The Eden Project will be hosting the ultimate space adventure holiday this summer (July 21 to September 2) starring a mission to Mars, mini-golf on Mercury and a daring slide down the surface of a moon.
Expedition Space is an all-new programme of intergalactic activities taking place across Eden throughout the school summer holidays with plenty to do in all weathers.
Everyone will have the chance to go on an extra-terrestrial holiday of a lifetime including planet-hopping, meeting alien friends and enjoying out-of-this-world fun such as moon buggy driving and a mind-blowing new virtual reality experience.
A big highlight will be Mission to Mars, where space explorers can climb aboard a rocket and blast into orbit while enjoying spectacular views of the Moon en-route.
The journey takes off from the Stage and will showcase the wonders of our stars and galaxies before culminating in a dramatic landing on the Red Planet.
Passengers can see the majesty of Mars and find out from a resident Martian expert what it would be like to live in this barren landscape.
The planet-hopping continues with a bucket list of activities including mini-golf on the cratered surface of Mercury, caving on Saturn's rocky moon Titan, and a lunar driving test on a Renault Zoe slot-car buggy. These activities will all take place in Eden's Arena, Orchard and outdoor gardens.
Thrill-seekers of all ages can bump, bounce and whizz down the icy slopes of Jupiter's smallest moon Europa on a daring slide located on the Arena hillside.
Back on Earth, in a new family show, visitors will be able to 'meet a local' in the form of a friendly alien who will give everyone the lowdown on space travel.
There will be daily space storytelling by Eden narrators and space-themed entertainment shows in the Mediterranean Biome.
A bespoke new virtual reality experience will take intrepid visitors on a thrilling trip across the fiery surface of Venus. Participants wearing headsets will have their real-life steps tracked and replicated in both virtual and augmented experiences while they traverse the planet's volcanic surface.
Gordon Seabright, Chief Executive of the Eden Project, said: “We're so excited to be launching our all-new adventure programme Expedition Space at Eden this summer.
“If you've ever wondered what it would be like to go on holiday to space, then climb aboard our Mission to Mars, try your hand at golf on Mercury or whizz down our huge slope from Jupiter.
“Expedition Space is going to be a fabulous celebration of our solar system with extra-terrestrial activities taking place throughout Eden - including in our stunning outdoor gardens - to suit sunny days, rainy days and every kind of space traveller.”
All activities, with the exception of the virtual reality experience, are included in the standard admission price. The virtual reality experience will cost £5 per person. For more details or to buy tickets, see www.edenproject.com.
Expedition Space is part of Invisible Worlds, a major new permanent exhibition that reveals the world beyond our senses. Its centrepiece in Eden's Core building is ∞ Blue (Infinity Blue), a spectacular new 8.5m sculpture that blows vapour rings.
