The 2027 total eclipse
Where to watch the 2027 eclipse in Luxor
Anywhere in Luxor works: Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the East Bank corniche and a boat moored at the river all get about 6m 20s of totality, within a second or two of each other. With the sun 82° up you look almost straight up, so walls and palms will not block it. What decides the spot is shade before totality, a place to lie back, how many people are there, and whether you can get in and out. Access rules for the temples on eclipse day had not been published when we checked.
The numbers
Every Luxor site gets the same eclipse
| Site | Totality | Begins | Ends | Sun height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luxor | 6m 20s | 13:02:03 | 13:08:23 | 82° |
| Karnak | 6m 21s | 13:02:01 | 13:08:23 | 82° |
| Valley of the Kings | 6m 21s | 13:01:53 | 13:08:14 | 82° |
| Hatshepsut's temple | 6m 21s | 13:01:53 | 13:08:14 | 82° |
| Dendera | 6m 14s | 13:01:26 | 13:07:40 | 81° |
| Abydos | 6m 21s | 12:59:46 | 13:06:07 | 82° |
| Sohag | 6m 22s | 12:58:43 | 13:05:05 | 81° |
| Esna | 5m 46s | 13:02:48 | 13:08:33 | 82° |
| Edfu | 5m 31s | 13:04:05 | 13:09:36 | 82° |
Going north makes almost no difference: Abydos and Sohag gain a second or two and Dendera is a few seconds shorter. Driving south costs time: Esna loses about half a minute and Edfu nearly a minute, because they are closer to the southern edge. All times for 32 places are on our eclipse times page.
Where to stand
The options, and what each is good for
- 1Your boat, moored. The simplest choice if your sailing has you in Luxor at midday: no transfer, cabins and water close by. Check the sun deck has shade and that the boat is moored, not sailing, between noon and 2:30 pm.
- 2A hotel roof or garden. Shade, toilets, cold drinks and no traffic. Ask before you book whether the roof will be open to guests, and whether the hotel is selling outside tickets.
- 3Open ground on the West Bank. Wide horizons for the sunset glow all round you during totality, and fewer buildings. Go with a driver who knows where you can legally stop and has shade to bring.
- 4A temple. Karnak and Luxor Temple are unforgettable settings, but nothing has been announced about access, ticketing or crowd limits on the day. Do not assume a temple will be open for viewing until it is published.
- 5Dendera or Abydos. Both are inside the path with about the same totality as Luxor, and far from the crowds. A day trip from Luxor, if the roads are open as normal.
- 6A felucca or motorboat. Fine for watching with the naked eye during totality, poor for photography because the boat moves. Make sure there is shade on board for the hour before.
The sun at 82°
Watching an eclipse almost overhead
In Luxor the eclipse happens almost directly above your head. Standing and craning your neck for two and a half hours is uncomfortable; plan to sit back or lie down.
Bring or ask for a reclining chair, a beach lounger or a thick mat, because stone and sand at 1 pm in August are too hot to lie on. Shade matters most in the hour of partial phase before totality, from about 11:40, when you will be glancing up through eclipse glasses every few minutes. For the six minutes of totality itself, step out into the open.
Ask first
What to check before a tour promises a temple
- 1Has the site access been confirmed in writing? Not just planned or hoped for. Ask what happens if it is not granted.
- 2What time do you arrive, and how? Traffic on the day is the biggest risk. Being in position by about 12:15, well before totality at 13:02, is sensible.
- 3Is there shade, water and seating? For at least two hours in the middle of an August day.
- 4Are certified eclipse glasses included? To the ISO 12312-2 standard, from a supplier on the American Astronomical Society list.
- 5Is there a plan B? A second spot to move to if a site is closed or crowded.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said at its first eclipse committee meeting that it would identify public viewing sites with services in Luxor and Siwa and review site opening hours. We will add the details when they are published.
Asked often
Watching the eclipse in Luxor, answered
- What is the best place to watch the 2027 eclipse in Luxor?
- Any open spot with shade nearby. Every site in Luxor gets about 6m 20s of totality, so choose a moored boat, a hotel roof or open ground on the West Bank for comfort and access rather than for duration.
- Can you watch the eclipse from Karnak Temple?
- Karnak is inside the path with the same six minutes as the rest of Luxor, but no access arrangements for the day had been announced when we last checked. Treat any tour that promises Karnak as unconfirmed until the ministry publishes its plans.
- Can I watch the eclipse from my Nile cruise boat?
- Yes, if the boat is moored inside the path at midday, for example in Luxor. A boat that spends the day at Aswan is outside the path. See our main eclipse page for which sailings are in the right place.
- Is the Valley of the Kings in the path of totality?
- Yes. It gets about 6m 21s of totality, from 13:01:53 to 13:08:14. Inside a tomb you would see nothing, so step outside.
- Where can I watch the eclipse away from the crowds?
- Dendera and Abydos, north of Luxor, are inside the path with about the same totality and far fewer visitors. In the desert, Bahariya and Siwa have the most reliable skies of all.
