On August 2, 2027, Luxor gets about six minutes of total solar eclipse. Exact times, what the August heat means, eye safety, and where each of our eclipse trips watches it.
On Monday, August 2, 2027, a total solar eclipse crosses southern Egypt. In Luxor, totality begins at about 1:02 pm local time and lasts about 6 minutes 22 seconds, one second short of the longest totality anywhere on the eclipse path. Cairo is outside the path and sees only a partial eclipse, so to watch the Sun go fully dark you need to be in or near Luxor.
Key Takeaways
- Monday, August 2, 2027. In Luxor, totality runs from about 1:02 pm to 1:08 pm local time (UTC+3).
- Luxor is almost on the best spot. NASA puts the longest totality, 6 minutes 23 seconds, at a point about 60 km (40 miles) southeast of Luxor. Luxor itself gets about 6 minutes 22 seconds.
- Cairo does not see totality. About 95% of the Sun is covered there at the peak, and the sky does not go dark.
- It will be very hot. Luxor averages 106°F by day in August, and the Sun will stand about 82° above the horizon, almost straight overhead.
- Eclipse glasses must meet the ISO 12312-2 standard and stay on for every moment except totality itself.
Eclipse times in Egypt
| Where | What you see | Peak (local time) | Totality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxor | Total eclipse | about 1:05 pm | about 6 min 22 s, from about 1:02 pm to 1:08 pm |
| Point of greatest eclipse, in the desert southeast of Luxor (25.5°N, 33.2°E) | Total eclipse | 1:06 pm | 6 min 23 s |
| Cairo | Partial eclipse, about 95% covered | about 12:56 pm | None. The partial eclipse runs from about 11:33 am to 2:16 pm |
The figures for the point of greatest eclipse are NASA's. The Luxor and Cairo times come from published eclipse calculations for each city, rounded to the minute. Your exact times depend on where you stand, so treat them as a guide.
Why Luxor is the place to watch it
Almost the full length of totality. Luxor sits so close to the point of greatest eclipse that it loses only about one second.
The best odds of a clear sky. In the World Meteorological Organization's climate averages for Luxor (1981–2010), August has no rain days at all.
Where you are standing. Luxor's temples are more than 3,000 years old, and the eclipse passes almost directly over them. All six of our eclipse trips watch it from Luxor.
What 1 pm in Luxor in August feels like
Plan for the heat before you plan anything else. Luxor's average August high is 106°F, and even the average overnight low is 76°F.
- There is almost no shade to look up from. With the Sun about 82° up, you will be looking nearly straight overhead. A reclining chair or a mat makes the six minutes far more comfortable than craning your neck.
- Bring water, a hat and sunscreen for the partial phases. They last well over an hour before and after totality.
- Do the other sightseeing early or late. In summer, the last entry to Karnak Temple is 4:00 pm, to the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut 5:00 pm, and to Luxor Temple 7:00 pm.
Eye safety: the rules that matter
These come from NASA's eclipse safety guidance:
- Use eclipse glasses or a solar viewer that meets ISO 12312-2. Ordinary sunglasses are not safe.
- Take them off only during totality, when the Moon completely covers the Sun's bright face. In Luxor, that window is only about 1:02 pm to 1:08 pm.
- Put them back on the moment any bright Sun reappears.
- Never look through a camera, binoculars or a telescope while wearing eclipse glasses. The optics need their own solar filter fitted to the front.
Buy your glasses before you leave the US, from a seller that states the ISO 12312-2 certification.
Where each of our eclipse trips is on August 2
| Trip | Arrive in Egypt | Eclipse day | What else it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Days Egypt Solar Eclipse Itinerary | Sat Jul 31 | Day 3, fly to Luxor and watch beside Luxor Temple | The Pyramids, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Luxor's West Bank |
| 7 Days Egypt Solar Eclipse Tour with Nile Cruise | Sat Jul 31 | Day 3, fly to Luxor, then board the cruise | Giza, Saqqara, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan |
| 7 Days Egypt Eclipse Nile Cruise from Aswan | Thu Jul 29 | Day 5, in Luxor after sailing from Aswan | Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu and the West Bank |
| 8 Days Luxor Solar Eclipse Tour and Pyramids | Sun Aug 1 | Day 2, fly to Luxor first thing | A cruise to Aswan, then Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum at the end |
| 8 Days Egypt Solar Eclipse and Red Sea | Sat Jul 31 | Day 3, fly to Luxor | Giza, then the Red Sea coast with a reef boat trip |
| 9 Days Egypt Solar Eclipse Tour 2027 | Fri Jul 30 | Day 4, Karnak in the morning, then the eclipse | The West Bank, a cruise to Aswan and Abu Simbel |
All six are private trips, and prices are quoted on request. You can see them together on our Egypt solar eclipse tours page.
Before you book
Book early. Hotel and cruise capacity in Luxor is limited on and around August 2, 2027, and the dates cannot move.
Flights from the US. EgyptAir flies nonstop to Cairo from New York JFK and Washington Dulles in about 10½ hours. In August, Egypt is 7 hours ahead of New York. Every trip above includes the flight south from Cairo.
Visa. US citizens need a tourist visa, and it can be bought online before you fly. See our Egypt visa guide.
Where to start
If you only want the eclipse and the highlights, the 5-day trip is the shortest. If you want the eclipse to be one day in a full Egypt holiday, the 9-day trip adds a cruise and Abu Simbel.
Tell us your dates and how many people are traveling, and we will tell you what is still available around August 2.
