This month, we’re hosting an out-of-this-world journey for two lucky guests: an opportunity to be among the first to witness the solar eclipse before it crosses the United States for the first time in 99 years.
The adventure begins on Aug. 20, the eve of the eclipse, when one winner and their guest will travel to the outskirts of Bend, OR. The world-renowned destination for hiking and rock climbing will serve as a spectacular base camp, with guests spending the night in a transparent geodesic dome complete with an observation deck and a variety of telescopes. Everything that guests need for the outdoor adventure will be provided on site.
Guests will meet and chat with their host, Dr. Jedidah Isler, a National Geographic Explorer and internationally recognized scholar who was the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Yale University; and Babak Tafreshi, a National Geographic photographer and science journalist. Under a blanket of stars, Dr. Isler will share insights about the sun, moon, and stars beyond, before Babak leads guests through a workshop on how to capture National Geographic-worthy photos of the rare event.
On eclipse day, guests will rise before dawn to snag the best seats in the house. Together with their host and a small crew, they’ll board a private jet and head for the Oregon coastline:
- During the two-hour flight, high above the clouds and crowds, guests will cruise past the coastline and over the Pacific Ocean, moving directly into the moon’s shadow. While in flight, guests will be suspended within the path of totality, potentially extending eclipse viewing by up to one minute (relative to viewing time on the ground).
- On the way back, guests may be among the select few people to witness the eclipse as it crosses onto land for the first time, during which the aircraft will attempt to fly over Lincoln City to witness the possibility of the city’s street lights turning on.
Still, you don’t have to be one of the lucky winners to enjoy some of the best views the eclipse has to offer. More than 40,000 guest arrivals have turned to Airbnb to book homes along the path of totality, and there’s still time to book. From Oregon to South Carolina, we have nearly 3,800 homes available along the path of totality. If you’re unable to travel for the eclipse, however, many across the US will still enjoy a partial eclipse of at least 60 to 70 percent, regardless of location. If you’re not in the US, Airbnb and National Geographic will be streaming live from the Solar Eclipse -– giving people a glimpse at the extraordinary moment.
How to enter: From 9 a.m. EST on 8/1 to 11:59 p.m. EST on 8/10, enthusiasts will be invited to submit a response to a question posted here, using their Airbnb account. Entries will be judged based on how well the response answers the question, both in terms of creativity and originality. Contest is open to residents of the US, as well as Canada, excluding Quebec.