When To Go · Destination Guide

Hurghada (Giftun and Abu Nuhas)

Protected islands, wreck legends, and easy Red Sea day-boat range

Updated Mar 25, 2026 • 30 sources

When to go

Best time to visit Hurghada (Giftun and Abu Nuhas)

Hurghada is a yearround Red Sea destination, but the feel changes more with wind and air temperature than with rain.

Best overall window

Warm water, good light, and many mornings with more manageable surface conditions. Water often sits around 24°C to 28°C.

Outside that window

Winter can mean cooler water and windier sea states, while midsummer pushes air temperatures toward 33°C to 34°C.

Start with the overall answer, then switch only when scuba, freedive, snorkel, or topside timing changes the trip in a meaningful way.

The overall row stays visible so you can compare it against the currently selected scope.

BestGoodTradeoffsMore variable

Scope	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Overall	Overall - Jan: Tradeoffs	Overall - Feb: Tradeoffs	Overall - Mar: Good	Overall - Apr: Best	Overall - May: Best	Overall - Jun: Best	Overall - Jul: Tradeoffs	Overall - Aug: Tradeoffs	Overall - Sep: Best	Overall - Oct: Best	Overall - Nov: Best	Overall - Dec: Good

These do not replace the overall planner. Use them only if a specific animal or event is driving your trip dates.

Hawksbill and green turtle nesting season
Best for Snorkel, Scuba, Topside
Jun to Sep
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sensitive Red Sea nesting activity increases through summer, and HEPCA identifies Giftun Kebir as an important hawksbill nesting area.
Resident reef turtle sightings
Best for Snorkel, Scuba
Year-round
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Turtles can be seen yearround on Hurghada reefs, especially on calmer Giftun and Abu Ramada style days.
Dolphin resting areas require passive encounters
Best for Snorkel, Scuba
Year-round
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
North of Hurghada, areas such as Shaab El Erg and El Fanous are known dolphin resting zones.
Late autumn line-training comfort
Best for Freedive
Oct to Nov
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
For freedivers, autumn often balances warm water, lower heat stress, and calmerfeeling mornings better than high summer.

Mar, Dec: Still very workable, with pleasant air on land and water around 22°C to 24°C.
Jan to Feb, Jul to Aug: Winter can mean cooler water and windier sea states, while midsummer pushes air temperatures toward 33°C to 34°C.

Built from climate references, access rules, and destination operators. Wildlife timing and route flexibility can shift year to year.