When to go — Sinai Peninsula

The Sinai climate varies considerably between the coast tempered by the sea (Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab) and the mountainous interior (Mount Sinai at 2,285 m altitude, much cooler temperatures).

On the southern coast (Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba), the climate is hot desert almost all year round. March to May and September to November are the ideal seasons — air at 22-30 °C, water at 24-27 °C, perfect conditions for diving and snorkelling combined with land activities. October-November is the high diving season with the passage of hammerhead and thresher sharks at the reefs of Tiran and Brothers (the Brothers are more accessible from Hurghada than from Sharm).

Summer (June-August) is the hottest season — air at 35-42 °C, water at 28-30 °C (perfect for cold-sensitive divers). It is the season of dolphins and green turtles at Ras Mohammed and around Dahab. Desert excursions and the ascent of Mount Sinai are inadvisable at midday (extreme heat) but possible at night (Mount Sinai ascent traditionally done at night for sunrise).

Winter (December-February) is mild and sunny — air at 20-24 °C during the day, but cool in the evening (10-15 °C). Cooler water (22-24 °C, 5mm wetsuit recommended). It is the ideal season for the ascent of Mount Sinai (bearable temperatures even at midday) and for desert excursions. Beware: at the summit of Mount Sinai (2,285 m) and at Saint Catherine's Monastery (1,570 m altitude), night temperatures can drop to -5/0 °C in January — warm fleece, hat and gloves essential. Snow is possible once or twice a year at the summit.

Winds: the Gulf of Aqaba is known for its constant thermal winds that make it a reference kitesurf destination (Dahab Lagoon, Nuweiba). Winds blow from north to south, from March to November, at 15-25 knots on average. Optimal conditions from April to September.