Embargoed: 30 June

Today, Specialist Tour Operator Explore has announced a series of exclusive Eclipse trips for 2019. These once-in-a-lifetime trips offer the chance to witness the solar eclipse from fascinating locations across the world:

• The expansive Wahiba Sands in Oman

• The Colonial Hill station of Ooty

• The remote and beautiful Analaitivu Island, Sri Lanka Borneo's remote tribal region of Batang Ai

• The vast rice paddies of Sumatra

• The garden of a private country house (with pool) near San Juan, Argentina 

ARGENTINIAN WINE & ECLIPSE
Departs 23 June 2019 * 14 days from £4,799 per person including flights
Watch the total solar eclipse from the garden of a private country house near San Juan – an area well known for its air quality, the lack of pollution and beautiful skies – accompanied by an astronomer, and visit an observatory in the region. This holiday for the senses combines eclipse watching with wine tasting in two regions known for their full-bodied reds – Mendoza and San Juan. You'll also explore Argentina's rocky deserts and discover the simple way of life in the mountains, contrasted with the sophisticated buzz of Buenos Aires.

ARABIAN SANDS & ECLIPSE
Departs 21 December 2019 * 8 days from £2,799 per person including flights
Imagine spending Christmas night in the desert, sleeping beneath the stars, and waking up to see a solar eclipse while you sip your morning coffee. The Wahiba Sands are home to the Bedu, nomadic tribesmen who roam the land with goats and camels or live in small fishing villages. This trip visits a local Bedouin family on Christmas Day to experience their culture. We'll also take a seasonal dip with a difference in a desert Wadi; experience the dunes by 4x4; see the impressive forts and Royal Palace of Muscat, and explore the cultural capital of Oman, Nizwa.

BANGALORE TO KOCHI & ECLIPSE
Departs 20 December 2019 * 11 days from £2,859 per person including flights
Travelling from Bangalore to Kochi on this 11 day trip, you'll view the solar eclipse at the colonial hill station of Ooty. You'll also drift through the backwaters on a traditional Keralan houseboat; ride the famous 100-year-old 'toy train' through the Nilgiri Mountains; discover the fascinating palace of Mysore, and end in the port city of Kochi, with its blend of Portuguese, Dutch and British historic influences.

NORTHERN SRI LANKA & ECLIPSE
Departs 20 December 2019 * 11 days from £3,199 per person including flights
This trip explores the north of Sri Lanka, taking in the solar eclipse from the small island of Analaitivu, located off the coast of Jaffna, the welcoming capital of the north. At Wilpattu National Park you'll search for leopard, elephant and sambar deer in their natural habitat. You'll also visit Mannar Island, the Dambulla cave temple and 'The Lions Rock' Sigiriya on this adventure.

SUMATRA & ECLIPSE
Departs 17 December * 16 days from £3,249 per person including flights
Sumatra is one of only two places in the world where you can see orang-utans in the wild, and there'll be opportunity for sightings on the trip while trekking through the jungle in Bukit Lawang. You'll also climb the active volcano of Mount Sibayak and travel by boat the remote Batak villages, learning about their ancestral traditions. On Boxing Day, see the total solar eclipse from the vast rice paddies of Padang Sidempaun - an experience to remember.

BORNEO & ECLIPSE
Departs 14 December 2019 * 17 days from £3,699 per person including flights
This trip showcases Borneo's famous endemic wildlife including orang-utan and proboscis monkeys. Meet and stay with welcoming tribal communities in their villages, and walk in the foothills of Mount Kinabalu and take a dip in the natural hot springs. The trip includes watching the solar eclipse from the remote tribal region of Batang Ai in the company of an astronomer.

With limited departures, the eclipse trips sell out fast – so book now to avoid disappointment.

01252 884 723 / www.explore.co.uk

-Ends-

For more media information, interview requests or images, please contact:

Laura Dewar, PR Manager Laura.dewar@explore.co.uk, 01252 379501