Total Solar Eclipse Over Ancient Egypt

Thursday 29th July 2027. Welcome to Egypt and the start of your holiday! Upon arrival at Cairo Airport, you’ll be met by a representative from On The Go Tours and transferred to your hotel.

The rest of the day is at leisure. Those arriving early can opt to join a Backstreets of Cairo Tour, which departs from the hotel at 10am.

At 7pm, meet your guide and fellow travellers for a Welcome Meeting, where you’ll go over the exciting journey ahead.

For those wishing 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.

Today we visit one of the world’s most iconic sites – the Pyramids of Giza and the legendary Sphinx. You may also choose to enjoy an optional camel ride across the plateau.

Later, we travel to Saqqara, home to a vast complex of tombs and temples. Here you will see the famous Step Pyramid of Zhoser, designed by the architect Imhotep around 2700 BC.

Cairo - Hurghada. This morning, visit the impressive Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a vast 490,000-square-metre complex housing more than 100,000 artefacts from Egypt’s extraordinary history. Explore the expansive galleries and discover an exceptional collection of statues, sarcophagi, ancient tools and beautifully restored treasures. Highlights include the remarkable collection of Tutankhamun, featuring his famous golden funerary mask, royal chariot, intricate jewellery and ceremonial treasures.

Following the museum visit, depart Cairo by road and travel to Hurghada on the Red Sea coast. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Relax by the pool, unwind at the resort or take some time to enjoy Hurghada’s beautiful Red Sea setting.

Your day is free to relax and enjoy the beautiful Red Sea coast. Hurghada is world famous for its scuba diving and snorkelling, with rich marine life attracting divers from around the world. Other activities available include windsurfing, kitesurfing, glass-bottomed boat trips, quad biking, camel rides and sea fishing.

Our local representative in Hurghada will be on hand to help arrange any activities. You can also spend some time exploring Hurghada itself, including its lively marina and atmospheric old town.

Monday 2nd August 2027. Hurghada - Nile Cruiser. This morning, we depart Hurghada and drive through the scenic Eastern Desert towards Luxor and the Nile Valley. Upon arrival, visit the colossal Temple of Karnak, a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, pylons, chapels, halls and obelisks dedicated to the Theban gods and the rulers of Egypt’s Middle and New Kingdoms.

We then prepare to witness the 2nd August 2027 total solar eclipse – one of the most extraordinary astronomical events of the century. A total eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun, completely blocking the Sun and revealing its outer atmosphere, the corona, as a shimmering halo of light.

With the Sun almost overhead and an estimated 80% chance of clear skies, Luxor offers one of the best viewing locations along the eclipse path, which crosses parts of Spain, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Just southeast of Luxor, totality will last an exceptional 6 minutes and 23 seconds – the longest total solar eclipse visible from land since 1991 and the longest until 2114. Solar eclipse glasses will be provided and can be removed during totality for the best possible 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

Following the eclipse, we check in on board our Nile cruiser, our home for the next four nights as we sail from Luxor towards Aswan. Once settled on board, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure, relaxing on deck and taking in the views along the Nile.

Nile Cruising. Early this morning, we explore Luxor’s famous West Bank, beginning with the Valley of the Kings, where many pharaohs were buried in elaborately decorated tombs. We then visit the impressive Temple of Hatshepsut, dedicated to one of Egypt’s most powerful female rulers, followed by the towering Colossi of Memnon, the remaining statues of the temple of Amenophis III.

Returning to the cruiser, we set sail downstream. Relax on deck, take a swim, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the ever-changing scenery as we cruise along the River Nile.

Nile Cruising. Today we continue cruising the Nile towards Kom Ombo Temple, uniquely dedicated to two gods - Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed god. The temple is architecturally symmetrical, with twin halls, sanctuaries, courtyards and entrances. Following our guided visit, we continue sailing and arrive in Aswan this evening.

Nile Cruising. Early risers may wish to join our optional excursion to the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel this morning. Please see our Abu Simbel by Road add-on for more information. Alternatively, spend the morning at leisure.

This afternoon, we take a motorboat ride to Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Originally built in the 4th century BC, much of the temple was constructed by the Ptolemies and Romans. In the 1970s, UNESCO led a remarkable rescue project to relocate the temple to Agilika Island, protecting it from flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam and the creation of Lake Nasser.

Friday 6th August 2027. Aswan - Cairo. After breakfast, we disembark the cruiser and transfer to Aswan airport for our flight back to Cairo. On arrival you'll be transferred to the international terminal for your onward flight. International flights departing Cairo should not be booked before 17:00. You can also opt to extend your stay. If booking post-tour accommodation with us, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Opt to spend your final days relaxing by the pool or visiting the bustling Khan el Khalili markets for a spot of souvenir shopping.