On Monday 2 August 2027 the Moon will cover the Sun completely along a narrow path across southern Egypt. In Luxor totality lasts about six minutes and twenty seconds: the sky darkens in the middle of the day and the Sun’s corona shows around the black disc of the Moon.
The eclipse at a glance
| Place | What you see | Totality (local time) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxor | Total eclipse | 13:02–13:08 | 6 min 22 s |
| Asyut | Total eclipse | 12:57–13:03 | 6 min 7 s |
| Marsa Alam (Red Sea) | Total eclipse | – | about 5 min 30 s |
| Cairo | Partial, about 95% | – | – |
| Aswan | Very deep partial, about 99.8% | – | – |
| Hurghada (Red Sea) | Very deep partial, about 98–99% | – | – |
Egypt summer time (UTC+3). Figures come from published eclipse predictions and vary by a few seconds with the exact spot. In Luxor the partial phases run from about 11:40 to 14:26, with totality in the middle.
Why Luxor
Luxor is close to the centre line of the path, so totality is long. It is also the city of Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank and the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut’s temple on the West Bank, so the eclipse becomes part of a trip through ancient Egypt rather than a stop on its own.
Plan for the heat. Luxor’s average high in August is about 41°C, and the eclipse is at about one in the afternoon, the hottest part of the day. Keep sightseeing for the morning and bring a hat, water and somewhere with shade. The sky over Upper Egypt is usually clear in summer. See Egypt in August for the month.
How to watch safely
- Use eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2. Ordinary sunglasses are not enough.
- Wear them for the partial phases, before and after totality.
- Take them off only during totality, when the Sun is completely covered, and put them back on as soon as the first bright edge returns.
- Cameras, telescopes and binoculars need a certified solar filter. Never look through them unfiltered.
Our eclipse trips
Every trip below has you in Luxor for totality on 2 August 2027. Prices are in US dollars per person.
- 5-Day Egypt Solar Eclipse Short Break – Cairo & Luxor: 5 days, from $1,699 per person. The Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, then Luxor’s temples and totality over the West Bank.
- Egypt Eclipse & Red Sea – Cairo, Luxor & Hurghada: 8 days, from $2,199 per person. The Giza Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum, the eclipse in Luxor, then two days on the Red Sea in Hurghada.
- Egypt Eclipse 2027 – Cairo, Aswan & Luxor: 7 days, from $2,999 per person. The eclipse from Luxor with the Pyramids, Aswan and Philae, and the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo.
- 7-Day Egypt Solar Eclipse 2027 Tour: 7 days, from $3,499 per person. The Pyramids, totality in Luxor, then Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, with private Egyptologist guides.
- Luxor Solar Eclipse 2027 & Nile Cruise: 8 days, from $3,899 per person. The Pyramids, totality over Luxor’s West Bank, then a Nile cruise past Edfu and Kom Ombo to Aswan.
- Egypt Solar Eclipse 2027 – Pyramids, Nile Cruise & Abu Simbel: 9 days, from $4,199 per person. The Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, totality in Luxor, a Nile cruise to Aswan and a day at Abu Simbel.
See them all on the Events & festivals tours page, or tell us what you want and we will plan a trip around the date.
Book early
Hotel rooms and Nile cruise cabins for the eclipse date are limited and are likely to fill early, because everyone who wants the longest totality will be looking at the same few cities. If you have a particular hotel or cruise in mind, plan well ahead.
Eclipse questions
Where can I see the total solar eclipse in Egypt?
Luxor and the Nile valley around it, Asyut, and the Red Sea coast around Marsa Alam are inside the path of totality. Cairo, Aswan and Hurghada are outside it and see a partial eclipse.
How long is totality in Luxor?
About 6 minutes 22 seconds, from about 13:02 to 13:08 local time. The whole eclipse, with the partial phases, lasts from about 11:40 to 14:26.
Can I see the eclipse from Cairo?
Yes, as a partial eclipse. About 95% of the Sun is covered at the peak, around 12:56. The sky does not go dark as it does in totality, so you need eclipse glasses the whole time.
Can I see totality from the Red Sea coast?
Marsa Alam is inside the path, with about five and a half minutes of totality. Hurghada is just outside it and sees a very deep partial eclipse. Our eclipse trips watch totality in Luxor; the Eclipse & Red Sea trip adds two days in Hurghada afterwards. If you would rather watch from the coast, tell us.
Do I need special glasses?
Yes. Looking at the Sun without certified eclipse glasses can damage your eyes. Only the minutes of totality can be watched without them.
Which trip should I choose?
For a short break, the 5-day trip covers the Pyramids and Luxor. For a week with Aswan, Edfu and Kom Ombo, choose the 7-day trips. The 8- and 9-day trips add a Nile cruise, and one adds Abu Simbel. The Eclipse & Red Sea trip ends with two beach days in Hurghada.
Planning for 2 August 2027? Tell us your dates and who is travelling and we will plan it around the eclipse. Plan my trip
More to read
- Egypt in August: weather, crowds and what is on.
- When to visit Egypt: all twelve months.
- Luxor: temples, the West Bank and how to plan your days.