Daniel Oppliger
Daniel Oppliger
Solar Eclipse Travel Specialist
Solar Eclipse Cruise Australia 2011
Beginning in 1991, I have been taking clients all over the world with one-of-a-kind total solar eclipse experiences including Africa, Argentina, Australia, Baja California, Chile, China, Tahiti, Turkey, Java Sea of Indonesia and the USA.
Up next is Antarctica Dec. 4, 2021 followed by Australia Timor Sea April 20, 2023, then Mazatlan - USA April 8, 2024. We chose places where the weather is favorable and the length of the eclipse is longer. For example in Chile we stayed in La Serena along the Pacific Coast. People were upset because we have to do a two hour bus ride inland to our eclipse encampment. On the mountain the probability of clear skies was 89+ percent. In La Serena it was 20% chance of clear skies.
My first excursions was trip to the Baja Peninsula for 85 people in an RV caravan to view the total solar eclipse from the warm embrace of La Paz, Mexico.What started as a unique request for one customer has turned in to an adventure that has now been enjoyed by close to a 1300 clients.
Tropical Sails Corp chartered the Windjammer Barefoot tall ships for the solar eclipse off Guadeloupe in 1998. Chartered ships included the Fantome, the Polynesia, the Legacy, the Mandalay and the new Star Clipper ship. This led to expanding our offerings to cruise ships!
In 1999 Tropical Sails Corp organized a two week Turkey tour for 33 people sailing in private yachts past the Ephesus, the Dardanelles and Bosporus into the Black Sea.
In 2001, I led a Five Country African Safari covering 3000 miles through South Eastern Africa on safaris and riding in dugout canoes.
In 2008, they took a group on the Silk Road Adventure in China- From the Great Wall to the Xian City wall and Terracotta warriors we traveled by air, plane, and bus the great Silk Road of China. History came alive as we ride bicycles around the Xian city wall and camels in desert. Many of Tropical Sails Corps clients zip-lined down the mountain from White Pagoda Hill.
In 2009 Tropical Sails led a group on the traditional China Tour and Yangtze Cruise. The Great Wall to mahjong by the Temple of Heaven, our group visited all the sites in Beijing. In Xian we saw the Terracotta warriors, on to the Yangtze for three relaxing nights with great floor shows each night. In Shanghai we literally played atop the Oriental TV Tower. Onto the gardens of Suzhou and Hangzhou we toured.
In 2011Tropical Sails clients cruised the Australian coast and the Great Barrier Reef. visiting ports along the way as we saw koalas, trains, a river in Brisbane and reef trips all for a great time down under.
In 2012 we sailed from Singapore to the Java Sea for the total solar eclipse.
For the August 21, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse we had 5 coach tours from Salt Lake City, UT. One was a luxury tour the others standard coach tours.
2019 and 2020 led us to Chile and Argentina.
My Areas of Expertise
An Amazing Eclipse Experience
All places stated were visited, nothing was any trouble for the organisers and we enjoyed a fabulous coach drive throughout the tour with detailed and friendly commentary highlighting landmarks and other important points of scenic interest.
We Started from Salt lake City, traveled into Utah, and Wyoming against the backdrop of the Grand Tetons, onward into Yellowstone National Park. I had the pleasure of lecturing to and guiding a fantastic group of passengers throughout the eclipse experience. I'll always remember the camaraderie we shared.
I’ve traveled extensively with many tour companies but never felt more comfortable or confident as I have with Dan and Shirley’s company, Tropical Sails. R
A country wide tour to remember.
Thank you for you kind words.
The best trip of my life
Thank you for your kind wordsl
Special trip with special care
Thank you for your kind words. We found a faster way to take oversears payments by using VEEM. It is faster than banks and much less expensive than credit cards or Pay Pay. An Irish client used NicePay and that was fast and efficient.
Total Eclipse Cruis: Turkey
great organizer for eclipse trip
Thank you for the kind words. These trips are extremely difficult to organize. I am glad we exceeded your expectations.
excellent eclipse tour provider
Thank you for your kind words and patience. It was very difficult to organize.
Third Eclipse Trip
We're looking forward to booking the 2026 TSE (Spain) and the 2027 TSE (Morocco)
Thank you for the kind words.
Another great eclipse trip
Thanks for the kind workds.
Awesome Eclipse Viewing!
Everyone we spoke to was very helpful and answered all our questions.
And we had many! We got t shirts as well...
I wouldn't hesitate to travel with you again...
Thank you for your kind words.
Awesome Eclipse Viewing!
Everyone we spoke to was very helpful and answered all our questions.
And we had many! We got t shirts as well...
I wouldn't hesitate to travel with you again...
Thank you for your kind words,
An Amazing Tour Experience
Thanks Dave, I think you may have left a note earlier. Ok not to approve.
trip
Thank you for the kind words.
Great tour – hope to book again!
Some little thing (but that's outside the reach of Tropical Sails and the subcontractors): while the accomodations were ok and nothing to complain about – in terms of value for money –, it's amazing how little space some hotels avail to the guest, not for the persons, but for the things these persons want to unpack....
All together: great! We'll recommend Tropical Sails to many!
Thank you for your kind words.
Dan the man
Eclipse Tour Chile at the Vira Vira 2020
Nice trip
A very memorable trip
Thanks T. We have matched several men and women over the years to save them both money. I hope you enjoyed my talk in Idaho Falls.
Fun Tour of Turkey
The trip in several ways was one on my favorites. The tour guide and driver were so kind, timely, and professional… more than I was expecting. The quality of the hotels and the food were once again more than I was expecting. A couple times I had a balcony facing the Ocean. The itinerary was just as advertised. It seems the people are working to get return customers and good reviews. I am not used to getting more than I expected.
I really think Daniel’s company is doing the research to find the best deals. I found that Daniel is an honest person. I plan to check with Daniel again to ask him what good deals he has co
Charles, I am pleased that the tour went well. Thank you for your kind words.
Encouraging, knowledgeable, but not pushy
July 2, 2019 Total Eclipse
All Three Times Were A Charm!
Thank you for your kind words. I wish I could have been with you on the first two trips. As you know we had multiple groups for each tour.
Excellent Vacation by Dan
First total solar eclipse
sailing on ther Mandalay
Thank you M. I was my pleasure to help with your sailing adventure.
Gre experience with Dan and Tropical Sails Corp
We were on the Sultan, which was (is?) a wonderful gulet (yacht) with an expert crew (the cook was fantastic!). The location on azure seas, great food & drink, fun and enlightening shore excursions, and Dan (Tropical Sails) ensured we all enjoyed our entire trip. The itinerary was well thought out, and somewhat flexible... We didn't go on one shore excursion but stayed on the yacht and swam in the indescribably turquoise blue Mediterranean... During the walking tour of Ephesus I walked off to explore several alleyways on my own... Fantastic!
For the eclipse we sailed to the center line and had perfectly clear view!
I fully credit Dan (Tropical Sails Corp) for setting up the cruise and trip. It is one of the most unforgettably wonderful experiences of my life
Thank you John. See you August?