On Monday 2 August 2027 the Moon will cover the Sun completely over a narrow strip of North Africa and Arabia, and Egypt sits in the best part of that strip. Around Luxor the sky will go dark for more than six minutes in the early afternoon, under some of the clearest August skies on the eclipse path. This guide covers when totality happens, where to stand, the weather and heat, eye safety, photography and planning. The eclipse figures come from NASA and the other references cited below; we are a travel agency in Luxor, not astronomers, so check final timings for your exact viewing spot.
When Is the 2027 Total Solar Eclipse in Egypt?
The total solar eclipse crosses Egypt on Monday 2 August 2027, around midday. In Luxor, the partial phase begins at about 11:40 local time, totality starts at about 13:02 and lasts roughly 6 minutes 20 seconds, and the Moon finishes moving off the Sun in the middle of the afternoon.
NASA lists the eclipse's greatest duration as 6 minutes 23 seconds, which makes it one of the longest total eclipses of the 21st century. Published figures for Luxor itself vary by a few seconds between sources, from about 6 minutes 20 seconds to 6 minutes 22 seconds.
| Phase in Luxor (approximate, local time) | What happens |
|---|---|
| About 11:40 | The Moon starts to cover the Sun. Glasses on whenever you look up. |
| About 13:02 | Totality begins. Glasses off, but only now. |
| About 13:05 | Mid-totality, with the Sun almost overhead. |
| About 13:08 to 13:09 | Totality ends. Glasses back on at the first flash of sunlight. |
| Mid-afternoon | The partial phase ends, well over an hour after totality. |
Times are rounded, in Egyptian summer time (UTC+3), and shift by a minute or two depending on where you stand.
Where Does the Path of Totality Cross Egypt?
The path of totality is about 257 km wide. It enters Egypt from Libya, crosses the Western Desert near Siwa, follows the Nile Valley through Asyut, Sohag, Qena and Luxor, and leaves over the Red Sea coast near Marsa Alam. Cairo, Hurghada and Aswan are just outside the path and see only a deep partial eclipse.
Luxor sits close to the centre line of the path, which is why it has one of the longest totality durations anywhere on the eclipse track. The point of greatest duration, 6 minutes 23 seconds, falls in the desert of southern Egypt not far from Luxor.
- Inside the path: Siwa, Asyut, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo (near the southern edge, so shorter) and Marsa Alam on the Red Sea.
- Just outside the path: Cairo and Giza to the north, Hurghada on the Red Sea, and Aswan and Abu Simbel to the south. All of them see a large partial eclipse, but not totality.
A partial eclipse, even above 90 percent, is a very different event: the sky does not go dark and the corona never appears. If you travel for this eclipse, be inside the path on the day.
Where Is the Best Place to Watch the Eclipse in Egypt?
Luxor is the strongest choice for most travelers. It sits near the centre line with about six minutes 20 seconds of totality, has an international airport, hotels and Nile cruise ships, and some of the clearest August skies on the path. The Red Sea coast around Marsa Alam is the main alternative, with shorter totality.
Luxor. Close to maximum duration, with the temples of Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings on the doorstep, so the days around the eclipse are easy to fill. Our Luxor travel guide covers the main sites, and our Luxor day tours list what you can add before or after eclipse day.
Aswan. A good base before the eclipse, but outside the path: you need to travel north, by road or Nile cruise, to see totality. See our Aswan guide for the town itself.
The Nile between Aswan and Luxor. Edfu and Kom Ombo are inside the path, with Kom Ombo near the southern edge. A cruise that ends in Luxor on 2 August puts you near the centre line for totality. Browse our Nile cruises for the regular departures.
The Red Sea coast. Marsa Alam is inside the path, with totality of about five and a half minutes according to published estimates. Hurghada is outside the path. Cloud is more common further south and east over the Red Sea, so the Nile Valley has the better odds. Our Red Sea resorts guide compares the beach towns.
What Will the Weather Be Like on 2 August 2027?
Expect clear skies and extreme heat. Upper Egypt has some of the lowest August cloud cover on Earth, and weather specialists rate Luxor among the safest bets on the whole eclipse path. The average high in Luxor on 2 August has been about 42°C, and totality falls at the hottest part of the day.
Eclipse climatologist Jay Anderson's analysis at Eclipsophile notes that in Luxor the main weather threat is thin, transparent cirrus cloud, and that dust is only an occasional problem. It gives an average high of 42.0°C for Luxor on 2 August over the past 17 years, with little variation between years.
How Do You Cope With the August Heat on Eclipse Day?
Plan the day around the heat: drink water from the morning, wear a wide-brimmed hat, loose light clothes and sunscreen, and stay in shade until the partial phase is well under way. Do sightseeing early and late, rest indoors in the afternoon, and keep the kit you carry to the viewing spot simple.
- Water: start drinking before you feel thirsty, carry more than you think you need, and add electrolytes if you sweat heavily.
- Shade: the Sun will be almost straight overhead in Luxor at totality, so shade is small. A wide hat, an umbrella or a viewing site with shelter helps a lot during the long partial phase.
- Clothing: light, loose and covering, in pale colours. Sunglasses for the walk, but remember they are not eclipse glasses.
- Timing: visit temples at opening time or in the late afternoon, and rest in air-conditioning in between.
- Health: headache, dizziness or nausea are signs of heat exhaustion. Move into shade and cool down at once.
Our Egypt packing list covers the clothes and gear for a hot-weather trip in more detail.
How Do You Watch the Eclipse Safely?
Look at the Sun only through eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer that meets the ISO 12312-2 standard. Take them off only when the Moon completely covers the Sun and the sky goes dark, and put them back on the moment the first bright sunlight reappears. Ordinary sunglasses are never safe.
This follows the guidance from NASA and the American Astronomical Society. Totality is the only safe time to look without protection, and only inside the path. In Cairo, Hurghada or Aswan you need glasses for the whole eclipse.
- Buy glasses from a reputable supplier and check that they are labelled ISO 12312-2. Bring a spare pair.
- Inspect them before use. A scratched, punctured or loose filter goes in the bin.
- Never look through a camera, binoculars or telescope at the partly eclipsed Sun unless a proper solar filter is fitted to the front of the lens. Eclipse glasses worn behind an optical device do not protect you.
How Do You Photograph a Total Solar Eclipse?
Use a solar filter on the front of the lens for the partial phases, then remove it only during totality to photograph the corona. A tripod, a lens of around 200 mm or more and a range of exposures give the best results. With a phone, use a filter for the partial phases and keep things simple.
- Practise at home with the filter, the tripod and your settings, so eclipse day is routine.
- Bracket your exposures during totality. The corona has a huge brightness range, so a series from short to long exposures captures both the inner and outer corona.
- Plan for a high Sun. At about 13:05 in Luxor the Sun is near the top of the sky, so you will be aiming almost straight up. Check that your tripod head can point that high.
- Use remote release or a timer to avoid shaking the camera.
- Do not spend all six minutes behind the camera. Set up an automatic sequence if you can, and look up with your own eyes.
For general camera and phone advice in Egypt, see our Egypt photography guide.
How Should You Plan an Eclipse Trip to Egypt?
Book early. Luxor is expected to be one of the main destinations for eclipse travelers, so hotel rooms, Nile cruise cabins and domestic flights around 2 August 2027 will be in high demand. Fix your eclipse-day location first, then build the rest of the trip around it, and plan to stay the night of 2 August.
- Choose where you will be on eclipse day, inside the path and as near the centre line as you can.
- Secure accommodation for the night before and the night of the eclipse. Travelling on the day itself adds risk.
- Book flights early and leave after the eclipse, not the same morning.
- Buy certified eclipse glasses before you leave home, plus a spare pair.
- Add the rest of Egypt before or after: Cairo, Abu Simbel from Aswan, or a few days on the Red Sea.
What Does Our 2027 Eclipse Tour Include?
Our 2027 total solar eclipse tour is a 4-day, 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor on the 5-star Sonesta Nile Goddess, from Friday 30 July to Monday 2 August 2027. It ends at a prepared viewing location in Luxor on eclipse day. Prices start from $1,199 per person.
| Day | Date | Program |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friday 30 July | Met at Aswan airport, then the High Dam, Philae Temple, the Unfinished Obelisk and a felucca ride before boarding |
| 2 | Saturday 31 July | A sailing day north on the Nile |
| 3 | Sunday 1 August | North towards Luxor, with guided temple visits along the way, following the sailing schedule |
| 4 | Monday 2 August | The eclipse, from a prime viewing location in Luxor |
| Cabin | Price per person, whole trip |
|---|---|
| Shared triple cabin | $1,199 |
| Shared double cabin | $1,299 |
| Single cabin | $1,999 |
- Included: three nights full board on the Sonesta Nile Goddess, meet-and-assist on arrival and departure, transfers between the cruise and Aswan and Luxor airports in air-conditioned private vehicles, the private excursions in the itinerary, entrance fees in Aswan and Luxor, the eclipse viewing location, the assistance of our team throughout, and all taxes and VAT.
- Not included: extra meals and drinks, personal expenses, tips and optional tours. Bring your own certified eclipse glasses.
The cruise starts in Aswan, outside the path, and ends in Luxor, near the centre line. If you want more time in Egypt, you can add our Abu Simbel private day tour from Aswan before the cruise, or stay on in Luxor for a sunrise hot air balloon flight.
FAQs About the 2027 Solar Eclipse in Egypt
- What date is the total solar eclipse in Egypt?
Monday 2 August 2027. Totality reaches Luxor at about 13:02 local time. - How long does totality last in Luxor?
About 6 minutes 20 seconds. Published figures for Luxor range from about 6 minutes 20 seconds to 6 minutes 22 seconds, and the eclipse's maximum anywhere is 6 minutes 23 seconds. - Is Aswan in the path of totality?
No. Aswan is just south of the path. Kom Ombo, Edfu and Luxor, all to the north, are inside it. - Can I look at the eclipse without glasses?
Only during totality, when the Moon completely covers the Sun. At all other times use ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses or a solar viewer. - When should I book?
As early as you can. Hotel rooms and cruise cabins in Luxor are expected to sell out before the date.
Press Summary
On Monday 2 August 2027, a total solar eclipse will cross Egypt along a path about 257 km wide. NASA gives the eclipse a maximum totality of 6 minutes 23 seconds, one of the longest of the 21st century. Luxor lies near the centre line, with totality of about 6 minutes 20 seconds beginning at about 13:02 local time. Cairo, Hurghada and Aswan are outside the path and will see a partial eclipse only. Climate records show very low August cloud cover in Upper Egypt, with average highs near 42°C. Avicon Travel, a licensed Egyptian travel agency in Luxor (License No. 1962, since 2010), runs a 4-day Aswan to Luxor eclipse cruise from $1,199 per person.
Sources: NASA eclipse predictions (eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov), Jay Anderson's Eclipsophile weather analysis (eclipsophile.com), NASA and American Astronomical Society eye-safety guidance. Local times are rounded and will vary slightly by viewing location.
See the full program and send us your details on the 2027 eclipse tour page, or message us on WhatsApp with your group size and we will confirm cabin availability.
