Bespoke
Eclipse Travel

 

Go where the sunshine isn’t

Few natural events are as dramatic (or as rare) as a total solar eclipse. What once inspired mystery and confusion (its causes attributed to godly displeasure), today inspires justifiable excitement. Even obsession.

Eclipse travel has an ancient lineage, marking an historic celebration of the natural world and our place in the wider cosmos. And this is precisely why eclipse travel is becoming more important, and why we want to fuel that obsession.

At Black Tomato, we offer a variety of luxurious, tailor-made eclipse trips that orbit the calendar of these startling solar events. We’ll take you to wherever in the world the eclipse is at its most arresting, and we’ll do it in comfort, luxury, and plenty of style.

On the horizon
the usa
8th APRIL 2024

Scroll
Austin, Texas

Our next eclipse trip

8th April 2024 marks the next ‘total’ solar eclipse, appearing at its maximum over the North American continent. Naturally, we’re ready to send travellers on an adventurous journey to view this tremendously unusual solar phenomenon, this time in the US – Austin, Texas, to be precise.

As always, we’ll work closely with you to build your perfect trip from the ground up. A stop off in Austin to view the eclipse could even form part of a wider road trip, if you so wish. Whilst you’re there, we’d recommend stay at the Commodore Perry Estate – a grand, elegant 1920s Italianate Mansion where beautiful spaces are enlivened by authentic Texan hospitality.

The window to experience this event is both incredibly rare and incredibly tight. Please get in touch as soon as possible to express your interest (with no obligation to proceed). This is something you won’t want to miss.

Get in touch

Our latest trip
Argentina 2020

Scroll
Eclipse accommodation in Argentina

Out like a light

In December 2020, we sent a group of Black Tomato travellers on an unforgettable eclipse adventure to Argentinian Patagonia. The region’s remote ‘G-eclipse point’ was one of the best places in the world from which to observe the event.

This entirely private trip was centred on a luxury Blink camp, helicopter transfers, chefs, entertainment, wine, and a dedicated astronomer, alongside other tailored extras.

‘This was an amazing experience – the view and the trip were unreal. The team nailed it!’

Rob, who witnessed 2020’s eclipse with us

WATCH THE VIDEO

More about our luxury eclipse trips

The how’s, the where’s, and the when’s

Solar eclipse

When is the next solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse will occur on 8th April 2024. Following this, you’ll have to wait until 12th August 2026.

We’ll design your luxury eclipse trip around these dates and the locations where it’s best to observe them. In total, that’s just six events spread over the next handful of years. They’re rare, so you’ll need to think and plan ahead. But that’s where we come in.

Total eclipse

Where is the next solar eclipse?

For each eclipse, NASA identify a Geographic Region of Eclipse Visibility (in other words, the place from which the eclipse will be at its most visible). On 8th April 2024, this region includes eastern Canada, a number of central US states, and parts of Mexico. The following total solar eclipse on 12th August 2026 will be best viewed from the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and Spain.

Total solar eclipse holiday

How can I see the next solar eclipse?

With us, it’s easy. While there are certain locations in the world where eclipses will have their maximum, you can gain a similar (though not ‘total’) experience in other locations (though these might work out better from the perspective of your desired travel time and budget). We’ll update this page with the latest alignments. But you can also drop us a line at any time, and we’ll do the rest.

Eclipse travel FAQs

Your questions answered

How to watch a solar eclipse 

There’s a right way and a wrong way of looking at an eclipse. Famously, it must be done indirectly and not via the naked eye. Use specially prepared solar glasses (we’ll provide these when you come with us), and never home-made versions. You should also never look at the sun through a camera, telescope or binoculars without a proper solar filter, as this can cause major eye injury.

How to photograph a solar eclipse

In order to capture the eclipse on film or camera, you’ll need to take several steps and precautions. First, use a solar ‘ND’ filter to ensure it’s safe to observe through your lens. Set your camera’s ISO to a low value (such as 100). You’ll also want to set your shutter speed to its fastest (around 1/4000 or 1/8000), while stopping your lens aperture at around f/5.6 or f/8.

Remember to think about framing and composition before you shoot – seeing as you’ll want to keep your camera still for the entire duration. Alternatively, you could use our Drone the World service, where we can arrange for a professional photographer or filmmaker to join you for the occasion.

How we’ll create a holiday/trip around an eclipse

An eclipse can last minutes or hours. But we’ll design your trip so that it has multiple highlights and memorable moments, with luxurious accommodation (be it a camp, lodge, or hotel), experiences (horse-back riding, private tours, hot air balloons, etc), and opportunities to relax and explore. Simply tell us what you’re into, and we’ll propose something amazing.

Some notes on safety

One of the major paradoxes surrounding the solar eclipse is that as much as we want to see it, you should never look directly at it (naked-eyed, at least). However, it’s perfectly safe to look at the eclipse through specially designed solar filters. We will always provide these on our solar eclipse trips, so you won’t have to worry about missing out on the big event itself.

For the most part, our eclipse trips will see you travelling to some uniquely remote locations (all the better to observe the phenomenon). But you won’t be alone, or unattended. Expert guides and even masters of ceremony (such as astronomers) will be on hand to ensure that your experience goes off without a hitch. For more FAQs, head to our questions and answers page. Or get in touch.