The Red Sea in January
The coldest month, which on this coast still means short sleeves at midday — and the sea is warmer than most European summers.
Air, daytime
21–23°C
Air, night
11–13°C
Sea
around 22°C
January is when the coast is at its most comfortable to walk around and its least comfortable to lie still in. Midday is pleasant, mornings and evenings are genuinely cool, and anyone picturing a winter-sun beach holiday should pack a fleece for after sunset.
The sea holds around 22°C, which is swimmable for most people and cold for a long snorkel — this is the month a shorty wetsuit stops being optional if you plan to be in the water for an hour.
For anything on land — the desert, Luxor, walking around El Dahar — it is the best month of the year. Everything that is punishing in August is simply pleasant now.
Wind, crowds and prices
- Wind
- Variable, with cold northerly spells that can cancel offshore boats.
- Crowds
- Busy over New Year, then noticeably quieter until half term.
- Prices
- Peak over New Year, then among the best value of the year.
Good for
- Luxor and Cairo day trips
- Desert safaris
- Long stays and remote work
- Avoiding crowds after the first week
The catch
Wind. A cold northerly can shut down boat trips for days at a time, and it is the one month where a week of bad luck can mean no diving at all. Book flexible, and do not plan the whole trip around one offshore site.
Typical Hurghada figures, rounded. Marsa Alam runs a couple of degrees warmer. Last reviewed 25 July 2026. Something off?