2027 Solar Eclipse Cruise (G2) Rhone River Cruise
with Egypt Nile Solar Eclipse Cruise! 24 day cruise/tour - July 29, 2027Information
2027 Longest Total Full Eclipse of the Sun
Longest Total Full Eclipse of the Sun in this Century
One of our great educators, Michael Wilcox, witnessed a total eclipse of the sun in April of 2024. It had such a profound impact on him that he immediately called our Fun For Less Tours owners. Michael told them he was so moved witnessing a full solar eclipse, he wanted to do it again in 2027. He asked if Fun For Less Tours could put together a tour that would include the Solar Eclipse in 2027 AND he wanted to be the educator. The 2027 Solar Eclipse will be the longest total Eclipse in this Century. It will be 84 years before there is another one that will be as long as the total Solar Eclipse in 2027.
Why Egypt is the BEST Place to Experience the 2027 Solar Eclipse
- The longest duration of the eclipse on August 2 will take place over Luxor Egypt.
- You need clear skies to witness a Solar Eclipse. When Michael went to Texas to experience the 2024 Solar Eclipse, he was met with rain and clouds. They drove several hours before finding an area clear enough to witness the eclipse. Because of the clouds and rain, most of those that went to Texas never had a chance to experience the solar eclipse. In July and August, Luxor, Egypt, receives virtually no rain, with average precipitation being 0 inches. Nothing is for sure, but at this time of year it would be EXTREMELY RARE to have clouds and rain in Luxor, Egypt.
Why Fun For Less Tours will deliver the BEST Solar Eclipse Experience
- Our owners have a very close friendship with a very influential family in Egypt. Through them they were able to make special arrangements not given to others.
- There have been more requests for hotel rooms that coincide with the solar eclipse than there are hotel rooms in Luxor! The same for the Nile cruise ships, there have been more requests for reservations than there are cabins on all the Nile cruise ships put together. With our connections we were able to move up the list of requests and secure the space we need for our passengers.
- We had choices: We could buy a 3 or 4-night Luxor hotel package OR we could buy a 3 or 4-night cruise on the Nile that would have the ship in Luxor the day of the Solar Eclipse. We chose a three night cruise down stream from Aswan to Luxor for group 1 and a four night cruise upstream from Luxor to Aswan for group 2. Both will be in Luxor on August 2 for the Solar Eclipse. Here is why we chose a cruise package instead of a hotel package.
- We decided the most important thing to consider: Where are our passengers going to stand to watch this special total eclipse. The location could make or break their experience.
- Staying in a Hotel:
- If you are staying in a hotel you will have to join the tens of thousands of others in the CROWDED streets of Luxor trying to find where you can have an unobstructed view between the tall hotels and buildings to witness the eclipse.
- Staying 3 to 4 days in Luxor, after visiting the Luxor sites and witnessing the eclipse, you will run out of things to do during the additional days you are in Luxor. Because you are on a 3 to 4 night package, staying in a hotel gives you little to do after you have seen the local sites in Luxor.
- Sailing on a Nile Cruise:
- No crowded streets or buildings to look through. You can experience the total eclipse from the spacious top deck of your cruise ship out and away from the tall buildings and huge crowds.
- You are not going to run out of things to do. In addition to the tours in Luxor and the solar eclipse, you will be sailing the Nile with new ports of call to explore.
- Getting Airfare is going to be a logistical nightmare!!
- With tens of thousands trying to get airfare between Cairo and Luxor, all near the same dates and times, it is going to be logistically impossible to fill the needs. The airlines are suggesting they won’t take groups but rather sell on a first come first serve basis, at much higher rates around these dates. With so many needing seats, the second they are open the flights will sell out. Few groups will be able to get all their passengers on the same flights, ending up instead having to drive the 10 hours each way between Cairo and Luxor.
- THAT WON’T BE US: As far as we know at this time, we are the only ones that have contracts in hand with deposits paid for our private chartered flights. We have chartered a jet to fly both of our groups into the Luxor area and back to Cairo. The jets are only for our group, there will only be our passengers on board.
- Educator: Dr. S. Michael Wilcox will spend time with both of our two groups.
- Group 1 will cruise with the Luxury AmaWaterways River Cruise in Europe before going to Egypt to experience the Solar Eclipse. Michael will be with Group 1 on the River cruise in Europe and with them in Egypt through to the end of the Nile Cruise. Group 2 will join group 1 on the ship in time to experience the Solar Eclipse. Then after the eclipse they will fly to Cairo and back home. Michael will stay on the ship to join group 2 after the solar eclipse.
- Group 2 will go first to Egypt. They will join group 1 on the ship for the Total Solar Eclipse. After the eclipse, group 1 will leave and group 2 will continue with their Nile cruise with Michael. Afterwards, they will head to Europe with Michael for their Amawaterways Cruise.
Witness the Solar Eclipse from a Luxury Nile Cruise Ship
Because of its location, Abu Simbel is rarely part of tours in Egypt. There are only a few flights that fly to Abu Simbel. The few that visit Abu Simbel, usually drive by bus for many hours each way. Because the drive takes all day by bus, very few tours ever include Abu Simbel. The few who get the opportunity to explore Abu Simbel always rate it at the top of the experiences they have had in Egypt. Both of our Groups will visit Abu Simbel. Group 1 will fly from Cairo on our private chartered Jet to Abu Simbel. Our private charted jet will wait just off the runway, while our group visits Abu Simbel. After our visit, the group will return to the airport reboard our private chartered jet that has waited for us and it will then fly us to Aswan where we will board our Nile Cruise ship. Group 2, after their Nile cruise will fly by private chartered jet to Abu Simbel, where our jet will again wait at the airport while group 2 tours. After, our private charted Jet will fly everyone to Cairo. Abu Simbel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Grand Egyptian Museum
The Grand Egyptian Museum nicknamed the GEM really is a GEM!! With over 5 million square feet, it has twice the area of the Louvre Museum and two and half times the size of the British Museum. It houses an unparalleled collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the complete treasures of King Tutankhamun. It has become one of the world’s largest and most prominent museums. It houses over 100,000 artifacts including 5,340 of King Tutankhamun’s treasures. It will fully open in late 2025. This will be a gigantic highlight and a huge part of our Solar Eclipse Egypt portion.
AMAWaterways European River Cruises
We have two groups experiencing the Longest Total Solar Eclipse in this Century along with a tour and cruise. In addition to Egypt and the Eclipse, both groups will be doing a land tour combined with a luxury Amawaterways cruise in Europe. AmaWaterways year after year after year has won the award as being the BEST cruise line in Europe, even surpassing Viking! Michael Wilcox will not only be in Egypt with both groups, he will also be with both groups during their AmaWaterways Cruise.
Rhone River Cruise Portion
Here are a FEW of the highlights:
- Two nights inside Carcassonne, the best medieval walled fortress in Europe.
- The Loire Valley, with its hundreds of stunning châteaux.
- Aries is often listed as the most beautiful city in France.
- Avignon: the “City of Popes”. In the 1300s, the headquarters for the Catholic Church was in Avignon, France. The massive, well-preserved Papal Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where the Popes lived.
- Enjoy an old-fashioned steam train through the lovely gorges of the Ardèche mountains.
- Lyon, with its old city and Roman Ruins, will be a highlight day.
- The Montserrat Monastery and cog wheel train will be another highlight.


Pricing
Package Price Includes:
A few highlights of our 24 Day Rhone River Cruise and Tour, combined with Egypt’s Total Solar Eclipse:
- In Europe: Sailing in 5-star luxury on the Rhone River – staying inside the picturesque walled city of Carcassonne, exploring the stunning Chateaux of the Loire Valley – the Pope’s Palace in Avignon, and so much more.
- In Egypt: The NEW Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo – Abu Simbel that few have the opportunity to see – Fly on our own chartered flights just for our group – Enjoy a 4 night luxury cruise on the Nile River AND most importantly – witness the Longest Full Solar Eclipse in this Century from the top of your Nile Cruise ship.
Note: Our Group 2 Rhone River Cruise & Tour is a combination of 3 separate package: Our Egypt and Nile Solar Eclipse package, PLUS our AmaWaterways Rhone River Cruise, Plus our special land tour package. Together they combine into on experience of a lifetime. Below is what is included in each package along with our combined total package price.
Here is what is INCLUDED in our Total Package:
- Egypt Solar Eclipse Portion of our Package Includes:
- 5 Nights 5-Star Luxury Hotel Cairo Egypt.
- 4 Night 5-Star Luxury Cruise on the Nile.
- All shore excursions on the Nile cruise.
- Total Solar Eclipse viewing from top of your Nile cruise ship in Luxor.
- 3 special PRIVATE Charter flights for only our group
- Cairo to Luxor.
- Aswan to Abu Simbel.
- Abu Simbel to Cairo.
- Solar Eclipse viewing from the top of the Nile cruise ship.
- Abu Simbel Temples.
- The Massive Grand Museum with all of King Tut’s treasures.
- All buses, Guides & Entrance fees in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Abu Simbel, Aswan and Cairo.
- Educator on your Nile Cruise: Michael Wilcox.
- Fun For Less Tours Staff throughout your time in Egypt.
- AmaWaterways Luxury Rhone River Cruise Package includes:
- 8 day 7 Night Cruise on 5-Star Luxury River Cruise ship.
- Cat D Cabin with large porthole window.
- NOTE: AmaWaterways gave us charter pricing for this sailing which saves $1,000 per person over what the ship normally charges for the same cabin. We were also able to get additional discounts when you upgrade to balcony cabins. The savings have been figured into our total package price.
- $280 in ship taxes.
- All Shore Excursions.
- Castles Visited from the ship: Lahneck Castle, Cochem Castle and 40 castles seen from the ship during the Rhine Gorge sailing.
- Three quality meals each day while on the ship.
- Free internet and free movies.
- All bicycles on board are free to use.
- Use of quality headset receivers.
- Unlimited bottle water.
- Michael Wilcox will be your educator on your River Cruise.
- Fun For Less Tours Staff.
- Option to upgrade to French sliding glass door balcony or double balcony.
- Our special land Package Includes:
- 3 Nights 4-Star Deluxe Hotel Loire Valley, France.
- 1 Night 4-Star Deluxe Hotel Lyon, France.
- 2 Nights 4-Star Deluxe Hotel Walled City of Carcassonne, France.
- Many stunning Chateaux in the Loire Valley.
- Our favorite Medieval walled City to stay inside – Carcassonne.
- All buses, guides and entrance fees throughout your land tour.
- Fun For Less Tours staff throughout.
- Michael will meet the group on the Nile Cruise at the start of the Solar Eclipse and will stay with the group through the Nile, Loire Valley, Rhone cruise, and Carcassonne. A total of 20 Days.
- Option to purchase international group airfare.
Package Price: $11,995*
*Price Includes Egypt Package, AmaWaterways Cruise Package and Land Package.
Does not include International airfare into Cairo and home from Europe.
Does not include airfare between Cairo and Paris. Per person cash discount price.
Itinerary
Solar Eclipse Group 2: Rhone River
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: July 29: Fly to Cairo
Today we will fly to Cairo, Egypt.
Day 2: July 30: Cairo
You will likely arrive in Cairo just after midnight on July 30th. After clearing customs, we will transfer to our 5-star luxury hotel.
Day 3: July 31: Cairo
Because of the late flight, we will leave late morning, allowing our group to sleep in. Our tour today will be a little over a ½ day. We have arranged a wonderful, included lunch at a restaurant that we like that overlooks the Pyramids. This afternoon we will visit the Pyramids.
Day 4: August 1: Cairo
After breakfast, we will visit the Mosque inside the Citadel, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, and more before returning to our hotel.
Day 5: August 2: Cairo – Luxor – Nile Cruise Ship – Solar Eclipse
We will depart early for our private chartered flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, we will transfer to our luxury Nile River cruise ship. We will join Group 1 on the Nile Cruise Ship to witness the longest Solar Eclipse in this century. Group 1 will then depart the ship and we will stay on board. This afternoon, we will do some touring in Luxor.
Day 6: August 3: Nile Cruise
Today we will visit the Valley of the Kings and other sites before returning to our Nile Cruise Ship. This afternoon will be spent sailing on the Nile River.
Day 7: August 4: Nile Cruise
Today we will be sailing on the Nile River, stopping to visit ancient temples and ruins along the way.
Day 8: August 5: Nile Cruise
Today we reach Aswan. Our tours will include the Philae Temple and the High Dam.
Day 9: August 6: Abu Simbel – Cairo
This morning, we will take our private chartered flight to Abu Simbel. The plane will wait for us on the side of the runway while we tour this fantastic UNESCO World Heritage site. Later, we will reboard our private chartered jet for our flight back to Cairo. Overnight in our beautiful 5-Star Luxury Hotel.
Day 10: August 7: Cairo
Today we will experience the huge highlight of the new Grand Egyptian Museum that includes all of King Tut’s treasures.
Day 11: August 8: Cairo – Paris
This morning, we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Paris. Upon arrival in Paris, we will travel to our hotel on the outskirts of Paris, where we will overnight. (The flight from Cairo to Paris is not included in the tour price but is required to purchase from Fun For Less Tours. We will know the price around 8 months prior to departure.)
Day 12: August 9: Palace of Versailles – Loire Valley
This morning, we will visit the Palace of Versailles before heading to Tours, home of over 1,000 chateaus located throughout the Loire Valley. This evening, we will check into our hotel in the Tours area.
Day 13: August 10: Chateaus of the Loire Valley
Today and tomorrow, we will spend our time visiting some of the very best châteaux and Palaces found in the Loir Valley. Both days will be HIGHLIGHT days. Some of the châteaux we plan to visit include Château de Chenonceau and the Château de Chambord. You’re going to love these two days.
Day 14: August 11: Chateaus of the Loire Valley
Today, we continue our tours both inside and outside of beautiful Chateaus.
Day 15: August 12: Loire Valley – Cruise ship in Lyon
Today we will drive to Lyon to board our Luxury Cruise Ship. We plan to have free time and possibly time for lunch on your own near the beautiful Bourges Cathedral in Bourges. Afterwards, we will continue to Lyon. Upon arrival, we will check into our Luxury Cruise Ship.
Day 16: August 13: Lyon
Ship Tour: Discover dynamic Lyon, starting in Fourvière Hill, part of the city’s historic region that is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the 19th-century basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Next, we continue to the old town of Lyon, followed by a guided walk through the St. Jean district, where you will be introduced to the city’s unique covered walkways, known as “traboules.” Our tour of Lyon will include the old town, Roman Ruins, a funicular ride and so much more.
Day 17: August 14: Lyon – Vienne
Ship Tour: Travel to the Beaujolais wine region—known as the Pays d’Or or “land of the golden stones.”
Day 18: August 15: Vienne – Tournon
Ship Tour: Situated between the wine regions of Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhône lies Vienne with a Roman past that can be seen in its marvelously preserved ruins. Follow the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a walking tour to see the amazingly well-preserved Augustus and Livia Temple, the Saint Maurice Cathedral, a Gothic church that took more than 500 years to build, and St. Pierre Abbey, one of the oldest surviving churches in France, and now an Archaeological Museum.
Day 19: August 16: Tournon – Viviers
Ship Tour: Take a steam train ride past a magnificent landscape carved along the Gorge du Doux, stopping at the charming little station. Later, stroll through the city accompanied by a guide in Renaissance attire as former “residents” in period costumes reenact events and legends of centuries gone by. This special historical tour is sure to bring a smile to your lips – or perhaps send shivers down your spine!
Day 20: August 17: Avignon
Ship Tour: Avignon, aptly named the “City of Popes,” was the center of the Catholic Church in the 14th century when its “Palais des Papes” was the equivalent of today’s Vatican. Discover the history of Avignon on a guided walking tour that includes the Papal Palace and the well-preserved medieval walls surrounding the historic center of town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the afternoon, you can go to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the impressive Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct that is a masterpiece of ancient engineering.
Day 21: August 18: Arles
Ship Tour: Considered one of the most beautiful cities in France, Arles enchants all with its tantalizing history, formerly a Roman center of trade. In the morning, venture to Les Baux de Provence, a hilltop village and ruined castle. Enjoy time in the “old village,” its shops, art galleries, and cafes interspersed among the historic ruins. Later in the day, join a guided walking tour where you’ll visit the Roman ruins of Arles, such as its Roman Amphitheater and the Church of Saint Trophime, famous for its Romanesque architecture.
Day 22: August 19: Disembarkation – The Medieval Walled City of Carcassonne
Today, we leave our lovely ship and head to possibly the biggest highlight (not counting the solar eclipse) you will have on this whole trip. We are spending two nights in the ancient medieval walled city of Carcassonne. This evening and tomorrow, you will have free time to explore the castle, walk on the city walls, shop, and have time to relax in wonderful sidewalk cafes. This is our owner’s favorite walled city in the world.
Day 23: August 20: Carcassonne
A free day to explore and relax before heading home.
Day 24: August 21: Fly Home
This morning, early, we will transfer to Toulouse for your flight back to the U.S. and home.





