When the Sun Goes Dark over Luxor

A Private 10-Day Journey for the Total Solar Eclipse – Basic, Premium or VIP · 28 July – 6 August 2027

On Monday, 2 August 2027, the Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun over Upper Egypt. In Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes, day will turn to night for around six minutes and twenty seconds – the longest total solar eclipse visible from land between 1991 and 2114. The ancient Egyptians built their temples to follow the path of the Sun. This time, you will watch it disappear above them.

We designed this journey around that single moment. Ten days, fully private, with your own Egyptologist, hand-picked hotels in three package levels, and a reserved place on Luxor's West Bank when the shadow arrives. Before and after, you see the best of Egypt: the Pyramids, Alexandria on the Mediterranean, medieval Cairo, the temples of Luxor and the coral reefs of the Red Sea.

Why This Is Different

🌑 Totality in Luxor – the heart of the eclipse path, with one of the longest durations anywhere on Earth
🎓 Your own private, licensed Egyptologist guide throughout – never a shared group or a bus convoy
🏨 Hand-picked hotels in Cairo, Luxor and on the Red Sea – 4-star (Basic), 4-star superior (Premium) or five-star (VIP)
✈️ Domestic flights Cairo–Luxor and Hurghada–Cairo in Premium & VIP – no overnight train or long drives
🕶️ Certified eclipse glasses and a personal eclipse briefing the day before
🛂 VIP meet & assist at Cairo Airport on arrival and departure (VIP package)
👥 Made for groups: from 5 travelers, everyone saves $100 per person
✦ One departure only, with strictly limited places

Choose Your Package

Basic · from $2,899 per person
The classic eclipse program, fully private with your own licensed guide: comfortable 4-star hotels (all-inclusive on the Red Sea), first-class overnight sleeper train Cairo–Luxor, private road transfers, Nile dinner cruise and a reserved eclipse viewing place with certified glasses.

Premium · from $3,950 per person
Everything in Basic, upgraded to 4-star superior hotels, your own Egyptologist guide and domestic flights Cairo–Luxor and Hurghada–Cairo instead of the sleeper train and long road transfer.

VIP · from $4,950 per person
Everything in Premium, plus hand-picked five-star hotels (Nile-view in Cairo, riverside in Luxor, beachfront on the Red Sea), VIP fast-track meet & assist at Cairo Airport on arrival and departure, a private table on the Nile dinner cruise and a premium eclipse viewing setup with seating, shade tent and chilled refreshments.

All packages: $100 off per person from 5 travelers (Basic $2,799 · Premium $3,850 · VIP $4,850).

The Journey

Day 1 · Wed 28 July | Arrival in Cairo · Private Nile Dinner Cruise
Your Khonsu Tours host meets you inside the terminal, guides you through arrival formalities and escorts you by private car to your hotel on the Nile. In the evening, settle into the journey with dinner on the Nile as Cairo lights up along both banks.

Day 2 · Thu 29 July | Saqqara · Pyramids of Giza · Grand Egyptian Museum
Begin at Saqqara and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest monumental stone building in the world. Continue to the Giza Plateau for the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, with time to explore at your own pace. In the afternoon, your Egyptologist brings the Grand Egyptian Museum to life, including the treasures of Tutankhamun. In the evening, we can reserve a table with a view of the Pyramids on request.

Day 3 · Fri 30 July | Alexandria on the Mediterranean
Drive north by private car to Alexandria, the city of Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. Visit the Citadel of Qaitbay on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse, the Greco-Roman Museum and the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. Lunch by the sea, then return to Cairo in the late afternoon.

Day 4 · Sat 31 July | Citadel of Saladin · Religious Cairo · Khan El Khalili · Flight to Luxor
Morning at the Citadel of Saladin and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, with views across the whole city. Continue to the Religious Complex of Old Cairo, where churches, a synagogue and the first mosque built in Egypt stand side by side, then wander the lanes of Khan El Khalili bazaar. After lunch, fly to Luxor and check in to your riverside hotel (Basic: overnight first-class sleeper train to Luxor, arriving the next morning).

Day 5 · Sun 1 August | East Bank of Luxor · Eclipse Briefing
Explore Karnak Temple, the largest temple complex ever built, and Luxor Temple, joined by the Avenue of Sphinxes. In the afternoon, your guide prepares you for the next day: how the eclipse unfolds, what to watch for in each phase, how to view it safely and how to photograph it. Optional: a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the West Bank.

Day 6 · Mon 2 August | West Bank of Luxor · Total Solar Eclipse
An early start to the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut before the midday heat. Then take your reserved place on Luxor's West Bank for the eclipse. Over about two and a half hours, the Moon slowly covers the Sun. At around 1 pm local time, totality begins: the sky darkens, stars and planets appear, and the Sun's corona glows around a black disc for more than six minutes. Shade, cold drinks and eclipse glasses are provided. The exact viewing point is confirmed closer to the date, in line with the official arrangements for eclipse day.

Day 7 · Tue 3 August | Luxor to the Red Sea
After breakfast, a private air-conditioned car takes you through the Eastern Desert to Hurghada (around four hours). Check in to your beach resort on an all-inclusive basis and spend the afternoon by the sea.

Day 8 · Wed 4 August | Giftun Island by Boat
Sail to Giftun Island, home to some of the clearest water and finest beaches on the Red Sea. Swim, snorkel over the coral reefs and relax on the beach, with lunch served on board.

Day 9 · Thu 5 August | Red Sea Morning · Flight to Cairo
A free morning at the resort. In the afternoon, fly back to Cairo (Basic: private road transfer of about six hours) and check in to your hotel. The evening is yours for a last walk along the Nile or a farewell dinner, which we are happy to arrange.

Day 10 · Fri 6 August | Departure
Private transfer to Cairo International Airport, timed to your flight, with VIP assistance through check-in and departure formalities.

What's Included

9 nights in hand-picked hotels (Basic: 4-star · Premium: 4-star superior · VIP: five-star): 4 nights Cairo, 3 nights Luxor, 2 nights Hurghada (Basic: 2 nights Luxor plus one night on the sleeper train)
Daily breakfast in Cairo and Luxor; all-inclusive meals and drinks in Hurghada
Lunch on every touring day, plus dinner on the Nile on Day 1
Domestic flights Cairo–Luxor and Hurghada–Cairo (Premium & VIP) · Basic: first-class sleeper train Cairo–Luxor with dinner and breakfast, private road transfer Hurghada–Cairo
Private, licensed English-speaking guide on all touring days (Premium & VIP: Egyptologist)
All transportation by private air-conditioned vehicle
Entrance fees to all sites in the itinerary
Reserved eclipse viewing place in Luxor with shade and cold drinks
Certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses for every guest
Boat excursion to Giftun Island with snorkeling equipment and lunch
Meet & greet at Cairo Airport on arrival and departure (VIP: fast-track VIP assistance)
Bottled water throughout the tour

What's Not Included

International flights
Egypt entry visa
Travel insurance
Gratuities for your guide & driver
Dinners in Cairo and Luxor other than Day 1, and drinks outside the all-inclusive resort
Optional activities such as the hot-air balloon flight or a dinner with Pyramid views
Entrance to special tombs not listed (e.g. Tutankhamun or Nefertari)

Travelling as a Group?

This journey is at its best when shared. Families, groups of friends, astronomy clubs and company teams get their own private guide, vehicle and viewing place – and from 5 travelers, the price drops by $100 per person in every package: Basic $2,799, Premium $3,850, VIP $4,850 per person. The group discount is applied automatically when you select 5 or more travelers below. For groups of 10 or more, ask us for a tailored quote.

Tour Details

Dates: 28 July – 6 August 2027 (10 days / 9 nights)
Eclipse: Monday, 2 August 2027 · totality in Luxor around 1 pm local time, about 6 minutes 20 seconds
Start: Cairo International Airport
End: Cairo International Airport
Group size: Fully private – your group only · ideal for families and groups · group price from 5 travelers
Guide: Private licensed Egyptologist, English-speaking
Climate: Early August is hot in Luxor (often above 40 °C). We plan sightseeing for the cooler hours and keep shade and cold drinks close at all times.

Prices are per person, sharing a double room. Basic: $2,899 for 1–4 travelers, $2,799 from 5. Premium: $3,950 for 1–4 travelers, $3,850 from 5. VIP: $4,950 for 1–4 travelers, $4,850 from 5. Solo travelers are warmly welcome – contact us for the single-room supplement.

Booking

Availability: One departure only, with a strictly limited number of places
Book early: hotels in Luxor are expected to fill up well ahead of eclipse day
Cancellation: see our policy

⭐ Khonsu Tours is rated 4.5/5 by travelers on Tripadvisor (17 reviews) – read the reviews.

✦ The next total eclipse this long will not be seen from land until 2114.
This is the one to be there for. ✦

Reserve your place ↓

Book with confidence

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor · 17 reviews· Read reviews
Full refund if you cancel 72 hours or more before departure (minus non-refundable third-party costs already paid, e.g. domestic flights). Free rescheduling, subject to availability.· Cancellation policy
Secure, encrypted Shopify checkout – pay with PayPal, or reserve now and pay on the day.
Book direct with the local operator – our tours are also listed on: