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Heart of Texas Total Solar Eclipse

April 4 - 11, 2024

Welcome

  • Dates: Apr 04 - 11, 2024
  • Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
  • Trip Level (1-4):2
  • Arrive: Houston, Texas
  • Depart:Austin, Texas
  • Priced From: $5775

This tour departs in

DAYS

Highlights

  • Experience over four minutes of totality at our carefully chosen viewing site during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
  • Enjoy an expert-hosted visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
  • Explore three great cities that define Texas, past and present: Houston, San Antonio and Austin.
  • Discover the historic mission and heroic battle site at the Alamo.
  • Tour the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, as well as the LBJ Ranch.

The prairie sky is wide and high, the old song tells us, deep in the heart of Texas. Clearly that makes the Lone Star State an ideal place to view a total eclipse of the Sun. Yet in all the years TravelQuest has been creating astronomical adventures around the world, we’ve never brought eclipse aficionados to explore this part of the sunny Southwest.

Well, that’s about to change. On April 8, 2024, much of North America will experience just over four minutes of totality – and one of the best viewing locations along the eclipse path will be Texas, with its typically clear skies and warm weather. So, in true TravelQuest style, we’ve crafted an itinerary around this astronomical milestone, weaving together spectacular Hill Country vistas with insider discoveries in San Antonio, Austin and Houston – plus an in-depth tour of the Johnson Space Center, the heart of NASA’s space program ever since the first astronaut replied, “Copy that, Houston” nearly 60 years ago.

What better way to reconnect with friends or family than watching the Moon’s shadow sweep across a landscape of winding rivers and sage-covered granite hills? This is the kind of experience TravelQuest has been creating around the globe for nearly three decades – and now we’re proud to present a special astronomy-themed journey right in our own backyard on the Heart of Texas Total Solar Eclipse tour. But space is limited, so make your reservation today!

 

Texas Weather Prospects for Total Solar Eclipse Viewing –
April 8, 2024 by TravelQuest Eclipse Meteorologist Jay Anderson

Occasional spring storms and outbreaks of cold weather make April a poor month for eclipse watching across much of the United States and Canada. The only cure for nature’s ornery behavior is to head for warmer and drier weather.  That means Texas – and not just anywhere in Texas, but Hill Country, where the high terrain and dry air from the Edwards Plateau keeps Gulf Coast moisture and heavy cloudiness at bay. Measurements of sun and cloud point to the countryside west of San Antonio, where sunny days are the rule and summer’s high humidity is still a month away. Satellite images show that TravelQuest’s observing site would have had a successful view of the eclipse on 75 percent of the April 8’s over the past 21 years – a very encouraging statistic in a difficult season.

This tour departs in

DAYS

Highlights

  • Experience over four minutes of totality at our carefully chosen viewing site during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
  • Enjoy an expert-hosted visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
  • Explore three great cities that define Texas, past and present: Houston, San Antonio and Austin.
  • Discover the historic mission and heroic battle site at the Alamo.
  • Tour the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, as well as the LBJ Ranch.

Itinerary

Arrive George Bush Intercontinental Airport (code: IAH) according to your own flight plans. Your TravelQuest representative will arrange your easy transfer to our Houston hotel. If you’re checked in by late afternoon, plan to join us for a get-acquainted welcome dinner.

DATE(S): Thursday, April 4, 2024

MEALS: Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Hyatt Regency Houston or similar

After breakfast, look forward to a full-day visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, starting with a tram tour of the sprawling complex that has been the center of human spaceflight activity for more than half a century. Touring the historic Mission Control Center and the astronauts’ training facilities, you get a whole new appreciation for the complexities of space travel and the people whose expertise, determination and courage make it a reality.

DATE(S): Friday, April 5, 2024

MEALS: Breakfast

ACCOMMODATION: Hyatt Regency Houston or similar

This morning we leave Houston and head west to San Antonio, a city whose Spanish heritage is evident in its striking colonial architecture, and whose central river and canals have earned it the nickname “America’s Venice.” Highlights of our post-lunch tour include two UNESCO World Heritage sites. First, visit the Mission San José, established by Franciscan missionary Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús in 1720. Then join our expert guides at the Alamo, the fortified mission that played a critical role in the 1835 Texas Revolution against the Mexican government – a heroic struggle still celebrated today by Americans who “remember the Alamo.”

DATE(S): Saturday, April 6, 2024

MEALS: Breakfast/Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Sheraton Gunter Hotel or similar

Your day begins with a visit to the Witte Museum and its acclaimed South Texas Heritage Center, where interactive exhibits tell the story of this region’s diverse inhabitants and the land that has shaped their lives. Next, we explore the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, whose 33-acre grounds include extensive rose gardens, a conservatory filled with tropical flora and the Texas Native Trail, which showcases ecosystems from all parts of the state. Then board a riverboat for our guided cruise along the Paseo del Rio, or River Walk, whose promenades lined with restaurants, cafés and shops are among the most popular attractions in Texas. You’ll have time after we dock to explore San Antonio at your own pace, immersing yourself in its vibrant culture. Then join us for dinner and our pre-eclipse briefing, including a detailed update on tomorrow’s weather.

DATE(S): Sunday, April 7, 2024

MEALS: Breakfast / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Sheraton Gunter Hotel or similar

Today is the main event. We’re up early for the trip to our specially selected eclipse viewing site. Then it’s time to settle in, camera at the ready, and wait for the Moon’s shadow to pass over you in a remarkable four minutes of totality. This is the first total solar eclipse we’ve been able to experience from North America since 2017, and we mark the occasion with a post-eclipse celebration.  

Texas Weather Prospects for Total Solar Eclipse Viewing – April 8, 2024 by TravelQuest Eclipse Meteorologist Jay Anderson

Occasional spring storms and outbreaks of cold weather make April a poor month for eclipse watching across much of the United States and Canada. The only cure for nature’s ornery behavior is to head for warmer and drier weather.  That means Texas – and not just anywhere in Texas, but Hill Country, where the high terrain and dry air from the Edwards Plateau keeps Gulf Coast moisture and heavy cloudiness at bay. Measurements of sun and cloud point to the countryside west of San Antonio, where sunny days are the rule and summer’s high humidity is still a month away. Satellite images show that TravelQuest’s observing site would have had a successful view of the eclipse on 75 percent of the April 8’s over the past 21 years – a very encouraging statistic in a difficult season.

DATE(S): Monday, April 8, 2024

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Sheraton Gunter Hotel or similar

From San Antonio we travel deeper into the Hill Country, considered the natural border between the Southeast and the Southwest. In historic Fredericksburg, you can take some time to explore shops and bakeries inspired by the town’s original German settlers. Then we head on to Stonewall and the LBJ Ranch, where the 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, was born, lived much of his life and spent his final days. Strolling the grounds of “the Texas White House,” you can explore the ranch buildings, the one-room family schoolhouse and the cemetery where Johnson is buried alongside his wife, Lady Bird.

DATE(S): Tuesday, April 9, 2024

MEALS: Breakfast

ACCOMMODATION: Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol or similar

We start today at the Zilker Botanical Garden in the heart of Austin, with its stunning themed gardens. Then join our local expert for a fascinating city tour, including an inside look at the Texas state capitol building. We cap our morning’s explorations with a visit to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, which features documents and artifacts from the LBJ presidency, as well as historical and cultural exhibits. Spend the afternoon exploring this great city at your leisure, then join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner, Texas-style, as we toast the conclusion to a memorable eclipse journey.

DATE(S): Wednesday, April 10, 2024

MEALS: Breakfast / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol or similar

After breakfast at the hotel, we arrange the easy transfer to Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (code: AUS) for your journey homeward or on to further explorations in the region.

DATE(S): Thursday, April 11, 2024

MEALS: Breakfast

ACCOMMODATION: n/a

Optional Add-ons

If you’d like to arrive in Houston a night ahead of our eclipse tour, TravelQuest has reserved a limited number of rooms at the Hyatt Regency Houston (or similar). The cost per night, including room, airport arrival transfer and tax: $264 USD per person based on two people sharing one room; $495 USD for single occupancy

TRIP LEVEL

Level 2: Easy/Moderate – TravelQuest guests must be able to navigate hills and uneven ground, climb into various modes of transportation, keep up with the pace of the trip, and be prepared to occasionally carry their own luggage. Travelers should expect some longer days balanced with free time to recharge.

We at TQ want to be sure you find the trip that’s right for you and best suits your interests and level of fitness.

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Pricing & Terms

Prices are per person in US Dollars based on the number of people in a room.

Double

$5775

Single

$7125

Important:

  • All tour prices, taxes and airfares quoted in this brochure are based on tariffs, costs and United States dollar exchange rates that were in effect at the time of publication. Consequently, prices herein are subject to change. Due to fluctuations in global oil prices, a fuel surcharge may be added to your trip fee. You will be advised of details and costs prior to departure.
  • TravelQuest, working with our partners, makes every effort to follow the published itinerary. However, please keep in mind that it is subject to change depending on weather and other local conditions.
  • It is important to acknowledge that seeing the total solar eclipse is dependent on Sun and weather conditions, and TravelQuest can make no guarantees that the Sun and weather will cooperate.

 

Room Sharing Program

If you’re traveling solo, you can save significantly by taking advantage of TravelQuest’s Room Sharing Program, in which travelers of the same gender can share twin-bedded accommodations. Contact us for details.

 

Includes

  • Seven nights’ accommodation at select hotels
  • Arrival/departure transfers between airports and hotels per the dates of the tour
  • All ground transportation by private chartered motorcoach
  • Services of your TravelQuest astronomer/ trip leader
  • Local guides throughout your journey
  • All meals as specified in the itinerary, including coffee, tea, soft drinks and water
  • Sightseeing admission fees as noted in the itinerary
  • All gratuities for guides, drivers and porters

Not Included

  • Air transportation to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (code: IAH) and from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  • Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
  • Beverages at meals (other than coffee, tea, soft drinks and water)
  • Expenses of a personal nature, including spa services, laundry, souvenirs, etc.
  • Passport and visa fees if applicable, along with any required immunizations
  • Highly recommended travel cancellation insurance

Payments & Terms

  • An advance payment of $1,400 USD per person, made by credit card, along with the completed reservation form, are required to secure your reservation.
  • A second advance payment of $1,600 USD per person, payable by check or bank wire only, is due July 12, 2023.
  • Final payment payable by check or bank wire only – is due by December 12, 2023.

Cancellation Terms

  • Cancellations must be made in writing via email, fax or mail
  • All advance payments, less a $600 USD per person cancellation fee, are refundable until July 12, 2023
  • From July 13 to October 29, 2023, there is a $1,800 per person cancellation fee
  • There are no refunds after October 29, 2023
  • Air cancellation terms are additional

TRAVELER HEALTH

At TravelQuest we want to be sure you find the trip that best suits your interests and level of fitness. Prior to making a booking, it is the responsibility of each traveler to thoroughly read the itinerary, and to acquire and understand all pertinent medical advice to determine whether they are in an appropriate state of physical health to undertake the trip. At a minimum, participants must be able to climb into and out of buses, vans and trains without assistance, to carry their own luggage, and to generally keep up with the pace of the trip. If you have any questions about your trip’s itinerary or its level of difficulty, please contact us prior to booking.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel insurance protects you from unexpected “what ifs”: What if your bags go missing? What if you have to cancel? What if you need medical assistance? TravelQuest highly recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help secure you and your trip investment against the unexpected. You can purchase this insurance on your own or contact our friends at Travelex, who are familiar with our trips and offer a selection of coverage options to suit your needs. To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, Travelex plans must be purchased within 15 days from the time you make your initial deposit to TravelQuest. ALL Travelex policies must be purchased at least 14 days prior to your departure date.

For more information on these plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex Insurance Services direct at 1-800-228-9792, and reference location number 03-6043.

 TravelEx Insurance