The best places in the world for stargazing

The state of Utah has more International Dark Sky Places than anywhere else in the world – 24 to be exact. Its arid climate and high-altitude deserts ensure unfettered views of the stars. Zion and Arches National Parks are two of the state’s busiest parks with Dark Sky status, but if you want the sky to yourself, head out to the Dark Sky-certified Canyonlands or Bryce Canyon National Parks, which both run regular stargazing events.

The Elqui Valley in north-central Chile has high elevation, low population density and is nearly cloud-free – making the perfect conditions for stargazing. The entire area was declared an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2015 and with over half of Earth’s astronomy infrastructure and more being constructed here (including the new dark-matter-hunting Vera C Rubin Observatory), there are plenty of places to get your eyes on the skies. Stay in the village of Vicuña and start at the Observatorio Cerro Mamalluca, where astronomers offer introductions to the planets, stars and galaxies through a variety of high-powered telescopes.

Te Waipounamu, aka the South Island of New Zealand, is a stargazer’s paradise with mountainous landscapes and very low light pollution. Wai-Iti International Dark Sky Park hosts regular starry events, while Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve at the heart of the island is one of the world’s largest. Here you can go stargazing on Mount John with Dark Sky Project and learn about indigenous Māori sky beliefs and traditions. Finally, the remote Rakiura (Stewart Island) to the south is an International Dark Sky Sanctuary where you can spot the Aurora Australis, the southern lights.

The entire Canary Island of La Palma is protected from light pollution by law and was named a domestic ‘Starlight Reserve’ by Spain’s Fundación Starlight. Quieter and less crowded with sunseekers than other Canary Islands, La Palma’s volcanic heights are crowned by the world-class Roque de los Muchachos astronomical observatory, which is open to visitors and is crisscrossed by hiking trails – including many signposted for night hikes with stargazing viewpoints. Look out for Bodegas Teneguía, a ‘starlight winery’ where you can sample local vino in the moonlight.

The sand dunes of NamibRand Nature Reserve ripple below some of the darkest skies on Earth. It’s only the second place on Earth to be named a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserve, and to preserve its status it even goes so far as to regulate the use of vehicle headlights to protect its delicate, desert ecosystem and nocturnal creatures. Several lodges, such as Kwessie Dunes Lodge and Wolwedans, offer stargazing safaris with astronomy programmes and open-sky stargazing rooms to sleep under the cosmos.

The world’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, Quebec’s Mont-Mégantic is a granite mountain range that rises along Canada’s border with the US states of Vermont and Maine. The ASTROLab at its summit houses an astronomical observatory and visitor centre where travellers can get a clear glimpse of the heavens during guided stargazing sessions through snazzy pro telescopes. Look out for special evenings for cosmic events like eclipses, as well as an annual summer astro festival every July.

Astrotourism is developing in Uzbekistan, where the dark skies are largely unpolluted and perfect for adventurous stargazing. Stop through Samarkand to see where medieval astronomer Ulugh Beg built an observatory in the 1420s and then make for the Aral Sea. Ecotourism here is helping to tackle the drying up of the sea – an environmental disaster created by irrigation in the second half of the twentieth century. Book a tour with BesQala to stay in a remote yurt camp and enjoy dark, starry skies along with a visit to the sea. 

Community-based tourism meets astronomy in Ladakh – India’s most isolated and desolate region – where Astrostays offer homestays equipped with telescopes and spend their earnings on stargazing guide training for local women. Ladakh’s arid climate means there are many clear nights for astronomy and the high, Himalayan elevation gets you as close as possible to the stars. Astrostays recently opened its new ‘Cosmohub’ inside a 700-year-old Tibetan monastery in the village of Phyang – a chance for telescope stargazing with Buddhist monks.

The largest protected area in all of East Africa, Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park is full of nocturnal wonders in the sky and on land. There’s zero light pollution at the remote Usangu Expedition Camp (open from June-January), so you’ll find top-notch views of the vast Tanzanian sky using the camp’s dedicated telescopes. Visitors can also use night-vision equipment to take part in citizen science tracking of nocturnal animals, such as leopards and hyenas. Best of all? Your money goes directly to community-based conservation.

The new Red Sea Global development in Saudi Arabia has made headlines with its eco-protection efforts, including ambitions to create the world’s largest dark sky reserve. New minimalist-chic, five-star resorts, like the Six Senses Southern Dunes, must follow strict guidelines to protect biodiversity and eliminate light pollution. These resorts offer astronomy programmes that take in the vast Red Sea skies and teach the history of Arabian astronomy, which dates back to Medieval times and earlier. 

When it comes to seeing starry skies in South America, you might immediately think of the jagged peaks of Patagonia – but this quiet province in Argentina’s northeast corner is a jungle corridor of dark nights. At Cielo Guaraní (Guaraní Sky) in Salto Encantado Provincial Park, visitors connect with the cosmology and culture of the Indigenous Guaraní communities. Torchlit excursions into the jungle give insights into Guaraní culture, sky stories and the park’s rich nocturnal biodiversity. Stay at Moconá Virgin Lodge for more nighttime activities, including guided stargazing and campfire dinners with storytelling.