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Day 1
Arrive Cairo
Met at the airport and taken to your hotel.
11 nights · 12 days · Cairo to Cairo
The Solar Eclipse, August 2027
Cairo · Aswan · Kom Ombo · Gebel el-Silsila · Luxor · Edfu · Abu Simbel · Cairo
The programme, day by day
Cairo · Aswan · Kom Ombo · Gebel el-Silsila · Luxor · Edfu · Abu Simbel · Cairo
- 6 minutes of totality
- 7 nights aboard
- 2 Aug 2027
On 2 August 2027 the moon's shadow crosses Upper Egypt, and Luxor sits almost exactly on the centre line — more than six minutes of totality. We have built a twelve-day journey around that morning. You watch it from the deck, moored, with the temples on the bank behind you, and the rest of the itinerary takes its time either side: the river in both directions, Abu Simbel, a balloon at dawn, and the sleeping train to and from Cairo.
28 July – 8 August 2027 · the eclipse on 2 August
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Day 2
Giza · the museum · the night train south
The pyramids and the museum, then the sleeping train to Aswan.
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Day 3
Aswan · Philae · a Nubian village · embarkation
Philae by motorboat, a Nubian village on the west bank, and aboard for the first night.
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Day 4
Kom Ombo · sailing
Kom Ombo, and the afternoon on the water.
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Day 5
Gebel el-Silsila · sailing
The gorge and its shrines, and a long reach north.
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Day 6 · 2 August 2027
The eclipse · the west bank
Breakfast early, and then totality from the deck. The Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut in the afternoon, when the light has come back.
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Day 7
A balloon at dawn · Karnak · sailing
Up before first light for the balloon over the west bank, Karnak after breakfast, and sailing in the afternoon.
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Day 8
Edfu · sailing
The temple of Horus, and the river south again.
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Day 9
Abu Simbel
The rock temples of Ramses, and back aboard for the night.
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Day 10
Aswan · the night train north
A last morning at Aswan, and the sleeping train to Cairo.
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Day 11
Cairo · the Grand Egyptian Museum
Arrive, and the new museum at Giza. A last night in Cairo.
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Day 12
Departure
On to the airport.
From
Book this journey
$8,000 per person
August 2027 is outside our usual sailing season, and the boat takes twenty-four guests. Places are few; we suggest asking early.
Gallery
Ashore and aboard.
On this journey
What you will see.
Totality on 2 August 2027, watched from the deck at Luxor
The pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Philae and a Nubian village at Aswan
Kom Ombo and Gebel el-Silsila from the water
The Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut
A balloon over the west bank at dawn
Karnak and Edfu
Abu Simbel
The sleeping train, both ways
The fine print
What the price covers.
Included
Seven nights aboard the dahabiya, all meals included
Two nights in Cairo hotels with breakfast
Two nights on the sleeping train, Cairo–Aswan and Aswan–Cairo
The balloon over the west bank
Abu Simbel
An Egyptologist guide at every site
Air-conditioned transport and licensed drivers
All transfers, door to door
All taxes and service charges
Entrance fees to every site on the programme
Not included
International flights
The Egyptian visa
Eclipse glasses and optical equipment
Tips for the crew and guides
Spa treatments and massages, by appointment
Alcoholic drinks — from the bar, or bring your own with no corkage
Anything not named in the itinerary above
Book this journey
Ask for your place.
Tell us who is travelling and which cabin you would like. We reply within 24 hours with the cabins still open and the price for your party — nothing is charged until you confirm.
Other journeys
6 nights · 7 days
Six Nights, Cairo, the Dahabiya and Hurghada
The river and the Red Sea in one week, with Cairo at either end.
See the programme
7 nights · 8 days
Seven Nights, a Luxor House and the Dahabiya
Four nights on the river and three in a family house on the west bank, rather than a hotel.
See the programme
7 nights · 8 days
Seven Nights, Cairo and the Dahabiya
The pyramids, the museum, and the river between Aswan and Luxor — starting and finishing at Cairo airport.
See the programme
Twelve cabins, twenty-four guests