Total solar eclipse 2027: Nile cruise, Egypt

27 July 2027 – 10 days from £5249 - Sold out

*We are currently sourcing an additional boat and have created a waitlist for those interested in joining this additional departure. 

Embark on an unforgettable journey to Egypt in 2027 to witness the longest total solar eclipse in our lifetime. Experience an awe-inspiring celestial spectacle from the luxurious comfort of an elegant river cruise ship. Sail along the historic Nile river from Aswan to Luxor, surrounded by the timeless beauty of Egypt's ancient landmarks, including the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Karnak, the Temple of Luxor, the Temple of Edfu, Philae Temple and Abu Simbel.

As the sky darkens and the eclipse begins, you will be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime celestial spectacle, while enjoying world-class amenities and expert-guided excursions to some of the most iconic sites in Egypt during the trip.

You will be accompanied throughout by an eclipse expert, who will guide you through the event with talks on solar photography, astronomy, future eclipses and the all-important pre-eclipse briefing. In addition to this, New Scientist’s US editor, Chelsea Whyte, will take a deep dive into ancient Egypt’s contribution to the development of astronomy and the abundant evidence of this in the archaeological sites across the country. There will also be an onboard team of local Egyptologists who will lead you in exploring the history, science and stories of these amazing temples.

Travel aboard the MS Nile Premium, a splendid ship with a rooftop pool, where all the cabins have a river view for you to watch life on the banks as you float slowly by. This extraordinary cruise is a perfect blend of astronomical wonder, historical insight, adventure and relaxation. 

The tour will provide a fun and relaxing environment for curious-minded couples, friends and solo travellers. You will be with like-minded people who love to connect with the ancient world and experience the wonder of eclipses and astronomy. The talks will be suitable for those who are new to solar astronomy as well as experienced eclipse chasers, plus those who just want to experience Egypt and an amazing total solar eclipse in a unique, immersive tour.

DAY 1: JOIN THE SHIP AND INTRODUCTORY TALKS

Board the MS Nile Premium, where the attentive crew will hand you a cold welcome drink and show you to your luxury cabin, your home for the next 10 days.

After having time to settle into your cabin, enjoy a welcome briefing from the ship's staff and the New Scientist team. They will cover how to make the most of the ship, introduce your experts and tour leaders, and outline the amazing experience ahead.

After a cocktail reception, the ship’s crew will present the first of many sumptuous meals. As this is a voyage of discovery, there will be no formal dress codes and the New Scientist team and tour leaders will join you for meals.

DAY 2: ASWAN, NUBIAN MUSEUM

To start the exploration of the many wonders along the Nile, the ship will remain at anchor in Aswan for the next few days. This will give you time to explore the city, ease into relaxing on the ship and make new friends. Where there are land excursions, they will often start early in the morning to make the most of the cooler temperatures.

You will start your archaeological adventures with a visit to the Nubian Museum, located a short bus ride from the ship. While here, you will enjoy a guided tour where you will learn about the history of Egypt, with 3000 artefacts that cover the Pharaonic, Roman, Coptic and Islamic ages of the Nubian region, the area between Aswan in Egypt and Khartoum in Sudan. The exhibit covers thousands of years of history and is both easy to follow and highly engaging. 

In the evening, the New Scientist team will give the first of many interesting talks covering the science of the archaeological sites you will visit, the ancient civilisation's relationship with astronomy, the current astronomical delights and, of course, eclipses.

DAY 3: ASWAN TO ABU SIMBEL

Depart the ship by comfortable air-conditioned coach and travel just over 130 kilometres south-west of Aswan to the historic site of Abu Simbel. Here, in the 13th century BC, these two massive temples were carved out of the rock face, overlooking the western bank of Lake Nasser. 

In 1968, to avoid being submerged by Lake Nasser as a result of the building of the Aswan Dam, the whole site was relocated to higher ground, a stunning feat of engineering. After a guided tour, you will have free time at the site to explore at your own leisure before returning to the ship. This is a long day with an early start, so upon returning to the ship, the evening will be at your leisure.

DAY 4: PHILAE TEMPLE COMPLEX AND THE TEMPLE OF KOM OMBO

Today, you will venture just past the Aswan Low Dam with a visit to the Philae temple complex. Situated on a small island, the complex includes temples dating back to 380 BC and appears in many ancient works, including those of the ancient astronomer Ptolemy. Originally dedicated to the goddess Isis, various dynasties have expanded and modified the complex over a 3000-year period, resulting in a blend of ancient archaeological styles. Philae is another example of a site that was relocated due to the installation of the dams on the Nile causing rising water. In this case, the complex was moved from another island just 500 metres away in 1960.

You will then sail downstream to the the Temple of Kom Ombo. It has a rare double design where there are two sets of identical features for the two differing gods that it is dedicated to, and the whole structure is perfectly symmetrical along its main axis. Outside the temple is the Crocodile Museum, which exhibits a unique collection of mummified crocodiles and ancient carvings.

In the evening, enjoy time on board to relax on the deck, take in the beautiful, relaxing surroundings and enjoy more talks from the accompanying experts.

DAY 5: EDFU AND ESNA TEMPLES

Situated halfway between Aswan and Luxor, the Temple of Horus in Edfu is one of the largest and best-preserved Ptolemaic temples in Egypt, with many aspects of ancient Egyptian mythology represented on its towering columns with intricate hieroglyphics. Despite its size, it was buried under sand and silt until it was rediscovered by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette in 1860.

Seventy kilometres downstream is the Temple of Esna, also known as the Temple of Khnum. It is a hall of 24 highly decorated columns surrounded by intricate carvings, vibrant frescoes and unique architectural features. Temple construction started in the 3rd century BC, but expanded over several centuries, with multiple rulers leaving their mark.

As you dine overlooking the banks of the Nile, the ship will be approaching Luxor for an amazing four days of archaeological and solar adventures.

DAY 6: VALLEY OF THE KINGS, VALLEY OF THE QUEENS AND THE PRE-ECLIPSE BRIEFING

After arriving in Luxor overnight, you will board comfortable air-conditioned coaches to explore the city's many amazing sites on small-group guided tours.

For nearly 500 years between the 18th and 20th Dynasties, tombs for the pharaohs and powerful nobles were cut out of the limestone rock, situated in a wadi near the west bank of the Nile. The Valley of the Kings contains more than 65 of these tombs and chambers, ornately decorated with traditional scenes that shed light on the era’s afterlife beliefs and funerary practices. While they have been excavated since the 18th century, they gained wider attention in 1922 when the tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered.

You will also explore the nearby less-visited Valley of the Queens, a similar necropolis that was home to the royal women of the same period. Ninety tombs have been found in excavations so far, which are ongoing. From the outside, the tombs aren't impressive, as they were designed to be inconspicuous and protect the treasures buried within. But once inside, you will appreciate not just the ornate decoration, but also the painstaking work involved in unearthing and preserving them. For this reason, they are open to visitors on a rotating basis to allow for restoration.

Perhaps the most ornate of these crypts, and one you will be visiting, is the Tomb of Nefertari, a vivid, detailed and well-preserved crypt discovered in 1904. It is often called the Sistine Chapel of ancient Egypt.

In the evening, back on board the ship, the accompanying New Scientist experts will give a detailed pre-eclipse briefing to ensure you are well prepared for tomorrow. They will explain in detail how eclipses occur, how to make the most of the event and how to record it on devices ranging from smartphones to complex photography equipment. An eclipse is an amazing experience, but it will be even better having been briefed on the visual nuances to watch out for, both in the sky and around you.

DAY 7: 2 AUGUST 2027 – TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE DAY

As the excitement for today's event builds, the ship will be moored close to the central line of totality, where you will experience 6 minutes 24 seconds of totality. At 1:02pm, totality will begin and the eclipse will be almost above you at 81.6 degrees. The historic average cloud cover for this date is close to 0 per cent. Along with a perfect position to view the eclipse, it will truly be a magical location next to the banks of the Nile.

On our previous eclipse events, some guests have liked to set up equipment to record the eclipse, while others preferred to quietly contemplate this awe-inspiring event. Whichever you prefer, there is plenty of space on the sun deck for all and the ship’s crew will be on hand to provide you with refreshments.

After partial contact ends at around 2:26pm and with a celebratory glass of champagne in hand, we will gather in the lounge for the post-eclipse briefing.

In the evening, enjoy a celebratory dinner on board where you will be able to discuss this once-in-a-lifetime event with your fellow travellers. 

DAY 8: LUXOR AND KARNAK TEMPLES 

After yesterday’s celestial majesty, continue your exploration of Egypt’s wonders with a visit to the two most impressive temples on the banks of the Nile. Luxor Temple is a complex constructed in around 1400 BC and is dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship, unlike most temples, which are dedicated to gods or pharaohs. It was constructed over hundreds of years by various pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, and was the largest and most significant religious centre in ancient Egypt.

A short walk away is Karnak Temple, a huge site of temples, pylons, chapels and other buildings. If you have watched the 1978 film of Agatha Christie’s Death On the Nile, you have visited this site already, but the sheer scale of the pylons in real life is magical to behold and the whole site overshadows many wonders of the modern world. It is the largest religious building ever built and must have made quite an impression on the ancient Egyptian population.

DAY 9: FINAL TALKS AND TIME TO RELAX

After a full itinerary under the Egyptian sun, the final day on board will be far more relaxed. There will be a few talks from our accompanying experts to wrap up the event and a farewell dinner in the evening, but most of the day is at your leisure. You can enjoy the ship’s facilities, bathe on the sun deck or explore Aswan further. 

DAY 10: DISEMBARK AND FURTHER EXPLORATION

After breakfast, it is time for your onward journey, whether to the airport, an Egyptian beach resort or further touring of the region. You will say your goodbyes to the onboard crew and the New Scientist team, then disembark the ship in the morning.

We are planning some exciting tours that you can add to this trip, and we will be sharing details of those in due course. These will include:

The science of ancient Egypt in Cairo, including detailed visits to the pyramids and the brand-new Grand Egyptian Museum accompanied by an expert Egyptologist and a guest speaker from New Scientist.

The archaeological wonders of Jordan, including Petra, plus overnighting under the stars in Wadi Rum and floating in the Dead Sea.

Or a few days relaxing in the elegant beach resorts of Hurghada and Sharm-el-Sheik.