2026 Spain

Total solar eclipses are rare and awe-inspiring celestial events. It’s such a dramatic event that wildlife have been known to react to the sudden darkness. Perhaps the concept doesn’t seem like it should feel so dramatic, but encountering a total solar eclipse in the line of totality is a surreal experience.

We’ll start in Madrid, and then head north to the Atlantic coast, staying in Burgos and then Oviedo. We plan to view the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026 from the coast. Then we’ll head west, hiking a bit of the pilgrimage trail, finishing in Santiago de Compostela.

We’ll have multiple opportunities throughout the tour to be active, with hiking, biking, and kayaking. We’ll also include all of study travel’s traditional learning components, exploring Spain’s cultures, history, art, architecture, and local food and drink, including an experiential activity or two, such as digging for clams. As always, all activities are optional, and as per usual, we’ll deliberately schedule free chunks so that you can explore your own interests, such as attending a concert, soccer game, boat ride, etc.

Keeping in tune with Mediterranean culture, where meals take place much later in the day than we’re used to, we will include several group lunches, and keep most dinners on your own, so that you can decide how much and how late to eat.

This tour is full. Use the Contact Us button above to join the waitlist at no obligation.

This tour starts in Madrid and ends in Santiago de Compostela. You can view — and download or print, if you wish — the most up to date itinerary here.

Our intention with each tour is to provide an itinerary that introduces you to key elements related to your destination or the educational theme, while also providing some free time for you to pursue your own interests or have some down time. The balance can vary from day to day, and from tour to tour.

You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.

Dave and Pat Van Wylen are delighted to lead another learning and activity-rich St. Olaf Alumni & Family Travel program. They are veteran group travel leaders, having led both St. Olaf student and Alumni & Family Travel programs. With students, they led semester abroad programs in Asia (1998), the Middle East (2008), and Australia (2013). Dave taught three January interims in Peru (Peruvian Medical Experience), six interims of Cardiac Surgery and Research at Emory University in Atlanta, plus a summer Tanzania Global Health experience. Pat assisted on most of these programs as well as an interim Health Care and Culture course in Hawaii/Micronesia. With Alumni & Family Travel, they have led programs in the Netherlands (2015), New Zealand (2017, 2019 and 2026), Patagonia (2022), Spain (2022) Vietnam/Cambodia (2024), and Galapagos/Amazon (2025).

Dave (Biology) worked for 21 years at St. Olaf and then at Hope College for 9 years; he retired in May 2024. Pat worked in international studies at St. Olaf and Hope College and ran a small business assisting aging seniors.

Dave received his Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Michigan (Go Blue) and Pat has master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia in health administration and exercise physiology.

This tour is designed to be more active than the average study travel trip. The times of higher activity will be balanced by down times as well. Activities are encouraged, but you can choose to spend your time alternatively as desired. 

The timing of this tour, in the typically hot Spanish summer, is centered on our goal of experiencing a total solar eclipse. Weather will be hotter in Madrid and typically cooler in the north and mountains. We have air conditioned hotels and buses and will make schedule modifications if the heat index surges.

Movement between cities will be by air-conditioned private motor coach. Movement within each city and at cultural/historic sites will be on foot, requiring a lot of walking and standing, often over uneven ground. You should be capable of walking a mile or more at a time and up to five to seven miles per day, often over uneven terrain, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of climbing in and out of various types of transportation, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing different cultures, and be a considerate member of the group (prompt, courteous and flexible).

Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the tour leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities.

You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage throughout the tour. Traveling lightly is highly recommended.

Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private baths, air conditioning, and English-speaking staff.

Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully. We try to strike a balance between nickel-and-diming you once on the tour and allowing you some freedom in your price point (for meals, for example). A variety of modes of transportation tends to be pricier than a single bus throughout the tour. Highly rated guides are essential and should command higher wages.

The tour price is $9,534 per person, based on double occupancy. A supplement of $1,680 applies for single occupancy. High hotel rates throughout the country during the weeks surrounding the eclipse had a direct impact on this trip price.

Inclusions: discussions led by Dave Van Wylen, assistance by Pat Van Wylen, a dedicated tour manager, accommodations, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, admissions for group activities, ground transportation during the tour (except arrival and departure airport transfers), gratuities to group guides, drivers, and meal servers, and some limited medical coverage while overseas.

Exclusions: Airfare to and from Spain is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the program fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: airfare between your hometown and Spain, airport transfers, any passport fees, any recommended immunizations or vaccinations, baggage insurance, trip cancellation insurance above $2,000 lifetime coverage, beverages at group meals, laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature, expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities, lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on program itinerary.

This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour.

Deposit due:                          $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:          $475 until September 30, 2025. If the deposit is made after September 30, 2025, there is no refund.

Interim payment due:        $4,000 by October 1, 2025
Refund if you cancel:          $2,000 until April 30, 2026

Final payment due:             May 1, 2026
Refund:                                  None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Read the Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver.

Review the latest information on recommended immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Check your passport: ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the tour end date (or your return date, if you decide to extend your stay overseas) and at least one blank page.

Look at the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.

Take time to Prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, a safety overview, and more.

Hold the dates of August 7–20, 2026 and see some of our tips on Booking Your Flights, but do not book non-refundable air until we can confirm the tour is a go.