Quick answer
February is arguably the best month for a Nile cruise: Luxor and Aswan reach about 26–27°C by day, the skies are clear and the light is beautiful. On 22 February the rising sun lights the inner sanctuary of the Great Temple at Abu Simbel. In 2027 Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February, which changes the rhythm of days but not access to the sights.
Why is February such a good month for Egypt?
February keeps January's clear skies but adds two or three degrees of warmth, so mornings are less bitter, afternoons are still comfortable and the Nile Valley is at its most pleasant. Luxor averages about 26°C by day and Aswan 27°C, dropping to 8–10°C overnight. Cairo sits around 21°C with 10°C nights.
Sunsets are a little later than in January (closer to 5.45pm in Luxor), which gives a longer afternoon on the cruise deck. Fields along the river are green with sugar cane, wheat and clover, and the light is soft and golden from about 4pm. For photographers and anyone who walks slowly, it is hard to beat. Our best time to visit Egypt guide compares February with the rest of the year; below is what is specific to this month.
What is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival?
On 22 February (and again on 22 October), the rising sun shines straight down the 60-metre axis of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and lights three of the four seated statues in the sanctuary. The figures lit are Amun-Ra, Ra-Horakhty and the deified Ramesses II; the fourth, Ptah, a god linked with the underworld, stays in shadow. The light lasts roughly 20 minutes.
Ramesses II's architects designed the alignment more than 3,200 years ago. When UNESCO's rescue campaign cut the temple into blocks and rebuilt it 65 metres higher in the 1960s, to save it from Lake Nasser, the engineers reproduced the orientation, but the dates appear to have moved by roughly a day from the original. The popular theory is that the two days marked Ramesses' birthday and coronation, but there is no ancient text that confirms it.
Outside the temple, the morning becomes a local festival with Nubian drumming, dancing and stalls. For background on the temple itself, see our Abu Simbel Sun Festival guide.
How do you plan the Sun Festival day?
Treat it as a pre-dawn operation: be at the temple gate by about 4.30am, queue in the dark and expect a long, slow shuffle past the sanctuary. Here is a realistic plan from Aswan, 280 km and about 3–3.5 hours away by road.
- Midnight to 1am: leave Aswan by private car. On festival days police set the road timings and traffic is heavy, so allow extra time.
- 4–4.30am: arrive and join the queue. Thousands of people attend; the ticket office and gates open early for the event.
- A little after 6am: sunrise. Only a small group can stand in the sanctuary at once, so most visitors see the light for a few seconds as the line moves through. Big screens outside show the alignment.
- 7–9am: watch the dancing, then visit the Temple of Nefertari and the Great Temple properly once the crowd thins.
- Mid-morning: drive back to Aswan, arriving early afternoon. Rest.
The calmer alternative is to spend the night before in Abu Simbel village, or arrive by air: EgyptAir has operated short Aswan–Abu Simbel flights, but schedules vary and festival seats sell out. Our Abu Simbel by road or air guide compares the two. On a Lake Nasser cruise, some ships time their departure so guests are moored at Abu Simbel for the festival.
What changes during Ramadan in February 2027?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February and run for about 30 days, so most of February 2027 falls within it; exact dates depend on the sighting of the new moon. The sights stay open, cruise ships and tourist hotels operate normally, and the 22 February Sun Festival goes ahead at dawn as usual.
What changes is the rhythm. Some sites close an hour or so earlier, drivers and guides who are fasting need a short stop at sunset, and the hour before iftar brings Cairo's worst traffic of the day, so avoid airport transfers then. In return, evenings are wonderful: lanterns in Islamic Cairo, iftar tents in the big hotels and late-night cafés. Since winter temperatures make fasting less tiring than in summer, service is generally good. Our full guide to travelling in Egypt during Ramadan covers etiquette, iftar and what to expect.
In 2028, Ramadan is expected to begin in late January and end in late February, so February 2028 will again be almost entirely within Ramadan.
How busy is Egypt in February?
February is high season but noticeably calmer than January, particularly once the Australian school holidays end in late January or early February.
- Early February: the quietest window of the winter peak. Australian and New Zealand families have gone home and airfares from Australia often ease.
- Mid-February: British and European school half-terms bring families, mainly to the Red Sea resorts and Luxor.
- Around the 22nd: Aswan and Abu Simbel are packed for two or three days, and hotels in Aswan book out early. If you are not going for the festival, plan Abu Simbel on another day.
Prices for cruises and hotels remain at high-season levels for most of the month. Dahabiyas, which suit February's light winds and mild nights perfectly, are often booked a year ahead; see the dahabiya sailing journey.
Is the Red Sea warm enough in February?
February is the Red Sea's coolest month for swimming: water is about 21–22°C and the air around 22–23°C, so it is a sunny rest stop rather than a beach-and-snorkel holiday for most Australians.
Visibility for diving is excellent and the reefs at Ras Mohammed and off Hurghada are as good as ever, but you will want a 5 mm wetsuit for diving and probably a thin one for snorkelling. Afternoon winds are common, which is great for kitesurfers in El Gouna and Soma Bay and less great for boat trips. Sharm el-Sheikh and Marsa Alam are a degree or two warmer than Hurghada. If warm water matters, push the beach part of your trip to May or later, or read our Red Sea snorkelling guide to choose the most sheltered bays.
What should you book for February?
Book three things early: your ship or dahabiya, your Abu Simbel arrangements if you want the Sun Festival, and Aswan accommodation for the nights of 21 and 22 February.
- Festival travel: 6–12 months ahead. Cruise itineraries that place you in Aswan on the 21st, or a Lake Nasser ship timed for Abu Simbel, are the easiest way to see it.
- Ramadan evenings: if you want a hotel iftar or a home-hosted iftar in 2027, ask for it when you book so your guide can arrange it.
- Balloon flight in Luxor: February dawns are cool rather than cold and winds are usually light; keep a backup morning anyway.
- Flights: early February departures from Australia are often better value than late January ones.
What should you pack for February?
Pack layers: February afternoons are warm enough for short sleeves, but dawns are still around 8–10°C in Luxor and Aswan and colder in the desert.
- A warm jacket for the Sun Festival: you will stand outside the temple in the small hours. The desert around Abu Simbel is cold before sunrise, and the queue moves slowly.
- A head torch or phone light for the pre-dawn walk from the car park and for the darker tomb corridors in the Valley of the Kings.
- Sun protection: by 11am the sun is strong enough to burn, especially on a cruise deck or felucca.
- Modest clothing with covered shoulders and knees, which matters more than usual during Ramadan, particularly in Islamic Cairo and village areas.
- A thin wetsuit or rash vest if you plan to snorkel in the Red Sea.
Most Nile ships and hotels have heated rooms but unheated pools, so do not expect a warm swim on board until March.
Frequently asked questions
What date is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival in February?
22 February, at sunrise, when sunlight reaches the sanctuary of the Great Temple. It also happens on 22 October.
Is February a good time for a Nile cruise?
Yes. With highs of about 26–27°C in Luxor and Aswan and cool nights, February is one of the very best months on the Nile.
Is Ramadan in February 2027?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February and end around 9 March, with Eid al-Fitr expected about 9–10 March. Exact dates depend on the moon sighting.
Is it worth going to Abu Simbel for the Sun Festival?
If you love the idea of seeing an ancient alignment work, yes, but expect a midnight start, big crowds and only seconds in the sanctuary. Visiting on a quiet day gives a better look at the temple.
Is it too cold to swim in Egypt in February?
The Red Sea is about 21–22°C in February, its coolest point. It is swimmable, but most people from Australia find a thin wetsuit makes snorkelling far more comfortable.
