If you're planning a grand combined tour to visit Jordan and Egypt, the best time to visit is between October and May. Yet regional and seasonal differences abound – read on to find the best time to see top highlights in both countries.
Revered for being the safest, most rewarding, varied and accessible destinations in the Middle East, Jordan and Egypt are powerhouses of ancient treasures, fascinating cultures, incredible cuisines and enchanting landscapes. Given their proximity (the two countries are only divided by the Gulf of Aqaba), planning a tour through both countries is a popular option. The first natural question that arises is when is the best time of year to plan a visit to Jordan and Egypt?
Broadly speaking, the best time to visit Jordan and Egypt is during the northern Spring (March-May) and Autumn (Sept-November). Naturally, your personal preferences might dictate otherwise. Perhaps you won't mind donning a waterproof winter jacket to visit the magical ancient city of Petra in December with very few fellow visitors in tow. Alongside the Pyramids of Giza, Petra is the most visited highlight in the region. In high season, the heat and crowds can be stifling. Visiting in the off-season might mean putting up with some rain, but that might be a gamble some people are willing to take.
In this guide, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the best time to visit Jordan and Egypt and the ideal time to visit each of their key highlights. Among the pros and cons of seasonal changes, we are sure you will find the perfect time to visit to suit your desires.
Here’s all that we’ll cover in this guide:
The best time to visit Jordan and Egypt an overview
Best time to visit Egypt: The exotic heart of the Mediterranean
Best time to visit Jordan: The historic heart of the Middle East
The best time to visit Jordan and Egypt – an overview
WEATHER
Jordan and Egypt share a few attributes with the Mediterranean climate but are primarily arid, hot and dry due to their desert landscapes. Both countries enjoy mild winters, although, in some regions of Jordan, the temps can drop enough to entice light snowfall. By and large, Jordan enjoys slightly cooler temps than Egypt – but we’re talking only a few degrees Celsius. Jordan also sees quite a bit of rainfall in winter, something that’s rarer in Egypt.
What both countries share, however, are fierce summers.
The summer months of June, July and August can be scorching in the region, making extensive sightseeing more than a little arduous. Tours to visit Jordan and Egypt run all year round, yet your ability to 'do' much in the hottest hours of the day will be limited in summer. The weather is a crucial consideration primarily for those who are majorly heat-adverse. There's a lot of walking involved in tours of Jordan and Egypt since the best highlights of both countries are best discovered on foot.
In Spring and Autumn, the weather is delightfully mild in both countries, and that is generally the recommended best time to visit.
TOURIST CROWDS
Jordan and Egypt are exceptionally popular countries to visit, so international holidays like Christmas and the northern hemisphere school holidays always see bigger tourist crowds and higher prices in the region. January is also a busy domestic travel month for Egypt when the country's Coptic Christians – about one-fifth of the population – celebrate their Orthodox Christmas.
October – May is the overall best time to visit Jordan and Egypt. If you don’t want to deal with rain or colder temperatures, then avoid December-March. If you don't want to deal with swollen tourist crowds, choose to visit in March, April, and September, and avoid December and January.
Visit Egypt…it’ll take your breath away
The above is a broad overview of the best overall time to visit Jordan and Egypt but does not detail regional nuances. Knowing the best time to visit each key highlight can help you experience your bucket-list destination at the best time possible.
Best time to visit Egypt – the exotic heart of the Mediterranean
The northern region of Egypt includes Alexandria, on the Mediterranean coast, Cairo, and its marvellous Pyramids. Further south, following the Nile, is where you'll find Aswan and Luxor, home to some of the country's most extraordinary ancient Egyptian treasures. The south enters desert country and is generally slightly warmer than the north. Over on the east is the Sinai Peninsula, the Red Sea, and some of the world's most coveted snorkelling and scuba diving destinations. The Sinai is one of Egypt’s coolest regions, thanks to its eclectic, mountainous topography. Sea breezes also keep the coast a little cooler.
Best time to visit Cairo, Pyramids of Giza, Alexandria
These premium highlights of our Signature Egypt tour showcase the country’s most prominent ancient treasures, mixed in with a unique multi-cultural infusion that distinguishes the north from the south. The best time for extensive explorations of the north is between October and April. Winter tours are pretty perfect here.
Infused with old Greco-Roman treasures, sandy beaches and quaint cafes, Alexandria is one of Egypt’s best highlights
Best time to visit Aswan, Luxor and enjoy Nile Cruises
Meandering down the length of the Nile between Aswan and Luxor on a Nile Cruise is one of the most enchanting experiences you can have in Egypt. Although the actual cruising is relaxing and laidback (the views are jaw-dropping!), the stops require quite a bit of walking, so October-April is also the best time to enjoy a cruise. The Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens (where Ancient Egypt’s pharaohs, nobles and queens – including Queen Nefertari – were buried) are perhaps the hottest destinations on Nile cruising itineraries – it can be up to 10C hotter here than in Cairo – but with an air-conditioned cabin and cold shower waiting for your abroad your Nile cruise ship, the heat is soon forgotten!
Cruising the Nile, a bucket-list experience like no other
Best time to visit the Red Sea and the Sinai Peninsula
The main exceptions to the October – April in Egypt timeline are the Red Sea and Sinai Penisula, which are year-round destinations for the most part. If you wish to SCUBA dive or enjoy some R&R on a sublime beach overlooking pristine coral reefs, then a summer stop-over here can also be enjoyable.
The unique topography and charm of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula
See Viva’s collection of Egypt Tours – don’t forget that our Destination Specialists can customize tours to meet your needs.
Best time to visit Jordan – the historic heart of the Middle East
Jordan showcases a few eccentricities that set it apart from Egypt. The main distinction being rainfall – Jordan can see a lot of it in December and January and some in February and March as well.
December/January rains keep big tourist crowds away, which can be blissful in typically crowded highlights like Petra. You'll want to visit in January if you dream of photographing the Treasury's façade without a considerable tourist crowd. Just pack a rain jacket, non-slip hiking boots and enjoy having this magical place (almost) to yourself.
Rug up and enjoy a blissfully quiet day in Petra, Jordan, in January
Given so many travellers don't like rain or cold temps, however, the general recommended best time to visit Jordan is March to May and September to November.
The best time to visit Amman and Jerash
The northern Levant region is best explored in Spring and Autumn when days are mild and nights temperate. It's the perfect time of year to explore Amman and Jerash's historical highlights thoroughly. April is a particularly glorious month when the countryside is bathed in wildflowers.
Amman’s priceless Roman ruins
The best time to visit Petra
Petra is an ancient wonder explored extensively on foot. Temperatures here are usually a few degrees warmer than in the capital. Visiting in March-May or September-November is recommended for a delightful experience with perfect walking temps. This is Jordan's #1 tourist attraction, so this site sees the largest concentration of tourists in the country. Every year, Petra's most significant tourist crowds visit in April and October.
Petra is one of the oldest cities in the world, believed to have been carved from rock some 2,300 years ago
The best time to visit Wadi Rum
October to April is ideal for camel trekking, 4x4 desert tours, and camping under the starlit desert sky in Wadi Rum. However, a winter trip is recommended if you prefer lower tourist numbers and the incredible chance to (maybe) experience snowfall in the desert. Nights are cold, but those Bedouin blankets will keep you toasty! In March and April, the desert flowers bloom, a magical spectacle to witness. September and October are arguably the 'best', weatherwise, although tourist groups abound. The excessive July and August temps and frequent sandstorms keep most travellers away in summer.
The ethereal red-rock landscapes of the Wadi Rum Desert comprise mountains, canyons, natural rock arches, caves and watering holes. It’s Hollywood’s favourite film set for movies about Mars!
The best time to visit the Dead Sea
The lowest place on earth (400m below sea level) and its revered 'largest free spa' is an extraordinary place to visit. It's accessible year-round, and water temps are pretty balmy all year, but for pleasant mud baths and extensive soaks (which are usually short, to be honest, given they’re so salty), you'll want to visit the Dead Sea when the temperatures are pleasant. In this regard, March, April, May, September, October and November hit the spot. Don’t discount a winter trip though, when the sea temp, for once, is warmer than the air temp. It is a lovely time for a few days of spa treatments and relaxation in this unique corner of Jordan.
Dead Sea…a natural floating paradise!
The best time to visit Aqaba and the Red Sea
One of the world’s premier SCUBA diving destinations and home to an underwater haven of coral and sea life, Aqaba and the Dead Sea are popular and enjoyable to visit year-round. The height of summer might be a bit too hot for some (June-August, with temps that can reach 40C), but sun-worshippers will love it. If forced to pin down one season when conditions are PERFECT, it would have to be Autumn (September,October, November.) The sea is still balmy from the scorching summer, and abundant marine life, yet air temps cool down quite a bit, so exploring the region (above water) is gratifying. And FYI, if you’re planning a winter visit to Jordan and Egypt, you’ll be pleased to know that this is also a popular and gorgeous time of year to soak up some winter sun on the country’s short coast.
Aqaba is primarily known as a beach, diving and snorkelling destination, yet it's historically unique – at 5,500 years old, it is the oldest living city on the shores of the Red Sea
On our 9-day Signature Jordan Tour, you can soak up all the wonders of this magical country in one fell swoop.
See Viva’s collection of Jordan Tours – and remember that our experienced Destination Specialists can customize tours to meet your needs, desires, and timing.
