AWT has organised eclipse tours in 1999, 2006 and 2008 to destinations where we already have tours running. The eclipse in Egypt is special for us, it’s in the heart of our most familiar destination!

The tour will be accompanied by Astronomer, Gordon Falconer and Egyptologist, Dr Campbell Price.

A solar eclipse is one of the most magical experiences there is. Few get the experience of a 360 degree sunset; the sudden drop in temperature; the oddly shaped shadows and the total magnificence of the eclipse itself. Fascinating, spectacular and deeply moving, it’s an experience not be missed.

This eclipse is special as it’s one of the longest totalities possible, and has been dubbed:

‘The Eclipse of the Century’

Although the Eclipse is the main focus of this trip in Middle Egypt, because we fly in and out of Cairo, we have added two exciting visits to this programme. It is way too hot in mid-Summer to go sightseeing outdoors (join a regular AWT tour for that at a cooler time of year!) but, before we drive south, on our first full day in Cairo, we will spend time in The Grand Egyptian Museum.

Plenty of opportunity to view the fabulous Tutankhamun Galleries.

After the Eclipse and on our return drive to Cairo, we visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

Gordon Falconer, our Eclipse expert has been a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada for over 50 years. He has taught Astronomy courses and presented talks and demonstrations for many years, having seen his first Total Solar Eclipse in 1970.

Campbell Price, one of our regular Egyptology tour experts, also accompanies us on this trip. He is Curator of Egypt and Sudan at Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester and one of the UK’s largest Egyptological collections. He has published widely on ancient Egyptian material culture.

Day 1 - Friday 30th July 2027 – To an Ancient Land

We board our British Airways flight to Cairo. On arrival we check into the Meridien Hotel at Cairo airport for one night on a bed and breakfast basis. The hotel is the most convenient for the airport and we’ll be gathering in passengers from all over the world.

Day 2 - Saturday 31st July 2027 – The Grand Egyptian Museum

No museum in the world has caused quite such a stir as the GEM and it’s easy to see why. The galleries are filled with stunning objects from Egypt’s glorious past. However, it’s the newly opened Tutankhamun galleries that have caused the biggest sensation. Over 5,000 objects are displayed in a series of beautifully lit galleries that take up almost a third of the museum gallery space. It really is one of the wonders of the modern world. Lunch will be own arrangements in one of the many outlets within the museum. (B)

Day 3 - Sunday 1st August 2027 – Heading South

To ensure that we have the best viewing experience possible, we head south to the city of Asyut, close to the centre line, and our hotel – ‘The Cement Hotel’. Owned by a private company, the hotel has its own grounds and we have hired the entire place for AWT’s exclusive use, thus avoiding the insane competition for rooms in other locations, such as Luxor. We check in on arrival and prepare for dinner and our after dinner talk on the events awaiting us tomorrow. (BLD)

Day 4 - Monday 2nd August 2027 – Eclipse Day

We’ll start our day setting up in the gardens, preparing pin-hole cameras and ensuring that solar eclipse glasses are ready and available. The culmination of our tour starts at 11:35 the solar eclipse itself begins with first contact. This is when the moon’s shadow first hits the edge of the sun. Totality is achieved at 12:56. From our vantage point in the gardens, we’ll see it all from start to finish. The duration of totality at this location is 6 minutes 13 seconds. For a solar eclipse, that is an very long totality and there will not be another like it until 2100! The whole process ends at 14:21 after which we can relax by the pool and take it all in. (BLD)

Day 5 - Tuesday 3rd August 2027 – Return to Cairo

We return to Cairo for a well earned rest at our lovely West Cairo hotel, the Crowne Plaza. We’ll have a packed lunch today. On arrival we check into the hotel for a swim in the lovely roof-top infinity pool and some well-earned refreshment on the roof terrace. (BL)

Day 6 - Wednesday 4th August 2027 - Home

We have one final sightseeing stop at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation. Here are displayed some particularly fine pieces from the whole sweep of Egyptian history; a fascinating textile wing and, most importantly of all, the Royal Mummies. Here are some of the most famous pharaohs of all including Ramesses II and Seti I.

We head to Cairo Airport for our return flight to the UK on our BA flight to London. (B)

Gordon Falconer our Eclipse expert has been a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada for over 50 years. He has taught Astronomy courses and presented talks and demonstrations for many years having seen his first Total Solar Eclipse in 1970.

Dr Campbell Price one of our regular Egyptology tour experts, also accompanies us on this trip. He is Curator of Egypt and Sudan at Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester and one of the UK’s largest Egyptological collections.He has published widely on ancient Egyptian material culture.

B = Breakfast BL = Breakfast and Lunch BD = Breakfast and Dinner BLD = Breakfast Lunch and Dinner

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