10-Day Nile to Totality Dahabiya Expedition
Rail & sail through Abydos and Dendera, then chase totality on an intimate dahabiya.
In short
10-Day Nile to Totality Dahabiya Expedition is a 10 Days itinerary (Cairo • Sohag • Abydos • Luxor • Aswan) aboard Dahabiya El Hanem · Rail & Sail, priced from $8,997 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. Rail & sail through Abydos and Dendera, then chase totality on an intimate dahabiya.
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 |
| Vessel | Dahabiya El Hanem · Rail & Sail |
| Price from | $8,997 per person, double occupancy |
| Price range | USD 8,997 – USD 13,994 per person (all cabin categories, double and single) |
| 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
Embark on a 10-day rail-and-sail adventure through Egypt, bookended by Cairo and crowned by the Total Solar Eclipse of 2 August 2027 in Luxor. Travel by overnight sleeper train to Sohag, explore the sacred Temple of Abydos and the remarkable Red Monastery, witness sunrise at Dendera, then board the elegant Dahabiya El Hanem for four intimate nights sailing Luxor to Aswan. With just six cabins, traditional sail-powered charm and modern comfort, this is the quieter, more personal sister to the classic Cleo Dahabiya expedition.
Aboard
Dahabiya El Hanem · Rail & Sail
Dahabiya El Hanem sailing the Nile
Mashrabiya salon with hand-painted panels
Shaded deck dining overlooking the Nile
Sun deck lounge and bar
Carved arch cabin aboard the dahabiya
Hand-tiled headboard detail
Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi lobby
Sleeper train Elite Club car dining
Boarding the sleeper train to Sohag
Day-by-day itinerary
Met & assisted at Cairo International Airport and private transfer to the Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi or similar 5★ for a comfortable overnight stay.
Read the programme brochure
Flip through the full 10-Day Nile to Totality Dahabiya Expedition brochure below, or download it as a PDF to keep or share.
Accommodation
- 1 night at Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi or similar 5★ (B&B)
- 2 nights on the sleeper train (half-board)
- 1 night at the Floating Hotel Sohag 4★
- 4 nights aboard Dahabiya El Hanem, Luxor → Aswan (full-board)
- 1 night at Radisson Blu Hotel or similar (B&B)
Rates per person
| Category | Double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin | USD 8,997 | USD 10,990 |
| Suite | USD 10,990 | USD 13,994 |
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 Dahabiya El Hanem is included.
- Round-trip transfers from/to your Dahabiya El Hanem
- 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
- All transfers as per the itinerary
- All accommodation as per each selected option
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Round-trip sightseeing tours with an Egyptologist guide
- Round-trip sleeper train tickets
- Dinner and breakfast served onboard the sleeper train in your private cabin
- All entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Meet and assist upon arrival and departure
- Solar Eclipse viewing from the boat sundeck with safe-viewing guidance
- Open-Air Eclipse BBQ Festival setup in a stunning green field location
Not included
- Tips (approx. USD 25 per person per day)
- Optional Abu Simbel excursion (USD 200 per person - see add-ons)
- Personal expenses, drinks, and extra meals
- Optional Fine dining in the VIP Club Car: one way USD 90 or both ways USD 180 per person - see add-ons
Who this itinerary is for
Three vessels, one eclipse. Here is an honest read on whether Dahabiya El Hanem is the right fit for the way you like to travel.
Ideal for
- Travellers who want the most intimate dahabiya experience on the 2027 eclipse route
- History enthusiasts drawn to Abydos, Dendera and the Red Monastery
- Rail lovers who enjoy overnight sleeper-train journeys through the Nile Valley
- Guests who prefer sail-powered cruising and a quieter, more personal atmosphere
Perhaps not for
- Travellers needing many connecting cabins or large-ship facilities - consider MS Q or MS TIA
- Guests who prefer not to take overnight trains
- Anyone unable to manage early-morning starts or August desert heat
Frequently asked questions
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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