Ask Henry Cookson to plan a trip, and he won’t blink at the near-impossible. The former adventurer-turned-fixer of far-flung fantasies (and, of course, Robb Report Travel Master) recalls a challenge from a longtime client nearly a decade ago: Design a solar-eclipse experience unlike any other. 

Research pointed him north. The best viewing spot, Cookson learned, lay deep in the Arctic, nowhere near suitable luxury lodging. His answer was to build some. “We set up a specific camp in the path of the eclipse… and we had our astrophysicists. We had all the telescopes and all the photography equipment set up, ready for those 60-something seconds,” he says. But Cookson knew that his client would want that experience to be even more extraordinary, unwilling to settle for just one once-in-a-lifetime moment on any trip. So, he paired it with a chance to see the aurora borealis, pinpointing a remote stretch of rural Canada statistically least prone to cloud cover that time of year. It was March, so the landscape was frozen solid. He dispatched an advance team to prepare the location before clients arrived.

“We jumped on snow machines after we saw the eclipse, drove back 200 kilometers over the ice to jump on a private jet, flew over Greenland, and then landed at a fishing lodge we had thawed out. We spent five nights looking at the northern lights.”

It’s the sort of story that explains why astrotourism is thriving. Around the globe, more than 230 Dark Sky–certified sites now draw travelers seeking pristine night skies free of light pollution and generate millions in visitor spending. Sunil Metcalfe, another Travel Master from Black Tomato, says the firm has seen massive year-on-year growth in trips tied to celestial events. In Morocco, Alex Wix of Wix Squared frequently arranges Sahara journeys with a private astronomer to interpret the constellations. At least half her desert itineraries include one, driven by client curiosity.

There’s a significant moment looming this year, too: On August 12, a total solar eclipse will cast up to 60 seconds of darkness across parts of Europe just after 7:30 p.m. “I’ve had six new requests for that for August only, and these are not people that are passionate about this kind of tourism previously,” says Jaclyn Sienna India of Sienna Charles. 

The biggest challenge is timing: Prime vantage points are often secured well ahead of any event. Astrotourism pros need to be planners. “They tend to travel with groups of friends and plan in advance as much as possible—over 18 months in advance, for example,” Wix warns. But if you’ve always yearned to experience an immersive total solar eclipse, it isn’t too late to make plans. Through The Vault, we’ve partnered with Vestige Collection, a boutique hospitality group founded by health-care magnate Dr. Victor Madera and his family, to create an exclusive package for last-minute eclipse chasers. Madera has devoted his fortune to restoring historic estates and transforming them into intimate luxury retreats.

Its flagship, Son Vell, opened three years ago on the Balearic island of Menorca, which just happens to be one of the ideal perches from which to witness the eclipse. Madera has tapped his daughters to spearhead the projects; cofounder and brand director Marta is one of them. “As a family, we have always thought that Menorca was a wonderful island,” she says, calling the property “one of the finest stately homes in Ciutadella,” on the western coast. The 450-acre estate unfolds across manicured gardens and open countryside. “My personal favorite is the night garden, where we have planted olive, citrus, fig, and mulberry trees.” That landscape is designed to be experienced at dusk, when scent and sound sharpen as the light fades.

You could spend the eclipse wandering among those plantings, but perhaps opt instead for an even more exclusive locale, courtesy of this package. Guests will have two charters aboard the hotel’s 35-foot boat, L’Amo, a vintage vessel with enough room for sunbathing and two onboard Volvo engines that allow for smooth, coast-hugging cruising. Slip out in the early evening to secure an uninterrupted horizon, positioning offshore as the moon’s shadow moves across the Mediterranean. A second daytime cruise invites you and up 10 friends to explore the island’s coastline.

The experience includes four nights over the eclipse period in Son Vell’s 1,615-square-foot Grand Suite, with its own private terrace. You’ll also enjoy a celebratory dinner for two in the gardens, featuring local cuisine and wine pairings. 

All that’s left to pack are the protective glasses. $21,000

Top: Vestige Son Vell’s manor house, a Palladian-style villa on Menorca, is an ideal perch from which to witness this summer’s solar eclipse.