Solar Eclipse Path of Totality: Map, Countries & Where Totality Is Longest

The path of totality is the narrow band on Earth's surface where the Moon covers the Sun completely. Inside it, day turns to twilight and the corona appears. Outside it, even a few kilometers away, you only see a partial eclipse. That makes the path the single most important thing to understand when you plan an eclipse trip.

The Path at a Glance

Figures from Space.com, citing timeanddate.com data.

Path of Totality Map

The best way to see exactly where the shadow falls is an interactive map, where you can zoom in to street level and check whether a hotel or viewing spot is inside the path. We recommend:

• timeanddate.com's 2 August 2027 eclipse page, with an animated map and local times for thousands of cities
• The NASA interactive eclipse map, which shows the centerline and the northern and southern limits of totality

In simple terms, the path runs from west to east along a gentle curve. It enters land over the Strait of Gibraltar, runs along the North African coast, crosses the Libyan desert, enters Egypt near Siwa Oasis, crosses the Nile Valley around Asyut, Sohag and Luxor, reaches the Red Sea coast between Quseir and Marsa Alam, then crosses into western Saudi Arabia near Jeddah and Mecca.

Country by Country: How Long Totality Lasts

Here are the countries in the path of totality, from west to east, with the approximate length of totality at a well-known place in each:

Durations from Space.com, based on timeanddate.com data; sources differ by a few seconds. Country list as given by timeanddate.com. Totality also varies within each place: the closer you are to the centerline, the longer it lasts.

Two patterns stand out. Durations climb steadily from about four and a half minutes at the Strait of Gibraltar to over six minutes in Upper Egypt, then fall again across Arabia. And position inside the path matters as much as the country: Málaga, near the northern edge, gets under two minutes, while Tarifa, much closer to the centerline, gets more than twice that.

Why Totality Gets Longer as the Path Moves East

The length of totality at any spot depends on how fast the Moon's shadow moves across the ground there. Near the start and end of the path, the shadow hits Earth at a low angle, early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and races across the surface. As the path moves east toward the point where the Sun is almost directly overhead at midday, the shadow strikes the ground more squarely and slows down.

Earth's rotation helps too. The ground in Upper Egypt is moving east in the same direction as the shadow, so the shadow's speed relative to you drops further. Combine that with the Moon being close to Earth on 2 August 2027, and the result is the longest totality on the whole path, over Upper Egypt. For the full explanation, see our complete guide to the 2027 solar eclipse.

Inside Egypt: Which Places Are in the Path?

Egypt gets the longest totality on the path, but not every famous destination is inside it:

• Inside the path: Luxor, Sohag, Asyut, Siwa Oasis, Quseir and Marsa Alam.
• Outside the path (partial only): Cairo and Giza (about 94 to 95%), Aswan (about 99.8%) and Hurghada.

Aswan is the one that surprises people. It is so close to the southern edge that the Sun is 99.8% covered, but that last sliver keeps the sky bright and hides the corona. For totality, you need to be inside the path. Our minute-by-minute guide to eclipse times in Luxor has the local times for each stage.

Will You See It From the USA?

No, not the total eclipse. The path of totality doesn't come anywhere near North America. timeanddate.com lists the United States among the countries that see a partial eclipse, but in most of the country there is little or nothing to see. To find out exactly what is visible from your city, search for it on timeanddate.com. For Americans, the closest places to see totality are southern Spain and Morocco, while the longest totality is in Egypt.

Will You See It From the UK?

Only as a partial eclipse. The UK is north of the path, so the Moon covers just part of the Sun. The nearest places for totality are southern Spain and Gibraltar, a short flight from most UK airports, or North Africa. For the longest totality, travelers from the UK head to Upper Egypt.

Choosing Your Spot: Duration vs Weather vs Travel

If your goal is the longest totality with the best odds of a clear sky, Upper Egypt is hard to beat. The trade-off is the August heat, which is why we watch from a private, air-conditioned 360° panoramic glass lounge with solar telescopes, rather than an open field.

FAQs

Where is the 2027 path of totality?

It runs from the Atlantic Ocean across southern Spain and Gibraltar, northern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, a small part of Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia, ending in the Indian Ocean.

Which countries will see the total eclipse?

Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia, plus a sunset totality near the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Will the 2027 eclipse be visible in the US?

The total eclipse will not be visible anywhere in the US. Some areas may see a small partial eclipse; check your city on timeanddate.com. The nearest places to see totality are southern Spain and Morocco.

Where will totality be longest?

In Upper Egypt, just southeast of Luxor, where totality lasts about 6 minutes 23 seconds. Luxor itself gets just over six minutes.

Is Cairo in the path of totality?

No. Cairo and Giza see a partial eclipse of about 94 to 95%. To see totality in Egypt, travel south to the Nile Valley around Luxor or to the Red Sea coast near Marsa Alam.