Christmas & New Year in Egypt Private Holiday Tours

Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks of Egypt’s travel season, and the right trip is one that is booked early. The weather in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan is at its most comfortable, days are short but sunny, and Nile cruises and good hotels fill months ahead. Every tour below runs privately with your own guide, so you can travel over the holidays on your own dates rather than a fixed group departure.

Use this page to compare holiday-friendly itineraries, understand how festive dates affect prices and availability, and decide where you want to be on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

Holiday Tours Compared

Starting prices are taken from each tour page. Over the festive period some tours carry a separate peak rate, and your quote will show the exact price for your dates.

Planning a Christmas or New Year Trip to Egypt

Book early

The last two weeks of December and the first week of January are the peak of Egypt’s high season. Nile cruise cabins, Abu Simbel flights and the best hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan are the first to go. If you are traveling over the holidays, aim to confirm your trip by early autumn, and earlier still for a dahabiya or an ultra deluxe ship.

Expect crowds at the big sites

The Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings are busiest over the holidays. A private guide helps here: we start early, visit the most popular sites first and shift the order of the day around the crowds. Our pre-trip guide covers what to pack for winter evenings, which are cool on deck and in the desert.

Christmas in Egypt

Egypt’s Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on 7 January, so you may see two Christmases on one trip. Some hotels and Nile cruise ships hold a festive dinner on 25 December or a gala evening on 31 December, which can carry a supplement. Ask us which hotels and ships on your itinerary hold one, and we will include it in your quote.

New Year on the Nile or by the sea

You can see in the New Year on a cruise between Luxor and Aswan, in Cairo, or at a Red Sea resort. If you want beach days after the sightseeing, a route that finishes in Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh works well; see our Egypt and Red Sea tours.

Weather Over the Holidays

December and January are the coolest months of the year. Days in Luxor and Aswan are usually sunny and pleasant for sightseeing, while mornings and evenings are chilly, especially in the desert and on the river. Bring layers and a warm jacket. Our best time to visit Egypt guide explains what to expect month by month.

Not Only Christmas: Easter and Other Holidays

The same advice applies to Easter and spring school holidays, which also fill up early. Whatever your dates, our team can suggest the right length and route and hold space while you decide. If none of the tours above fits, we will build a tailor-made holiday around you.