New Year in Egypt from Astana: tours

New Year in Egypt from Astana — it is a flight with winter sun, warm sea and a festive night by the pool. In late December and January, daytime temperatures at Red Sea resorts are around +22…+24 °C, and the water stays within +21…+23 °C. It is better to book a tour two or three months in advance, and departures after 7 January are noticeably cheaper.

When is the best time to go for the New Year holidays?

The holiday dates in Egypt fall into two very different halves. Late December is expensive and noisy, while the second week of January is quieter and noticeably cheaper.

Weather conditions at different resorts in December and January

The warmest in December and January is in the south of the Red Sea, while the Mediterranean coast is cooler. In Hurghada, daytime temperatures are usually around +22…+24 °C, in Sharm El Sheikh slightly higher, and the water stays within +21…+23 °C. In Marsa Alam the air warms up more, but the wind from the sea is felt almost every day. Egyptian winter is the dry season, so rain at the resorts is rare, and in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh there is practically no precipitation. For swimming, it is more comfortable to choose hotels with a heated pool, because the sea is bracing. The weather in Taba and Nuweiba is windy in winter, and swimming there is more often short. As a result, New Year in Egypt from Astana is more reasonable to plan with an eye on the pool and walks, rather than long swims.

Price calendar: when to book and when to depart

It is worth booking the trip two or three months before the holidays, otherwise the choice of hotels narrows to remote areas. Many hotels in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh raise prices by one and a half to two times in late December compared with the beginning of the month. The most expensive night is from 31 December to 1 January, and after 7–8 January the cost drops. Departure on 2–4 January gives noticeable savings with almost the same weather. Egyptian winter does not interfere with rest, but windy days in Dahab and Safaga occur more often than in spring. If the dates are flexible, the second half of January is the calmest option for the budget.

Where to go: resorts and their features?

Egyptian resorts differ from each other by wind, the depth of bays and the character of the crowd. Some are suitable for quiet, others — for celebration until morning.

Quiet bays and windy coasts

The calm bays of Marsa Alam and Safaga are noticeably quieter and warmer in winter than the open coasts. Marsa Alam is surrounded by coral reefs, and the water there is almost always transparent, while the wind is dampened by the shore. Safaga is convenient for families with children: the entrance to the sea is gentle, there are fewer waves than in Hurghada. El Gouna is suitable for those who want a calm holiday without large hotel parties; there are many lagoons and greenery there. Dahab and Nuweiba in Sinai are windy places, but popular with kitesurfers and divers. Taba stands apart: from there it is convenient to go to the border with Jordan and return to the sea. For New Year in Egypt from Astana, quiet bays are chosen by those who value sleep more than party noise.

Family holidays and youth parties

For families with children, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh are more convenient: there are even beaches, kids' clubs and a short transfer from the airport. Sharm El Sheikh hotels often stand in enclosed bays, where the wind is weaker and the water is warmer. Young people more often choose Hurghada and Dahab: in the first city there are many bars and clubs, in the second — inexpensive cafes and an atmosphere for divers. El Gouna and Safaga are suitable for those who want a celebration in a small circle. Taba and Nuweiba are an option for couples who value silence and nature. Egyptian winter is the same at all resorts, but the entertainment infrastructure differs greatly.

How to get there from Astana and arrange documents

Some programs include a connection in another city.

Routes, connections and travel time

There are fewer direct flights from Astana to Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh in the winter schedule than from Almaty, so some tours involve a connection. Usually the flight takes from six to ten hours including waiting at the connecting airport. During the New Year holidays in Egypt, winter time applies, the difference with Astana decreases, which is worth taking into account when planning transfers and excursions.

Passport, visa and insurance for Kazakhstanis

Medical insurance for entry is not always mandatory, but for diving and water activities it is necessary. It is better to arrange it in advance, together with the tour, so that the coverage includes sports and water. Documents for the trip should be prepared in advance, and not in the last week before departure. An insurance policy will be useful both in case of flight cancellation and when seeing a doctor at the resort.

Visa and entry rules change: check with the primary source — the portal of the electronic visa of the Arab Republic of Egypt, https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/. The information on this page was checked on 18.09.2026.

What to consider when booking a hotel

The festive night changes the hotel rules: surcharges and special conditions appear. It is better to find out about this before paying for the tour.

Festive dinner and mandatory surcharges

In Egypt hotels on New Year's Eve often have a mandatory festive dinner with a surcharge, which is reported at booking. The amount depends on the hotel category and meal plan, so it is worth checking in advance. Sometimes dinner is already included in the rate, and sometimes it is added as a separate line on the bill. For New Year's dates, hotels and popular restaurants are booked two to three months ahead, otherwise the choice of accommodation narrows. Sorting out the dinner question in advance saves nerves on the festive night.

Infrastructure for swimming in winter

A heated pool in winter is more important than proximity to the beach, because the sea cools to +21…+23 °C. Hotels in Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh often offer two or three pools, and at least one of them is heated. In Marsa Alam and El Gouna, the pools in courtyards are sheltered from the wind, which makes swimming comfortable. In Dahab and Nuweiba, heating is less common, but there are good snorkeling spots nearby. Check whether the heating works around the clock and whether there is a children's area. The Egyptian winter is short, and a well-chosen hotel compensates for the cool water.

How to organize leisure and calculate the budget

In winter, some entertainment depends on the wind, so the plan should be kept flexible. It is more convenient to calculate on-site expenses in advance.

Excursions, diving and sea trips

Diving and snorkeling in winter are available year-round, but in December–January, due to wind, some sea trips may be canceled. Excursions to the pyramids and to Luxor from Hurghada take a whole day because of the long road, so on a short New Year's tour it is better not to schedule them back to back. From Sharm El Sheikh, trips to Ras Mohammed and Tiran are popular, but in winter they are sometimes moved to another day. In Marsa Alam and Safaga, it is worth booking sea outings with a margin of dates. In Dahab and Nuweiba, wind is the norm, and trip schedules are adjusted to it. The Egyptian winter does not cancel diving, but it requires patience and flexibility.

Tipping, cash and on-site expenses

In Egypt, it is customary to leave tips for the services of hotel staff, transfer drivers and guides, and this should be included in the budget as a separate line. For payments at resorts, it is more convenient to have cash in dollars or euros for exchange into Egyptian pounds; cards are not accepted everywhere. Alcohol is sold in a limited way: outside hotels and licensed stores it is hard to find, and you can bring it with you within customs limits. Small bills will be useful for drivers, porters and waiters. Large sums for excursions are best kept separate from everyday money.

Briefly

• Plan a New Year's trip to Egypt from Astana two to three months before departure.
• Departure after January 7 costs noticeably less than the festive dates.
• In Dahab and Nuweiba it is windy in winter, and swimming there is short.
• Choose a hotel with a heated pool and check the surcharge for the festive dinner.