The Leo Eclipse: A Journey Through the Ancient Wonders of Egypt

Our time in Luxor will centre around the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027, with our group travelling together to a beautiful viewing location on the West Bank. Rather than joining a large commercial event, we’ll have a more intimate local setup arranged for us, with a traditional Egyptian picnic, refreshments, shade and a spectacular open view while we watch the eclipse unfold over the ancient landscape. After totality, we’ll continue into Luxor for a guided visit to Karnak, including the Precinct of Mut, the great mother goddess of ancient Thebes. Mut was associated with motherhood, protection, queenship and feminine power, making her a perfect continuation of the goddess theme that begins with Isis in Aswan. From there, we’ll head to the Nile for a private sunset dinner cruise, giving us time to relax after the eclipse and watch the light change over Luxor from the water. We’re aiming for something smaller, more intimate and traditional rather than a large commercial cruise, with dinner served onboard and the Nile as the backdrop. At the end of the evening, private transport will take us directly to Luxor Railway Station, where we’ll board the overnight sleeper train to Cairo.

Day 1 – Arrive in Cairo, Poolside Mashawi & an Egyptian Tea Evening After travelling overnight from Luxor on the sleeper train, we’ll arrive in Cairo early in the morning and take our private transfer to our villa in Giza. We’ll settle into the villa, unwind, swim and enjoy a long, relaxed Egyptian mashawi barbecue lunch together — a generous mixed-grill feast of kofta, grilled meats, fresh salads, flatbreads, dips and plenty to share. The afternoon is completely free to relax by the pool, nap, chat or simply enjoy the house. Then in the evening, we’ll settle in for a wonderfully atmospheric traditional Egyptian tea and shisha evening. Think low, relaxed seating, small glasses of sweet black tea and fresh mint tea, karkadeh hibiscus tea, bowls of dates, nuts, seeds, fresh fruit and little Egyptian sweets and pastries to nibble on while we talk and unwind. A local star map astrology practitioner & an Traditional Henna Artist will join us privately at our accommodation, where we’ll enjoy Egyptian tea, receive delicate henna designs and take part in personalised astrology readings focused on the 2027 total solar eclipse — where the eclipse falls in each of our personal charts, what areas of life it may illuminate or shift, and how we can use that insight to feel more empowered and intentional in the years ahead. It’s the perfect first Cairo evening — relaxed, social, traditionally Egyptian and completely connected to the magic of the eclipse. Day 2 – Markets, Camel Safari & Perfume Workshop We’ll start the morning early, before the heat builds, exploring Cairo’s colourful markets and bazaars. There’ll be plenty of time to browse Egyptian jewellery, spices, lanterns, souvenirs and traditional clothing, and everyone will have the opportunity to choose a beautiful piece of traditional Egyptian cotton headwear to take home. From the markets, we’ll head out into the Giza desert for a proper camel safari, spending around one to two hours riding through the desert landscape before stopping for a traditional Egyptian picnic in a beautiful desert setting. Afterwards, we’ll head back to the villa for a relaxed barbecue evening, with plenty of time to unwind by the pool, followed by our private perfume workshop, where we’ll discover the oils and fragrances Egypt has been famous for for thousands of years and create or choose a special scent to take home. Day 4 – Pyramids, Sphinx, Saqqara, Memphis & a Very Special Final Dinner Today is our huge ancient-Egypt day. We’ll set out on a full guided tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, before continuing on to Saqqara and Memphis to explore even more of Egypt’s extraordinary ancient history. Lunch is included during the tour, so we can settle in and enjoy the full day without rushing. Then, after returning to the villa to freshen up, we’ll finish the day with something really special — a dinner overlooking the pyramids, with traditional belly dancers hired especially for our group. It’s the perfect finale to our Cairo adventure: ancient wonders by day, and one unforgettable Egyptian evening beneath the pyramids by night.