Astrotourism is gaining traction among older travellers, with two new Egypt tours set to take Australians to Luxor for the total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027.
Designed for travellers aged 50 and over, the nine day itineraries combine Egypt’s headline attractions with a front row seat to what is being billed as the longest total solar eclipse visible from land until 2114. In Luxor, totality is expected to last more than six minutes.
Both tours begin in Cairo and include visits to the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids and the Sphinx before continuing south by overnight sleeper train to Aswan. From there, guests visit Philae Temple, sail the Nile in a traditional felucca and continue north to Luxor, stopping at sites including Kom Ombo, Esna, the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut. Karnak Temple is also included on the morning of the eclipse.
Travellers will watch the eclipse from a private viewing site in the Luxor countryside, with Wiradjuri astrophysicist Dr Kirsten Banks joining both departures alongside an Egyptologist guide. Specialist equipment and certified eclipse glasses will be provided.
The two itineraries differ in style and scale. The Great Bucket List Adventure caters for up to 42 travellers and is priced from US$9,882 per person twin share, while The Boutique Adventure is limited to 12 guests and starts from US$12,265 per person twin share. Both depart on 27 July 2027 and run for nine days.
Justin Kelaher, general manager at Magnificent Explorers, said the tours were designed to combine cultural discovery with a rare astronomical event. Dr Banks said the Luxor eclipse offered a particularly compelling reason to travel, with a period of totality far longer than most eclipse experiences.
The launch also reflects growing demand for eclipse focused travel, with the operator noting increased interest in astrotourism among guests in their 60s and 70s.
