December brings sunny 20–25°C days to Cairo and Luxor, chilly-but-cosy 10–15°C evenings, and a Red Sea still warm enough to swim at 22–25°C. Every site stays open through the holidays — and mornings are calmer than most visitors expect.
Because Egypt is home to one of the world’s oldest Christian communities, the season runs long: Western Christmas on December 25, then Coptic Christmas on January 7 with midnight mass at the historic Hanging Church in Old Cairo — a side of Egypt most December visitors never see.
Every package below runs normally through Christmas and New Year — hotels and 5★ Nile cruise ships lean into the season with decorations, festive menus and, on most ships, a New Year’s Eve gala dinner (details confirmed for your exact ship at booking).
“December is the month I recommend to friends. The light is soft, the sites are calm in the mornings, and there is something special about ending the year on the Nile. Just talk to us early — New Year departures are always the first to close.”
