Quick answer
The spring school holidays (late September to early October) and the April break are the best balance for an Egypt family trip: warm, uncrowded and good value, with a swimmable Red Sea. The summer holidays bring Egypt's best sightseeing weather at peak prices, and the July break means 41–42°C in Luxor. Dates vary by state, so check your state's school calendar.
Which school holidays are best for Egypt?
For most families the spring break and the April break are the best school holidays for Egypt, the summer holidays are the most comfortable but the busiest and dearest, and the July break works only with dawn sightseeing and plenty of pool and beach time.
Australian schools take four breaks a year: a long summer holiday from mid or late December to late January or early February, and roughly two weeks each in autumn (around April), winter (late June to July) and spring (late September to early October). Exact dates vary by state and territory and shift from year to year, and some states align the autumn break with Easter while others don't, so check your state education department's calendar before you look at flights. New Zealand follows a similar pattern of four breaks on its own dates.
Egypt's cool, comfortable season runs through our summer, and its fierce heat through our winter, so each break gives a very different trip. This page looks only at the weeks families can actually use; for the full-year view, start with the month guides linked below.
How do the four breaks compare?
The trade-off is simple: the cooler the Nile Valley, the busier and more expensive Egypt is. Figures are typical daytime highs; flight prices follow our school holidays in every case.
| Break | Cairo | Luxor and Aswan | Red Sea water | Crowds and prices | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer (late Dec–Jan) | 19–21°C | 23–25°C | 22–23°C | Peak, especially to early January | Best weather, highest cost |
| Autumn (April) | About 28°C | About 35°C | 23–24°C | Shoulder; busy around Easter and Sham el-Nessim | Very good, mornings only in the south |
| Winter (late June–July) | 34–35°C | 41–42°C | 27–28°C | Quiet temples, busy coasts | For heat-tolerant, beach-loving families |
| Spring (late Sep–early Oct) | 30–33°C | Mid-30s, cooling | 27–28°C | Light, building into October | Best value for the weather |
Younger children feel heat more than adults, so for under-eights the summer and April breaks are kinder; teenagers who want to dive or snorkel often prefer the warmer seas of the July and spring breaks.
Is the summer holiday worth the peak prices?
Yes if your family can only travel in a long break or wants a trip of three weeks or more; the trick is to avoid the Christmas and New Year fortnight and travel in the second half of January.
The summer holiday is the only break long enough for the full classic route plus the Red Sea without rushing: three nights in Cairo, a four-night Nile cruise, Abu Simbel and four or five nights at the beach. Weather is ideal for children on foot at Karnak or the Valley of the Kings, though mornings are cold, around 6–10°C in Luxor, and hotel pools are chilly. From about 20 December to 5 January prices and crowds peak (see Christmas and New Year in Egypt); from about 8 January festive surcharges fall away, though late January fills again with Australians heading home. Book a year ahead for family cabins and connecting rooms.
What about the April holidays?
The April break is short but well timed: Cairo is warm, the Red Sea is swimmable and the Nile Valley is hot only in the middle of the day. A two-week break suits a 10 to 12-day trip such as Cairo, a three-night Aswan to Luxor cruise and four nights at the beach.
Plan Luxor and Aswan sightseeing from about 6am to 11am and again after 4pm, and give the hottest hours to the pool. The moving holidays matter: Easter, Sham el-Nessim and in some years Eid bring crowds and higher Red Sea rates. In 2027 Western Easter falls on 28 March and Coptic Easter on 2 May, so a mid-April break may miss both. The Egypt in April guide gives a timed hot-weather day in Luxor.
Can you do Egypt with kids in the July holidays?
Yes, if you treat July as a beach holiday with early-morning sightseeing: temples from dawn to about 10am, the rest of the day indoors or in the water, and at least half the trip on the Red Sea.
- 5.30am starts: some major sites open earlier in summer; check the current hours and be at the gate when it opens.
- Indoor afternoons: the Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, and the Luxor Museum, are air-conditioned refuges.
- A ship with a pool: on a cruise, the sun deck pool is where children spend the afternoons between temple visits.
- Short Nile section: three nights is plenty; skip the long drives and fly where you can.
- Warm sea: the Red Sea is 27–28°C, ideal for first snorkels and discover-scuba sessions for older children.
Egyptian families holiday on the coasts in summer, so resorts are lively even while temples are quiet. Avoid desert camping, and see Egypt in July for the heat in detail.
Why do the spring holidays work so well?
The spring break catches Egypt between summer and the high season: the heat is easing, crowds are light, prices are below peak and the Red Sea is at its warmest. By late September Luxor is coming down from the high 30s, and early October is cooler again; the Egypt in September guide tracks the change week by week.
Two things to watch. Some dahabiyas only begin sailing for the season around October, so check your chosen boat is operating. And the Abu Simbel Sun Festival on 22 October falls after most states' spring breaks, so it isn't a realistic add-on unless your school dates run late. Flights from Australia rise across the spring break; mid-week departures and booking three to five months ahead help.
Which break suits which family?
Match the break to your children's ages: younger children do best in the cooler summer or April breaks, while teenagers and keen swimmers get more from the warm seas of the July and spring breaks.
- Under about seven: the summer or April break, with short sightseeing mornings, a pool every afternoon and no more than one hotel change every two or three nights. Heat and long queues are what unravel small children.
- Primary school, roughly 7 to 12: any break except July. This is the age when the pharaohs are on the school syllabus, mummies are thrilling and a felucca or camel ride is an adventure.
- Teenagers: the spring or July break, with diving or snorkelling on the Red Sea, sandboarding or a night climb of Mount Sinai alongside the temples. Budget for adult entry prices from about age 12 at many sites.
- Grandparents coming too: the summer or April break, when a ship with a lift and short walking days make the Nile easy for every generation.
Whichever break you choose, book family cabins and connecting rooms early: Nile ships have only a few, and they go first in every school holiday.
How do you fit Egypt into a two-week break?
A two-week break with the weekends either side gives about 16 days away, which after flights is 11 or 12 nights on the ground. The journey from Australia takes 20–26 hours each way via a Gulf hub, and flying overnight on the first Friday or Saturday saves a day.
- Nights 1–3: Cairo, with Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum on the first full day and a gentle second day.
- Nights 4–6: a three-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor, or two hotel nights each in Aswan and Luxor.
- Nights 7–11: the Red Sea, four hours' drive from Luxor, with a boat day to the reefs.
Our Egypt family adventure is built on this shape. Some families add a few school days either side for a longer trip; check your school's policy on leave during term. For ages, pacing and kid-friendly sights, read Egypt with kids.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Australian school holidays?
Each state and territory sets its own dates. Broadly there is a summer break from mid or late December to late January or early February, and about two weeks each around April, late June to July, and late September to early October. Check your state education department's calendar.
Is Egypt too hot in the July school holidays?
Luxor and Aswan reach 41–42°C, so it is too hot for midday sightseeing. It works if you visit sites at dawn, rest in the afternoon and spend half the trip on the Red Sea, where the water is 27–28°C.
Which school holiday is the cheapest time to go to Egypt?
Land costs are lowest in the July break and good value in the spring break, while the summer holidays are the most expensive. Flights from Australia cost more in every school holiday, so book them early.
Do New Zealand school holidays line up with Egypt's good seasons?
New Zealand also has four breaks, around April, July, late September to October and a summer break, so the same comparison applies, but the dates differ from Australia's. Check the Ministry of Education calendar.
How long should a family trip to Egypt be?
Ten to fourteen days on the ground is ideal, which fits a two-week school break if you fly out at the start of the holidays. Shorter trips work better without a Nile cruise.
