In the Egyptian summer, roughly May to September, daytime highs in Luxor average 39 to 41°C. Sightsee in two windows, early morning and late afternoon into the evening, and spend the middle of the day indoors. In return, the sites are quiet and prices are often lower. Balloon flights are suspended from June to the end of August.
Reviewed October 2026
How hot does Luxor get in summer?
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low |
|---|---|---|
| May | 39°C | 22°C |
| June | 41°C | 25°C |
| July | 41°C | 26°C |
| August | 41°C | 26°C |
| September | 39°C | 23°C |
These are long-term averages. Individual days can be far hotter: record highs in June, July and August are above 47°C. July and August are the most extreme; May and September are hot but give you slightly longer mornings and evenings.
Why visit in summer
Summer asks more of you, but it gives a lot back:
- Far fewer crowds. Visitor numbers drop sharply, and you can often find yourself alone in a temple hall that is packed in winter.
- A slower pace. The heat encourages long rests, and an afternoon nap is a normal part of the day for locals and visitors alike. Treat the midday break as part of the trip, not lost time.
- Lower prices. With fewer visitors, accommodation, transport and many activities are often cheaper than in the winter high season.
- A different side of the West Bank. Summer is when hotels, guesthouses and restaurants do their building and refurbishment work, and it is striking how quickly familiar places can change in a few days.
Eating in summer. With fewer tourists, many restaurants aimed at visitors close for the season, and those that stay open have fewer customers, so food may sit longer. For fresh food, choose places where local people eat and there is a steady flow of customers.
Lunch is hard to find. Most local people retreat indoors in the middle of the day, and many skip lunch in the heat, eating breakfast and a late dinner or one main meal in the evening. Restaurants may not be cooking at a typical lunchtime, so eat a good breakfast, carry snacks, or plan your main meal for the evening.
Plan the day in two windows
Luxor's summer heat is a curve that decides which sites are usable and when. The Valley of the Kings and the West Bank tombs have almost no shade between the car park and the tomb entrances, and open temple floors such as Karnak and Luxor Temple get worse from late morning, because the stone radiates back the heat it has absorbed. The places that work at midday have a roof and air conditioning: the Luxor Museum, the Mummification Museum, a hotel, a car.
The first window runs from first light to late morning. Use it for anything with a long, exposed approach: the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, the West Bank tombs, the Colossi of Memnon. Start on the side of the river where you are sleeping, or cross early if your first site is on the other bank.
The middle of the day is for indoor sites, a pool or sleep. The Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum are air-conditioned and small enough to see properly in an hour or two.
The second window runs from late afternoon into the night. Luxor Temple stays open into the evening and is at its best after sunset. Karnak closes in the late afternoon, so go at the start of this window and check the closing time for your date. The West Bank sites are closed by then. The Corniche, the souq and the restaurant streets are busiest and most pleasant after dark.
How to set up the day
- Fix your two windows before you book anything. Decide the morning and evening windows first, then fit sites into them. The common mistake is booking a site for the middle of the day and trying to change it on the ground.
- Group each window by side of the river. Put West Bank tombs and mortuary temples in the morning and East Bank temples in the evening, so you are not crossing the Nile at the hottest point of the day.
- Check opening hours the night before. Hours at Egyptian sites change with the season and sometimes at short notice, so confirm the specific site for your date.
- Carry water and cover your head. Drink steadily through the morning rather than all at once, and wear loose, light clothing with a hat and something for your shoulders.
Know the signs of heat illness
Heat exhaustion can cause tiredness, dizziness, headache, nausea, heavy sweating, cramps and intense thirst. If someone feels unwell, move them somewhere cool, remove extra clothing, give them water or oral rehydration solution, and cool their skin. Most people improve within about 30 minutes.
Treat it as an emergency and call an ambulance on 123 if someone is still unwell after 30 minutes, has hot skin that is not sweating, is confused, has a seizure or loses consciousness. Children, older people and anyone with a long-term condition such as heart disease or diabetes are at higher risk.
Drink regularly through the day, and more when you are active. If you have a medical condition that affects how much you can drink, follow your doctor's advice. Rehydration salts are sold in pharmacies in Luxor. Alcohol and heavy meals in the middle of the day make the afternoon harder; save both for after dark. For more, see the health section of our Luxor safety guide.
Balloon flights in summer
Since 2026, all commercial balloon flights in Luxor are suspended every summer, from 1 June to the end of August, and restart on 1 September. In May and September flights run in suitable weather, but they can still be cancelled on the morning, so confirm the operator's cancellation terms. See hot-air balloon flights over the West Bank.
Common mistakes
- Doing the Valley of the Kings at midday because the tombs are underground. The tombs are cooler, but the walks between them, the ticket area and the approach are not. Go early.
- Pushing through to acclimatise. Heat illness does not work that way, and a ruined afternoon costs you the evening as well. If you feel unwell, stop, find shade and drink.
- Booking a balloon flight for June, July or August. Flights are suspended then, so a summer booking from a reseller will not fly.
- A full site-to-site day with no break. Between May and September, this stacks every exposed site into the hottest hours.
Travelling in August
August is one of the hottest months, and in 2027 it includes the total solar eclipse on 2 August. For what is different about that month, see Luxor in August.
Sources: Luxor climate normals 1991 to 2020 (WMO, via Wikipedia); NHS, heat exhaustion and heatstroke; Al-Dostor, balloon summer suspension (Arabic); Karnak visiting hours.
Questions
Which months count as summer in Luxor?+
The Egyptian summer runs roughly from May to September, with July and August the most extreme. Average daily highs are about 39°C in May and September and 41°C in June to August.
Should I stay on the East Bank or the West Bank in summer?+
The East Bank puts you near the station, the restaurants and the evening life, which matters in summer because your useful hours are early and late. The West Bank puts you closer to the tombs for a dawn start. Choose by which window matters more to you.
How do I get across the river without losing the cool hours?+
The public ferry runs through the day, private boats wait along the Corniche, and there is a road bridge south of the city. Agree the price before you board a private boat, and plan your crossing so you are not on the river at midday.
What can I do in Luxor when it is too hot to be outside?+
The Luxor Museum and the Mummification Museum are indoor, air-conditioned and central, and both can fill a midday block properly. A hotel pool or a long rest are the other honest options; many restaurants are not cooking at lunchtime in summer.
Can I take a balloon flight in summer?+
Not from June to the end of August: all commercial balloon flights in Luxor are suspended then. In May and September flights run in suitable weather, though they can be cancelled on the morning.
