With the longest totality of the 21st century, this will be an extremely rare spectacle, also called the "eclipse of the century." In Saudi Arabia, the moon will completely eclipse the sun for as much as six minutes and 2 seconds.
Since you can only experience the "longest" part if you are in certain regions of Spain, North Africa or Saudi Arabia, people travel to maximize their "time in the shadows." And even if you are not a member of the celestial cult, this is still a unique experience for which it is worth booking a ticket to Saudi Arabia.
On Aug. 2, 2027, one of the most spectacular natural phenomena will take place: a total solar eclipse. During this rare moment, the moon will slide precisely between the Earth and the sun, temporarily causing complete darkness in the middle of the day. This impressive spectacle is visible only within a narrow zone on Earth, called the path of totality.
The 2027 total solar eclipse can be seen in several countries. Some of the best places to experience the eclipse in all its glory are Tarifa (Spain), Luxor (Egypt) and Jeddah and Abha (Saudi Arabia).
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves precisely between the earth and the sun. As a result, the moon blocks (partially or completely) the sunlight that normally reaches the earth. In a total solar eclipse, the moon is perfectly aligned with the sun and earth, completely covering the sun. The sky darkens as if it were night, and the solar corona (the sun's outer atmosphere) becomes visible. This is the type of eclipse we will experience in Saudi Arabia on Aug. 2, 2027. See here for the full path of the 2027 eclipse.
Viewing a solar eclipse requires careful preparation to not only ensure a good view, but also to protect your eyes from the potentially harmful effects of looking directly at the sun.
At a whopping 6 minutes and 23 seconds, the totality on Aug. 2, 2027, will be the longest on land since 1991 and up to 2114.
The reason it takes so long and makes this moment so special has to do with a rare cosmic alignment. At that moment, the earth is at its aphelion, the farthest point from the sun, making the solar disk appear slightly smaller. At the same time, the moon is in perigee, its closest point to the earth, making it appear slightly larger in the sky. This combination allows the moon to completely block the sun, longer than normal.
This unique trip introduces you to the metropolis Riyadh and its many highlights, the breathtaking Edge of the World with vistas as far as the eye can see, Hegra - the largest and best kept secret of the Nabataean civilization south of Petra in Jordan - and the thousand-and-one-night fairy tale of Al-Balad in Jeddah.
The eclipse will be observed south of Djedda. The exact location will be determined on Aug. 1, based on the most favorable weather conditions at that time. At this location, we will experience the rare spectacle of a total solar eclipse lasting more than six minutes.
The area south of Djedda is exactly on the central line, offers the longest duration of totality and also has very favorable weather statistics.
Ask here request a customized quote for an individual eclipse trip, or click here for the eclipse group trip.
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