Where the eclipse is total and where it is partial
The eclipse of Monday 2 August 2027 is one of the longest of the century. The maximum length of totality in Egypt, about 6 min 22 s to 6 min 23 s, is reached about 60 km south-east of Luxor, according to NASA calculations as summarised by Wikipedia.
| Place | Type of eclipse | Length of totality | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxor | Total | about 6 min 22 s | Maximum around 13:05 local summer time (UTC+3) |
| Qena | Total | about 6 min 12 to 6 min 15 s | About 164 km from Hurghada |
| Hurghada | Partial, about 98.5% | none | Starts around 11:41, maximum 13:05, ends around 14:25; the corona stays invisible |
| Cairo | Partial, about 94.8% | none | Outside the totality path |
The Hurghada figures come from a French eclipse calculator and a second site that gives about 99%; both agree it is a partial eclipse. One tour-company page listed totality for Hurghada instead: we do not use it because it contradicts the astronomical calculations. Check the figures for your exact location on an eclipse site such as timeanddate.com before booking.
How to get from Hurghada to Luxor
- Bus or minibus: 4 to 6 hours, about 20 to 30 US dollars per person.
- Private transfer: about 4 hours, from 80 US dollars per vehicle.
- Details and comparison in Hurghada to Luxor, bus or transfer and Luxor or Cairo from Hurghada.
Do not make a same-day round trip: totality lasts about six minutes around 13:00, and a delay on the road would make you miss it. Sleep inside the totality path the night before, ideally in Luxor.
Book early
Luxor is the city tour operators cite most for this eclipse: rooms, tours and guides are likely to get scarce as the months pass. Book a hotel in Luxor now with free cancellation if possible, then a guide or tour for the day before and the day after (Karnak temples and the Valley of the Kings).
Protect your eyes
- You need glasses certified to ISO 12312-2, from the first to the last partial phase.
- Only during totality may you take them off; put them back as soon as the Sun reappears.
- Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a camera without a solar filter.
- Plan for shade, water and light clothes: the main challenge in Luxor in August is heat, with temperatures that can exceed 40 °C.
FAQ
Can you see totality from Hurghada? No, according to the calculations: Hurghada has a partial eclipse of about 98.5%.
What is the nearest city in totality? Qena, about 164 km away, then Luxor, about 210 km.
Is a day trip to Luxor enough? Risky: a delay on the road can make you miss the six minutes of totality. Sleep there the night before.
Read next
See also where to stay in Hurghada.
The Hurghada Authority editorial team, 29 October 2026.
