eclipse
2027
2017 eclipse photo by NASA's photographer Aubrey Gemignani
Total Solar Eclipse · Luxor, Egypt
Six minutes of darkness over ancient Thebes.
Will you be there?
A private eclipse journey for six guests, on our rooftop on the West Bank of Luxor, with an Egyptian Egyptologist who calls these mountains home.
28 July – 3 August 2027 · 6 nights
Only 6 guests. Luxor is already sold out.
While thousands crowd the temples, you'll lie back on a quiet rooftop, held and unhurried.
On Monday, 2 August 2027, at five past one in the afternoon, the moon will cover the sun directly above Luxor. For more than six minutes the sky will go dark, the stars will come out, and the horizon will glow all the way around like a sunset.
You'll watch it from the rooftop of Sakeena House, our home on the West Bank, facing the Theban mountains and the Valley of the Queens. No crowds, no security queues, no fighting for a ride back in 40-degree heat. Just shade, cold drinks, loungers that lie back so you can look straight up, and Mostafa beside you, telling you exactly when to take your glasses off.
There are only two places on this journey: one for two guests, one for up to four. Six people, one rooftop, one sky.
The longest eclipse on land until 2114
This is the eclipse that astronomers have been waiting for. Totality over Luxor lasts more than six minutes, longer than anywhere else you can easily reach on land for the next 87 years. August skies over Luxor are almost always clear, and the sun will be nearly straight overhead.
It will happen above the greatest gathering of ancient monuments on earth: the city the Egyptians called Thebes, where the sun god's journey across the sky was carved into every temple wall.
Luxor's hotels and tours are already selling out. If you've been waiting for a sign to come to Egypt, this is it.
Six days to see Luxor, and time to simply be.
Egypt is intense, in the best way. We plan our days around the light: temples at dawn while the stone is still cool, long quiet middays at home, and evenings on the river. We also build in room to breathe, so if travel catches up with you, you won't miss what matters.
Thursday 29 July · The Valley of the Kings An early start on the West Bank: the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings, then the Ramesseum, the great temple of Ramesses II. Home by midday to rest.Wednesday 28 July · Arrival We meet you at Luxor airport and bring you home to Sakeena House. Cold hibiscus on arrival, time to rest, then sunset on the rooftop and a welcome dinner together.Friday 30 July · Karnak and Luxor Temple We cross the Nile by private boat at dawn to walk Karnak, the largest temple complex ever built, before the crowds. Afternoon rest. In the evening we cross again for Luxor Temple lit up after dark, then dinner at our favourite local café on the Corniche.Saturday 31 July · The Valley of the Queens The tomb of Nefertari, Ramesses II's beloved queen, often called the most beautiful tomb in Egypt. Then Deir el-Medina, the village of the artisans who painted the royal tombs. In the evening, Mostafa shares the story of the sun in ancient Egyptian belief.Sunday 1 August · A slow day Rest, read, nap. Late afternoon, a sunset sail on the Nile with Mostafa's family. A quiet dinner on the eve of the eclipse.Monday 2 August · Eclipse day At opening, a two-minute drive to Medinet Habu, our closest temple, its colours still bright after 3,000 years. Home by 9:00 to rest. Around noon we gather on the rooftop. At 13:05 the moon covers the sun and Luxor goes dark. In the evening, a celebration dinner under the stars.Tuesday 3 August · Departure Breakfast together, then we take you to the airport, or on to your private extension.
Sakeena House
Sakeena means tranquility. Our guest house sits in Al Bairat on the West Bank, facing the Theban mountains and the Valley of the Queens, two minutes' drive from the temple of Medinet Habu. It's light, airy and feminine, with a gentle nod to traditional Islamic craft: arches, carved wood, lanterns. Each room is named for an influential Muslim woman. For eclipse week, the whole house is yours.
Around the house: a shaded garden courtyard, and the rooftop where you'll watch the eclipse. The rooftop is one flight of stairs up. There's no elevator; our team carries all bags.
Guests 16 and over only.
The Sakeena Apartment
· for up to 4 guests
Our own home, on the ground floor, with a bedroom with one queen bed, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room with two custom daybeds made up as single beds. Air-conditioned. Ideal for a mother and daughters, or a small group of friends.
Ground floor of Sakeena House. The whole house is yours for eclipse week.
The Fatima Suite
· for 2 guests
One queen bed and a private bathroom, on the ground floor. Air-conditioned. Ideal for a couple, or two friends happy to share a bed.
Come see Egypt through our eyes.
We're Mostafa and Jennifer, husband and wife, and Takemet is the two of us.
Mostafa is an Egyptian, Egyptologist and teacher, born and raised on the West Bank of Luxor. These mountains, tombs and temples are his childhood landscape, and his large family still lives among them. He doesn't just know the history; he knows the people, the paths and the quiet corners.
Jennifer is a lifelong traveler who brings care, connection and attention to detail to every part of your journey: where you sleep, what you eat, when you rest and how you feel. She knows what it takes to feel truly seen and supported in a country that can be overwhelming.
We don't meet you at a site and leave. We travel hand-in-hand with you, so you always feel held, safe and comfortable. Our guests arrive as clients and leave as friends. That's what we love about this work.
Everything, so you have nothing to think about.
Included
6 nights at Sakeena House
All breakfasts, lunches and dinners, including our welcome, eclipse-eve and celebration dinners
A personal airport representative to meet you at Cairo International and guide you through to your Luxor flight, then pick-up and drop-off at Luxor airport
All entry tickets, including the tomb of Nefertari
Mostafa as your Egyptologist guide and Jennifer as your host, hand-in-hand all week, plus a private WhatsApp chat with us from the moment you book
Private boat crossings and a sunset sail on the Nile
Air-conditioned private transport
Eclipse viewing on the Sakeena rooftop: certified eclipse glasses to take home, shade, loungers, cold drinks
All gratuities
Not included
International and domestic flights. Please book these now; flights into Luxor for eclipse week are filling fast.
Egyptian visa ($30 USD upon arrival at Cairo International Airport)
Travel insurance, including cancellation cover (required)
Personal purchases
Two stays. Six guests.
One sky.
*Price is per stay, not per person. Every journey begins with a conversation. Book a relaxed discovery call with us. If it feels like the right fit, we'll send your terms and deposit details (bank transfer, PayPal or Venmo) and hold your place for 7 days while you pay.
Want to see more of Egypt? We'd love to design a private extension after your eclipse stay. Just ask.
THE FATIMA SUITE
For 2 guests
$15,000
Deposit $5,000 · Balance due 1 April 2027
THE SAKEENA APARTMENT
For up to 4 guests
$21,000
Deposit $7,000 · Balance due 1 April 2027
Honest terms, in plain words.
The world is unpredictable, and we'd rather tell you exactly how this works than hide it in small print.
If we can't host you, you get every cent back. If for any reason we're unable to host you as promised, including travel restrictions or the region becoming unsafe for travel, we'll refund everything you've paid. Your payments are held in a separate account and are never spent on anything else before your stay.
If your plans change: your deposit isn't refundable, but it is transferable. You're welcome to give or sell your place to someone else. With Luxor sold out, that's rarely hard. Until 1 April 2027, we'll refund anything you've paid beyond the deposit. After 1 April, payments can't be refunded unless your place is filled.
Travel insurance with cancellation cover is required. It protects you if illness or life gets in the way.
Questions under the sun
-
Very. Luxor in August is often above 40°C (104°F). We plan around it: sites at dawn, long rests at midday, evenings outdoors. Sakeena House and our transport are air-conditioned. Some places, like our favorite café, are not. That's part of real Egypt, and evenings there are lovely.Very. Luxor in August is often above 40°C (104°F). We plan around it: sites at dawn, long rests at midday, evenings outdoors, and a plunge pool waiting at home. Sakeena House and our transport are air-conditioned. Some places, like our favorite café, are not. That's part of real Egypt, and evenings there are lovely.
-
At 13:05 the sun is almost straight overhead, so the temples won't frame it. They'll be crowded, hot and hard to leave. On our roof you can lie back on a lounger and look straight up, see the whole horizon glow, and walk downstairs to cold drinks and air conditioning afterwards. You'll see the temples at their best, at dawn and after dark.
-
Luxor in August has some of the most reliably clear skies on earth, which is part of why eclipse chasers are coming from all over the world. We can't control the sky, so we can't refund for weather, but the odds are very much in your favor, and the week is a beautiful journey either way.
-
With the certified eclipse glasses we provide, yes. Mostafa will tell you exactly when it's safe to take them off for totality, and when to put them back on.
-
Gently active. Temples and tombs mean walking on uneven ground, sometimes with steps and slopes, almost always in the cool of the early morning. At Sakeena House there's one flight of stairs up to the rooftop, and three small steps inside the Sakeena Apartment. If you have any mobility needs, tell us on your discovery call and we'll shape the week around you.
-
Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, allergies or anything else, just tell us on your discovery call and we'll plan every meal around you. Egyptian food is naturally full of fresh vegetables, beans, herbs and warm bread, so there's always something wonderful to eat.
-
Because this isn't a hotel room. Luxor is sold out for eclipse week, and this is a private journey for just six guests: six nights in our home, an Egyptologist by your side all week, every meal, ticket, transfer and boat included, the tomb of Nefertari, and a private rooftop for the eclipse itself. No crowds and no hidden costs.
-
Yes, and please book as soon as you reserve. Flights for eclipse week are filling quickly.
Sometimes you can fly straight into Luxor from abroad. If the price is right and you're not adding an extension, that's the easiest way to arrive.
More often those flights are expensive or unavailable, so we usually recommend a round-trip international flight to Cairo, then a quick domestic flight to and from Luxor (one-way or round-trip, whichever is cheaper). Our airport representative will meet you at Cairo International and guide you through to your Luxor flight.
Adding an extension? (Why come all this way and miss the pyramids?) Then you simply fly home from your last stop. After the eclipse, we'll get you from Luxor to Cairo by overnight train or a short flight.
Nervous about booking? Once your deposit is in, we're happy to hop on a Zoom call with you. Share your screen, and we'll book your flights together, step by step.
-
Yes, and it's simple. For US citizens, the visa is $30, paid at the airport when you land, in US cash only. Please bring exact US dollars with you; cards aren't accepted for it. If you travel on another passport, ask us and we'll confirm what you need. Rules can change, so we'll send you the current details when you book.
-
Because this is a big investment, for you and for us, and life happens. We've promised to refund you in full if we can't host you. Travel insurance protects you for everything else: an illness before you fly, a family emergency, a missed connection, or a medical need while you're away.
Never bought travel insurance before? You're not alone, and it's simpler than it sounds. Comparison sites like Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip let you compare many plans side by side in a few minutes. Look for trip cancellation that covers your full trip cost, and medical coverage that includes emergency evacuation. For the most flexibility, add the "Cancel For Any Reason" upgrade. It usually has to be bought within a few weeks of your first payment, so it's best to arrange it right after you reserve. We don't sell insurance or earn anything from these sites; they're simply where we'd start. We'll send you a short guide when you book.
-
Yes. We'd love to design a private extension after the eclipse, in Cairo, Aswan, on a Nile cruise or in the desert. Ask us when you reserve.
-
Absolutely. Solo travelers are very welcome, and you'll be cared for every step of the way. The Fatima Suite can be booked by one guest at the same price. Or bring someone you love: the Suite welcomes two, and the Sakeena Apartment up to four, perfect for a partner, friends or family.
-
Sakeena House welcomes guests 16 and over. Teens traveling with their mothers or grandmothers are very welcome.
-
Yes: two Siamese cats, Cobra and Hamsa, who are very much part of the family. The Fatima Suite is always cat-free. If you have a cat allergy, let us know on your discovery call and we'll talk it through.
-
Light, loose, breathable clothes that cover your shoulders and knees for the temples, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes and a swimsuit for the plunge pool. We'll send you a full packing list when you book.
-
We live here, and we watch the news as closely as you do. If travel becomes unsafe, we'll refund you in full (see Our promise to you).
Stay in our orbit.
We may open a few more rooms at Sakeena House for eclipse week, and places sometimes become available. Join our Egypt Circle below and you'll be the first to hear, along with stories and photos from our life on the West Bank.