Total Solar Eclipse 2024: Albuquerque to San Antonio, USA - SOLD OUT

1 April 2024 - 10 days - SOLD OUT

Experience a stunning total solar eclipse in April 2024 and explore astronomical, space travel and geological sites across New Mexico and Texas, accompanied throughout by astronomer Martin Griffiths. 

Renowned astronomer Dr John Mason will also give talks and lead the eclipse experience day at Broken Bow Ranch Eagle Pass, our exclusive viewing location.

You will travel through the fascinating towns and cities of Albuquerque, Truth or Consequences, El Paso, Austin and San Antonio. While visiting a range of observatories, museums and geological sites including Spaceport America, the very large array, White Sands National Park and three observatories.

In partnership with Intrepid Travel.

DAY 1: ARRIVE INTO ALBUQUERQUE, MEET THE GROUP AND ASCEND SANDIA PEAK

Welcome to Albuquerque! After arriving at the downtown Clyde Hotel, there will be a secure room to leave your luggage so you can enjoy your day and you will be able to check into the hotel on your return back to the hotel. Hotel check-in is available from 4pm.

You will meet with the group in the Clyde Hotel reception at 11:30am, where you will meet the tour leader and accompanying expert Martin Griffiths for a welcome lunch at El Pinto and introduction to the tour. 

Throughout the tour, Martin will give briefings and informal lectures in the evenings, during the coach journeys and whilst walking around the many amazing sites on the tour. The lectures will cover eclipses, black holes and astronomy. Plus Martin will guide you on the stargazing opportunities, both in observatories and with the naked eye.

Afterward, head to Sandia Peak Tram Ride. Rising from the hustle and bustle of Albuquerque, you ascend one of America’s most stunning urban peaks, reaching the 10,378-foot crest of the Sandia Mountains where an 11,000 square-mile panoramic view awaits. 

DAY 2: THE VERY LARGE ARRAY AND SPACEPORT AMERICA

Begin your day by driving south to marvel at the Very Large Array. One of the world’s premier astronomical radio observatories comprising of 27 radio antennas spread over 22 miles that are able to detect extremely faint radio emissions from distant stars. Each antenna is 25 meters (82 feet) in diameter. 

Then onto the Virgin America Spaceport USA for a guided tour. It’s the world's first commercial spaceport and includes numerous interactive exhibits. You will venture into the Spaceport Operations Center where you will be shown the simplicity of the mission control. Then you will be escorted to the the state-of-the-art fire station where you will be allowed to climb aboard the fire trucks and interact with the Spaceport America fire crew. Your next stop will be in front of the iconic gateway to the space terminal and its hangar. Finally, enjoy a tour of the astronaut walk, which explains how the future astronauts will enter the gateway to the space terminal and get ready for take off.

In the late afternoon, you will travel to Las Cruces and check into the Hotel Encanto, where you will enjoy the first of four talks from Martin.        

DAY 3: VISIT NEW MEXICO MUSEUM OF SPACE HISTORY AND THEN STARGAZE IN THE WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK

After checking out, travel to the New Mexico Museum of Space History, a journey of around 90 minutes. Tularosa Basin was the cradle of America’s space program and Alamagordo hosts a world-class museum devoted to the history, science and technology of space travel. Visit the museum where you can see an authentic piece of 'moon rock' as well as rare replicas of the first man made satellites, Sputnik and Explorer. The international Space Hall of Fame at the museum recognises the accomplishments of the people around the world who have contributed to the quest for Space.

Continue into the White Sands National Park. The 275 square miles of glistening white sands and dunes of gypsum are an incredible site to see and you can venture out into the dunes and explore this special place.  

Begin your journey at the visitor's centre so you can better understand the rich ecosystem around you. Followed by an 8-mile scenic drive through the dunes. There will be plenty of time for taking walks in the sand, photography, and learning about natural and cultural history. 

After checking into the Fairfield Inn Alamogordo and enjoying dinner together, you will head back out to the White Sands National Park for some naked-eye stargazing.

DAY 4: SUNSPOT SOLAR OBSERVATORY AND APACHE POINT OBSERVATORY 

In the morning, travel through the logging area of Cloudcroft and the Lincoln National Forest, drive past the Sunspot Solar System Model. Set at a scale of 1:250 million, the distance from Cloudcroft to the visitors centre in Sunspot is scaled to correspond to the distance between the Sun and the dwarf planet Pluto. The other planets are also placed along the way to scale with their distance from the Sun. Driving at 35 mph on Route 6563, to scale, you are moving approximately 10 times faster than the speed of light.

Afterwards, visit Apache Point Observatory, a small but important professional observatory high on the edge of the scarp above Alamogordo in New Mexico. It was founded in 1985 and is home to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Apache Point provides a superb location to conduct the sky survey as the combination of clean air and distance from large cities makes the area's night sky here among the darkest in the United States.

From here, visit the Sunspot Solar Observatory, located at an altitude of 9,200 feet in the scenic Lincoln National Forest. The observatory is home to gorgeous vistas, historical landmarks, and one of the largest active solar telescopes in the world. The Dunn Solar Telescope, built in 1969, remains to date one of the best ground-based solar observatories in the world.

In the evening you will check into the Marriott El Paso.

DAY 5: EL PASO TO AUSTIN

After a short flight from El Paso to Austin, you will explore the city and have lunch at the lively Food Trucks district. From 19th-century architecture to Texas state history but with a hippie university town atmosphere, there’s plenty to enjoy.

Check into Hyatt Place Austin Downtown for two nights.

DAY 6: FREDERICKSBURG WINE ROAD AND LBJ NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Today, you will make your way along Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 and pass by 22 award-winning wineries. Lunch will be at the Salt Lick BBQ & Salt Lick Cellars, an iconic Texas fire pit restaurant set within rural gardens. If time permits you can enjoy a glass of their Tempranillo or Mourvedre while surrounded by the same vines that produced the wine.                   

After lunch, you will have free time to explore Austin.

In the evening there will be a talk from Martin.

DAY 7: PRE-ECLIPSE BRIEFING AND THE CURTIS VAUGHAN JR. OBSERVATORY

The day before the Solar Eclipse Event, you will attend an event hosted by the Curtis Vaughan Jr. Observatory. It’s a research grade 16" Meade LX200 Advanced Coma-Free telescope currently used in tracking asteroids and minor orbiting bodies within our solar system for orbital tracking. This will be an exciting event and we will ensure we have an exclusive scheduled time for the auditorium with the Curtis Vaughan Jr Team.

In the afternoon at 5pm, you will depart the downtown area to return to the hotel for the Pre-Eclipse Lecture by Dr John Mason. At 6pm, you will attend a pre-eclipse briefing. If this time has to be updated when in destination, your tour leader will communicate any changes.

This evening, you will attend a detailed solar eclipse briefing by Dr John Mason. This will be a detailed presentation to ensure that you are well prepared for the following day's event. There will be light appetizers and drinks provided. This will approximately be an hour with questions.

DAY 8: ECLIPSE EXPERIENCE AT BROKEN BOW RANCH EAGLE PASS

We worked closely with Dr John Mason to secure the perfect location for you to witness the eclipse, an have chosen, Broken Bow Ranch. The site has been chosen due to its expansive landscape and isolation, the best way to enjoy an eclipse.

On the day, we will transport you to the private site well in advance of the eclipse, so you can get set up and comfortable. Our team will provide refreshments and snacks throughout the day, plus a picnic lunch and viewing glasses.

The experience will be led by Dr John who will provide commentary and guidance throughout the day plus Martin will be on hand to answer any questions. Please note that along with 3 New Scientist groups, there will be a third group of Dr John’s guests meeting at the Eclipse site.

DAY 9: ENJOY SAN ANTONIO AND CLOSING TALKS

In the late mroning, you will enjoy a post-Eclipse brunch event where Dr John Mason will speak about the incredible event that you experienced the previous day.

Afterwards, you will have time at leisure. There is plenty to do nearby including the marine mammal oceanarium Sea Park or your tour leader can arrange an excursion for you (payable locally), such as a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site San Antonio Missions which includes the famous Texan site, the Alamo.

In the evening, Martin will give a final talk followed by a farewell dinner.

DAY 10: DEPART SAN ANTONIO

After breakfast, your day is at leisure to leave the tour and start your journey home.

Please note that the schedule is subject to change as some observatories are yet to commit to activity but we are confident that we can deliver an immersive and exciting astronomically themed tour.