If JY aren't running a sunrise trip as an optional excursion, I suggest dropping James at Easter Island Spirit an e-mail and he will happily fix it up for you (the website and tour details are earlier in this thread). You will be back at the hotel in time for breakfast so plenty of time to do it on any of your three mornings, even before your JY included tours on Days 2 &3.

Your guide will pick you up at the hotel, (probably around 6-6.30am) it's about a 20 minute drive out to Tongariki, and will have you there and in the best position way before the sun comes up (this is important as the light show is actually at it's best before dawn breaks). As you are going in October, a month later than I did, the sun should rise almost directly behind the Moai on the ahu itself, which should give you some spectacular photos (cloudy days permitting). After the sun is up, you'll also get a chance to see some of the petroglyphs at the site which are not so clearly visible during the day time. (Tip: Wrap up warmly because there's a chilly wind at that time of day and take a little pocket torch because the ground is very uneven so could be risky in the half light)

What ever you choose to do, Rapa Nui will not disappoint, I promise!

Happy to help if you've got any other questions

Mandy

Hi Julie and Trish

If JY aren't running a sunrise trip as an optional excursion, I suggest dropping James at Easter Island Spirit an e-mail and he will happily fix it up for you (the website and tour details are earlier in this thread). You will be back at the hotel in time for breakfast so plenty of time to do it on any of your three mornings, even before your JY included tours on Days 2 &3.

Your guide will pick you up at the hotel, (probably around 6-6.30am) it's about a 20 minute drive out to Tongariki, and will have you there and in the best position way before the sun comes up (this is important as the light show is actually at it's best before dawn breaks). As you are going in October, a month later than I did, the sun should rise almost directly behind the Moai on the ahu itself, which should give you some spectacular photos (cloudy days permitting). After the sun is up, you'll also get a chance to see some of the petroglyphs at the site which are not so clearly visible during the day time. (Tip: Wrap up warmly because there's a chilly wind at that time of day and take a little pocket torch because the ground is very uneven so could be risky in the half light)

What ever you choose to do, Rapa Nui will not disappoint, I promise!

Happy to help if you've got any other questions

Mandy

Thank you Mandy,

Also thank you for the tips,

Warm regards Julie

Hi Julie and Trish

If JY aren't running a sunrise trip as an optional excursion, I suggest dropping James at Easter Island Spirit an e-mail and he will happily fix it up for you (the website and tour details are earlier in this thread). You will be back at the hotel in time for breakfast so plenty of time to do it on any of your three mornings, even before your JY included tours on Days 2 &3.

Your guide will pick you up at the hotel, (probably around 6-6.30am) it's about a 20 minute drive out to Tongariki, and will have you there and in the best position way before the sun comes up (this is important as the light show is actually at it's best before dawn breaks). As you are going in October, a month later than I did, the sun should rise almost directly behind the Moai on the ahu itself, which should give you some spectacular photos (cloudy days permitting). After the sun is up, you'll also get a chance to see some of the petroglyphs at the site which are not so clearly visible during the day time. (Tip: Wrap up warmly because there's a chilly wind at that time of day and take a little pocket torch because the ground is very uneven so could be risky in the half light)

What ever you choose to do, Rapa Nui will not disappoint, I promise!

Happy to help if you've got any other questions

Mandy

Thank you Mandy,

Also thank you for the tips,

Warm regards Julie

My thanks too Mandy.

Apologies if I have sent this message twice but I wasn't sure the first one went through. I am also on the November tour and very much like the sound of the sunrise tour. I just wanted to clarify if JY were going considering offering this as an optional extra or if it needed to be booked separately?

Am very much looking forward to this holiday and counting down the months till we go!!

Thanks,

Taffy.

Hi Mildred

I am also on the November departure and reading this thread and Patrick's blog about Chile, I am now even more excited than I was before. 

Just want to clarify one thing as I'm getting slight confused. Is the sunrise excursion an optional extra that JY will be offering or do we have to arrange it independently if we are interested?

Thanks,

Taffy.

Good Afternoon Taffy,

Apologies for the delayed response.

At the moment we are working on making this excursion an optional extra.

Kind Regards,

Mildred

Hi Mildred

Apologies if I have sent this message twice but I wasn't sure the first one went through. I am also on the November tour and very much like the sound of the sunrise tour. I just wanted to clarify if JY were going considering offering this as an optional extra or if it needed to be booked separately?

Am very much looking forward to this holiday and counting down the months till we go!!

Thanks,

Taffy.

Good Afternoon Taffy,

I have just responded to your previous post. Apologies for the delay again.

Have a wonderful day.

Kind Regards,

Mildred.

That is great to hear, well done to JY.  Hope it can be arranged.  Thanks to Taffy for asking the question.

All the best,

Bob

Best wishes,

Bob

Did they send you a letter with optional excursions? I go in October and have paid and there is not mention of the sunrise excursion. Hopefully someone at Just You can look into this for me.

Many thanks Julie

Trust me - it is well worth the early start. Remember to take a little torch because the ground can be pretty uneven and a bit iffy in the dark. If your guide doesn't suggest it, try to stand as far back from the Ahu itself as you can, either by the fallen moai in front of the Tongariki plaza or by the birthing station (long story....) . This way you will get the full impact of the pre-sunrise lightshow and a fab panorama for your photos.

Jealous? Moi??

Mandy

I understand that Sally, Bob and at least one other traveller on the Chile & Easter Island tour (departure 13th November), have received new flight timings together with details of the Tongariki sunrise excursion.

To date I've received nothing either by post or email, and would ask if you can investigate this for me please? If you've already sent a copy by post (I have selected the post option over email) then maybe you can confirm that.

Many thanks

Mike

I received an email with the 15 week paperwork which included detail of the excursion:-

Sunrise at Ahu Tongariki - Prebookable Only (£91.50)

Visit Ahu Tongariki at sunrise, the largest ahu on Easter Island. A highlight the island with amazing photo opportunities.

Early morning excursion - Minimal walking - An opportunity not to be missed

Please note: This excursion must be booked 30 days before departure

I have to say, at a cost of £91.50 I sincerely hope there's more to it than a half hour drive out to the location, watch the sun come up, then drive back!!!!

Mandy

Thanks for the words of advice - I will be keeping a keen eye out for the 'birthing station'.

Yes - please don't let Mr Gray trip over the birthing station in the dark - that would be one heck of a story behind a plaster cast on a broken ankle! (It's very low on the ground and I doubt you would see it in the dark until too late)

I don't want to question the price (especially as JY have gone to the trouble of organising it for you) but £91.50 does seem a bit steep. Unless they are adding something else for you, it literally is a half hour drive out to Tongariki, about 90 minutes on site and then a drive back). Again, not wanting to do JY out of the business but although JGP offers the tour to a single person for $140, his price decreases for up to three more guests ($180 for 2, $220 for 3 or $250 for 4). So, if you got all 'the usual suspects' together, you would probably only pay about £50 a head. Just a thought.

All the best

Mandy

I will start a new thread regarding the sunrise excursion. I think they ignored my earlier reply.

I am getting exciting about this trip not long to go now. Counting the days

Warm regards Julie

Thank you,

Taffy.

Hi Julia,

I understand that Sally, Bob and at least one other traveller on the Chile & Easter Island tour (departure 13th November), have received new flight timings together with details of the Tongariki sunrise excursion.

To date I've received nothing either by post or email, and would ask if you can investigate this for me please? If you've already sent a copy by post (I have selected the post option over email) then maybe you can confirm that.

Many thanks

Mike

Good Afternoon Mike,

Apologies for the delayed response.

I would like to confirm that a copy of the holiday information has now been sent to you.

Kind Regards,

Mildred