November 14, 2012, will be marked by one of nature’s most dramatic phenomena: a total solar eclipse, when the sun, moon, and earth are perfectly aligned and darkness washes over the earth in daylight. To witness a total solar eclipse is an unforgettable experience—and when combined with one of our special travel programs, it is a once-in-a-lifetime travel adventure! Our eclipse journey aboard the luxurious 100-guest Orion II offers us maximum flexibility to maneuver to the ideal viewing position near the Great Barrier Reef on Eclipse Day, the grand finale of our marvelous journey from the fascinating islands of eastern Indonesia to Australia. Astronomer Alex Filippenko, PhD, one of UC Berkeley’s most popular professors, will accompany us to share his expert knowledge—his 9th eclipse program with us!

Featured Astronomer

Alex Filippenko, PhD, is the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Professor in the Physical Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a leading authority on exploding stars, active galaxies, black holes, gamma-ray bursts, and the expansion of the Universe. Recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences and one of the world’s most highly cited astronomers, he has won numerous awards for his research, and his team’s discovery of cosmic “antigravity” was named the “Top Science Breakthrough of 1998” by the editors of Science magazine. An extraordinary educator, Dr. Filippenko has won the highest teaching awards at UC Berkeley, where the student body has voted him the “Best Professor” in 6 of the past 14 years. In 2006, he was named the Carnegie/CASE National Professor of the Year among doctoral institutions. He has appeared in numerous TV documentaries, including The Universe series on the History Channel, has produced four astronomy video courses with The Teaching Company, and coauthored an award-winning textbook. He has seen 11 total solar eclipses, joining Wilderness Travel eclipse trips in countries throughout the world.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

November 1
Benoa, Bali

Embark aboard the deluxe Orion II on the island of Bali.

November 2-3
Badas, Sumbawa / Komodo Dragons / Pink Beach

On Sumbawa, we have a chance to watch the island’s merry sport of buffalo racing (known as beraban kebo), with yoked teams of water buffalo charging through flooded rice paddies. We also visit the old teak palace of the former sultan before heading for Komodo, home of the fearsome Komodo dragons, for a guided walk in search of these amazing prehistoric beasts, and a chance to swim, snorkel, or kayak at coral-rich “Pink Beach.” Throughout our journey, we enjoy talks and presentations by an expert team of onboard Guest Lecturers.

November 4-5
Waingapu, Sumba

Sumba Island has a distinctive culture, with traditional ikat weavers, thatched houses, and ancestral tombs of stone. We explore Sumba’s villages and snorkel and swim at beautiful Kambera Beach. November 5 is at sea.

November 6-7
Kalabahi, Alor / Kisar, Malaku

On remote Alor Island, we head up to little-visited villages in the rugged interior, then explore Kisar in the Malaku region (more familiar to most as “the Moluccas”), a collection of forgotten islands located just north of Australia. In this realm of stunning fringing reefs and ancient cultures, we head ashore to explore Kisar Island’s history, with visits to remnant architecture from the Dutch period, including a stone church and a stone fort both over 400 years old.

November 8-9
The Tanimbars, Malaku

Sangliat Dol, a traditional village in the Tanimbars, is the center of the ancient “boat” culture of Malaku. In the village is a huge stone boat built to symbolize the arrival from the sea of the original inhabitants. We learn about the boat’s importance in Malaku’s culture and explore the village with local families as our hosts. We may also enjoy a ride in a traditional canoe and visit the market to look for ikat weavings, wooden carvings similar to those found in New Guinea, and possibly even old Dutch artefacts such as plates and coins. November 9 is at sea.

November 10-13
Asmat, West Papua / Thursday Island, Australia

On the island of New Guinea, many regions compete for the title of being most respected for their carvings and artefacts, but the Asmat region of West Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya) will always be high on the list of contenders.

The Asmat region spreads over an area of shallow mud flats and extensive mangroves with village houses built on stilts and wooden walkways, raised above the mud, linking one village area to the next. We visit the Agats museum in the region’s capital to see many fine examples of the local carvings. November 11 is at sea, and on November 12 we call on tiny Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, in the far north of Australia, with its beautiful harbor and rich history. On November 13 we are at sea positioning ourselves for viewing the eclipse from the centerline.

November 14
Eclipse Day!

On Eclipse Day, we will witness over two minutes of totality, with the magnificent solar corona visible to the naked eye. Our location off the coast of Cairns on the centerline offers the best weather along the eclipse path, and our mobility further increases our viewing prospects. Dr. Filippenko’s expert knowledge guides us through this spectacular phenomenon.

Eclipse begins 5:44:31 AM
Totality begins 6:38:14 AM Altitude of Sun during totality—13.8 degrees
Totality ends 6:40:19 AM
Eclipse ends 7:39:59 AM

Duration of totality: 2 minutes and 05 seconds

After lunch on board, a variety of activities are available this afternoon in Cairns. Farewell reception and final night on board the Orion II.

November 15
Cairns / Disembark

Disembark and bid farewell.

Weather Prospects

Based on analysis by NASA eclipse meteorologist Jay Anderson

While inland observation sites in northern and northeastern Australia are possible, they are mostly difficult to reach, with limited tourism infrastructure and few opportunities to move in the event of partial cloudiness. Overall, the most practical viewing areas with good weather prospects are on the coast near Cairns and Port Douglas. By positioning ourselves off the coast where the mountains have no influence, we can improve our odds of seeing the eclipse by five percent, and in the event of scattered clouds the mobility afforded by a ship increases our prospects even more.

“Clouds are born when ocean winds are forced over coastal mountains, a relationship that is verified by the daily weather and satellite observations along the Queensland coast. Even so, cloud prospects on land under the track of the 2012 eclipse are promising, as historical observations show a 66 percent frequency of sunshine in Port Douglas in past Novembers. By observing on the water, a few miles offshore, where the mountains have limited influence, we can improve the odds of seeing the eclipse by an additional five percent. Even better is a mobile observing platform such as the Orion II, which increases the chances of seeing the eclipse by a few more percentage points by taking advantage of holes in the cloud cover should eclipse day prove gloomy.” Jay Anderson

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure