Reach for the stars: top stargazing holiday destinations

There’s a reason ALMA Observatory scientists chose Chile’s biggest desert when they needed a spot to ‘search for our cosmic origins’. Actually, there are several reasons. 5000-metre altitudes minimise atmospheric distortion, the distance from human settlements reduces light and radio interference to near-zero, and - most importantly - just a few millimetres of annual rain means the clear night sky is rarely cluttered with clouds. All in all, the Atacama Desert is one of the best places in the world to see the Southern Hemisphere stars, including the Southern Cross, the Tarantula Nebula, the Fornax Cluster, and the Large Magellanic Cloud.

One of the best ways to see the Atacama night sky is as part of a tour such as the 11-Day Best of Chile from Atacama to Patagonia, which also takes in the desert’s hot springs and salt flats. Alternatively, spectacular stargazing experiences can be taken from luxury hotels at the edge of the wilderness, such as Nayara Alto Atacama, Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa, or Explora Lodge Atacama. While in the area, take time to hike or bike through the rugged landscape of Valle de la Luna, see flamingos gather at the Salar de Atacama, search for ancient petroglyphs in Rainbow Valley, or float in the clear waters of the Cejar Lagoon.

Dedicated to protecting the night sky for observers all over the world, DarkSky International has officially designated over 200 International Dark Sky Places since 2007. The very first was the Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah. Not only does this area of the Western US have some of the darkest and clearest skies in the world, it also has the perfect frame for their beauty. From the right spot in the park, the Owachomo Bridge creates a natural window through which the Milky Way flows to create a magical ‘River of light’ illusion.

Positioned close to Lake Powell and Bryce Canyon National Park, Natural Bridges is just one highlight in an American wilderness filled with breathtaking natural phenomena. Include its incredible starlight views as part of a 15-Day Western USA Discovery tour, covering the California Coast from San Diego to San Francisco, along with time in the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley, and Yosemite. For superb stargazing in Utah, closer to Salt Lake City, East Canyon State Park is one of the most recently named Dark Sky destinations on Earth.

The number one reason for visiting an African game reserve is to witness incredible natural sights. Thanks to the majority of parks being positioned far away from towns in vast areas without light pollution, many of these captivating scenes can be found far above ground level. At over 7,500 square miles, Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa and one of the country’s best spots for unspoiled stargazing. Guided viewing to find the Southern Cross, the Scorpius constellation, or even Saturn’s rings is available from most Kruger lodges, or you can simply step outside and sit for a while before bed.

With two safari drives each day, barbecue feasts, lodge pools, and any number of wildlife and nature experiences, you’ll never be short of things to do while you wait for the stars to appear in Kruger. The park also brilliantly combines with several nearby destinations, including Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Mozambique, or anywhere across Southern Africa. For a truly magical stargazing experience, choose a South Africa safari lodge with a sleepout bed on a private platform, such as Lion Sands.

13,803 feet above the Pacific Ocean at Hawaii’s Big Island sits one of the largest observatories on Earth. Thirteen of the most powerful telescopes ever built are perched at the summit of Mauna Kea, looking out towards the edges of the observable universe. While the scientists do their important work at the peak, visitors can take advantage of this incredible viewing location by joining a tour or driving up to the Visitor Center, 9,200 feet up the mountain slopes. From here, almost 85% of all the stars visible from either hemisphere can be seen.

Watching the skies is just one highlight of any visit to The Big Island. Five active volcanoes offer opportunities to hike through mountain trails to find ancient petroglyphs, climb through lava tubes, and even look down into a bubbling pit of molten rock inside Kīlauea. At sea level, luxury resorts sit beside black and white sand beaches, while the blue sea surrounding the island offers prime sports for both surfing and diving. From outer space to under the sea, few places offer such a range of natural landscapes as Hawaii.

In a country packed with breathtaking landscapes, Aoraki, also known as Mount Cook, on New Zealand’s South Island, is one of the most magnificent. Designated an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2012, the mountain and the Mackenzie Basin around it are kept free from light pollution to allow stargazers to appreciate the glittering blanket which covers the region at night. One of the largest and most accessible Dark Sky destinations, Aoraki Mackenzie offers a huge range of stargazing activities, from private tours and photography classes at Lake Tekapo to musical storytelling straight after sunset.

While stars can be seen from all over the reserve, guests staying at The Hermitage Hotel on the mountain, either independently or as part of a tour, can enjoy some of the most luxurious astronomy experiences in New Zealand and can do it in any weather. Guided viewing from a specially constructed outdoor platform takes place every clear night, while a 360° digital dome offers a high-definition tour of the sky when the weather is less favourable. Aoraki is an ideal stop on a tour or self-drive along the eastern side of South Island between Christchurch and Queenstown or Dunedin.

A private nature reserve at the edge of the southwest Namib Desert, NamibRand, was established to protect the region’s unique ecosystems by preserving fence-free migratory routes for its wildlife. As a fantastic bonus, it’s also become one of the best stargazing destinations in Africa. Positioned beside the world’s oldest desert, in one of the most sparsely populated areas of the continent’s Atlantic Coast, the light pollution in NamibRand is next to nil. Designated a Dark Sky Reserve in 2012, it seems sure to stay that way for generations to come.

Stargazing in and around the NamibRand Nature Reserve is best experienced as part of a more extensive tour of Namibia and its many distinctive natural attractions. Gigantic red dunes at Sossusvlei, ancient petroglyphs at Twyfelfontein, and the decaying wrecks of the Skeleton Coast are just a few of the highlights of any Namibia self-drive tour. Add in the colonial capital of Windhoek, the diverse wildlife of Etosha National Park, and the coastal playground of Swakopmund, and you’ll soon discover Namibia is far more than “just” a desert.