Pyramids to Petra & Total 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 a pre tour Alexandria Day Trip, Suez Canal Day Trip and a 4-day Alexandria & El Alamein add-on.

Set off early this morning on a guided tour to the iconic Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. The sole surviving wonder of the ancient Greek-listed Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids are the oldest tourist attraction on the planet. Built for the pharaohs Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), these monumental structures were already more than 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 constructed. During the day, there will also be a stop at a government-supervised Papyrus Museum to learn about this traditional Egyptian art form.

Cairo – Aswan. Today we enjoy a guided visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum, a vast 490,000 sq.m complex displaying more than 100,000 artefacts from across Egypt’s long history. Many of the pieces on display are being exhibited for the first time, brought together from museums and collections around the world. Explore expansive galleries filled with colossal statues, sarcophagi, beautifully restored antiquities and everyday objects that vividly illustrate the story of ancient Egyptian civilisation.

Among the most anticipated highlights is the extraordinary treasure collection of King Tutankhamun, including his famous golden funerary mask, royal chariot, intricate jewellery and ceremonial objects, offering a fascinating insight into the life and legacy of the boy king.

After the visit, return to the hotel for some time to relax before boarding the overnight train to Aswan later this evening.

Arriving into Aswan this morning, we take a short boat ride 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. Later, there's free time to explore Aswan’s colourful souks and markets, or simply relax in this charming riverside town set along the banks of the Nile.

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 considered one of ancient Egypt’s most impressive monuments. The temples were famously relocated in the 1960s to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser following the construction of the Aswan High Dam. Later, return to Aswan and check in aboard the Nile cruiser, which will be your home for the next three nights. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or explore Aswan.

Aswan – Nile Cruise – Kom Ombo. Enjoy a relaxing morning at leisure in Aswan. This afternoon, board your Nile cruiser as we begin sailing north along the River Nile to Kom Ombo. Here we disembark to visit the remarkable Temple of Kom Ombo, uniquely dedicated to two gods — Sobek, the crocodile-headed god of fertility and the Nile, and Horus the Elder, the falcon-headed god of the sky. The temple’s unusual double design features twin entrances, halls and sanctuaries reflecting this dual dedication. Nearby, you can also see mummified crocodiles discovered in the area, now displayed in a small museum. After exploring the temple, return to the ship and continue this relaxing cruise 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 later this afternoon.

Luxor - Hurghada. This morning we visit the colossal Temple of Karnak. More than a temple, Karnak is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, pylons, chapels, halls and obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods and to the greater glory of Egypt’s Middle and New Kingdom rulers.

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.

Spend the day at leisure in Hurghada, one of Egypt's most popular Red Sea resorts. Relax by the hotel pool, spend the day at the beach or explore the local area. An optional day trip to Giftun Island is available (bookable locally), offering excellent opportunities for swimming and snorkelling in the clear waters of the Red Sea.

Hurghada - Cairo - Amman - Petra. It's an early start this morning as we make our way to Hurghada Airport. From here we'll fly to Amman via Cairo. Upon arrival into Amman we drive south to Petra arriving near sunset. Tonight you may wish to take a candlelight stroll through Petra’s Siq….a romantic preview of things to come on, by joining the 'Petra By Night' excursion (approx. USD$45 payable locally).

Welcome to the Rose City! To reach Petra on our guided walk, we pass through the famous Siq – a narrow, dramatic gorge that suddenly opens up to reveal the breath-taking Treasury. From there, we follow gravel paths to explore the ancient Nabatean tombs and Roman-era streets, carved directly into the rock and lined with temples, royal tombs, staircases, arches and public buildings. We’ll also see the impressive amphitheatre, originally built for 3,000 people and later expanded by the Romans to hold up to 7,000.

After the guided tour, there's free time to continue exploring at your own pace or simply relax and soak up the atmosphere. If you’re feeling active, you can climb the ancient steps up to the magnificent Monastery (Ad-Deir) for incredible views. Alternatively, you might like to haggle for a horse and carriage ride, or spend the evening at leisure. For something different, consider joining the Petra Kitchen add-on and try your hand at cooking local dishes.

Petra – Wadi Rum. This morning we explore more of Petra, including the lesser-visited “secret way” of Al-Madras, with sites such as the High Place of Sacrifice and Wadi Farasa. Around midday, we stop in Wadi Musa to pick up local snacks before continuing to Wadi Rum.

On arrival, enjoy an exciting jeep safari through the striking desert landscapes of Wadi Rum, known for its red sands and towering rock formations. Later, settle into our desert camp and enjoy a traditional Jordanian dinner under the stars.

Wadi Rum – Shobak – Wadi Mujib – Dead Sea. After breakfast, travel north along the Desert Highway to visit Shobak Castle, a Crusader fortress dating back to the 12th century.

We then continue along the scenic King’s Highway to Wadi Mujib for a two-hour adventure along the Siq Trail. This dramatic canyon features towering rock walls and flowing water, with opportunities to wade, swim and climb depending on conditions. A shorter or more relaxed option is available for those who prefer.

Later, we travel to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, where you can float in its mineral-rich waters and experience the famous therapeutic mud.

The Dead Sea is a natural phenomena and high on most travellers’ bucket lists. Lucky for us we have a whole day to spend here, whiling away the time bobbing in its mineral-rich buoyant waters and lathering up with a detoxifying mud bath. Option to visit the Ma’in hot springs and the site where it is thought Jesus Christ was baptised by John (book locally).

Monday 9th August 2027. Dead Sea - Amman. Today our holiday together comes to an end. We offer a departure transfer to Amman airport at 23:00 (evening of day 14) and today at 04:00, 07:00, 09:00, 12:00 & 16:00. If you would like a departure transfer at any other time or a transfer with post tour accommodation this can be arranged at an additional cost.

If you have extra time and wish to explore Jordan's capital Amman, consider booking our 2 day end in Amman add on?