Valley of the Kings
Desert valley of royal tombs. Wide-open limestone ridges give an unobstructed 360° horizon for the shadow rush.
Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Why this one is special
- ◐6 minutes 23 seconds of totality — the longest land eclipse until 2114.
- ◐The Moon is near perigee and the Earth near aphelion, a rare double bonus.
- ◐The shadow crosses the Valley of the Kings, where the sun god Ra was worshipped.
- ◐Midday sun at 84° altitude means the corona sits almost straight overhead.
Where to watch it from
Wild, wide-horizon places inside or beside the path of totality.
Karnak Temple
Colossal columns that were aligned to the sun 3,000 years ago. Sunrise walks, then totality among the sandstone.
Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Aswan & the Nile
Felucca sailing between granite islands. Watch totality from the water with nothing but river and dunes around you.
Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Book Luxor
Nine questions, one moon-over-sun captcha, €26.08 holds your slot.