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Classic Egypt: Cairo, Luxor & Aswan
The essential Pharaohs circuit: Giza, the Nile, Karnak, the West Bank and Philae — eight days, unhurried.
The journey
Journey overview
Luxor lies on the centreline of the 2 August 2027 total solar eclipse, with totality of about 6 minutes 22 seconds — among the longest of the century.
This circuit places you in Luxor with confirmed hotels, a viewing plan, and the classic West and East Bank visits around the event. Cairo nights can be added. Totality is weather-dependent; we do not sell the sky, we sell the stay and the logistics.
Day by day
Detailed itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Luxor (or Cairo)
Meet at Luxor airport (or after a Cairo connection) and transfer to the hotel we have held for eclipse week — rooms for 2 August 2027 disappear early, which is why a deposit exists.
After check-in, a calm briefing: the week’s order, viewing etiquette, certified solar filters, and the heat. August in Luxor is often well above 40°C; shade and water are part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Dinner nearby or at the hotel. We do not rush Karnak tonight. Sleep, hydrate, and keep the glasses in the cabin bag — you will need them on the 2nd.
Day 2
East Bank
Karnak and Luxor Temple — the setting you will recognise in silhouette on 2 August. Walk them in ordinary sun first, so totality has a landscape attached to it, not only a sky.
Lunch included. Hydrate; August has already started. We keep the afternoon from becoming a second West Bank.
Evening briefing on filters: never look at partial phases without certified glasses. Totality is the only naked-eye window, and it ends abruptly.
Day 3
West Bank
West Bank: Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut, Colossi — an early start because August heat is not a rumour. Optional balloon another morning if the wind allows; we do not fly on eclipse day itself.
Return for a long rest. The 2nd will be a wait in the sun; legs and patience need a surplus.
Check your viewers tonight. We include ISO-certified glasses on this stay; they are not a souvenir to lose.
Day 4
Dendera or rest
Temple of Hathor at Dendera if you want more stone, or a quiet day before the event — both are correct. Equipment check: chairs, water, electrolytes, hat, filters.
We confirm the viewing position as local arrangements are published. Expect a pre-dawn or early transfer on the 2nd, then a wait.
Early night. Totality is shortly after 13:02 local time; the day starts long before that.
Day 5
Eclipse day — 2 August 2027
Pre-dawn transfer to our viewing position. Partial phase from about 11:40; totality shortly after 13:02 (maximum near 13:05); partial ends around 14:26. About 6 minutes 22 seconds of totality, sun almost overhead — among the longest practical views on Earth that day.
Shade, water, a wide hat. Do not look at partial phases without certified filters. Totality is the only safe naked-eye window; filters go back on immediately when it ends. No unfiltered telephoto on the partial sun.
Return for a late lunch and a quiet evening. We cannot sell a clear sky; weather is not in the contract. Hotels were the thing we could hold.
Day 6
Aswan or Luxor at leisure
Optional day to Aswan and Philae, or rest after the eclipse. You will be tired and sun-tired; both options are honest.
If Aswan: Philae by boat, not a rushed Abu Simbel unless it was always booked. Return to Luxor in the evening.
Hydrate. The photographs can wait until the eyes have recovered.
Day 7
Free day
Shopping, a second temple, or the river. The event is over; Luxor is still Luxor. We do not invent a programme to fill the silence after totality.
Pack if tomorrow’s flight is early. Keep the glasses — they are useful for any future partial, and they were not cheap theatre props.
Dinner where you like. The week’s heat is still there; pace accordingly.
Day 8
Depart
Transfer to Luxor airport, or overland / air to Cairo. Breakfast, then logistics. August traffic to the airport is real; we leave margin.
If you added Cairo nights after the eclipse, Giza is a different light and a different heat. We will not stack it unless you asked.
Assistance at check-in when the international leg is the same day.
What’s in the price
Inclusions & exclusions
Included
- Private vehicle and driver throughout
- French- or English-speaking Egyptologist guide on cultural days
- Accommodation as listed (or equivalent)
- Breakfast daily; other meals as specified per day
- All listed entrance fees
- Airport, hotel and boat transfers
- Bottled water on touring days
- Eclipse viewing logistics on 2 August 2027
- 7 nights Luxor (or split Cairo + Luxor on request)
Not included
- International flights
- Egypt entry visa
- Drinks, laundry and personal expenses
- Tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Optional activities (balloon, extra tombs, diving)
- Specialist optical equipment
Good to know
Practical notes
Hotels for August 2027 book out early. A deposit is required to hold rooms. Certified eclipse glasses are provided; do not look at the sun without them except during totality as instructed.
Good to Know
Questions about this trip
Straight answers from the planning team — ask anything else and we reply within a working day.
How is this circuit paced?
Solar Eclipse 2027: Luxor is a starting point. Cairo, Luxor and Aswan need enough days so temples and museum hours do not pile up. We keep Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum on separate mornings, split Luxor’s East and West Banks, and leave Aswan slower (Philae, a felucca hour). Extra nights, a Nile cruise, or a Red Sea finish are added when you send your dates.
Are domestic flights included?
When the itinerary uses a domestic flight (for example Cairo–Luxor or Aswan–Cairo), it is listed under inclusions. We need passport names 72 hours before those flights. International flights to Egypt are not included unless the page says so.
Can we add a Nile cruise or the Red Sea?
Yes. Many guests add cruise nights between Luxor and Aswan, or a few quiet days on the Red Sea after the temples. We keep transfers, hotels and the boat in one booking so the days connect without a scramble.
What is a typical day on the ground?
Cultural days start reasonably early (especially in summer), with a licensed Egyptologist, bottled water and private car. Lunch is listed when it is included. Afternoons are often lighter so the itinerary does not become a checklist. Temple interiors, extra tombs and a pyramid climb are optional extras, not obligations.
How far in advance should I book?
For winter (October–April) and event dates — festivals, concerts, the 2027 eclipse — book as soon as you can. Shoulder season can often be arranged with a few weeks’ notice. Hotels in Luxor for 2 August 2027 sell out early.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Solar Eclipse 2027: Luxor is a starting point. We adjust days, hotels, meals and extras (Abu Simbel, balloon, a pyramid interior) once we know who is travelling and what you want to skip.
How do payments work?
Published trips can be reserved on the site. For a custom amount we send a secure payment link. You receive written confirmation, inclusions and our cancellation terms before you travel.
Who will be our guide?
A licensed Egyptologist or local specialist, in French or English as you prefer. We introduce them before the day whenever we can. Drivers are not substitutes for guides at ticketed sites.
What about visas, packing and insurance?
Most visitors need a tourist visa (e-visa or on arrival). Pack light layers, modest dress for mosques, and sun protection. Comprehensive medical insurance with evacuation is required and not included. Full notes: visa, packing, health and insurance pages.
Still have a question about Solar Eclipse 2027: Luxor?
Plan with confidence
