2 August 2027
Three worlds of Egypt in one journey
Experience three completely different worlds of Egypt in one extraordinary journey: the Mediterranean coast, the Western Desert and the Nile Valley.
Begin among the Pyramids and treasures of Cairo, travel by overnight train to Marsa Matrouh and venture into Siwa for the Total Solar Eclipse of 2 August 2027. Explore Alexandria before returning to Cairo — but the journey doesn't end there. Continue aboard the Elite Sleeper Train to Aswan, visit Philae Temple and embark on Q-Nile for a leisurely cruise north through Kom Ombo, Edfu and Esna to Luxor.
Ancient wonders, desert landscapes, Mediterranean shores and the timeless Nile, all built around one of nature's greatest spectacles.
Before you read on
Why this journey works
You travel while you sleep
Three overnight sleeper trains cover the long distances, so your days stay with the temples, the desert and the river.
Your Siwa home is our own farm
Two nights in luxury comfort tents on our own 40-acre desert farm, away from the lights of town.
The hard parts are settled
Train cabins, Q-Nile cabins and the eclipse viewing arrangements are reserved months ahead.
Totality without giving up Cairo, Alexandria and the Nile — read on to see if it is yours.
Day by day
Itinerary
Day 1 · July 29, 2027
—
Welcome to Cairo
On arrival at Cairo International Airport, meet our representative and transfer to your 4-star hotel. Check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Accommodation: Hilton Ramses or Hilton Pyramids, or similar (Bed & Breakfast).
Day 2 · July 30
B · D
Pyramids, Grand Egyptian Museum & the Night Train West
With your Egyptologist, visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx, then discover the treasures of the Grand Egyptian Museum. In the evening, board the overnight sleeper train towards Marsa Matrouh, with dinner aboard. Overnight on board.
Day 3 · July 31
B
Marsa Matrouh — Egypt's Mediterranean Escape
Breakfast aboard before arriving in Marsa Matrouh, where the desert meets brilliant blue Mediterranean waters. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy an unhurried day by the sea. Accommodation: Hostmark Hotel or similar (Bed & Breakfast).
Day 4 · August 1
B · D
Into the Western Desert — The Road to Siwa
Cross the vast landscapes of the Western Desert to Siwa. Explore the atmospheric remains of Shali Fortress, the historic heart of the oasis, then settle into your luxury tent at our own private 40-acre farm in the Siwa desert, 20 minutes from Siwa town, for dinner. Accommodation: luxury comfort tent at a private desert farm in Siwa (Half Board).
Day 5 · August 2
B · D
Total Solar Eclipse — Siwa
No transfer and no crowds today — totality is watched from the farm itself. Step out of your luxury tent as the light changes and the temperature falls, and experience totality over the Western Desert with no noise and no city lights. Dinner is served at the farm, followed by a walk through Siwa market by night.
Day 6 · August 3
B
Desert Sunrise Safari — Siwa to Alexandria
Wake early for a sunrise safari in the desert around Siwa, visiting highlights of the oasis including Cleopatra's Path and the salt lake, with breakfast in the desert served with Bedouin tea and freshly roasted coffee, then return for breakfast. Travel north-east to Alexandria, the city founded by Alexander the Great, and enjoy the evening at leisure. Accommodation: Helnan Hotel Alexandria or similar (Bed & Breakfast).
Day 7 · August 4
B
Alexandria Highlights — Evening Train to Cairo
Explore Alexandria with your guide, visiting the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar, Qaitbay Citadel and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. In the evening, board the train to Cairo and transfer to your hotel. Accommodation: Hilton Ramses or Hilton Pyramids, or similar (Bed & Breakfast).
Day 8 · August 5
B · D
Old Cairo & Khan El Khalili — Then South by Sleeper Train
Enjoy another day discovering Cairo, including the historic quarters of Old Cairo and the atmospheric lanes and bazaars of Khan El Khalili. In the evening, transfer to the railway station and board the Elite Sleeper Train to Aswan. Settle into your cabin and enjoy dinner aboard as the train travels south through the Nile Valley. Accommodation: Elite Sleeper Train.
Day 9 · August 6
B · L · D
Welcome to Aswan — Board Q-Nile
Enjoy breakfast aboard before arriving in Aswan. Meet your guide and visit spectacular Philae Temple, dramatically located on an island in the Nile. After sightseeing, transfer to Q-Nile and embark on your Nile cruise. Enjoy lunch and time to settle into your cabin before dinner and your first night aboard. Accommodation: Q-Nile — Nile Deck Cabin. Overnight: Aswan.
Day 10 · August 7
B · L · D
Abu Simbel or a Relaxed Morning in Aswan
Choose an optional early excursion to the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel, created by Ramses II (USD 200 per person), or enjoy a more leisurely morning in Aswan. Later, experience a traditional felucca sail and visit a Nubian village. Return to Q-Nile and begin sailing north towards Kom Ombo, enjoying the changing landscapes from the deck. Accommodation: Q-Nile — Nile Deck Cabin. Overnight: Kom Ombo.
Day 11 · August 8
B · L · D
Edfu & the Nile to Esna
Continue sailing north through Upper Egypt. Visit Edfu Temple, one of Egypt's best-preserved ancient temples, dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Return to Q-Nile and continue towards Esna, watching villages, farmland and palm groves slowly pass from the deck. Accommodation: Q-Nile — Nile Deck Cabin. Overnight: Esna.
Day 12 · August 9
B · L · D
Arrive in Luxor — Karnak & Luxor Temples
Sail towards Luxor, the extraordinary ancient city once known as Thebes. Explore the immense Karnak Temple Complex before continuing to elegant Luxor Temple. Return to Q-Nile for your final evening aboard. Accommodation: Q-Nile — Nile Deck Cabin. Overnight: Luxor.
Day 13 · August 10
B · D
The West Bank — Then Sleeper Train to Cairo
After an early breakfast, disembark Q-Nile and cross to Luxor's legendary West Bank. Discover the Valley of the Kings and the magnificent Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Complete your West Bank experience before returning to Luxor. In the evening, board the Elite Sleeper Train to Cairo and enjoy dinner as you travel north overnight. Accommodation: Elite Sleeper Train.
Day 14 · August 11
B
Back to Cairo — Your Day, Your Way
Enjoy breakfast aboard before arriving in Cairo. Meet our representative and transfer to your 5-star Cairo hotel. The remainder of the day is free: relax, return to your favourite part of Cairo or enjoy some last-minute shopping. Accommodation: Hilton Cairo 5★ or similar (Bed & Breakfast).
Day 15 · August 12
B
Farewell Egypt
Enjoy your final breakfast in Cairo. At the appropriate time, transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure flight. From the Pyramids to the Mediterranean, from Siwa and totality to the temples and landscapes of the Nile, this has been far more than a conventional tour of Egypt.
Where you stay
Accommodation
- 2 nights at Hilton Ramses or Hilton Pyramids, or similar (Bed & Breakfast)
- 1 night at Hilton Cairo 5★ or similar (Bed & Breakfast)
- 1 night at Hostmark Hotel Marsa Matrouh or similar (Bed & Breakfast)
- 2 nights glamping in luxury comfort tents at our own private 40-acre farm in the Siwa desert, 20 minutes from Siwa town (Half Board) — each tent with a private bathroom, air conditioning, minibar and a comfort bed
- 1 night at Helnan Hotel Alexandria or similar (Bed & Breakfast)
- 3 nights aboard sleeper trains: Cairo–Marsa Matrouh, Cairo–Aswan and Luxor–Cairo
- 4 nights aboard Q-Nile in a Nile Deck Cabin (Full Board), 6–10 August 2027
What's inside
Inclusions
What's Included
- 14 nights' accommodation and overnight transportation as detailed in the itinerary
- Cairo hotels as specified, including the final 5★ Hilton Hotel or similar
- Hostmark Hotel Marsa Matrouh and Helnan Hotel Alexandria or similar
- Glamping at our own private 40-acre farm in the Siwa desert, with high-end breakfast and dinner prepared by our five-star Q Hospitality chefs
- Cairo–Marsa Matrouh overnight sleeper train and Alexandria–Cairo evening train
- Elite Sleeper Train Cairo–Aswan and Luxor–Cairo
- Dinner and breakfast aboard sleeper trains, reserved and included in your fare
- 4 nights aboard Q-Nile in a Nile Deck Cabin on Full Board
- All airport, railway station, hotel and cruise transfers required by the itinerary
- Private air-conditioned transportation for road sectors
- Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum
- Siwa sightseeing including Shali Fortress and a Desert Sunrise Safari
- Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Event in Siwa on 2 August 2027
- Alexandria sightseeing, Old Cairo and Khan El Khalili Bazaar
- Philae Temple, traditional felucca experience and Nubian village visit
- Edfu Temple, Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple
- Luxor West Bank sightseeing: Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut
- Entrance fees for sightseeing specifically listed in the programme
- Professional English-speaking guides/Egyptologists during included sightseeing
- Local assistance throughout the journey
Not Included
- International flights and Egypt entry visa
- Travel, medical and cancellation insurance
- Optional Abu Simbel excursion — USD 200 per person
- Meals not specifically mentioned as included
- Drinks and beverages unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions, activities and cabin upgrades
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses, laundry, telephone calls and minibar
- Any service not specifically mentioned under What's Included
Rates per person
Prices & payment schedule
| Category | Double | Single |
|---|---|---|
| Nile Deck Cabin | USD 6,990 | On request |
| Main Deck Twin Cabin with Window Seat | USD 7,490 | On request |
| Main Deck Queen Cabin with Private Veranda | USD 7,990 | On request |
| Upper Deck Suite with Captain's Lounge Access | USD 8,990 | On request |
Payment schedule: 30% of the total package price due on confirmation, 30% due by 5 February 2027 and the remaining 40% due by 5 March 2027. All payments are non-refundable once made, in accordance with the 2027 Eclipse Programme terms.
Book this Eclipse Journey
29 July – 12 August 2027
Travel Trade Booking
For travel agents and tour operators
All bookings are subject to availability and confirmation.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Grand Eclipse Express — Siwa & Q Nile Cruise cost?
- The 15-day / 14-night journey runs 29 July–12 August 2027 and starts at USD 6,990 per person sharing a double/twin room and a Nile Deck Cabin aboard Q-Nile. Main Deck Twin with Window Seat costs an additional USD 500 per person; Main Deck Queen with Private Veranda USD 1,000; Upper Deck Suite with private access to the Captain's Lounge USD 2,000. Single-occupancy pricing is on request.
- Why stay in a luxury camp in Siwa?
- Your home for the Siwa nights is our own private farm of 40 acres in the desert, where we build a luxury camp with every comfort: a spacious tent with a comfort bed, air conditioning and a private bathroom. It is a haven created for eclipse travellers and star lovers. The farm lies 20 minutes from Siwa town, with open desert between us and the oasis, so the last of the city lights falls well behind the horizon. This is where you stay for the whole Siwa section of the journey — watching the total eclipse on 2 August and thousands of stars every night. Our own five-star chefs, from our Q Hospitality team, cook for you throughout the stay, bringing fine dining to the desert. A paradise of the stars, prepared especially for you.
- Why do we travel by sleeper train for this eclipse journey?
- Eclipse week puts tens of thousands of visitors on the same date in the same country, so flights and road transfers become crowded and unpredictable. The regional airports closest to totality are small, with only a handful of flights a day, so one delayed inbound can push your arrival hours late — and when those flights are full or cancelled, the fallback is landing at a larger airport and driving several hours to reach the centreline. The sleeper train avoids all of that: you board in the city, your bags stay with you, and you sleep through the distance — Cairo to Marsa Matrouh, Alexandria back to Cairo, and Cairo to Aswan and home — waking at your next stop. Rail capacity is reserved months ahead and the schedules are fixed, which is what lets us position you for totality in Siwa on 2 August and then for the Nile cruise. It is also the most Egyptian way to travel: dinner and breakfast served aboard, the Nile Valley sliding past at dusk, and the option of fine dining in the VIP Club Car.
- Where will we watch the eclipse?
- From the same place you stay — from the comfort of your own luxury tent on our private desert farm in Siwa. There are no transfers, no crowds, no noise and no city lights: you step out of your tent and totality is overhead, with the sky clear for the eclipse and for the stars every night. Visibility depends on weather conditions.
- When do we embark and disembark Q-Nile?
- Embark in Aswan on 6 August 2027 and disembark in Luxor on 10 August after four nights aboard. Full Board is included during the cruise. The journey continues by overnight sleeper train to Cairo.
- Are the rail services and accommodation guaranteed?
- Yes — everything is reserved and paid in advance. Your sleeper train cabin, every hotel night and your Q-Nile cabin are all secured and settled before you travel, so nothing is left to be arranged after you book. The 2027 rail allocation and cabin categories are already held, your onboard meals are included in the fare, and your Siwa home is our own desert farm. Only the order and timing of individual visits may shift on the day for opening hours or local conditions; the journey itself stays exactly as planned.