SOLAR ECLIPSE – Astronomy Tours
Astronomy Tours to worldwide destinations since 1980.
Mark, my wife and I were with you for the 2019 Total Solar Eclipse in Chile (fantastic!!!) and we are wondering if you have anything in place for the April 2024 Total Eclipse? You guys are so classy and you are our choice to do the planning. I believe Mexico may have the best viewing conditions but we feel we need to be on a scheduled tour if we decide to go there so you are our choice to supply the comfort and security we need. Thank you!! Roy
Each eclipse presents a new venue, a new experience and an unforgettable journey for our travelers. A specialty of A Classic Tours Collection, our Solar Eclipse Tours amaze and delight travelers looking for an out-of-this-world experience. Our tours enjoy loyal following because of our success ratio for viewing Eclipses and careful planning and attention to detail in crafting and operating such unique tours. Each venue is hand selected keeping in mind the weather conditions/ predictions by experts (Jay Anderson), Eclipse routes/maps by (Xavier Jubier), NASA bulletins to ensure maximum success.
With A Classic Tours Collection, you enjoy a worry-free travel experience, because we look after all the options, spend time in research, planning and logistics. On each tour, we find the perfect balance of high-quality accommodations, great eclipse viewing venue, sampling local cuisines and comfortable transport to travel and sightsee. We select expert local guides, best in the industry, and our local representative’s open doors to venues, sights and events that in many cases would be inaccessible to independent travelers. You will be traveling with fellow travelers who share the same enthusiasm, deep passion and respect of local cultures and Mother Nature.
TOUR BOOKING PROCEDURE:
WE ARE ACCEPTING `BOOKINGS WITHOUT DEPOSIT’ ON ALL ASTRONOMY TOURS- due to the continuing uncertainty of travel and the changing travel policies. Once the travel restrictions get resolved, you will be contacted with deposit requirements. You will have 15 days to accept or cancel your booking.
FRIENDLY TOUR – TERMS AND CONDITIONS: We will be offering most traveler-friendly terms for our land tours. Travelers who were grounded by the pandemic too often found themselves on the losing end of stringent cancellation policies. Our goal is to provide lenient terms and lesser penalties.
2021 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE TOURS
Select from 8 tour options
Chile, Peru & Argentina
Patagonia is a region encompassing the vast southernmost tip of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile, with the Andes Mountains as its dividing line. One of the last true wildernesses in the world where you can witness majestic mountain ranges, admire spectacular fjords and marvel at the sapphire-blue lakes. The vast and diverse landscapes across this stunning region will be certain to take your breath away. Patagonia’s southern stretch, the city of Punta Arenas is the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, displaying its iconic granite towers and a stunning mix of glistening lakes, smoldering volcanoes, temperate rain forests and meandering rivers rich in fish and bird life. Combine it with incomparable spectacle of total solar eclipse 1 minute 45 second view of totality, magnificently framed in the Moon’s shadow as seen from 39,000 feet altitude.
THE ESSENTIALS:
- PUNTA ARENAS & ECLIPSE FLIGHT – 5 days Dec. 1 to 5, 2021
- PATAGONIA GATEWAY – 5 Days: Dec. 1 to 5, 2021
- MAGIC OF PATAGONIA – 7 Days: Nov. 29 to Dec. 5, 2021
SIGNATURE TOURS:
- CHILE & EASTER ISLAND EXPLORER – 12 Days: Nov. 28 to Dec. 9, 2021
- MACHU PICCHU, EASTER ISLAND – TOUR A– 15 Days: Nov. 21 to Dec. 5. 2021
- MACHU PICCHU, EASTER ISLAND – TOUR B– 19 Days: Nov. 28 to Dec. 16. 2021
- DISCOVER CHILE & PERU – 15 Days: Dec. 1 to 15., 2021 + extension to Sacred Valley, Machu Pichhu & Cusco- Dec. 15 to 20, 2021
- ARGENTINA & CHILE TOUR – 16 Days: Nov. 20 to Dec. 5, 2021
2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE TOURS
Mexico & Guatemala
On April 8, 2024, plants, animals and humans across North America will encounter a celestial experience like no other: ‘A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE’. People on the Earth will experience two total solar eclipses from 2021 to 2023, but the April 2024 event will be the first to pass through the United States since the 2017 Great American Eclipse.
The 2024 eclipse first makes land on the Pacific coast of Sinaloa, Mexico, with the beautiful coastal town of Mazatlan just north of the center-line. While April is typically a rainy month in North America, so weather will be a major issue for those wanting to observe the eclipse. The best options appear to be in Mexico or Texas based on general climate statistics and decades of space imaging of clouds. We selected to travel to Mexico where the totality duration is longer and the weather prospects are much better even than in Texas.
MEXICO’S landscape has been blessed with every imaginable kind of natural feature, from dry and hot deserts to tropical white-sand beaches, from high plains to exotic jungles in the mountains. Explore narrow cobbled streets and discover architectural treasures hidden behind high brick and stone walls in Mexico’s colonial Highland. In addition to many natural wonders—volcanoes, canyons, lakes, deserts, jungles, mountains, and pristine landscapes—archeology buffs will find numerous Maya and Aztec ruins to stay busy for a lifetime. A visit to Teotihuacán near Mexico City, Cobá and Chichén Itzá in Yucatán, or Palenque, close to the Guatemalan border, are sure to make your travels in Mexico unforgettable.
GUATEMALA is home to volcanoes, rainforests, and ancient Mayan sites. The capital, Guatemala City, features the stately National Palace of Culture and the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Antigua, west of the capital, contains preserved Spanish colonial buildings. Lake Atitlán, formed in a massive volcanic crater, is surrounded by coffee fields and villages. The dizzying pyramids of Tikal are Guatemala’s most famous places to visit. The Spanish left behind plenty of footprints from their colonial conquest of Guatemala.
SIGNATURE TOURS:
- GUATEMALA & MEXICO ENCOUNTER – Mar. 24 to Apr. 9 : 17 Days visiting: GUATEMALA– Antigua, Yaxha, Topoxte, Uaxactun, Tikal. MEXICO– Palenque, Selva Lacandona, Palenque, Calakmul, Bacalar, Tulum & Mazatlan
- MEXICO- Copper Canyon train & Yucatan– Apr. 6 to 20 : 15 Days visiting: Mazatlan, El Fuente, Divisadero, Creel, Chihuahua, Merida, Uxmal, Chichen Itza & Mexico City,
- MEXICO- Copper Canyon Train– Apr. 6 to 20 : 15 Days visiting: Mazatlan, El Fuente, Divisadero, Creel, Chihuahua, Casas Grandes – Paquime – Phoenix
- MEXICO- Footprints of the Mayans – Mar. 23 to Apr. 9 : 19 Days visiting: Cancun, Rio Lagartos, Las Colorados, Ek Balam, Merida, Chichen Itza, Campeche, Ruins of Palenque & Calakmul, Bacalar, Tulum & Mazatlan
- A TASTE OF MEXICO:- Apr. 6 to 16 : 11 Days Visiting: Mazatlan, Mexico City, Teotihuacan, Puebla, Cholula, Monte Alban & Oaxaca. EXTENSION – Treasures of Yucatan -Apr. 16 to 21 : 6 Days Visiting: Merida, Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Coba, Tulum & Riviera Maya.
- MEXICO COLONIAL – Mar. 29 to Apr. 9 : 12 days visiting: Mexico City, Bernal, Queretaro, San Miguel De Allende, Guanajuato, Guadalajara & Mazatlan
- MEXICO THE CITY ESCAPE – Apr. 6 to 13 : 7 days visiting: Mazatlan & Mexico City
THE ESSENTIALS:
- THE 2024 ECLIPSE TOUR – Apr. 6 to 9 : 4 days visiting: Mazatlan
- MEXICO HIGHLIGHTS TOUR– Mar. 29 to Apr. 9 : 12 days visiting: Mexico city, Queretaro, Bernal, Guanajuato, Guadalajara & Mazatlan
- MEXICO A COUNTRY FAIRY TALE– Apr. 6 to 16 : 11 days visiting: Mazatlan, Monterey, Paras De La Fuente, Cuatro Cienegas & San Joaquin
2023 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
TOUR DETAILS COMING SOON
2021 ANNULAR ECLIPSE – GREENLAND
Jun. 2 to 12
5 Days visiting: GREENLAND: Nuuk, Ilulissat & Qaanaaq. + 6 Days ICELAND option: Reykjavik, Thingvellir National Park, Eyjafjallajokull Volcano, Vik, Vatnajokull National Park, Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon & Blue Lagoon.
Explore the dramatic coastlines of Iceland and Greenland where you will encounter modern Icelandic culture in quirky Reykjavík, and travel outside the city to experience the country’s geothermal landscapes—from lava fields to the famed Blue Lagoon. Take the extension to Greenland to trace the fjord-laced landscapes of the country’s rugged western & northern coast, getting an up-close look at glaciers, icebergs & to see the unusual annular eclipse.
ANNULAR ECLIPSE & GREENLAND: An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon covers the Sun’s center, leaving the Sun’s visible outer edges to show annulus (a ring) around the Moon. This is an unusual annular eclipse because at this time of year in the high Arctic the sun is above the horizon all day. Strange darkness at mid-day will be a most unusual sight, perhaps with interesting effects on the wildlife.
View the eclipse from Qaanaaq formerly and still popularly known as Thule or New Thule, it is one of the northernmost towns in the world. Explorers and poets have long romanticized Qaanaaq as truly the top of the world. Ancient philosophers called it Ultima Thule, or the edge of known territory. Stunning natural beauty will surround you for this annular solar eclipse and you will get the chance to experience a cornucopia of arctic adventures including, dog sledding, giant icebergs and the Ilulissat Ice fjord, honored with a place on the esteemed list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
ICELAND: a country of extreme geological contrasts. Widely known as “the land of fire and ice”. Iceland is home to some of the largest glaciers in Europe, and some of the world’s most active volcanoes. Iceland is also the land of light and darkness. Long summer days with near 24-hours of sunshine are offset by short winter days with only a few hours of daylight.
2024 ANNULAR ECLIPSE – Easter Island
Tour Details coming soon
2020 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE – ARGENTINA
(Check 2021 Eclipse tour- Argentina & Chile)
Dear Mark & team,
First of all, let me start by saying how sorry I am that this is currently happening to the entire travel industry worldwide. I read before how long you guys have been working in this field and to see this must be heartbreaking. For us personally we are of course also very said that this had to happen just when we were going to have our “once in a lifetime” travel experience that we saved up so hard for, and I have to say that I really appreciate all of your clear and transparent communication around this entire situation. We really do appreciate your trying the best you can in all ways (trying to find alternatives and trying to secure our money already spent). – N. Doorn
Ouch. The email I was expecting for sure.. but I would listen to your prospects re: 2021 eclipse. Also I want to see the 2024 eclipse Just giving you food for thought and trying to keep $ invested in whatever project you can come up with. And as far as lunch pick a place with good cocktails :). – Best, S. Clark
I’m very sorry to hear this news, but not really surprised. Covid-19 is wreaking havoc again everywhere. To answer your questions, I would not be interested in the option of a short tour this December. I definitely would be interested in a future tour to Argentina even without an eclipse. – L. Zebrowitz
FREE AUDIO SETS: IDEAL FOR POST COVID 19 TRAVEL TO MAINTAIN SAFE DISTANCE ON ALL ASTRONOMY TOURS– Our aim is to improve the conditions in which guided tours are conducted, meet WHO health requirements & safeguard health of our guests. There is no need to bunch around the tour guide to hear the commentary. Group members can spread out, take photos, or linger in front of particular exhibits without missing a word.
COVID-19 Update
COVID-19: Important Update from A Classic Tours Collection
Watch videos of our Solar Eclipse tours
2019 – CHILE
2013- GABON
2015- SVALBARD- NORWAY
2017 Eclipse over America- By NOVA
Featuring Professor Jay Pasachoff, our tour & eclipse viewing site – Salem, Oregon
View the eclipse with world-renowned Astronomy expert
Prof. Jay Pasachoff
Field Memorial Professor and Director of the
Hopkins Observatory at Williams College.
Prof. Pasachoff is also Chair of the International Astronomical Union’s Working Group on Solar Eclipses. He is the co-author of “The Sun (2017),” “The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium (2014),” “Nearest Star: The Surprising Science of Our Sun (2014),” and of “The Solar Corona (2010).” His “Peterson Field Guide to the Stars and Planets” is widely used by the general public as well as the amateur astronomy community. 2019 will be his 71st eclipse observation trip.
To learn more about Prof. Pasachoff and his study of eclipses, check-
Prof. Jay Pasachoff – Awards & Recognitions
Tours are led by Mark Sood of A Classic Tours Collection
Mark Madhukar Sood has been organizing and leading tours to worldwide destinations for many years. His first eclipse group tour was in 1980 and he is proud to be hosting his 18th Total Solar Eclipse group tour in 2020. Mark’s meticulous planning and expert handling of every detail have resulted in the highest level of success on all of the past 16 Solar Eclipse Tours. As a testament to the success, a large number of participants are repeat customers who anxiously await the next tour and even the next after that.
“TRAVEL TALES WITH DEBIKA”– Behind the scenes on a Solar Eclipse tour:
Mark Sood and Prof. Jay Pasachoff
Hi Mark, We were just reminded on the SEML that tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of our 1995 TSE in India. It was such a wonderful tour and always gives us great memories when we think about the places that we visited and the interesting hotels in which we stayed. ggg We were fortunate to meet you then and to travel with you since then. We are very much looking forward to March 2016 in Indonesia and to traveling with you again.
Kind regards, Joyce and David
“2019 ECLIPSE – I wanted to take a minute to compliment you on the outstanding work you did setting up the eclipse tour and viewing. I imagine the only sensation you were feeling was relief, but suffice to say, from our side, it could not have gone better. Well done.”
–Michael
“I have been on 6 Total Solar Eclipse Tours with Mark Sood and his companies, beginning in 1999 in Romania. I have traveled with him to observe eclipses in Zambia, Australia (twice), Turkey, and Chile. I took my Mom on two of those trips before she died, and she loved it! If I were not satisfied with Mark’s professionalism and caring service, I would choose another company. Mark does eclipse planning with Prof. Jay Pasachoff, who has observed 70+ eclipses, many with Mark’s company since the 1990’s. Mark has always done the legwork (years in advance) to scope out and reserve the best locations for our group to observe the eclipse with minimal disruption. He always arranges very comfortable accommodations, transportation, and provisions, along with excellent tours and guides, and bends over backwards to address the needs of his clients. He makes sure you make your connections, and helps you if you don’t. When he found out my friend who can’t eat dairy would have a birthday during our Chile trip, he made sure she was presented with a delicious, beautiful vegan chocolate cake (better than Trump’s, I’m sure).
Thanks Mark and Debika!”
– J. Rich
