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Egypt Trip - Early January or Late March - which is better timing?

Egypt Trip - Early January or Late March - which is better timing?

Old May 22nd, 2007, 05:20 PM
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Egypt Trip - Early January or Late March - which is better timing?

We're going to be in Barcelona and other areas of Spain for the first 3 months of next year and would like to go to Egypt for 12 days or so (with a possible extension to Petra) - we could either start the trip in Egypt or finish it there - which is better timing? I'm leaning towards late March as it sounds as though it will be less crowded?

Thanks!
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Old May 22nd, 2007, 11:02 PM
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Actually, in my opinion, January is better than March for a couple of reasons. Right after the Christmas holidays it is less crowded. I'm not sure when Spring Break or Easter is next year, but those could fall in March and it is almost the most crowded time possible here.
Another reason to NOT come in March is the sandstorms. They aren't something that should keep you away if you can't come at another time, but if you have an option, I'd choose the other. The one thing that you can't do much of in January is swim. If you are coming for the beaches or to use a pool at your hotel, it will be a bit cool for that.

I hope you enjoy Egypt!

casualcairo
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Old May 23rd, 2007, 09:19 AM
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While we're talking about timing and weather... Do you think it would be better to plan a trip to Egypt and Jordan in February, or in March? From the reply in this thread, it seems like March might not be the best time for Egypt, but what about Petra? Is it still very cold there in February? Also, what time of year does it become warm enough for swimming in the Red Sea?

I've looked at a lot of weather websites, but sometimes the high/low temperatures for each month don't really tell you what you need to know...
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Old May 23rd, 2007, 09:02 PM
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I have seen Europeans swimming in December/January, so it is possible to swim in those months. I suppose it is a product of where you are coming from and what is "cold" to you. I live in Cairo, and from December to March is winter, as far as I'm concerned and I wouldn't go swimming then.

For my money, I'd go in February if I had the choice. Fewer crowds and cooler temps. I don't think Petra is going to be so cold you won't want to be there in winter, is it? (I haven't gone there yet) Maybe a post over on the Jordan board would get you that information.
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Old May 27th, 2007, 06:32 PM
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When we went to Egypt in 2006 we decided to go in February because I had heard of the wind/sand storms that could happen in March. Even though we went in Feb. we still ended up having a sandstorm the day we went to the Giza pyramids. We couldn't go out to the view which shows the three pyramids together. The weather was beautiful for us coming from the cold Pacific NW. In the high 60's in Cairo and in the 70-80's in Luxor and Aswan.

Julie
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Old May 28th, 2007, 01:54 AM
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Hey Julie (cougfan).... Sunshine and I are both from Washington as well. Seems we have quite a PNW-Cairo connection here in Fodors.
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Old May 28th, 2007, 02:45 AM
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Yes, the place is hopping with Pacific Northwesterners. I'm from Seattle proper. Didn't go the UW/WSU but had one parent who went to one & one who went to the other.
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Old May 28th, 2007, 02:51 AM
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BAck to Egypt. Like most places you never really know what you'll get, so you need to keep track of the weather for the two or so weeks before you come.

In December 2005 I vacationed here & it was in the high 80's in early December in Cairo (if not hotter) and had beautiful sunny, warm days in Siwa and the Great Sand Sea.

I went to Tunisia last fall & the weather was supposed to be warmer than Cairo. For the first few days it was unseasonably cold and then it was unseasonably hot.
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