A solo eclipse trip: see totality with a hosted group, not on your own

A solo eclipse trip does not have to mean standing in a crowd of strangers with nobody to turn to when the sky goes dark. Spice Escapes runs a hosted week for people in exactly your position, Chasing the Eclipse, where most people book on their own and travel together as one small group with a host, so you see totality beside people you have spent the week getting to know.

A moment you will want to turn round and talk about

The total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027 is one you will want to share.

Spain's Instituto Geográfico Nacional says the band of totality covers almost the entire province of Cádiz, and that the country will not see another total solar eclipse for more than a quarter of a century.

Totality lasts a matter of minutes, and the first thing most people want afterwards is someone to say "did you see that" to. On your own in a strange town, that moment passes in silence. With a group you have shared walks and dinners with, it becomes the story of the week.

Going on your own, with company built in

Every Spice holiday has a host who travels with the group from start to finish, and groups are around fifteen people, and some reach twenty. Most people book on their own, so you will not be the only one arriving without a friend or partner. That takes care of the worries people raise most: walking into the hotel not knowing anyone, eating alone, and spending the evenings by yourself.

Company is a choice, not an obligation: take a quiet hour with a book and catch up at dinner. First time travelling solo? Start with our guide for first-time solo travellers, then read what joining a hosted group is really like. For the wider picture, see our solo holidays for the over 50s.

A room to yourself carries a single supplement or room-to-yourself cost, the same as on every Spice holiday. Our page on the single supplement explains how it is worked out.

Chasing the Eclipse: the week around the big day

Chasing the Eclipse is 7 nights, departing 31 Jul 2027 – 7 Aug 2027, from £2,899, with Rob Thompson as your host. Places left: 18 places left.

Spice secured accommodation in the path, so the group is based in the whitewashed hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera. The expert for the week is Dr Matthew Bothwell, the University of Cambridge Public Astronomer at the Institute of Astronomy, so there is someone in the group who knows exactly what you are looking at.

Home for the week is Hotel Tugasa Convento San Francisco, a restored 17th-century Franciscan monastery in the heart of Vejer, with original mosaics, countryside views and a restaurant serving traditional Andalusian cuisine.

The eclipse day

The plans for that day are centred around the eclipse, with plenty of time to enjoy the atmosphere and the excitement of being there together. That last word is the point of this page.

The days around it

• A day in Jerez de la Frontera is on offer, where the group could visit a traditional sherry bodega before seeing flamenco.
• There is also the opportunity to visit Cádiz, the old city almost surrounded by the Atlantic.
• A guided walking tour of Vejer can be arranged, taking in its history, Moorish influences and views.
• The group could have dinner at Casa del Califa in the heart of Vejer, with Moroccan-inspired food and the possibility of live music.

It sits among our culture and discovery holidays, and you can read more on the region in where Andalusia is and what it is known for.

Bring the right glasses

NASA says safe solar viewers must meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard, and that ordinary sunglasses, however dark, are not safe. Look at the Sun directly only during totality, when the Moon completely covers its bright face, and put your glasses straight back on as soon as any bright Sun reappears. The holiday's kit list points to a BBC Sky at Night Magazine buying guide.

If you cannot make that week

Surprising Seville is 4 nights in Andalucía's capital, departing 4 Mar 2027 – 8 Mar 2027, from £549, hosted by Jackie Whyte. A Taste of Lisbon is 3 nights, departing 15 Apr 2027 – 18 Apr 2027, from £639, with Pam Harte. Places left: 7 places left. See more on our Spain holidays page.

Questions people ask

Is it strange to go on an eclipse trip on your own?

Not on a Spice holiday, where most people book on their own. The host and the group give you company on the day and the evenings either side.

Will I have to share a room with a stranger?

You can have a room to yourself. Every Spice holiday carries a single supplement or room-to-yourself cost, and the holiday page shows it before you book.

Do I need to know anything about astronomy?

No, curiosity is enough. The expert for the week is a Cambridge astronomer who can explain what you are seeing.

How do I watch the eclipse safely?

Use certified solar viewing glasses that meet ISO 12312-2, since ordinary sunglasses are not safe. Take them off only during totality and put them back on the moment bright Sun reappears.

How do I book?

Spice holidays are booked online. The holiday page shows the live dates, prices and places, and its Book button takes you straight into the booking.

Book your place in the path

Places are limited and the accommodation sits inside the path, so booking early secures your bed. See the dates and book online on the Chasing the Eclipse page. Places left right now: 18 places left.

To ask how the group works first, talk to Rob Thompson, who owns Spice Escapes and hosts this week. Send a question through our contact page, or ask Rosie, the chat on the holiday page.