CLASSIC ECLIPSE EXPEDITION VIA ABYDOS & LUXOR
A Journey Through Ancient Egypt to the Path of Totality
In short
CLASSIC ECLIPSE EXPEDITION VIA ABYDOS & LUXOR is a 10 Days itinerary (Cairo • Sohag • Abydos • Luxor • Aswan) aboard Cairo · Sohag · Abydos · Luxor · Nile Cruise · Aswan, priced from $4,990 per person on double occupancy. It is timed around totality on Monday 2 August 2027, viewed from Luxor, Egypt, where totality lasts up to 6 minutes 23 seconds. A Journey Through Ancient Egypt to the Path of Totality
Key facts
| Eclipse date | Monday 2 August 2027 |
|---|---|
| Totality at Luxor | Up to 6 minutes 23 seconds - the longest totality visible from land between 1991 and 2114 |
| Totality begins (Luxor) | Approx. 12:37 local time (EEST), maximum eclipse approx. 12:40 |
| Trip length | 10 Days |
| Departure | July 30, 2027 - sold out, closed for new bookings |
| Route | Cairo · Sohag · Abydos · Luxor · Nile Cruise · Aswan |
| Rates per person | CategoryDouble roomSingle roomNile Deck$4,990$5,280Main Deck$5,290$6,290Upper Deck Suites$5,990$7,789 |
| Viewing location | The viewing site is included, with chairs, shade, water and BBQ lunch. |
| Included | All transfers, accommodation, meals as listed, Egyptologist-guided sightseeing, round-trip sleeper train, all entrance fees, meet & assist, eclipse viewing |
| Not included | International flights, tips, drinks, optional excursions (e.g. Abu Simbel), personal expenses |
| Payment schedule | 30% on confirmation · 30% by 5 February 2027 · 40% by 5 March 2027 (non-refundable) |
| Operator | Middle East Travel Alliance (Eclipse.Travel), Cairo, Egypt |
Trip overview
Travel beyond the traditional tourist route on a classic journey through Egypt to witness the Total Solar Eclipse of 2 August 2027 in Luxor. This carefully designed itinerary takes you by rail into the heart of Upper Egypt, stopping in Sohag to discover the sacred Temple of Abydos before continuing south to Luxor and the path of totality. After the eclipse, sail aboard the comfortable MS Q Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan, visiting the legendary temples and archaeological treasures lining the Nile.
Route
Cairo - Sohag by Sleeper - Sohag - Abydos Luxor by ; Luxor-Aswan on Board MS Q
MS Q exterior on the Nile
Reception
Panoramic lounge
Main restaurant
Sun deck pool
Twin stateroom
Sleeper train Elite Club car dining
Boarding the sleeper train to Sohag
Day-by-day itinerary
Arrive in Cairo and transfer to the Novotel 6th of October 4★+ for your first overnight stay in Egypt.
Read the programme brochure
The full CLASSIC ECLIPSE EXPEDITION VIA ABYDOS & LUXOR itinerary, inclusions, rates and eclipse-day plan as a PDF you can keep or share.
Accommodation
- 2 nights at Novotel 6th October 4★+ (B&B)
- 2 nights aboard Egyptian sleeper trains (half-board)
- 1 night in Sohag aboard a floating hotel on the Nile - Coral 1
- 4 nights aboard MS Q Nile Cruise, Luxor to Aswan (full-board)
Rates per person
| Category | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| Nile Deck | $4,990 | $5,280 |
| Main Deck | $5,290 | $6,290 |
| Upper Deck Suites | $5,990 | $7,789 |
Payment schedule: 30% of the total package price due on confirmation · 30% due by 5 February 2027 · remaining 40% balance due by 5 March 2027. All payments are strictly non-refundable once made, in accordance with the 2027 Eclipse Program terms.
Optional add-ons
Eclipse Viewing Festival on a Private Farm
An optional open-air totality experience on a private farm outside Luxor, with unobstructed horizon-to-horizon views of the eclipse. Round-trip transportation from and to your MS Q Nile Cruise is included.
- Round-trip transfers from/to your MS Q Nile Cruise
- Barbeque lunch buffet
- Hydration bar (water, fresh juices, soft drinks)
- Comfortable seating and shade umbrellas
- Certified astronomer on site with live commentary through each contact phase
- On-site eclipse hosts and safe-viewing guidance
Fine dining in the VIP Club Car (one way)
A hot set-menu dinner and breakfast served in the VIP Club Car for one overnight train journey instead of the standard tray service in your cabin. Strictly limited to 20 guests for the entire train, so it is allocated on a first-confirmed basis.
- Hot set-menu dinner in the VIP Club Car
- Hot set-menu breakfast in the VIP Club Car
- Table service in the club car rather than an in-cabin tray
- One overnight train journey
Fine dining in the VIP Club Car (both ways)
The VIP Club Car fine-dining experience on both overnight train journeys, with freshly prepared dinner and breakfast served at seated dining tables instead of the standard in-cabin tray service.
- Hot set-menu dinner and breakfast on the outbound journey
- Hot set-menu dinner and breakfast on the return journey
- Table service in the club car rather than an in-cabin tray
- Exclusive - only 20 seats available for the whole train
Abu Simbel Optional Excursion
An early-morning excursion from Aswan to the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Nefertari at Abu Simbel, the most spectacular of the Nubian monuments, returning in time to rejoin the itinerary.
- Round-trip transfers from Aswan / your vessel
- Entrance fees to the Abu Simbel temples
- Egyptologist guide throughout
Included
- 2 nights at Novotel 6th of October 4★+ (B&B)
- 2 nights aboard Egyptian sleeper trains
- 1 night in Sohag aboard a floating hotel
- 4 nights aboard MS Q Nile Cruise - Full Board
- Total Solar Eclipse viewing from the Nile cruise
- Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx
- Grand Egyptian Museum
- Red Monastery
- Temple of Seti I at Abydos
- Luxor Temple
- Valley of the Kings
- Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Colossi of Memnon
- Karnak Temple
- Edfu Temple
- Kom Ombo Temple
- Aswan High Dam
- Unfinished Obelisk
- Philae Temple
- Felucca experience
- Al-Muizz Street & Khan El Khalili
- Entrance fees for included sightseeing
- English-speaking expert tour guide
- Transfers as specified in the itinerary
- Meals as indicated
Not included
- International flights
- Egypt entry visa
- Tips (approx. USD 25 per person per day)
- Optional Abu Simbel excursion (USD 200 per person - see add-ons)
- Optional Open-Air Eclipse Experience (USD 300 per person - see add-ons)
- Personal expenses, drinks, and extra meals
- Travel insurance
Who this itinerary is for
Three vessels, one eclipse. Here is an honest read on whether Cairo is the right fit for the way you like to travel.
Ideal for
- Travellers who want to see Egypt beyond the standard tourist route at a classic price point
- History enthusiasts drawn to Abydos, the Red Monastery and Sohag
- Rail lovers who enjoy overnight sleeper-train journeys through the Nile Valley
- Eclipse chasers who want totality in Luxor combined with a four-night Nile cruise
Perhaps not for
- Guests who want the shortest possible route to Luxor - consider flying directly to a Nile cruise
- Travellers who prefer not to take overnight trains
- Anyone unable to manage early-morning starts or August desert heat
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Eclipse guides
- 2027 total solar eclipse: the complete guide
- Saw the 2026 eclipse? How 2027 compares
- Chased the 2026 Eclipse? Your Next Total Solar Eclipse Adventure Is Egypt 2027
- 2027 Eclipse Luxor Viewing Time: Exact Contact Times & Duration
- Egypt Eclipse Tour Cost 2027: Real Prices and What's Included
- Eclipse Glasses & Photography in Egypt: 2027 Safety and Camera Guide
- August Weather in Luxor: Heat, Humidity and Eclipse-Day Cloud Odds
- The 6-Minute 2027 Solar Eclipse: A Complete Guide to the Eclipse of the Century
- Why Luxor is the Premier Viewing Location for the 2027 Eclipse
- Three Ways to Chase Totality on the Nile
- Read the Journal