Jewels of Egypt, 5 star & Solar Eclipse 2027

Tuesday 27 July 2027. Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be met by our local representative and transferred to our hotel in Cairo. After hotel check-in the rest of the day is free to relax or those arriving early can opt to pre book our optional Backstreets of Cairo tour which departs the hotel at 10am today. This evening a Welcome Meeting will be held at around 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.

After breakfast, we enjoy a guided tour of the legendary Pyramids of Giza — Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We also visit the Great Sphinx, the iconic guardian of the plateau, before continuing to Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, a key milestone in the evolution of pyramid construction. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in the Pyramids area, offering a chance to relax and enjoy authentic Egyptian cuisine. A visit to a government supervised Papyrus Museum will also be made at some point during today.

Cairo - Aswan. This morning we visit the remarkable Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), home to thousands of priceless artefacts spanning Egypt’s ancient civilisations, including the treasures of King Tutankhamun. Wander through vast galleries filled with statues, sarcophagi, everyday objects, and beautifully restored antiquities that bring Egypt’s ancient civilisation to life. This evening offers free time.

This morning we fly to Aswan - Egypt's southern-most city. Upon arrival we take a short boat ride out to visit the beautiful Philae Temple - dedicated to the goddess Isis. Then we transfer to our Nile cruiser which will be our home for the next 7-nights. After embarkation and lunch on board, we enjoy a traditional felucca sail on the Nile. Dinner and overnight on board the cruiser in Aswan.

Aswan – Nile cruise - Edfu. Today there is an optional early morning excursion by road to Abu Simbel, the spectacular rock-cut temple of King Ramses II. We then sail towards Edfu, relaxing on board and enjoying lunch as we cruise along the Nile. Enjoy afternoon tea on the sundeck and cocktails in the lounge bar before dinner is served.

Edfu - Luxor. Today we continue sailing to Luxor via Esna, enjoying time on deck, soaking up the warm Egyptian sunshine, and watching the ever-changing scenery of the Nile unfold along the riverbanks. This evening offers light entertainment in the lounge.

After breakfast, we explore the magnificent Karnak Temple, a vast and awe-inspiring temple complex, renowned for its towering columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall. Next stop is the Luxor Temple, gracefully set along the Nile and connected to Karnak by the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes, celebrated for its grand colonnade, colossal statues of Ramesses II and beautifully preserved reliefs.

Next, we get ready to experience the total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027 – one of the most remarkable astronomical events of this century. Our vantage point will be the *sundeck of our Nile cruiser, offering uninterrupted views of the sky. 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

* We’ll experience the eclipse from the top deck of our cruiser, offering private, uninterrupted views of the sky. You are welcome to bring telescopes or other viewing equipment and set them up ahead of time. For more details, please refer to the Trip Notes

The rest of the day is free to spend at leisure in Luxor. Perhaps enjoy some celebratory drinks in the anceint city of Thebes or onboard.

Luxor - Esna. This morning we explore the West Bank of the Nile and the legendary Valley of the Kings. Marvel at Colossi of Memnon, the massive stone remains of the temple of Amenophis III, and explore the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and surrounding tombs.

Returning to the cruiser for lunch we set sail for Esna. Spend the afternoon relaxing onboard and enjoy the views as we sail the Nile. This evening there's an Oriental dinner and a Galabeya party in the lounge bar.

Esna - Kom Ombo – Aswan. Set sail early this morning and continue our journey along the Nile to Kom Ombo, where we visit the unique double temple dedicated to the crocodile-headed god called Sobek and Horus later this afternoon. We then continue cruising back to Aswan, enjoying leisure time on board.

Today is yours to enjoy at leisure, unwind aboard the cruiser or join us for a visit to a Nubian village nestled opposite Soheil Island, near the Aswan Dam pass. Here, you’ll gain insight into local life and culture. We'll see colourful homes set within palm groves and there will be time to shop for handcrafted gifts before returning to our cruiser.Tonight, explore the Aswan souk for metalware, spices, textiles, and Nubian crafts.

Friday 6th August 2027. Aswan - Cairo. This morning we disembark and transfer to Aswan Airport for our flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to the international terminal for your departure flight home. Note: International flights should not be booked before 13:00. Extra nights' accommodation in Cairo is available, should you require.