Itinerary – Departing Monday 5th July 2010
Weather prospects for this event strongly favour Polynesia so our Total Solar Eclipse Tour will be based in Tahiti with observation from the islands of Anaa or Hikueru.
The programme includes flights from London to Papeete with a stay on the islands of Tahiti and Moorea, and a special charter flight to Anaa with one night on this remote coral atoll. Extensions to the programme will include an extended stay in French Polynesia, a stopover in Los Angeles with a visit to Mount Wilson Observatory, a tour of both islands of New Zealand, and a choice of "round the world” itineraries.
Your midday flight to Tahiti will be from London with an en route stop and overnight in Los Angeles. Arrival in Tahiti is late evening the following day. Your first two nights will be at the Manava Suite Resort on Tahiti and the next morning we join the ferry for the one hour crossing to the idyllic island of Moorea, where we stay at the luxurious Moorea Pearl Resort. Although just 13km from the island of Tahiti, this volcanic island has spectacular scenery with steep eroded cliffs soaring up to 1,200m and endless white sand beaches. We have two nights on this beautiful island before we join our flight to the observation site. (For more about a total solar eclipse click here.)
We have arranged two special charter flights to observe the event, the first is to Anaa about one hour flying time from Papeete, the second is to Hikueru a journey of about 1 hour 45 mins.
Observation from Anaa
You will fly to Anaa early on the morning of the eclipse, arriving at about 6am. Accommodation will be provided on the island either in simple beach chalets or in islanders' homes and a communal feast will be provided in the evening by the local people (with a little imported help...). Your charter flight will return you to Tahiti to join your international flight or continue with any extension. Eclipse times for Anaa -
1st contact 07.19.08
2nd contact 08.32.33
3rd contact 08.35.35
4th contact 10.00.02
These times are for a location just south of the air strip on the island, but the duration of totality could increase if the event can be observed further south on the island.
Observation from Hikueru
This island is about as remote as it gets! We will be staying two nights on this island and you will need to bring your own sleeping bag and sleeping mat. We are renting the local school (3 rooms) for our accommodation and we have the use of the showers and toilets. Other than that we will be taking in our own rations and water so dining will not be a highlight. In return for the inconvenience, you will be one of just 40 people enjoying almost the longest eclipse duration of any island in Polynesia.
Eclipse times for Hikueru-
1st contact 07.22.10
2nd contact 08.37.04
3rd contact 08.41.23
4th contact 10.07.44
Times for the charter flight are not yet available, but depending on those times you will either connect with your international return flight or we will arange an overnight stay at an airport hotel (additional cost).
Standard Programme (8 days) £3,499
Price is per person in twin share (single supplement £497)
Includes international flights from London, all transfers, hotel accommodation as indicated (room and buffet breakfast only in Moorea and Tahiti), private charter flight to Anaa Atoll and accompanied by expert guest lecturers and an experienced tour escort. Supplement for observation from Hikueru is £425 per person.
Please Note - deposit required for this programme is £325 per person.
Los Angeles Program (7 days) US$4,845
Price is per person in twin share (single supplement $845)
Includes program as above but with flights from Los Angeles and no LA accommodation.
Flight Only and Short Options From £645 (US$1,065)
Overnight on Anaa - If you wish to arrange your own hotels and flights to French Polynesia, we are now able to offer a flight from Papeete to Anaa on the day of the eclipse, returning the next day. The flight departs from Papeete in the early hours of the morning and arrives in Anaa before the eclipse starts, overnight accommodation is provided on the island and you return to Papeete at mid-day the next day - price for this option is £795 ($1,275).
Day Trip - A day trip flight is also available, departing Papeete early morning and returning at midday - price for this option is £645 ($1,065).
Los Angeles Flight Plus Two Overnights on Anaa - We can also provide flights from Los Angeles to Papeete on 6th July, returning to Los Angeles on 12th July and seats on the charter flight from Papeete to Anaa plus accommodation for two nights with the group on Anaa. The price for this programme will be £1,955 (US$2,955).
Moorea Pearl Resort
Accommodation will be in the Garden Bungalows at the resort. Upgrade to Garden Bungalow with private pool is available for an additional £169 per person or an Overwater Bungalow for £249 per person.
Moorea extension
Enjoy an additional two nights on this spectacular island.
Price £242 per person (twin share), room and buffet breakfast only.
Manava Suite Resort
Tahiti extension
Four extra nights at the Manava Resort giving additional time to explore the main island of French Polynesia.
Price £436 (twin share, single supplement £396), room and buffet breakfast only.
Los Angeles stopover
Mount Wilson Observatory
Fly out earlier and enjoy a three day stopover in Los Angeles, with a tour of the highlights of this vibrant city plus a trip up the spectacular Angeles Crest Highway to visit the historic Mount Wilson Observatory in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Stopover price £349 (3 days) per person (twin share)
Includes airport transfers, three nights' accommodation in Los Angeles (room only), half day tour of the city and a visit to Mount Wilson Observatory.
New Zealand tour
After the eclipse, fly on to Auckland, the New Zealand capital and join a seven day tour of the scenic highlights of New Zealand.
Price £1,100 per person (twin share)
Includes onward flights from Tahiti, private charter coach travel, all accommodation with breakfast. Full itinerary will be available shortly.
New Zealand fly drive
Fly down from Tahiti and enjoy your own tour of this beautiful country.
Price £217 per person (based on 2 people)
Includes onward flights plus seven days car hire.
Weather prospects for the eclipse
The following summary is taken from the definitive analysis published by NASA as part of their work in assisting observations of solar eclipses -
"French Polynesia is the clear-cut choice for the best weather prospects, but land-based sites are scarce .... Mangaia and Easter Island are the largest islands in the track, with more-or-less the same chances of sunshine—about 50%. If observing requirements dictate solid ground, then the choice is among one of these or the few reachable islands in the Tuamotus [French Polynesia]. Easter Island has, by far, the most developed infrastructure and the most convenient travel, but the small French Polynesian atolls offer the best weather."
from NASA’s Annular and Total Solar Eclipses of 2010, Espenak & Anderson 2008
Our Experts
We have two special guest lecturers with us on our trip to Polynesia to observe this event, broadcasters and authors Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest. Heather and Nigel are always good company and their communication skills will be a great benefit to the party.
Nigel Henbest
Nigel Henbest is an internationally recognized writer and broadcaster on astronomy, space and science. At Cambridge university he researched radio astronomy, where he studied supernovae, radio galaxies and quasars. He developed geophysical equipment that he installed on Mt Etna. He became media consultant to the Royal Greenwich Observatory, Astronomy Consultant to New Scientist magazine and Editor of the Journal of British Astronomical Association. A prolific author, (together with Heather Couper he has written more than 30 books and over 1,000 articles), Nigel is also an award-winning TV producer and scriptwriter and runs Pioneer Productions, bridging the arts and sciences and specializing in factual and scientific programming.
Heather Couper
Heather Couper is a leading international communicator on astronomy and space. She studied astrophysics at Leicester and Oxford Universities and went on to run the Greenwich Planetarium. She later became President of the British Astronomical Association and Gresham Professor of Astronomy. After presenting two TV series for Channel 4, Heather and two colleagues set up Pioneer Productions – now one of the leading factual TV companies in the UK. She was the producer of Universe, and of the international award-winning programme Electric Skies – the classic film on lightning. Having left Pioneer to concentrate on a wider range of ventures, she divides her time between writing (she is the author and co-author of more than 30 books) and broadcasting (she has presented many radio and television programmes including a profile of Stephen Hawking for BBC Television and is currently presenting a 30 part series called Cosmic Quest on BBC Radio 4.