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9 August 2026 – 6 days for £2,999 per person

This tour is built around a single, extraordinary moment, the total solar eclipse. A tour designed to heighten your sense of anticipation, wonder and connection to it. Guided by astronomer Colin Stuart, you won’t just witness the eclipse, you’ll understand it, feel prepared for it and appreciate its rarity in a way that makes the experience profoundly personal. 

From your first evening in Madrid, you’re invited into a journey where curiosity leads the way. As you explore historic cities of Burgos and Valladolid, spend a night stargazing at Tiedra observatory, share meals with like‑minded travellers, the excitement slowly builds toward the moment when day turns to night.

The event itself is held at a secluded viewing location, 40km west of Burgos. It has been carefully selected for optimum viewing and adequate space for you to enjoy the eclipse. The site is very close to the absolute centre of the moon's shadow during the eclipse and offers an excellent, unobstructed view. Plus it is fully catered, so you will be looked after while experiencing the entire event from first to last contact.

In partnership with Intrepid Travel. 

Day 1: Arrive in Madrid and welcome dinner

On arrival in Madrid, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Soho Boutique Congreso in the Cortes district in the heart of the city.

Madrid, Spain’s capital since the 16th century, is a vibrant city known for its grand boulevards, royal palaces, and world-class cultural institutions. Home to the Royal Palace, the Prado Museum, and the 18th-century Royal Observatory, Madrid blends centuries of history with a dynamic modern atmosphere. 

In the evening you will meet with your tour leader, astronomer Colin Stuart, and the rest of the group for a welcome meeting. The evening concludes with a group dinner in the city, offering time to get to know your fellow travellers. 

Day 2: Explore Madrid and stargaze at the Tiedra Astronomical Observatory

The morning begins with a guided city tour highlighting Madrid’s scientific and cultural heritage. The local guide will immerse you Spain’s evolution from the 5th to 15th century - from Rome’s decline through Visigothic rule, Al-Andalus, and the medieval Christian kingdoms - highlighting the cultural and scientific exchanges that shaped the Iberian world. 

In the afternoon you travel north by train to the historic city of Valladolid where you will check into the Hotel Silken Juan de Austria for the next four nights.

After time to relax you will venture out mid-evening for a thirty minute journey to the Starlight Certified Tiedra Astronomical Observatory. Located over the valley of Duero, the location benefits from an elevated position, dry climate and minimal light pollution, so ideal for exploring the night sky.

Here you will enjoy, the first of Colin's talks "Perseids and other meteor showers", followed by dinner then as it becomes dark around 11pm, explore the night sky. As it's near the height of the annual Perseid meteor shower, there will be a lot to see.

Colin along with the highly experienced observatory team will help you explore the cosmos with its two permanent observatories (a 175mm diameter refractor and 40cm refractor with 1800mm focal length) and multiple other telescopes placed around the custom-built site. You will also enjoy a guided planetarium session.

Day 3: Valladolid

Today’s exploration takes you on a walking tour with a local guide of the vibrant Spanish city of Valladolid, known for its rich history as a former Spanish court, gothic architecture and a lively university atmosphere. You will finish your tour with the Valladolid Science Museum which includes a wide range of exhibits including an eleven metre high 80kg Foucault Pendulum and a display of Louis Pasteur's work improving wine production.

In the evening Colin will give his pre-eclipse briefing, which will be a detailed presentation to ensure you are well prepared for tomorrow's event. This session will be around 1 hour, with plenty of time for questions at the end. Guests at our previous eclipse events have expressed how useful they found this briefing session, allowing them to make the most out of the eclipse experience.

Day 4: Eclipse day and Burgos

Aftyer a leisurely breakfast, you will travel for ninety minutes to the historic town of Burgos for a guided tour with a local guide.

Burgos is known for its rich medieval heritage and stunning architecture, with one of its most famous landmarks being the Burgos Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a masterpiece of Gothic design. The city also played a significant role in the history of the Kingdom of Castile and is closely associated with El Cid, a Spanish national hero.

In the late afternoon, you will be transferred by coach to the eclipse viewing site that we have booked, where you will have plenty of time to choose your spot for the viewing. You will be joining our larger group attedning an eclipse conference in Burgos. Drinks will be available on arrival. The secluded location is very close to the absolute centre of 100 per cent totality, and the landscape is flat with no visual obstructions west to north-west and minimal light pollution once it becomes dark. Throughout the event, refreshments, camp chairs, and viewing glasses will be provided. Astronomy experts including Dr John Mason, Martin Griffiths and the Â鶹´«Ã½ and Intrepid teams will be on hand to answer any questions. 

First contact, when the moon first begins to pass across the face of the sun, begins around 7.33pm, and you will experience totality around 8.28pm. The eclipse direction will be 282 degrees at an elevation of just over 8 degrees. Sunset will be at 9.21pm, at which point dinner will be served from the camp kitchen after which you will be transported back to Valladolid.

Day 5: Post-eclipse day and winery

Enjoy a late morning and relaxed breakfast after the excitement of eclipse day. Then Colin will lead a post-eclipse briefing where you can share your eclipse experience and look forward to future eclipses. Colin will then give his final talk "Rebel Star: The Sun’s Greatest Mysteries".

Afterwards, you will explore the Ribera del Duero wine region including a tour of a winery followed by lunch there.

Your late afternoon is at leisure, so you can venture back into Valladolid, once the capital of Spain and a centre of Renaissance art and exploration. 

The day finishes with a traditional farewell meal hosted by Colin, celebrating Castilian cuisine. 

Day 6: Departure

After an eventful and fulfilling week, you can continue your onward journey with a group transfer to Madrid Airport. 

Alternatively, we encourage you to spend further time in the region with one of the tours below.

14 August - Ancient caves, human origins: Northern Spain - Discover some of the world's oldest known cave paintings in this idyllic part of Northern Spain. Travel back 40,000 years to explore how our ancestors lived, played and worked. 

14 August - - A relaxed and culturally immersive journey exploring history, culture and hospitality along the Douro Valley, and into Porto and Sintra.

14 August - - Embark on a flavourful journey, from the riverside charm of Porto to the sacred streets of Santiago de Compostela, the historic heart of Oviedo, and the culinary paradise of San Sebastián.

15 August - Neanderthals, human origins and cave art: France - Embark on a captivating journey through time as you explore the key Neanderthal and Upper Palaeolithic sites of southern France, from Bordeaux to Montpellier.