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Luxor solar eclipse 2027 — six minutes of midday darkness

On Monday 2 August 2027 the Moon's shadow covers Luxor from 1:02:05 to 1:08:27 pm local time — 6 minutes 22 seconds of totality with the Sun almost overhead. The hard parts are the heat, the crowds and booking.

Date
Mon 2 August 2027
Totality
1:02–1:08 pm (UTC+3)
Duration in Luxor
6 min 22 s
Sun altitude
82°, almost overhead

Updated October 21, 2026

The solar corona around the dark disk of the Moon during a total solar eclipse
The solar corona around the dark disk of the Moon during a total solar eclipse Photo: ESA/CESAR/Wouter van Reeven, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo

The short answer

  1. Best valueLuxor Solar Eclipse Tour with Lunch & Hotel PickupNew listingfrom $169GetYourGuide

    A road trip from Hurghada with the Valley of the Kings, Karnak, lunch and a reserved viewing area, from about $169. Worth it — Hurghada itself only sees a partial eclipse.

  2. Worth the splurgeFrom Cairo: Luxor Solar Eclipse Tour with Flights and LunchNew listingfrom $2,200GetYourGuide

    Private transfers and an Egyptologist on a fly-in day from Cairo, from about $2,200. The listing contradicts itself on whether flights are included, so get that confirmed in writing.

  3. Skip it ifYou're already staying in Luxor

    You need eclipse glasses, shade and open sky, not a tour. Totality in town is within about a second of the longest anywhere on the path, so a hotel garden or roof does the job.

When is the solar eclipse in Luxor? Exact times for 2 August 2027

The total solar eclipse reaches Luxor on Monday 2 August 2027 a little after midday. The whole event lasts 2 hours 46 minutes, but the part people travel for — totality, when the Moon covers the Sun completely and the corona appears — lasts 6 minutes 22 seconds in Luxor. All times below are Egyptian summer time (UTC+3), which Egypt keeps from late April until the end of October.

Eclipse timeline in Luxor, Monday 2 August 2027
  1. Partial phase begins (11:40:15): the Moon takes its first bite out of the Sun; glasses on
  2. Totality begins (13:02:05): glasses off, look up
  3. Maximum eclipse (13:05:16), with the Sun 81.8° above the horizon
  4. Totality ends (13:08:27): glasses back on at the first bright flash
  5. Partial phase ends (14:26:34)

Luxor sits close to the point of greatest eclipse, which falls in the Eastern Desert roughly 60 km to the east-southeast. NASA puts the longest totality anywhere on the path at 6 minutes 23.2 seconds, so Luxor gets all but about a second of it. That is also why there is no reason to drive far for a longer eclipse: within the Luxor area the difference is negligible.

Outside the path it is a different event. Cairo sees a partial eclipse of magnitude 0.947 and Hurghada 0.980 — impressive, but without darkness, stars or corona. If you are on the Red Sea or in Cairo that week, the totality is in Luxor.

Where to watch the eclipse in Luxor

With the Sun almost straight overhead, you need open sky above you more than a view of the horizon, and shade for the two and a half hours of partial phases. Temple walls will not frame the eclipsed Sun at that angle; you will be looking up, not across.

Where Totality Shade during partial phases Crowds Cost Best for
Hotel garden, roof or pool deck about 6 min 22 s Yes Hotel guests only Your room Most people, families
Nile cruise sun deck, moored in Luxor about 6 min 22 s Usually awnings Passengers only Cruise fare Cruise travelers
West Bank temple areas (if open) about 6 min 22 s Little Likely heavy Entry ticket Atmosphere — if access is confirmed
West Bank fields or desert edge about 6 min 22 s Bring your own Low Taxi or driver Photographers with gear
Day tour from Hurghada Luxor viewing area Depends on site Tour group from about $169 Red Sea holidaymakers
Fly-in day from Cairo Luxor viewing area Depends on site Not stated from about $2,200 Short Cairo stays

What is officially planned. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities set up a committee in May 2026 to prepare for the eclipse in Luxor and Siwa. At its first meeting, reported in October 2026, it agreed to work with the Ministry of Local Development on choosing visitor sites with basic services such as restrooms and cafeterias; to restore visitor facilities at Luxor temples to raise capacity; and to discuss coordinated opening hours for museums and sites during the event. As of 21 Oct 2026, no list of viewing sites, temple program or special opening hours has been published. Tour operators in the feed describe their viewing spot only as "a specially arranged outdoor area", without naming it. We will update this page when official details appear.

Open fields on Luxor's West Bank — wide sky, little shade
Open fields on Luxor's West Bank — wide sky, little shade Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR), CC BY 3.0

How hot will it be? Midday in Luxor in August

August is Luxor's hottest month, with average highs of about 40–41 °C (104–106 °F) and lows in the mid-20s °C, and essentially no rain. Totality falls at the hottest point of the day. The weather odds are good: eclipse meteorologist Jay Anderson, writing for Sky & Telescope, rates the chances across Egypt as good to excellent, with dust and haze a bigger risk than cloud.

  • Sightsee at dawn and early morning; be in shade by late morning.
  • Watch from somewhere you can retreat to between phases — shade, a pool, air conditioning.
  • Wear a wide hat and sunscreen, and drink water steadily rather than all at once.
  • Looking straight up for long is tiring. A sun lounger or a blanket on the ground is easier on the neck than standing.

Luxor eclipse tours: what's on sale now

Two eclipse-day products are in the feed so far, both new and without reviews. The Hurghada day trip drives you to Luxor for the West Bank, a reserved viewing area, lunch and Karnak, and back the same day — a long road day each way, described in our Hurghada guide. The Cairo fly-in day adds Hatshepsut's temple and Luxor Temple with private transfers and an Egyptologist; its listing names flights in the description but lists them as excluded, so confirm before you pay. Neither listing mentions eclipse glasses — bring your own. Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Luxor solar eclipse tours

US-dollar prices come from each platform's own feed and were checked on October 21, 2026. Dates and group size change them — the booking page has the final price.

If you would rather stay a few nights, look at Luxor holiday packages or a Nile cruise that is moored in Luxor on 2 August, and check the date on the itinerary carefully. From Cairo, see the options in Luxor from Cairo.

Booking early: hotels, flights and the train

Luxor's hotel supply is finite, and the ministry is already discussing domestic flights and road transport for the event. Practical steps, without panic:

  • Hotels: book now with a free-cancellation rate, and recheck the policy before the deadline.
  • Flights: book once fares for early August 2027 appear, and avoid tight connections on 1–2 August.
  • Sleeper train: sales usually open four to five months ahead, so for 1 August 2027 expect them to open around March or April 2027. See our Cairo–Luxor train guide.
  • Equipment: Sky & Telescope warns that Egyptian customs can inspect or hold telescopes and large camera mounts. Bring compact gear for personal use and be ready to explain it.

Safe viewing: eclipse glasses and cameras

Look at the Sun only through glasses or handheld viewers that meet ISO 12312-2. The American Astronomical Society keeps a list of manufacturers whose products meet the standard; buy from them or a dealer they name, and avoid anonymous marketplace listings. Buy before you leave home so you are not relying on supply in Luxor, and discard any pair that is scratched or torn.

Never use eclipse glasses behind binoculars, a camera lens or a telescope: concentrated sunlight burns through them. Optical gear needs its own solar filter fitted on the front, and NASA suggests consulting an experienced astronomer first. Without glasses, a pinhole in a card projects the crescent Sun onto the ground — look at the projection, never through the hole.

Questions travellers ask

What time is the solar eclipse in Luxor on 2 August 2027?

The partial phase starts at 11:40 am, totality runs from 1:02:05 to 1:08:27 pm, with maximum eclipse at 1:05:16 pm, and the partial phase ends at 2:26 pm. These are Egyptian summer time (UTC+3), which runs until the end of October 2027. Egypt's Meteorological Authority is due to publish official timings per governorate.

How long will totality last in Luxor?

About 6 minutes 22 seconds in Luxor itself. NASA gives 6 minutes 23.2 seconds as the longest totality anywhere on the eclipse path, so Luxor is within about a second of the maximum.

Will the eclipse be total in Cairo or Hurghada?

No. Both lie outside the path of totality and see only a deep partial eclipse — magnitude 0.947 in Cairo and 0.980 in Hurghada. A near miss is not totality — the sky does not go dark, the corona does not appear, and you need glasses throughout. To see the total eclipse, you have to be inside the path, which includes Luxor.

Where is the best place to watch the 2027 eclipse in Luxor?

Anywhere with open sky to the south and overhead — the Sun will be 82° high. A hotel garden, roof terrace or pool deck with shade for the partial phases is the most comfortable choice. The West Bank fields and desert edge are quieter. No official temple viewing program had been published by 21 Oct 2026.

Do I need special glasses to watch the eclipse?

Yes, for every minute except totality itself. Use glasses or handheld viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard, bought from a manufacturer on the American Astronomical Society's list. Take them off only when the Sun's bright face is completely covered, and put them back at the first bright flash. Sunglasses are not safe at any darkness.

Is August too hot to visit Luxor?

It is very hot — average highs are about 40–41 °C (104–106 °F), and totality comes at the hottest time of day. It is manageable with planning — sightseeing at dawn, the middle of the day in shade near water, hats, sunscreen and plenty to drink. Travelers with heart conditions or small children should take the heat seriously.

Sources and checks

  1. timeanddate.com — Total solar eclipse in Luxor, 2 August 2027 (local times, duration, Sun altitude) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  2. timeanddate.com — Eclipse in Hurghada, 2 August 2027 (partial) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  3. timeanddate.com — Eclipse in Cairo, 2 August 2027 (partial) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  4. timeanddate.com — Daylight saving time changes in Egypt, 2027 — checked 21 Oct 2026
  5. NASA GSFC — Total solar eclipse of 2027 August 02 (path and maximum duration) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  6. EclipseWise — Total solar eclipse of 2027 Aug 02 (greatest eclipse and duration) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  7. Sky & Telescope — Plan for the 2027 eclipse of the century (weather, heat, equipment and customs) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  8. Ahram Online — Tourism minister chairs first meeting on 2027 solar eclipse preparations — checked 21 Oct 2026
  9. NASA — Eclipse safety — checked 21 Oct 2026
  10. American Astronomical Society — Solar viewers and filters (ISO 12312-2, suppliers) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  11. WeatherAPI — August weather averages for Luxor — checked 21 Oct 2026
  12. Seat61 — Cairo to Luxor & Aswan by sleeper train (booking window) — checked 21 Oct 2026
  13. GetYourGuide — Luxor solar eclipse tour from Hurghada and from Cairo (itineraries, inclusions) — checked 21 Oct 2026

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