Cairo, Cruise, Red Sea & Solar Eclipse 2027

Monday 26th July 2027. Upon arrival in Cairo you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or those arriving early can opt to join our optional Backstreets of Cairo tour which departs the hotel at 10am. This evening a Welcome Meeting will be held at 7pm.

For those who wish to extend their stay with pre tour accommodation, we also offer an Alexandria Day Trip, a Suez Canal Day Trip and a 4-day Alexandria & El Alamein add-on.

We set out early this morning on a guided tour to the iconic Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. The only surviving wonder of the ancient Greek-listed Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids are the oldest tourist attraction on earth. Built for the pharaohs Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), these monumental structures were already over 2,000 years old in classical times. Continue to the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, where sand-covered tombs and temples surround Djoser’s Step Pyramid, the earliest pyramid ever built. During the day, there is also a visit to a government-supervised Papyrus Museum to learn about this traditional Egyptian craft.

Cairo - Aswan. Today we visit the impressive Grand Egyptian Museum, a vast 490,000 sq.m complex showcasing more than 100,000 artefacts spanning Egypt’s rich history. Many items are on display for the first time, brought together from collections around the world. Explore expansive galleries filled with colossal statues, sarcophagi, beautifully restored antiquities and everyday objects that bring ancient Egyptian civilisation to life. A highlight of the museum is the remarkable treasure collection of King Tutankhamun, including his iconic golden funerary mask, royal chariot, intricate jewellery and ceremonial objects, offering a fascinating insight into the boy king’s life and legacy.

After our visit, we return to the hotel for some time at leisure before boarding the overnight train to Aswan this evening.

Arriving into Aswan this morning, we take a short boat trip to Agilika Island to visit the beautiful Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Returning to the city, we stop at a perfume oil emporium to learn about traditional Egyptian fragrances. The rest of the day is free to explore Aswan’s colourful souks and markets or relax in this laid-back Nile-side town.

Today there is an optional early morning excursion by road to Abu Simbel, home to the spectacular rock-cut temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. Carved into a sandstone cliff in the 13th century BC, the Great Temple is guarded by four colossal statues of Ramses II and is one of Egypt’s most impressive ancient monuments. The temples were famously relocated in the 1960s to protect them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. Later, we return to Aswan and board the Nile cruiser, our home for the next three nights. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Aswan – Nile Cruise – Kom Ombo. Enjoy a leisurely morning in Aswan, or relax onboard the cruiser before we begin sailing north towards Kom Ombo. On arrival, we visit the unique Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to two gods — Sobek, the crocodile-headed god, and Horus the Elder, the falcon-headed god. The temple’s symmetrical design reflects this dual dedication, with twin entrances, halls and sanctuaries. Nearby, see mummified crocodiles displayed in a small museum. We then return to the ship and continue cruising along the Nile towards Luxor.

Nile Cruise – Luxor. This morning we arrive into Luxor - the world’s greatest open-air museum. Crossing over to the West Bank of the Nile we visit the legendary Valley of the Kings and see the towering 18m-high Colossi of Memnon – the last remains of the temple of Amenophis III. At the Valley of the Kings, you can visit three of the richly decorated pharaohs’ tombs, many still vividly coloured after thousands of years. Notable tombs include those of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II and of course, King Tutankhamun.

We then continue to Deir al-Bahri to visit the striking Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, where a series of terraces rise dramatically from the desert. Our day's touring ends with a visit to the beautiful Luxor Temple on the east bank of the Nile, before we enjoy our final night on board the cruiser.

Luxor - Hurghada. This morning we visit the colossal Temple of Karnak, a spectacular religious complex built on a gigantic scale, where you get lost wandering around the stone papyrus columns.

Then we prepare to witness the 02 August 2027 total solar eclipse – one of the most extraordinary astronomical events of the century. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes into near-perfect alignment between the Earth and the Sun. It is a remarkable cosmic coincidence: the Sun is around 400 times larger than the Moon, but also around 400 times farther away, allowing them to appear almost exactly the same size in the sky. When this alignment occurs, the Moon completely blocks the Sun – a moment known as totality – revealing the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, as a shimmering halo of light in near darkness.

With the Sun positioned high in the sky - almost overhead - and an estimated 80% chance of clear skies, Luxor offers one of the very best viewing locations along the eclipse path, which crosses parts of Spain, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The point of greatest duration lies just southeast of Luxor, where totality will last an exceptional 6 minutes and 23 seconds, making this the longest total solar eclipse visible from land since 1991 and the longest until 2114. Solar eclipse glasses will be provided so you can view the event safely – these can be removed during totality for the best experience.

TOTAL ECLIPSE TIMELINE (local time)
Partial eclipse begins – 11:40
Totality begins – 13:02
Maximum eclipse – 13:05
Totality ends – 13:08
Partial eclipse ends – 14:26

After this spectacular event we bid farewell to Luxor and drive east to Hurghada for some Red Sea Riviera relaxation.

The next three days are free to enjoy Hurghada at leisure, whether you choose to relax at your resort or explore the surrounding area. An optional day trip to Giftun Island (bookable locally) offers excellent opportunities for swimming and snorkelling in the clear waters of the Red Sea.

One of Egypt’s most popular beach destinations, Hurghada is known for its stunning coastline and access to some of the world’s finest coral reefs. The resort offers a wide range of water activities, including sailing, yachting, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling, while the lively marina is lined with restaurants, cafés and evening entertainment. Nearby, you can also visit sites such as the ancient Roman quarry of Mons Porphyrites or Port Safaga, a windy coastal spot popular for watersports.

Hurghada - Cairo. This morning we drive to Cairo. The remainder of today is free for you to relax or explore Egypt’s capital at leisure. You can opt to join us on a visit to Khan el Khalili bazaar, the ideal place for some last minute souvenir shopping.

Saturday 7th August 2027. After breakfast, hotel check-out and onward transfer to the airport.