. Nights at altitude can fall to freezing in December and below freezing in January. Wind chill makes it feel colder and snow on the peaks is possible in some winters.

The gap with the coast at night is ten degrees or more. Hana should pack a hat and gloves and thermal layers and sturdy shoes. The sunrise is worth the effort in either month.

Back at lower altitude the desert is at its best in winter. Midday is mild and pleasant for a Quad Bike ride or a Buggy Ride or a Jeep trip or a full Safari. A Camel Ride at sunset ends with a cold ride back so bring a layer. The whole range sits under Egypt Desert Safari Tours.

Rain is rare but heavy rain in the mountains can cause flash floods in dry riverbeds even when the coast stays dry. Responsible operators cancel or reroute when conditions look wrong. Follow their call.

Verdict for Hana: either month. Pack for freezing nights.

Question 5: Who Is Paying?

Pavel has the last word. Which month costs less?

Weather is nearly the same across the two months. Demand is not.

• Early December. Moderate prices and a warm sea. The holiday rush has not started.
• Late December. The most expensive stretch of the winter. Christmas and New Year fill hotels and flights.
• First week of January. Still busy. Visitors extending New Year trips and travelers who celebrate Orthodox Christmas on January 7 keep hotels full.
• Mid to late January. The best value of the winter. Rates ease and boats and restaurants have room.

For festive dates see sharm el sheikh christmas holidays and Christmas and New Year Egypt Tour Packages and egypt new year tour. For the calmer weeks compare holidays to egypt in december with holidays to egypt in january. If budget leads the decision look at cheap egypt holidays and browse Egypt Tour Packages.

Prices on Bastet Travel exclude international flights and customer service can help you book those.

Verdict for Pavel: early December or the second half of January.

Daylight and Sunshine Across Both Months

December has the shortest days of the year. Sunset falls around 4:55 p.m. and the usable day is about ten hours. January adds roughly twenty to thirty minutes at the end of the day by the end of the month. Sunshine is steady in both months and rain is close to zero.

The sun is gentler than in summer but it can still burn on open water so use sunscreen. Plan around the light:

• Put boat trips and long outdoor activities before lunch.
• Finish open air stops by about four.
• Keep evenings for somewhere sheltered.

The Wind Does Not Care About the Calendar

The north wind blows in both months. December tends to be a little lighter and January a little stronger. It shapes boat days more than any temperature does. Mornings are often calmer than afternoons so choose the earliest departure.

A Speed Boat outing is fun but cold in a breeze. A slower Boat ride with a covered area suits families. Parasailing is possible but less appealing when the sea is cold and the wind is up. Operators decide on the day so keep your plans flexible.

Sharm El Sheikh Against Hurghada and Cairo and Luxor

Sharm El Sheikh runs a degree or two warmer than Hurghada in both months and has more sheltered bays. For the same comparison on the western coast read weather in hurghada in december and january and weather in january in hurghada and hurghada in january.

Cairo is cooler by day and has no sea. See weather in cairo egypt in january. Luxor is warmer by day with much colder dawns. See weather in luxor egypt in january. For the whole country in both months read weather in egypt in december and january and for the wider picture of the later month egypt in january. If you are still deciding whether January suits Egypt overall read is january a good time to visit egypt.

If the group wants temples as well as the sea combine the coast with a river trip. See nile cruise and sharm el sheikh holiday and egypt multi centre holidays. For activities around the resort start with Sharm El Sheikh Tours and for wider stay formats red sea holidays egypt. For a spring alternative see easter holiday sharm el sheikh and our post on easter break egypt.

The Group Scorecard

The group lands on a compromise. Early December gives Dana and Omar what they want and keeps Pavel happy on price. Late January is the alternative if the budget matters more than the sea. Either way Hana packs the gloves.

For group formats see egypt family holidays and couples holidays in egypt and solo holidays egypt. Adults who want a quieter stay can look at egypt holidays adults only and higher comfort stays sit under 5 star egypt holidays.

What to Pack for Each Month

Both months

• A windproof jacket. It is the most useful single item.
• Sunglasses and a hat and sunscreen.
• Swimwear and a robe or large towel for warmth after swimming.
• Closed shoes for desert days and sandals for the resort.
• Hat and gloves and thermal layers for a Mount Sinai sunrise.

December

• Light shirts for midday and a fleece for evenings.
• A thin wetsuit or rash vest if you snorkel and your operator does not supply one.

January

• A warmer jacket and a fleece for evenings and boat decks.
• A thicker wetsuit for snorkeling and a hood for diving if you feel the cold.
• Long trousers for dinner.

Appoint the Trip Captain

Every group chat has the same problem. Eight hundred messages and no decision. Somebody has to be the captain.

The captain does not need to be the organizer or the one who pays or the one who knows the most about Sinai. The captain only needs to do three things.

1. Ask each friend one question: swim or dive or mountain or rest.
2. Count the answers and pick between early December and late January.
3. Send the result to Bastet Travel on WhatsApp with the dates and the group size.

We will reply with a hotel area and a boat plan and a mountain day that fit the wind and the month. The group can argue about the details afterward. At least the first big decision will already be made.

Want to sketch the trip before you hand it to the captain? Plan Tailor-Made Egypt Trip lets you start from scratch. Prices exclude international flights and our customer service team can help you book those as well.

Frequently Asked Questions about Weather in Sharm El Sheikh in December & January

What is the weather in Sharm El Sheikh in December and January?

Both months are sunny and dry. December has highs near 25°C and nights near 16°C. January has highs near 22°C and nights near 13°C. Wind is frequent in both and decides how warm it feels.

Is Sharm El Sheikh warmer in December or January?

December. It is about three degrees warmer by day and by night and the sea is about two degrees warmer. January has the coldest nights of the winter.

What is the sea temperature in Sharm El Sheikh in December and January?

About 24 or 25°C in December and about 22°C in January. Water at 22°C feels cool once you are wet.

Can you swim in Sharm El Sheikh in December and January?

Yes. December is the easier month. In January a short dip is fine for most adults and a heated pool is better for longer swims so ask your hotel before you book.

Does it rain in Sharm El Sheikh in December and January?

Almost never. A short shower is possible on one or two days. Heavy rain in the mountains can cause flash floods so follow your tour operator’s advice.

How cold are the nights in Sharm El Sheikh in December and January?

Around 16°C in December and 13°C in January on average. Wind makes it feel colder so bring a jacket for dinner outside. Mount Sinai is far colder and can fall to freezing or below.

Which is better for Sharm El Sheikh December or January?

It depends on your goal. Choose early December for the warmest sea and gentlest evenings. Choose late January for lower prices and quieter boats.