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How to see the 2027 solar eclipse in Morocco
Tangier will be even more international than usual as eclipse-watchers descend.
The 2 August 2027 will be a Monday morning to remember in Morocco. The nation is one of the nine lucky countries to experience an impressive total solar eclipse. This eclipse will have a long totality – meaning that the moon will cover the sun for many minutes. In Morocco, you can expect four minutes and 53 seconds of darkness if you’re directly in totality’s path – making for a most peculiar start to the week.
Totality is a curving band across the Earth in which observers will see the sun 100 percent covered by the moon, which results in a period of eerie darkness. For Morocco, this takes place in the north, and centres on the Tangier Peninsula. The peninsula cities of Tangier and Tetouan are therefore the best places to see the eclipse in Morocco, and you can see a partial eclipse elsewhere on our tours, too.
“Tangier and Tetouan sit pretty much on the centreline, so you get close to maximum totality without heading deep into the Sahara,” says our expert eclipse tour partner.
Tangier will experience 4 minutes and 52 seconds of totality, Tetouan 4 minutes and 53 seconds. In other countries, it will last as long as six minutes. For comparison, the total eclipse in 2026 lasted around two minutes.
The 2 August 2027 will be a Monday morning to remember in Morocco. The nation is one of the nine lucky countries to experience an impressive total solar eclipse. This eclipse will have a long totality – meaning that the moon will cover the sun for many minutes. In Morocco, you can expect four minutes and 53 seconds of darkness if you’re directly in totality’s path – making for a most peculiar start to the week.
Totality is a curving band across the Earth in which observers will see the sun 100 percent covered by the moon, which results in a period of eerie darkness. For Morocco, this takes place in the north, and centres on the Tangier Peninsula. The peninsula cities of Tangier and Tetouan are therefore the best places to see the eclipse in Morocco, and you can see a partial eclipse elsewhere on our tours, too.
“Tangier and Tetouan sit pretty much on the centreline, so you get close to maximum totality without heading deep into the Sahara,” says our expert eclipse tour partner.
Tangier will experience 4 minutes and 52 seconds of totality, Tetouan 4 minutes and 53 seconds. In other countries, it will last as long as six minutes. For comparison, the total eclipse in 2026 lasted around two minutes.
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What will happen during Morocco’s solar eclipse?
One of the nicest things about seeing an eclipse is looking around and feeling the excitement in the air right here on Earth.![]()
Rise and shine – and shadow! In Morocco, the eclipse starts at around 7.40am with first contact – the moment the moon and sun appear to touch. Totality begins in Tangier at 08.44:41, at which point you can whip off your eclipse glasses and experience the world in darkness. The point of maximum eclipse is at 08.47:06, totality ends at 08.49:32 (slip those glasses back in place) and the partial eclipse ends at 10.00 – just in time for you to go and get a fortifying mid-morning coffee.
On special eclipse tours, the eclipse is the main event. With astronomical proceedings starting quite early in the morning, tours may have an evening briefing the night before. This will be with a local astronomer, who’ll also be on hand during the main event to point out things like planets as they appear visible in the sky during totality’s darkness, and Baily’s beads – the irregular surface of the moon causing the disappearing sun to be seen in bubbles of light between the moon’s mountains. Seeing the eclipse through glasses is one thing – but being able to take the glasses off and experience totality with the naked eye – that’s something else.
If you’re on a special eclipse tour, you’ll watch the eclipse as a group and if you’re in a viewing area like a hotel terrace, you will be sharing the moment with other guests, too. Enjoy this communal aspect of the eclipse – knowing that millions of people across the world lie in the path of totality, and still millions more have travelled here to see it. In my experience, one of the nicest things about seeing an eclipse is looking around and feeling the excitement in the air right here on earth.
It’s also, for some, a period of reflection and prayer. Across the Islamic world, celestial events like eclipses are seen as a reflection of Allah’s creative might. A special prayer – the Salat al-Kusuf (al-kusuf means solar eclipse) – may be performed by Muslims during the eclipse itself.
On special eclipse tours, the eclipse is the main event. With astronomical proceedings starting quite early in the morning, tours may have an evening briefing the night before. This will be with a local astronomer, who’ll also be on hand during the main event to point out things like planets as they appear visible in the sky during totality’s darkness, and Baily’s beads – the irregular surface of the moon causing the disappearing sun to be seen in bubbles of light between the moon’s mountains. Seeing the eclipse through glasses is one thing – but being able to take the glasses off and experience totality with the naked eye – that’s something else.
If you’re on a special eclipse tour, you’ll watch the eclipse as a group and if you’re in a viewing area like a hotel terrace, you will be sharing the moment with other guests, too. Enjoy this communal aspect of the eclipse – knowing that millions of people across the world lie in the path of totality, and still millions more have travelled here to see it. In my experience, one of the nicest things about seeing an eclipse is looking around and feeling the excitement in the air right here on earth.
It’s also, for some, a period of reflection and prayer. Across the Islamic world, celestial events like eclipses are seen as a reflection of Allah’s creative might. A special prayer – the Salat al-Kusuf (al-kusuf means solar eclipse) – may be performed by Muslims during the eclipse itself.
What will Tangier & Tetouan be like?
During the eclipse, Tangier will be doing what Tangier does best: being a busy, hustling and international hub – which it has been famous for over past decades. The eclipse will push this into overdrive for this city of a million or so inhabitants and it will be very busy.
From Tangier you will be able to look east across the bay to get uninterrupted views of the sun over the sea – the sun will be 38 degrees from the horizon, so it will be nice and visible for many.
Tetouan is a less visited city with around half a million inhabitants, but it will of course be busier for the eclipse.
From Tangier you will be able to look east across the bay to get uninterrupted views of the sun over the sea – the sun will be 38 degrees from the horizon, so it will be nice and visible for many.
Tetouan is a less visited city with around half a million inhabitants, but it will of course be busier for the eclipse.
Good weather
The eclipse takes place in northern Morocco, where you can expect clear skies but not too much heat – a perk for those visiting north Africa in August, which is usually the hottest month of the year. “Early August is usually clear,” says our expert. “The figures I’ve seen are around 75-80 percent clear - and the coast stays at 24-29°C. This is important because you're standing outside for hours before anything happens. Inland Morocco in August can be quite hot.”
Tangier has average cloud cover of around 16 percent in August, which is pretty low. Other destinations that will experience totality – like Chefchaouen – have even less.
Tangier has average cloud cover of around 16 percent in August, which is pretty low. Other destinations that will experience totality – like Chefchaouen – have even less.
Experiencing the partial eclipse in Morocco
If you can’t get to Tangier or Tetouan, or you want a less crowded experience, then other parts of the country will be experiencing a partial eclipse. Rabat and Fes will experience around a 98 percent eclipse, Marrakech around 90 percent.
Our Morocco tours over the eclipse date will give you a free morning to see the eclipse as an exceptional pause to the usual programming, but still take you to key destinations like Marrakech, Essaouira and the Anti-Atlas Mountains. If Morocco’s always been on your wish list, these tours add a sprinkling of celestial wonder, without compromising your ability to see some of Morocco’s best sights on terra firma.
Our Morocco tours over the eclipse date will give you a free morning to see the eclipse as an exceptional pause to the usual programming, but still take you to key destinations like Marrakech, Essaouira and the Anti-Atlas Mountains. If Morocco’s always been on your wish list, these tours add a sprinkling of celestial wonder, without compromising your ability to see some of Morocco’s best sights on terra firma.
More Solar eclipse articles
Find out when and where to see a solar eclipse, as well as how to view it safely.
Read on to plan your solar eclipse holidays several years in advance.
Luxor in Egypt will experience six minutes and 23 seconds of totality – the longest anywhere.
Tunisia is one of the best spots to view this amazing astral event. Find out why.
All the science bits to help you learn what solar eclipses are, why they're rare, and the different types.
A regularly updated page outlining where, and when, the next few solar eclipses will take place.
Astronomy holiday ideas take travellers beyond the solar eclipse to shed light on new destinations.
Expert tips from our partners, and advice from previous travellers, on solar eclipse holidays.
Responsible solar eclipse holidays explore the Earth as well as the heavens.
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