The Red Sea in August
The hottest sea of the year and the hardest month to be outside in. Come for the water, plan for the heat.
Air, daytime
35–37°C
Air, night
25–27°C
Sea
around 30°C
August matches July for air temperature and beats it for humidity and sea warmth. At around 30°C the water offers no relief at all — you get out warmer than you got in.
The practical shape of an August day here is: outside before ten, indoors or in the shade until late afternoon, outside again from six. Every resident does this and every first-time visitor learns it the hard way on day two.
It is also the most expensive and most crowded month, which is a difficult combination to recommend. If you have any flexibility at all, September does almost everything August does for less money and several degrees less.
Wind, crowds and prices
- Wind
- Strong, and the only reason it is survivable.
- Crowds
- Peak. School holidays across Europe and peak domestic travel.
- Prices
- The most expensive of the year in most resorts.
Good for
- Diving in the warmest water of the year
- Families with no choice about dates
The catch
It is the worst value month of the year: the highest prices, the biggest crowds and the hardest conditions all at once. If your dates are movable, move them.
Typical Hurghada figures, rounded. Marsa Alam runs a couple of degrees warmer. Last reviewed 25 July 2026. Something off?