Witness a Total Solar Eclipse From the Nile River and Snorkel the Beautiful Reefs of the Red Sea
July 30 – August 12, 2027
This once in a lifetime Egypt Snorkeling and Solar Eclipse trip combines incredible resort based snorkeling in the Red Sea with a Nile River Cruise during the total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027.
During the liveaboard cruise you will explore many of the iconic sites of ancient Egypt from a luxury Dahabiya, a traditional barge-style boat with sails used for touring the Nile. In addition to unobstructed views of the solar eclipse from the middle of the river, you will explore temples, like Luxor, Karnak, and Hatshepsut, the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and so much more.
Then you will be transferred to the charming seaside Marsa Shagra resort for snorkeling both the massive and vibrant house reef, and nearby sites where you might snorkel with dolphins and dugongs. You will also spend an evening in the desert, star gazing after meeting members of a Bedouin community.
This 13 day trip is being run by our partner and friend Ben and his team. Based in the U.K., they are experts at running amazing excursions, and have a great appreciation for the underwater world. Your group of 14 snorkelers will be accompanied by a guide from Ben’s team for the entire trip who has spent many years working in Egypt, and is also an underwater photography pro.
Watch This Video for a Preview of the Snorkeling You Can Expect
The Egypt Snorkeling and Solar Eclipse Trip Itinerary and Map
Egypt is in northeastern Africa, with the Red Sea forming much of its eastern border. The Nile River runs south to north in the eastern half of the country.
This tour starts at Cairo International Airport. After arrival, you will be transferred to a nearby hotel where you will meet and have dinner with your guide and group. You will spend the night there and fly with the group the next morning to Luxor Airport. In Luxor you will be met by staff from the Merit II Dahabiya Liveaboard and transferred to the boat in the Nile River. You will spend five nights aboard the boat taking day tours of many ancient sites. At the end of your tour you will disembark the boat in Aswan.
A seven hour transfer in an air-conditioned bus will take you from Aswan to Marsa Shagra Village, where you will spend the next six nights. At the end of your stay you will be transferred to either the Marsa Alam or Hurghada Airport, whichever one offers the best flight schedule back to Cairo. Your group will fly together to Cairo, where the tour ends.
Nile Riverboat Cruise, Solar Eclipse, and Ancient Sites
Egypt is home to some of the oldest and most influential civilizations. The ancient history is etched into the red cliffs and dunes that border the mighty Nile River. You will explore the rich history of Egypt on a Nile Riverboat Cruise aboard the all-inclusive Merit II Dahabiya. A couple days into the tour, you will have unobstructed views of the Total Solar Eclipse on the 2nd of August.
Along with your personal Professional Egyptologist, you will have four and a half days touring many famous sites including:
- Luxor and Karnak Temples
- Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon
- Esna Lock and the Temple of Edfu
- El Ramaday Island
- Kom Ombo Temple
- Hor Diab Island
- Philae Temple and the High Dam
What Is the Merit II Dahabiya Like?
The Merit II Dahabiya is a luxurious 50-meter sailboat that sails the Nile River. There are eight fully furnished deluxe cabins, each with an individually controlled air-conditioning unit, mini bar, and openable panoramic window. Each cabin has a private bathroom with a hot and cold water shower.
Guests will enjoy excellent service from the crew. There are restaurants on the sundeck and indoors, a bar, and lovely reading lounge. The sundeck features ten sun beds as well as an open-air heated hot tub.
About Marsa Shagra Village Resort and Snorkeling
Marsa Shagra Village Resort is perfectly located to access some of the very best snorkeling available in the Red Sea, and you will have six nights there.
The resort has a vast house reef in a bay that is so large, and so interesting, that you will have two days of guided explorations of different parts of it.
You’ll have unlimited access to explore the house reef any time you choose, too. With a myriad of colorful damselfish and reef dwellers using the hard corals as shelter from larger predatory fish like trevally or jacks cruising up and down the reef walls, there is always something new to find.
It’s not uncommon to come across larger creatures, like resident sea turtles feasting on soft corals, giant moray eels, and blue-spotted rays digging for crustaceans or hanging out on the sandy patches between the coral bommies.
The resort does have tender boats that can drop you further along the house reef and then snorkel back to the resort, or, you can always just walk in from the beach.
In addition to exploring the house reef, your group will also have the exclusive use of the resort’s snorkeling boats, that you will use to visit some of the many fantastic reefs in the area.
There’s also a solid possibility of being taken to a spot where dolphins or dugongs have been seen as they are frequently in the area. Marsa Shagra is really adept at reacting quickly to changing situations, such as a pod of dolphins being spotted in a nearby bay, so it’s not unusual for the plan to suddenly alter because an exciting creature has decided to make an impromptu appearance in a bay somewhere.
On one of the nights, an organized excursion into the desert to see the night sky without any light pollution will be included.
Your room at Marsa Shagra will be a Deluxe Chalet, their finest rooms. These upscale rooms have everything you would expect with air-conditioning, a TV, safe, and large bathrooms. Each has a private terrace with views of the sea and mountains.
All meals are included, and are freshly prepared. They are served buffet style and dinners offer alternating cuisine theme nights. Dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten free, etc.) can be accommodated. The restaurant, pictured below, is an outdoor terrace with wonderful views in all directions.
There are snacks, tea, coffee, water, and bottled soft drinks always available. You are encouraged to bring your own water bottle to be refilled to help reduce plastic waste. Alcohol and other specialty items are not included.
Trip Details and How to Sign Up
These are small group charters and we expect them to fill quickly. Your spot is reserved with your deposit. Contact Ben below for deposit instructions.
Trip Date and Price:
July 30 – August 12, 2027 – Available.
$8850 US per person sharing (Deluxe Cabin on Merit II and Deluxe Chalet at Marsa Shagra)
The initial deposit for this trip is $800 US per person. At 12 months before departure there is a $600 US per person interim deposit, and at six months there is another $1000 US per person interim deposit. The final balance will be due three months before departure. A few payment options are available including debit and credit cards.
Individual travelers – Ben will happily find someone of the same sex for you to share a room with. If he cannot find you someone, no single supplement surcharge will apply.
Inclusions:
- All transfers: Cairo Airport to Cairo hotel, Luxor Airport – Merit II, Aswan – Marsa Shagra – Marsa Alam/Hurghada Airport
- 1 night Cairo hotel with dinner and breakfast
- Domestic flights: Cairo – Luxor and Marsa Alam/Hurghada – Cairo
- 5 nights Merit II Dahaibya Liveaboard Nile River Cruise with full board (all meals)
- Daily Nile excursions, with entrance fees to all sites between Luxor and Aswan, and an Egyptologist guide
- 6 nights Marsa Shagra Deluxe Chalet with full board (all meals)
- 2 days Marsa Shagra house reef snorkeling + 3 days boat snorkeling
- Star Gazing Tour from Marsa Shagra
Exclusions:
- International flights
- Alcoholic drinks, premium soft drinks
- Snorkel equipment rental
- Tips
- Travel and health insurance
Trip Organizers
Ben and his U.K. based team are the organizers and leaders of this trip (more about them below). Galen & Nicole from TropicalSnorkeling.com are promoting this trip, but all signups, trip organization and payments are made to and managed by Ben’s team. TropicalSnorkeling.com does receive a referral fee in exchange for promoting the trip, at no extra cost to attendees.
How to Sign Up or Learn More?
Use the contact form below to contact Ben and his team to request more information about them and express your interest in signing up. They will get back to you shortly with full details.
More About Ben and Our Partnership
Ben (pictured with Nicole) is our friend and snorkeling trips partner. He and his team are based in the U.K. and have over 20 years of experience guiding in Asia and beyond. He has been running his own business since 2010 and is primarily offering guided snorkeling trips, but he started with diving. He began offering snorkeling specific trips because he was aware that snorkelers often get the short end of the stick when thrown in with divers. He and his team love the freedom and low stress of snorkeling, and are very aware of the different needs of snorkelers versus divers, in terms of the reef depth, and calm surface conditions needed.
From our experience going on some of his snorkeling trips we found them very well organized, the guides were fantastic and very helpful, and the underwater experiences were exceptional. Snorkeling groups really get the benefit of all of Ben and his guides’ years of experience in the water, and with different resorts and liveaboards.
All of his trips are small groups of 12-18 guests, or with a similar ratio of snorkelers to guides. These are premium trips including nearly everything you will need, accommodation, meals, transportation, and more.
His company is licensed and insured. Barring extreme circumstances they do not cancel trips.