Quick answer
October is when Egypt's travel season opens: Luxor and Aswan cool from the mid-30s to around 32°C, Cairo sits near 30°C and the Red Sea is still about 26–27°C. It brings the Abu Simbel Sun Festival on 22 October and, in most years, the El Gouna Film Festival, so book the second half of the month early.
Why does October mark the start of Egypt's season?
October is when the heat finally lets go of Upper Egypt, so cruise ships, dahabiyas, desert camps and balloon operators move into their busy season and the first wave of European and Australian visitors arrives.
The month has two halves. In the first fortnight, Luxor and Aswan still reach 34–36°C and prices are often at shoulder levels. By the last week, highs are closer to 31–33°C, nights drop below 20°C and the whole country feels easier, but demand (and rates) climb towards winter levels. If you have flexibility, the window from about 15 October to early November is one of the best of the year. The best time to visit Egypt guide puts October next to the other eleven months.
For Australians and New Zealanders, mid-October has another advantage: it sits between the spring school holidays and the Christmas rush, so flights via the Gulf are often more reasonably priced than at either end, and Egypt's warm, dry days are a welcome contrast to a changeable spring at home. Rain is almost unheard of in Upper Egypt; only Alexandria and the Mediterranean coast see the occasional autumn shower late in the month.
How do you see the Abu Simbel Sun Festival on 22 October?
On or around 22 October, the rising sun shines down the length of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and lights the statues in its innermost sanctuary for about 20 minutes; to see it you need to be at the temple before dawn, which means planning months ahead.
Three of the four seated gods in the sanctuary, Ra-Horakhty, Amun-Ra and the deified Ramesses II, are lit, while Ptah, a god linked to the underworld, stays in shadow. Thousands of people gather, and entry to the inner sanctuary is in slow-moving lines, so the experience is about atmosphere as much as the beam of light itself. There is music and dancing outside the temple, and the town of Abu Simbel holds celebrations around the date.
- From Aswan by road: about 280 kilometres and three and a half hours, so departures on festival morning are in the middle of the night.
- Stay overnight in Abu Simbel: the most relaxed option; the town's handful of hotels and guesthouses books out first.
- Lake Nasser cruise: some ships time their sailing to moor at Abu Simbel for the festival.
If festival crowds don't appeal, visit a few days later instead: the temple is just as impressive and you can usually see the sanctuary at your own pace. Our Abu Simbel Sun Festival guide covers the event in detail, and the Sun Festival tour is built around it.
When is the El Gouna Film Festival?
The El Gouna Film Festival is usually held in October in the Red Sea resort town of El Gouna, but its dates move each year and at least one recent edition was postponed, so check the official announcement before planning around it.
Founded in 2017, it has become one of the Arab world's most glamorous film events, with red-carpet premieres, competitions for Arab and international films, and a strong showing from Egyptian cinema stars. Some screenings are open to the public with tickets, though the headline events are invitation-only. For travellers, the practical effect is that El Gouna's boutique hotels and marina restaurants are much busier during festival week, and rates rise.
If you'd like to combine the Nile with a few days in El Gouna in October, the water is still about 26–27°C and the town's lagoons are calm for paddleboarding. Read more about the town in our El Gouna guide.
What else is on in Egypt in October?
Beyond the sun festival and the film festival, October brings Armed Forces Day on 6 October, the end of Egypt's summer time, and El Alamein commemorations late in the month.
- 6 October, Armed Forces Day: a public holiday marking the crossing of the Suez Canal in 1973. Government offices and banks close; tourist sites usually open. The government sometimes moves holidays to a Thursday or Sunday, so check the exact day.
- Clocks go back: in recent years Egypt has ended summer time on the last Thursday of October. Australia's eastern states start daylight saving in early October, so for most of October Sydney and Melbourne are eight hours ahead of Cairo, and nine once Egypt's clocks go back.
- El Alamein anniversary: the Second Battle of El Alamein began on 23 October 1942, and Commonwealth commemorations, attended by Australian and New Zealand representatives, are usually held at the El Alamein war cemetery around the anniversary. Check with the embassy if you hope to attend.
What is the weather like at the start and end of October?
Early October is still hot in the south, late October is warm and comfortable everywhere, and the Red Sea stays swimmable throughout.
| Place | Early October | Late October |
|---|---|---|
| Cairo | 31°C / 20°C | 28°C / 17°C |
| Luxor | 36°C / 21°C | 32°C / 17°C |
| Aswan | 37°C / 23°C | 33°C / 19°C |
| Hurghada | 31°C / 23°C | 29°C / 21°C |
| White Desert (Bahariya) | 33°C / 18°C | 29°C / 13°C |
Rounded long-term averages; individual years vary. Desert camping in the White Desert becomes realistic from mid-October, with warm days and nights cool enough for a sleeping bag under the stars.
Which experiences come back into season in October?
October is when Egypt's outdoor experiences become a pleasure again: desert camping, long felucca sails, walks in Islamic Cairo and dawn balloon flights all stop being endurance tests.
- Hot-air balloons over Luxor: they fly year-round, weather permitting, but October mornings are calm and mild, typically in the high teens at take-off, without the winter chill. See our Luxor balloon guide.
- The White Desert: from mid-October an overnight camp among the chalk formations, about five hours' drive from Cairo via Bahariya Oasis, is comfortable, with days in the high 20s.
- Feluccas in Aswan: late-afternoon sails around Elephantine Island and Kitchener's Island are lovely, with the low sun turning the West Bank dunes gold.
- Walking Cairo: the medieval streets from Bab Zuweila along Al-Muizz Street are pleasant on foot in the late afternoon, which they are not in summer.
- The Red Sea: still warm at 26–27°C, and quieter once the Egyptian summer holidays end, which makes October a very good month for a beach finish.
What should you book for October, and how early?
For the second half of October, book six to nine months ahead; for festival dates at Abu Simbel or El Gouna, book as soon as you commit.
- Flights: NSW, ACT and some other states' spring school holidays can run into the first week or so of October, pushing up fares; mid-month departures are usually better value.
- Nile cruise or dahabiya: the best boats and upper-deck cabins go first. Many dahabiyas start their season in October.
- Abu Simbel accommodation for 21 October if you're going to the festival.
- Balloon flight: October mornings are calm and mild, and flights fill on busy days; arrange it through your guide or with your cruise.
Check visa requirements on the official Egypt e-Visa portal and current advice on Smartraveller before departure.
Frequently asked questions
Is October a good time to visit Egypt?
Yes, especially the second half. Temperatures fall to the low 30s in Luxor and Aswan, Cairo is around 28–30°C, the Red Sea is still warm, and peak Christmas crowds are still weeks away.
What date is the Abu Simbel Sun Festival in October?
It is held on or around 22 October each year, when the rising sun lights the statues in the temple's inner sanctuary for about 20 minutes. A matching event happens around 22 February.
When is the El Gouna Film Festival?
It is usually held in October, but dates change each year and an edition has been postponed in the past. Check the festival's official announcement before booking travel around it.
Is October too hot for a Nile cruise?
Early October can still reach 35–37°C in Aswan, but excursions start early and the heat eases quickly. By late October, cruise weather is excellent.
What is the time difference between Australia and Egypt in October?
It changes during the month. In recent years Sydney and Melbourne have been eight hours ahead of Cairo from early October, when Australian daylight saving starts, and nine hours ahead once Egypt ends summer time on the last Thursday of October.
