The Path of Totality Solar Eclipse Experience in Houston and Austin

Houston, Austin,

Culture & History

Explore the earth and sky in luxury on this special total solar eclipse Texas adventure.

Houston, Austin,

Culture & History

Explore the earth and sky in luxury on this special total solar eclipse Texas adventure.

The Path of Totality Solar Eclipse Experience in Houston and Austin

Houston, Austin,

Culture & History

Explore the earth and sky in luxury on this special total solar eclipse Texas adventure.

The Path of Totality Solar Eclipse Experience in Houston and Austin

Houston, Austin,

Culture & History

Explore the earth and sky in luxury on this special total solar eclipse Texas adventure.

The Path of Totality Solar Eclipse Experience in Houston and Austin

Houston, Austin,

Culture & History

Explore the earth and sky in luxury on this special total solar eclipse Texas adventure.

EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW

This 2024 group trip takes you on a luxury earth and sky adventure in southeast and southcentral Texas, exploring beautiful landscapes, visiting space-centered attractions and art installations, and enjoying incredible food and wine experiences—all culminating in a spectacular mid-day viewing of a total solar eclipse. And the next time a total solar eclipse will occur is 2044!

Your vacation starts in Houston, where you’ll have deluxe accommodations at the chic Hotel ZaZa, located in the city’s popular museum district. While there, you’ll enjoy richly-appointed rooms, excellent service, and hotel amenities such as an onsite fine-dining restaurant, poolside bar, and wellness spa, and you’ll be walking distance to some of Houston’s best cultural attractions.

As part of the trip, you’ll also enjoy a sunset visit to the stunning Turrell Twilight Skyspace followed by a welcome dinner at one of the city’s top restaurants; a full-day private exploration and tour of NASA’s famed Houston Space Center; a guided walk-through of the Neutral Buoyancy Lab at the Sonny Carter Training Facility (where astronauts train underwater); and a private event at the George Observatory, complete with a constellation laser tour and a chance to view planets and deep sky objects through deck and dome telescopes.

After three fabulous nights in Houston, you’ll travel to the capital city of Austin, which will be on the edge of the eclipse’s direct path as it moves through Texas. In Austin, you’ll stay at the elegant Commodore Perry Estate—a former Gatsby-era mansion estate turned hotel—set on ten beautifully landscaped acres in the heart of the city.

At the estate, you’ll have deluxe accommodations in a spacious, European-inspired guestroom with antique furnishings, luxurious linens, and gorgeous views of the property. You’ll also have access to the hotel’s pool and gardens, lounge and terrace, and special onsite activities.

Minimum 12 people needed to run trip. Maximum 24 people.

In Austin, we’ve arranged for you to take a guided walk through the scenic trails of the Lady Bird Wildflower Center to enjoy the lush greenery and colorful blooms of the state’s largest native plant collection. That night, you’ll have dinner at the hotel and also enjoy an immersive tequila or bourbon-tasting experience.

On the day of the eclipse, you’ll travel outside of the city to one of Austin’s fabulous vineyard wineries. There, you’ll meet the owners, take a tour of the facilities, learn more about the winemaking process, and wrap up with a special wine tasting.

As the moon begins to pass between the earth and the sun, you’ll be in place and ready to experience eclipse totality. For about four minutes, you’ll enjoy near darkness in the middle of the day—a rare event that won’t occur again in the US until 2044.

That evening, you’ll relax with an elegant farewell dinner and raise a toast to both the solar event and your incredible vacation—a fantastic way to end an unforgettable getaway.

highlights

5 days / 4 nights in Houston and Austin, Texas
Deluxe accommodations at two luxury hotels during your stay
Private transportation to and from the airport
A visit to the Turrell Twilight Skyspace at Rice University
Full-day, private tour of Houston Space Center
A guided tour of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
Private event at the George Observatory
Guided walk through the gardens at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
An immersive tequila or bourbon-tasting experience
Austin winery tour and tasting
Optimal viewing of the solar eclipse (including the 4-minute totality)
Most meals included during your stay (see itinerary)

Highlights

5 days / 4 nights in Houston and Austin, Texas
Deluxe accommodations at two luxury hotels during your stay
Private transportation to and from the airport
A visit to the Turrell Twilight Skyspace at Rice University
Full-day, private tour of Houston Space Center
A guided tour of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
Private event at the George Observatory
Guided walk through the gardens at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
An immersive tequila or bourbon-tasting experience
Austin winery tour and tasting
Optimal viewing of the solar eclipse (including the 4-minute totality)
Most meals included during your stay (see itinerary)

Minimum 12 people needed to run trip. Maximum 24 people.

That evening, you’ll relax with an elegant farewell dinner and raise a toast to both the solar event and your incredible vacation—a fantastic way to end an unforgettable getaway.

Trip details

Trip Type: Small Group

Comfort: Luxury

Travel Styles: Leisure, Adventure

Starts: Houston, United States

Finishes: Austin, United States

Duration: 5 days

ITINERARY

1Welcome to Houston, TX!

Arrive at the airport and enjoy a private transfer to Hotel ZaZa Houston located in the city’s museum district
In the early evening, you’ll visit the Turrell Twilight Skyspace at Rice University to experience the structure’s stunning sunset light sequence
Afterwards, you’ll wrap up the day with a welcome dinner at one of Houston’s top restaurants

Suggested Itinerary Enhancements:

Stroll through the museum district
Relax by the hotel pool
View the many public art displays at Rice University

2Houston Space Center and George Observatory with retired astronaut

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll travel to NASA’s Houston Space Center for a full day of private exploration that includes time with a retired astronaut and an exclusive tour of three areas — Apollo mission control, the ISS astronaut training facility, and the Saturn 5 rocket
After the tour, you’ll visit the offsite Sonny Carter Training Facility for a guided walk through the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, a submerged mock-up space stations where astronauts train underwater
That evening, you’ll enjoy a private event at the George Observatory that includes a constellation laser tour and a chance to view planets and deep sky objects through deck and dome telescopes
All meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — are included in the day’s itinerary

Suggested Itinerary Enhancements:

Try one of the simulator rides at the Space Center
Pick up souvenirs at Space Trader, Space Center Houston’s official gift shop
Have late-night cocktails at the hotel lounge before turning in

3Houston to Austin & Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Today you’ll leave Houston and travel to Austin, for a stay at the luxurious Commodore Perry Estate
During the day, you’ll enjoy a guided tour along the scenic garden trails of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to see Texas’ largest collection of native plants
That night, enjoy an elegant dinner and an immersive tequila or bourbon tasting onsite
All meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — are included in the day’s itinerary

Suggested Itinerary Enhancements:

Take a walk through the hotel’s beautiful, park-like grounds
Explore the nearby Hancock or Hyde Park neighborhoods

4The Path of Totality viewing with wine!

On your last full day, you’ll have breakfast at the hotel before heading to hill country just outside the city —an optimal location for total solar eclipse viewing to experience the Path of Totality
You’ll visit a local winery, where you’ll meet the owners, tour the facilities, and enjoy a special wine tasting before experiencing the four-minute totality of the eclipse
That afternoon, you’ll return to the hotel where you can enjoy leisure time, dinner, a celebratory toast to the trip, and a final relaxing evening
All meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — are included in the day’s itinerary

Suggested Itinerary Enhancements:

Take a dip in the pool before dinner
Have a glass of wine in the hotel garden
Sign up for one of the hotel’s classes or workshops
Enjoy music and entertainment at one of Austin’s local pubs

5Depart for home

Check out of your hotel and depart for home
Start planning your next Manifest Escapes getaway

Welcome to Houston, TX!

Arrive at the airport and enjoy a private transfer to Hotel ZaZa Houston located in the city’s museum district
In the early evening, you’ll visit the Turrell Twilight Skyspace at Rice University to experience the structure’s stunning sunset light sequence
Afterwards, you’ll wrap up the day with a welcome dinner at one of Houston’s top restaurants

Suggested Itinerary Enhancements:

Stroll through the museum district
Relax by the hotel pool
View the many public art displays at Rice University

Houston Space Center and George Observatory with retired astronaut

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll travel to NASA’s Houston Space Center for a full day of private exploration that includes time with a retired astronaut and an exclusive tour of three areas — Apollo mission control, the ISS astronaut training facility, and the Saturn 5 rocket
After the tour, you’ll visit the offsite Sonny Carter Training Facility for a guided walk through the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, a submerged mock-up space stations where astronauts train underwater
That evening, you’ll enjoy a private event at the George Observatory that includes a constellation laser tour and a chance to view planets and deep sky objects through deck and dome telescopes
All meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — are included in the day’s itinerary

Suggested Itinerary Enhancements:

Try one of the simulator rides at the Space Center
Pick up souvenirs at Space Trader, Space Center Houston’s official gift shop
Have late-night cocktails at the hotel lounge before turning in

Houston to Austin & Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Today you’ll leave Houston and travel to Austin, for a stay at the luxurious Commodore Perry Estate
During the day, you’ll enjoy a guided tour along the scenic garden trails of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to see Texas’ largest collection of native plants
That night, enjoy an elegant dinner and an immersive tequila or bourbon tasting onsite
All meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — are included in the day’s itinerary

Suggested Itinerary Enhancements:

Take a walk through the hotel’s beautiful, park-like grounds
Explore the nearby Hancock or Hyde Park neighborhoods

The Path of Totality viewing with wine!

On your last full day, you’ll have breakfast at the hotel before heading to hill country just outside the city —an optimal location for total solar eclipse viewing to experience the Path of Totality
You’ll visit a local winery, where you’ll meet the owners, tour the facilities, and enjoy a special wine tasting before experiencing the four-minute totality of the eclipse
That afternoon, you’ll return to the hotel where you can enjoy leisure time, dinner, a celebratory toast to the trip, and a final relaxing evening
All meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — are included in the day’s itinerary

Suggested Itinerary Enhancements:

Take a dip in the pool before dinner
Have a glass of wine in the hotel garden
Sign up for one of the hotel’s classes or workshops
Enjoy music and entertainment at one of Austin’s local pubs

Depart for home

Check out of your hotel and depart for home
Start planning your next Manifest Escapes getaway

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Private car service from your home to the airport
Deluxe accommodations at two luxury resort hotels
A visit to the Turrell Twilight Skyspace at Rice University
Full-day, private tour of Houston Space Center
A guided tour of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
Private event at the George Observatory
A guided walk through the gardens at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
An immersive tequila or bourbon-tasting experience
Austin winery tour and tasting
Optimal viewing of the solar eclipse (including the 4-minute totality)
Most meals are included during your stay (see itinerary)
Private car service from the airport back to your home

ACCOMMODATIONS

Deluxe accommodations at two luxury hotels—the Hotel ZaZa Houston and the Commodore Perry Estate in Austin—during your trip.

PAYMENT TERMS

50% due upon booking

50% due 120 days prior to trip start date

100% due if booked inside 120 days from trip start date

CANCELLATION TERMS

All payments are non-refundable once trip minimums are met.

Partner Details

Manifest Signature

In Business Since 2019

Manifest Signature - A unique collection of hotel properties combined with activities that offer an immersive experience tailored to your travel goals.

From $9,750 pp

Subject to availability Double occupancy (members only trip)