The 2008 total eclipse traverses some very inaccessible, inhospitable and cloudy places. However there are a few locations which are both accessible and have relatively low cloud cover prospects. Northern China and the Altai Region of Siberia are the best possible locations. AWT has homed-in on these areas to provide absolutely the best eclipse experience possible. These locations offer afternoon eclipse viewing giving ample time to get to the eclipse site and set up equipment. The lower altitude of the sun also provides the opportunity of spectacular photographs with the eclipsed sun framed against the local background. The eclipse sites are chosen with our consultant astronomer with the greatest care but with safety and relative comfort in mind. Being AWT all the tours contain a wealth of other interesting content.
Russia Eclipse Tour A – 26 July 2008
From £2,495 per person
This nine day tour flies to Novosibirsk and includes a city and museum tour before we take the night train to Biysk from where we transfer to Gorno-Altaisk in the Altai Republic. We will spend three full days exploring the ancient burial mounds and rock art in the stunning national parks of the region and learning about Siberian traditions. We will then continue to our chosen eclipse spot for August 1st. We will finish in Barnaul before flying back to the UK on Sunday 3rd August. The tour is fully escorted and full board and uses simple but clean tourist class hotels in the remote Altai region.
Russia Eclipse Tour B – 26 July 2008
From £2,995 per person
This ten day tour flies to the wonderful city of St Petersburg from where we visit the ancient town of Novgorod and explore St Petersburg itself. From here we fly to Moscow and visit the Kremlin. We then fly east to Novosibirsk where we will explore the city and excellent regional museum. We then take a night train to Barnaul and transfer to Biysk our base for the eclipse. On the eclipse day we will view from our specially chosen spot. We return to Moscow and fly back to London on 4th August. This tour is fully escorted, uses tourist class hotels and is on a bed and breakfast basis.
Russia Eclipse Tour C – 30 July 2008
From £1,335 per person
This five day tour aims to get you to the eclipse and back again as smoothly as possible in the shortest available time. We fly to Moscow and overnight before continuing to Novosibirsk where we explore the sites of this thriving city. On eclipse day we will drive out to our specially chosen viewing spot before returning to Novosibirsk. We return to Moscow and fly back to London on 3rd August. This tour is fully escorted and features first-class hotels on a full board basis.
China Eclipse Tour A – 26 July 2008
From £2,495 per person
This twelve day tour flies to Beijing where we will visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. We then fly to Urumqi and transfer to Turpan to explore the old oasis city. From here we visit ancient ruins, Buddhist caves and irrigation systems on the edge of the mighty Taklimakan desert. We continue to the pleasant town of Hami our base for the eclipse. On the eclipse day itself we will drive to the Yiwu area and our chosen eclipse site. From Hami we will skirt the Gobi Desert and transfer to Dunhuang for more wonderful sightseeing at the famous grottoes and lakes of the region. From here we fly to Xian to visit the legendary terracotta warriors. We return to London on August 6th. This tour is fully escorted and includes all lunches and seven dinners and is based in first-class hotels except in Urumqi where a tourist class hotel is used.
China Eclipse Tour B – 27 July 2008
From £2,295 per person
This nine day tour flies to Beijing where we will tour the Forbidden City. We fly to Dunhuang to visit the grottoes, dunes and crescent lake. We continue to Hami our base for the eclipse. On the eclipse day we will drive to the Yiwu area and our chosen eclipse site before continuing to Barkol. From here we return to Dunhuang and fly to Beijing to visit the Great Wall. We return to London on 4th August. All lunches and six dinners are included and it is based on first-class hotels except the night after the eclipse when a simple country hotel or nomad tents will be used. Full pre tour information will be given on all facilities.
China Eclipse Tour C – 27 July 2008
From £2,235 per person
This nine day tour flies to Beijing where we will visit the incredible Forbidden City. From there we fly to Urumqi and explore the old town. We then take the long and fascinating drive to Barkol, via Jimsar. We explore this remote area and head off to our specially chosen eclipse viewing site. We will return to Beijing to visit the Great Wall. We then return to London on 4th August. This tour is fully escorted and includes all lunches and 6 dinners. It is based on first-class hotels except in Barkol where local lodges or nomad tents will be used. Full pre tour information will be given on all facilities. |
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BOOKING:
At the time of going to press no airlines have published their schedules for the eclipse period. The tours will run as outlined here and full details will be confirmed as soon as the airline schedules are available. At this stage we offer our Advance Registration service. Please contact us to book your chosen tour.
 Contact Us
A deposit of £200 per person is required and this is fully refundable. You will be given special priority before the tours are made generally available. At that stage you can confirm your booking or receive a full refund. |
China Eclipse Tour D – 26 July 2008
From £2,395 per person
This eleven day tour flies to Beijing where we will visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. We then fly to Urumqi and transfer to Turpan to explore the old oasis city. From here we visit ancient ruins, Buddhist caves and irrigation systems on the edge of the mighty Taklimakan desert. We continue to the pleasant town of Hami our base for the eclipse. On the eclipse day itself we will drive to the Yiwu area and our chosen eclipse site. From here we return to Urumqi and explore the old town before flying to Xian to visit the awesome terracotta warriors. We return to London on 5th August. This tour is fully escorted and includes all lunches and seven dinners. This tour is based on first-class hotels except in Urumqi where a tourist class hotel is used.
We are very lucky to have an outstanding selection of experts lined up to accompany these eclipse tours and they include Sheridan Williams, respected scientist and lecturer; Giulio Del Zanna, Research Fellow Department of Space and Climate Physics University College London; Mike Beales, ex solar director of the BAA; Malcolm Coe, Senior Astronomer at Southampton University; Neil Bone, gold medal winning astronomer; Geoff Elston, a highly respected astronomer from the BAA and Kevin Kilburn, Manchester Astronomical Society. |