3 AUGUST · LUXOR
Sunrise hot-air balloon
Rise before dawn for a private flight over the West Bank, Valley of the Kings and Nile Valley. Subject to weather and operating conditions.
YACHTZOO · BESPOKE CHARTER
A private river journey timed around totality.
Eight days through Upper Egypt, combining the Nile, ancient temples, Nubian culture, private experiences and the extraordinary total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027.
The route
Aswan → Kom Ombo → Edfu → Esna → Luxor → Esna → Edfu → Kom Ombo → Aswan
The route is designed around remaining in Luxor for eclipse day before beginning the southbound return.
The journey
Core programme · optional experiences can be added around the yacht's schedule
30 JULY · ASWAN
Welcome to luxury on the Nile.
Arrive in Aswan, step aboard STORIA and settle into your private home on the Nile. Then choose how you want the adventure to begin — with an afternoon built around your mood.
GO BIG
Desert 4x4 + quad
Head into the desert beyond Aswan by private 4x4, with a quad-bike session across the dunes and rocky landscape before sunset.
TAKE IT SLOW
Sunset felucca
Drift around Elephantine Island and the islands of Aswan by traditional felucca, watching the light fall over the Nile before returning to STORIA.
Arrival dayNo cruising — embarkation and overnight in Aswan. Activities subject to local operator, weather and timing.
31 JULY
North along the Nile
A leisurely first day afloat, with Nubian culture and river time. Cruise north towards Kom Ombo and Edfu, with temple visits incorporated around the yacht's sailing schedule.
HIGH ENERGY
Guided Nile kayak
Get close to the river’s quieter edges by kayak with a local guide, arranged around safe conditions and the yacht’s navigation plan.
TAKE IT SLOW
Temple & river day
Explore Kom Ombo at an unhurried pace, then return to STORIA for a long lunch, pool time and a relaxed afternoon under sail.
Cruising / timingAswan → Kom Ombo ≈ 3 hrs; Kom Ombo → Edfu ≈ 4 hrs. Indicative only.
STORIA · YOUR PRIVATE HOME ON THE NILE
Between the temples, the yacht becomes the destination.
Six cabins plus two suites, Nile views, a plunge pool, spa, gym, lounges and three passenger decks beneath 22-metre sails.
YACHTZOO · A BREED APART
1 AUGUST
Luxor
Continue north through Esna towards Luxor. Temple visits and a candlelit opening evening set the scene for tomorrow's eclipse.
HIGH ENERGY
Desert quad safari
Head out beyond Luxor for a private quad-bike ride across desert tracks and the Theban hills, timed to return before the evening programme.
TAKE IT SLOW
Temples at your pace
Choose a private, guide-led visit to Luxor’s temples, then enjoy a candlelit evening and dinner back aboard STORIA.
Cruising / timingEdfu → Esna → Luxor ≈ 5–7 hrs, allowing for the Esna lock and navigation schedule.
2 AUGUST 2027 · LUXOR
Totality & Eclipse Night
Remain in Luxor for the centrepiece of the journey: the total solar eclipse. Keep the day deliberately light so guests can focus on the event, then return aboard for an Egyptian feast, music and celebration into the night.
First contact≈ 11:40
Totality begins≈ 13:02
Maximum≈ 13:05
Totality ends≈ 13:08
HIGH ENERGY · EARLY ONLY
West Bank sunrise ride
For guests keen to move, arrange a short guided early-morning ride or active walk before the day’s heat, returning with plenty of time to prepare for totality. Keep the main part of eclipse day deliberately light.
TAKE IT SLOW
Unhurried brunch & eclipse preparation
Enjoy brunch aboard, prepare photography equipment and settle into the planned viewing location. Keep the hours around totality free of competing activities.
AFTER TOTALITY · BACK ABOARD STORIA
Return to the privacy of STORIA.
After more than six minutes of totality, the wider Eclipse Gathering continues into the evening — then the group returns to its own private deck, dining and music on the Nile.
YOUR YACHT. YOUR PEOPLE.
3 AUGUST
The West Bank
Brunch and time to connect aboard. Visit Hatshepsut's Temple, with optional hot-air ballooning, then begin the journey south again.
HIGH ENERGY
Balloon or horseback
Choose a sunrise balloon flight over the West Bank or a guided horseback ride through the rural landscape, subject to weather and operator confirmation.
TAKE IT SLOW
West Bank by private guide
Visit Hatshepsut’s Temple and selected West Bank sites with a private guide, with time for brunch and a slower return to the yacht.
Cruising / timingLuxor → Esna ≈ 4–5 hrs. Indicative only; overnight position subject to the yacht's preferred anchorage.
4 AUGUST
Edfu & Kom Ombo
A relaxed southbound day, returning through Edfu and Kom Ombo. Temple visits are balanced with unhurried time on the river and aboard.
HIGH ENERGY
Gebel el-Silsila exploration
Go ashore for an active guided exploration of the sandstone quarries, cliff paths and rock-cut sites at Gebel el-Silsila, if navigation and access allow.
TAKE IT SLOW
Edfu & river lounging
Visit Edfu with a private guide, then spend the rest of the day on deck, enjoying the river and the comfort of STORIA.
Cruising / timingEsna → Edfu ≈ 4–5 hrs; Edfu → Kom Ombo ≈ 4 hrs. Indicative only.
5 AUGUST
Aswan
Return to Aswan for Philae and time to explore. Abu Simbel can be arranged separately, subject to flight or transfer logistics. Farewell dinner aboard.
HIGH ENERGY
Kayak or desert 4x4
Choose a guided paddle around Aswan’s islands or head inland for a private desert 4x4 and sandboarding experience, subject to local arrangements.
TAKE IT SLOW
Philae & Nubian culture
Visit Philae with a private guide, then enjoy a gentle felucca ride or a relaxed Nubian cultural experience before farewell dinner.
Cruising / timingKom Ombo → Aswan ≈ 3 hrs. Indicative only.
5 AUGUST · ASWAN
End the journey slowly.
After the final excursions, come back to STORIA for the river, the sunset and a farewell dinner aboard — with the option to continue on to Giza or the Red Sea.
PRIVATE CHARTER · 7 NIGHTS · 18 GUESTS
6 AUGUST
Disembarkation
Breakfast aboard followed by onward transfers, or continue to Cairo and Giza for a final Egyptian extension.
HIGH ENERGY
Sunrise paddle (if timing allows)
For guests with a later transfer, arrange a short guided early-morning paddle on the Nile before breakfast and disembarkation.
TAKE IT SLOW
One last Nile breakfast
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast aboard, take in the river one final time and depart by private transfer for the airport or onward extension.
Cruising / timingNo cruising — disembarkation and onward travel.
Adventure & experiences
Optional excursions to layer into the core programme — every day offers a high-energy route and a slower alternative
3 AUGUST · LUXOR
West Bank horseback riding
An active alternative to a conventional sightseeing transfer, riding through the rural West Bank and desert edge.
1 AUGUST · LUXOR
Sunset quad safari
Head into the desert beyond Luxor for an exhilarating late-afternoon quad experience, subject to local operating conditions.
5 AUGUST · ASWAN
Private Nile kayaking
Paddle around Aswan's islands and quieter reaches of the river with a private guide and safety equipment.
5 AUGUST · ASWAN
Desert 4x4 & sandboarding
Leave the river briefly for an off-road desert adventure combining 4x4 access and sandboarding on the dunes.
5 AUGUST · ASWAN
Camel & Nubian desert experience
Cross the Nubian desert by camel with a local guide, combining the landscape with a glimpse into Nubian culture.
3 AUGUST · LUXOR
West Bank bike / e-bike circuit
Ride the quieter West Bank routes between fields, villages and ancient sites, with a private guide and the option to use e-bikes.
4 AUGUST · GEBEL EL-SILSILA
Quarry & cliff exploration
Go ashore at the sandstone quarries of Gebel el-Silsila for an active exploration of the cliffs, rock-cut chapels and ancient quarry landscape.
1 AUGUST · LUXOR
Mountain quad safari
Take the quads beyond the sightseeing circuit into the desert and Theban hills, with sunrise or sunset departures for a more adrenaline-led outing.
More extreme options if you extend to the Red Sea
El Gouna can add a dedicated watersports chapter before or after the Nile
Kitesurfing & wing foilingFlat-water lagoon sessions with professional centres and equipment.
WindsurfingWind-powered sessions in the same summer conditions.
WakeboardingA no-wind alternative when the afternoon breeze drops.
Scuba diving & snorkellingRed Sea reefs and offshore sites reached by boat.
Speedboat & high-speed water timePrivate boat outings around the lagoons and coast.
Desert 4x4 & quad safariOff-road desert terrain immediately beyond the Red Sea coast.
Planning notes
- Cruising times are indicative planning estimates, not vessel-specific navigation timings. Actual passage times depend on yacht speed, river traffic, lock schedules, berthing and local navigation restrictions.
- Your programme can be tailored around the group, with the preferred experiences arranged in advance and fine-tuned to local conditions, weather and the yacht’s navigation schedule.
- Abu Simbel is shown as an optional arrangement from Aswan and should be confirmed separately according to preferred road or air logistics.