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Egypt Eclipse 2027: Total Solar Eclipse Over Luxor
6 minutes 22 seconds of totality on 2 August 2027
Egypt Eclipse 2027: Total Solar Eclipse Over Luxor
6 minutes 22 seconds of totality on 2 August 2027
When do you want to go?
2026
I'm flexible
Passengers
Adults (18+)
Children (0 - 17)
When and where to see the 2027 total solar eclipse in Egypt
The total solar eclipse of Monday 2 August 2027 reaches its greatest duration over southern Egypt, with about six minutes and 22 seconds of totality at Luxor. That is the longest total eclipse visible from easily accessible land until 2114, and the second longest of the 21st century. Maximum eclipse at Luxor falls at roughly 1.05pm local time.
The path of totality enters Egypt from the north west, crosses the Western Desert and Siwa Oasis, then runs down the Nile Valley through Asyut, Sohag, Qena and Luxor before continuing over the Red Sea coast. Cairo, Aswan and Abu Simbel sit just outside it. Historical records give this part of Egypt around an 80 per cent chance of clear sky in early August, which is among the most reliable weather anywhere on the eclipse path.
Where to watch in the path of totality
6 min 22 sec of totality
Luxor
Luxor sits almost at the centre of the path, which is why it has become the focus of the entire event. Totality lasts about six minutes and 22 seconds, close to the theoretical maximum of six minutes 23 seconds. The temples of Karnak and the Valley of the Kings are within reach, so the eclipse falls over a landscape built by a civilisation that tracked the sun closely.
Totality about 6 minutes 22 seconds. Maximum eclipse at roughly 1.05pm local time. Around an 80 per cent chance of clear sky in early August, with daytime temperatures regularly above 40C.
4 min 50 sec of totality
Hurghada and the Red Sea coast
The path leaves Egypt across the Red Sea, so Hurghada and the surrounding coast fall inside totality at around four minutes and 50 seconds. Three of the five eclipse itineraries reach Hurghada in the days after the eclipse, so you can pair the trip with diving or beach time on the coast. Worth knowing that coastal air is often hazier than the desert interior, which can affect how sharp the corona looks.
Totality about 4 minutes 50 seconds. Included on three of the five eclipse itineraries, following the Nile cruise section, with diving and beach time alongside. Coastal haze is more likely here than inland.
Cities outside the path of totality
Partial eclipse away from the crowds
Cairo, Aswan and Abu Simbel
Three of Egypt's best known sites miss totality, and the difference matters more than the numbers suggest. Aswan comes closest at around 99.8 per cent, Cairo sees about 95 per cent and Abu Simbel about 92 per cent. A deep partial eclipse dims the light and drops the temperature, but the corona only becomes visible during totality itself, and that is the part people travel for. If you are choosing where to stand, being inside the path is the decision that counts.
All three see a deep partial eclipse but not the corona. Most tours combine these sites with travel into the path for eclipse day itself.
Egypt tours for the 2027 solar eclipse
Departs 26 July 2027
Egypt in 10 days, Cairo to the Red Sea
10 days · Cairo, Pyramids of Giza, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Nile cruise, Luxor, Hurghada · One departure
The shortest of the five itineraries and the one that covers the most in the fewest days. Three days in Cairo open the trip, including the Pyramids of Giza, before you head south to Aswan and on to Abu Simbel. A Nile cruise brings you north to Luxor for Karnak and the Valley of the Kings. Eclipse day falls on day eight, between Luxor and the Red Sea coast, and the trip closes with a day at Hurghada before returning to Cairo.
Departs 26 July 2027
Enjoy time by the coast
13 days · Cairo, Pyramids of Giza, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Nile cruise, Luxor, Hurghada · One departure
Three days longer than the ten day trip over the same Egyptian route, so there is more breathing room between sites. Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza come first, then Aswan, Abu Simbel and a Nile cruise up to Luxor. Eclipse day falls on day eight, between Luxor and the Red Sea. Hurghada follows, then a return to Cairo for the final nights. Worth considering if the ten day version looks tight.
Departs 26 July 2027
Combine with Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
15 days · Egypt and Jordan · Cairo, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Luxor, Hurghada, Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea · One departure
The Egyptian half follows the ten day route: Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza, then Aswan, Abu Simbel and a Nile cruise to Luxor, with eclipse day on day eight. From Hurghada you cross into Jordan for Amman, two days at Petra, a night in Wadi Rum and three at the Dead Sea. At fifteen days it is the longest of the five, and the only one that leaves Egypt.
Departs 27 July 2027
Five star Nile cruise: Esna, Edfu and Kom Ombo
11 days · Cairo, Aswan, Nile cruise, Edfu, Luxor, Esna, Kom Ombo · One departure
Five star accommodation throughout and a return Nile cruise rather than a one way run, so you pass Edfu heading north and Esna and Kom Ombo coming back. Three days in Cairo open the trip, then Aswan and the cruise downstream to Luxor. Eclipse day is spent in Luxor. The cruise then turns south again for Esna and Kom Ombo, with a second stay at Aswan before flying back to Cairo. The slowest paced of the five, with the most time on the water. Note that Abu Simbel is not included.
Departs 29 July 2027
Straight to Luxor for eclipse day
11 days · Cairo, Pyramids of Giza, Luxor, Nile cruise, Aswan · One departure
The latest departure of the five and the quickest route to the eclipse. Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza fill the first three days, then you travel to Luxor on day four and spend eclipse day there on day five. The Nile cruise runs south from Luxor to Aswan afterwards, so the temples of the Nile Valley come after the eclipse rather than before. Two days at Aswan and two back in Cairo close the trip.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 total solar eclipse?
Monday 2 August 2027. Over Luxor, maximum eclipse falls at roughly 1.05pm local time, which is Eastern European Summer Time, three hours ahead of UTC. The partial phases run for around two hours either side.
How long will the 2027 eclipse last?
About six minutes and 22 seconds of totality at Luxor, against a theoretical maximum of six minutes 23 seconds. That makes it the longest total eclipse visible from easily accessible land until 2114, and the second longest of the 21st century.
Where is the best place in Egypt to see the eclipse?
Luxor, because it sits almost at the centre of the path and gets the longest totality at around six minutes 22 seconds. Hurghada on the Red Sea coast offers about four minutes 50 seconds and is the easiest place in the path to reach.
Will you see the eclipse from Cairo or Abu Simbel?
Only as a partial eclipse. Cairo reaches about 95 per cent, Aswan about 99.8 per cent and Abu Simbel about 92 per cent. None of them sees the corona, which is only visible during totality.
What are the chances of clear skies?
Around 80 per cent for southern Egypt in early August, based on historical records. That is among the most reliable weather anywhere along the eclipse path, and it is the main reason Egypt has become the focus for this event.
How hot is Egypt in August?
Very. Daytime temperatures in Luxor regularly exceed 40C in early August, and the eclipse falls in the early afternoon. Shade, water and a slow pace matter more here than at any other eclipse destination.
Do you need special glasses to watch the eclipse?
Yes, for every phase except totality itself. Certified eclipse glasses meeting the ISO 12312-2 standard are essential, and ordinary sunglasses are not safe. Cameras and phones need a solar filter during the partial phases.
When should you book a 2027 eclipse trip?
As early as possible. Each of the five Egypt eclipse tours has a single departure, and accommodation along the Nile is already filling. The pattern from the August 2026 eclipse over Spain was hotels selling out well over a year ahead.
Can you combine the eclipse with the rest of Egypt?
Yes, all five are built that way. Every itinerary includes Cairo and a Nile cruise, and four of the five visit the Pyramids of Giza. One extends into Jordan for Petra and Wadi Rum.
When is the next total solar eclipse after 2027?
The next total solar eclipse is on 22 July 2028, crossing Australia and New Zealand, with about five minutes of totality over Sydney. For a duration close to 2027's you would wait until 12 August 2045 in the United States, and nothing exceeds it on accessible land until 3 June 2114.
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