Quick answer
March is a sweet-spot month in Egypt: Cairo warms to about 24°C, Luxor and Aswan to around 30°C, and nights are mild. The wild card is the khamsin, a hot, dusty wind that can blow for a day or two. In 2027 Ramadan ends in early March, with Eid al-Fitr expected around 9–10 March, and late March brings Western Easter crowds.
Is March a good time to visit Egypt?
Yes: March gives you warm, long days with no winter chill, and it is the last month when the whole of Egypt, from the Western Desert to Aswan, is comfortable at the same time. Luxor and Aswan average about 30°C, Cairo about 24°C, and the lows of 12–14°C mean you can leave the down jacket at home.
It is not a perfectly predictable month, though. Temperatures climb steadily from the start to the end of March, the khamsin can bring a hot, hazy day without warning, and the Islamic and Christian calendars both move through it. Our best time to visit Egypt guide puts March in context with the full year; this page covers how to handle each of March's variables.
How does the weather change through March?
Early March feels like February with warmer nights; by the last week, Luxor and Aswan can reach the mid-30s on hot afternoons.
- First week: Luxor 27–29°C, Cairo 22°C. Excellent for full days on foot.
- Middle of the month: Luxor around 30°C, Aswan a touch warmer. Start the Valley of the Kings by 7am and you will be done before the heat builds.
- Last week: Aswan and Luxor can touch 33–35°C, and the spring equinox brings sunsets after 6pm. Cruise ship pools start to see real use.
The Red Sea warms more slowly: the air reaches about 24–25°C in Hurghada but the water stays near 22°C, still the cool end of the year. Alexandria is around 21°C, with the winter rains mostly over. In the desert, days of 25–28°C and nights of 10–12°C make March the last really good month for camping.
What is the khamsin, and how do you plan around it?
The khamsin is a hot, dry, dust-laden wind that blows north out of the Sahara, mostly between March and May, and can raise temperatures by 10°C or more and turn the sky yellow-grey for a day or two. Its name comes from the Arabic for fifty, after the traditional idea that it can blow on and off for about 50 days in spring.
A khamsin day is unpleasant rather than dangerous for most travellers, but it does affect plans:
- Luxor balloon flights are cancelled when wind or visibility is poor. Book an early night of your stay so you have spare mornings to rebook. Our Luxor balloon guide explains how operators decide.
- Views of the pyramids from the Giza plateau and the Grand Egyptian Museum's terraces can disappear into haze. If Giza is a must-photograph, schedule it early in your Cairo stay so a clear day can replace a dusty one.
- Feluccas may not sail in strong gusts, and Red Sea boat trips can be cancelled for wind.
- Health: people with asthma should carry their preventer and reliever, and contact-lens wearers will be glad of glasses. A buff or scarf over nose and mouth helps.
On a khamsin day, swap outdoor sites for indoor ones: the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Luxor Museum or the Nubian Museum in Aswan.
When are Ramadan, Eid and Easter in March?
Ramadan fell partly or wholly in March in 2024, 2025 and 2026; in 2027 only its last days do, with Eid al-Fitr expected around 9–10 March, and by 2028 March should be Ramadan-free. Christian dates matter too, because Western Easter and the Coptic Great Lent often fall in March.
| Year | Ramadan | Eid al-Fitr | Western Easter Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Expected about 8 Feb to 9 Mar | Expected about 9–10 Mar | 28 March |
| 2028 | Expected about late Jan to late Feb | Expected late Feb | 16 April |
Islamic dates are estimates and depend on the sighting of the moon; check closer to travel. Eid al-Fitr is a public holiday of three or more days, and Egyptian families head for the Red Sea, Alexandria, the Nile corniches and parks. Sites stay open but are lively and busy, and domestic flights, trains and beach hotels fill. See our Eid in Egypt guide for what the holiday looks like.
Western Easter on 28 March 2027 brings European visitors in the last week of March. Meanwhile, Egypt's Copts begin their 55-day Great Lent ahead of Coptic Easter on 2 May 2027, so from early March you will find plenty of vegan dishes on menus, which vegetarian travellers love.
Is March the last chance for the desert?
Effectively yes: from April the Western Desert gets too hot for comfortable camping, so March is the final month we recommend for the White Desert, Bahariya and Siwa.
Nights in the White Desert have lost their January bite, typically 10–12°C, which makes sleeping out under the stars a pleasure rather than an endurance test. Days are warm enough for sandboarding and walking among the chalk formations at sunset. Siwa, about 50 km from the Libyan border, reaches the high 20s by late March and the date palms and salt lakes are at their best before summer.
Most desert trips start from Cairo: Bahariya Oasis is about 4–5 hours' drive south-west, and the White Desert another hour or so beyond it, so an overnight camp needs at least two days, ideally three. Siwa is a long day's drive via Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean coast, and many travellers break the journey in Alexandria.
The catch is the khamsin: a dust day in the open desert is gritty and hazy. Build one flexible day into any desert itinerary so you are not driving back to Cairo through a sandstorm.
Where in Egypt is best in March?
March is the month when almost everywhere works: the Nile Valley is warm, Cairo is mild, the desert is still comfortable and Sinai's mountains are crisp.
- Luxor and Aswan: excellent in the first half of the month, very good in the second with early starts. A Nile cruise or dahabiya is ideal, and the wheat fields along the banks are green and nearly ripe.
- Cairo: about as pleasant as it gets. Spring evenings are good for a walk along Al-Muizz Street or a Nile felucca at sunset.
- Sinai: the night climb up Mount Sinai (about 2,285 metres) is cold but not freezing at the summit, and the walking around St Catherine is comfortable.
- Red Sea: sunny and breezy; good for kitesurfing, cool for long swims.
- Alexandria: the rainy season is ending, and the city is mild and uncrowded.
How busy is March, and what should you book?
March is still high season, busiest in the second half when European spring breaks and Easter arrive, with Eid adding domestic crowds in some years.
- Your Nile ship: March is one of the most requested cruise months; book 6–9 months ahead for a particular boat.
- Red Sea hotels over Eid: if your trip overlaps Eid al-Fitr, book the beach portion early, as prices rise and good rooms go.
- Late-March travel: the Western Easter week is busy in Luxor and the Red Sea; mid-March is calmer.
- Flights from Australia: the Easter long weekend falls on 26–29 March 2027, so departures around then cost more. Mid-March departures avoid both that and the April school holidays.
The Ultimate Egypt 21-day journey, which combines Siwa, the White Desert, the Nile and the Red Sea, is at its best in March.
Frequently asked questions
How hot is Egypt in March?
Cairo averages about 24°C and Luxor and Aswan about 30°C, rising through the month. A khamsin day can push temperatures into the high 30s.
What is the khamsin wind?
A hot, dry, dusty wind from the Sahara that blows mostly between March and May. It usually lasts a day or two, reduces visibility and can ground Luxor's balloons.
Is Ramadan in March 2027?
Only its last days. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February, with Eid al-Fitr around 9–10 March, depending on the moon sighting.
Is March good for the Red Sea?
It is sunny and the air is pleasant at 24–25°C, but the water is still around 22°C. Divers will want a wetsuit; most beach lovers prefer May onwards.
Can you camp in the White Desert in March?
Yes, March is one of the best months: warm days and mild nights of around 10–12°C. Allow a spare day in case of dust winds.
