Abu Simbel, in southern Egypt, features a hot desert climate with long, sweltering summers and short, mild winters. The city is famous for its almost year-round sunshine, extremely low rainfall, and dramatic temperature swings between day and night. With clear skies and dry air, Abu Simbel is a striking destination for history and adventure.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Abu Simbel’s climate is defined by its location deep in the Sahara, resulting in four distinct seasons with extreme aridity. Summers (May–September) are intensely hot and dry, with average highs of 40–43°C and nighttime lows of 22–27°C. July and August are the hottest months, often exceeding 44°C during heatwaves. Humidity is very low, typically 15–20%, and rainfall is virtually nonexistent. Sunshine dominates, with up to 13 hours per day, and the UV index is extremely high. Evenings offer some relief as temperatures drop quickly after sunset, but the heat can be relentless during the day.
Winters (December–February) are short, mild, and dry, with highs of 23–27°C and lows of 7–12°C. January is the coolest month, with daytime highs around 23–24°C and nighttime temperatures occasionally dipping to 5°C. Rain is almost unheard of, with annual precipitation averaging just 1 mm, and February is the wettest month, though it rarely sees more than 0.3 mm. Spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November) are transitional, with warm to hot days (28–36°C), cooler nights, and continued dry, sunny conditions. Winds can pick up in spring, sometimes bringing dust or sand, but skies remain mostly clear. Throughout the year, Abu Simbel enjoys over 3,200 hours of sunshine, making it one of the sunniest places on earth.
| Average climate data for Abu Simbel, Egypt | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 23 | 27 | 31 | 35 | 39 | 40 | 40 | 41 | 38 | 35 | 29 | 24 | 41 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 10 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 16 | 12 | 10 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 39 | 30 | 21 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 36 | 44 | 24 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Average UV index | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
The best time to visit Abu Simbel is from November to March, when temperatures are mild (23–30°C), nights are comfortably cool, and the sun is abundant. These months offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, photography, and attending the famous Sun Festival in February or October, with comfortable weather for exploring the ancient temples.
The least favourable time to visit is from June to September, when daytime temperatures regularly exceed 40°C and the sun is intense. The extreme heat can make outdoor activities uncomfortable or even dangerous during midday, though evenings are more pleasant. Summer is best avoided unless you are well-prepared for desert conditions.
Abu Simbel has a hot desert climate with extremely hot, dry summers and short, mild winters. Rain is almost nonexistent, and the city enjoys abundant sunshine and dramatic day-night temperature swings.
The best time to visit is from November to March, when temperatures are mild, nights are cool, and the weather is perfect for exploring the temples. Winter also hosts the famous Sun Festival in February.
Rain is extremely rare in Abu Simbel, with annual precipitation averaging just 1 mm. February is the wettest month, but even then, rainfall is negligible and usually less than 0.3 mm.
Summer highs in Abu Simbel typically reach 40–44°C, with July and August being the hottest months. Heatwaves can push temperatures even higher, and humidity is very low, making the heat feel dry but intense.
Winds can pick up in spring, especially during the khamaseen, bringing dust or sand. Most of the year, breezes are light to moderate, but sandstorms are rare and usually short-lived.
Pack light, breathable clothing, strong sun protection, a hat, and sunglasses. Bring layers for cool mornings and evenings in winter. Rain gear is unnecessary, but a scarf is useful for dusty winds in spring.
Abu Simbel enjoys over 3,200 hours of sunshine per year, with clear skies almost every day. The UV index is extremely high, especially in summer, so sun protection is essential year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (40.8 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (23.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 33.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (27.5 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (10.4 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 19.6 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (3 mm). The driest months, with the least amount of precipitation, are January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 4 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is August (1.7 days). The months with the fewest days of rain are January and December (0 days). Over the whole year there are 5.3 days of rain on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (43.8 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (13.3 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 24.4 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is June (15.7 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is November (12.9 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 14.2 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is August (7.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is June (1.4 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 4.4 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 13 h). The months with the shortest days, so the least daylight, are January and December (Average daylight: 10.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 9 h). Over the whole year there are 9.5 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are April, May, June, July, August and September (UV index: 8). The month with the lowest average UV index is December (UV index: 4). Over the whole year the average UV index is 6.8.
