Where is the best place to watch the 2027 Solar Eclipse?
Solar eclipses occur on earth roughly 2-5 times a year, however the more special total solar eclipse only occurs roughly every 18 months. These events are incredibly special and some of them are longer and in better places than others. For us at Saiga Tours we take people to interesting locations, so when the stars align (literally) to take people to one of our destinations with one of the best viewing chances, we had to take it. The best place for you to view the eclipse in 2027, won’t be in mainstream destinations like Egypt or Jordan, but rather Benghazi, Libya. Check out our link to the Benghazi Solar Eclipse Tour here .
What makes a solar eclipse viewing truly “the best”?
There are two main factors that decide how “good” an eclipse is. The main factor is timing or what is known as totality or the time that the sun is totally blocked and makes the Earth dark. The area that is affected by this darkness is known as the path of totality and for this upcoming eclipse the path of totality goes directly through Benghazi.
The absolutely maximum time of totality possible on earth is 7 minutes and 32 seconds. The longest we have seen in the 21
st
century so far is 6 minutes and 39 seconds in 2009 and this upcoming eclipse is set to be the longest for the foreseeable future at 6 minutes and 23 seconds. The longest eclipse we will see on earth within the next 10,000 years will be in 2186 and will last for 7 minutes and 4 seconds. This means the eclipse coming up in 2027 is going to be one of the best and shouldn’t be missed!
The other major factor for the eclipse will be weather. Clear skies are obviously best when viewing anything to do with the stars. Benghazi, Libya being one of the driest places on earth, conveniently makes it a prime location for viewing astral events with clear skies.
The 2027 solar eclipse path of totality – where is it?
The path of totality for the 2027 solar eclipse will be across North Africa from Morocco, across Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the very tip of Somalia. For a fantastic free interactive map visit this link here which also has information about the timing of full and partial coverage in each area.
The obvious answers and why they fall short
Many people will look at the map of where the eclipse is travelling and see destinations such as Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt as much easier than Eastern Libya. While these destinations can be fun, they are often overcrowded from tourism and can have a reputation to be quite a hassle to travel. Everyone in the world that wants to see the eclipse will be heading to the “easier” countries, so we have choose to go away from the crowds and experience the eclipse all to ourselves with what we consider much nicer hospitality and an overall more pleasant experience.
For years travel to Eastern Libya has been quite difficult, however recently, Libya in general is getting easier to visit as long as you follow the procedures and permits which we handle all for you. If you like the idea of not being hassled by people selling magnets in Egypt or not having to deal with scams in Morocco, then a trip to Benghazi could be for you.
So, where you should actually watch the 2027 solar eclipse?
Well, we have already let the cat out of the beg, but Benghazi, Libya is definitely our top pick. This is an exciting destination that is certainly off the beaten track, however surprisingly has a lot to offer for tourism. In addition to the eclipse, we will also be checking out the numerous Roman ruin sites in the area in places such as Cyrene where we will definitely have no crowds.
Is it safe to visit Benghazi in 2027?
Yes and in fact there are many procedures in place to make sure we are safe while visiting. The area in general has remained stable for the past few years and Libya overall has been improving and is definitely safe a tourist destination. We have run several group and private tours all across Libya and can say that it is a safe destination. While you are visiting Libya, you will have both an English-speaking guide and a tourist police escort which are mandatory by the government to keep you safe.
Our guides and security are in constant communication on the ground and will make any necessary changes based on security. To repeat myself, recently things have been fine, and we do consider both western and eastern Libya safe to visit. For more information on safety in Eastern Libya read our blog Is it Safe to Visit Eastern Libya in 2026?
How to book the 2027 Saiga Benghazi Eclipse Tour?
The first thing you will need to do is to contact Saiga Tours and send an email to [email protected] to secure your place. This tour is set to be a big one so get in quick while spaces are still available. For more information on our other Libya group tours check out the Libya Group Tours page here.
