When the glow of screens dims and city noise fades away, nothing soothes like a night sky filled with stars. Stargazing trips are officially the hottest trend in 2025 travel and are perfect for anyone wanting a break from the everyday. These five destinations are real, accessible, and come with comfortable lodging options you can book today when ready.
1. Moab, Utah, USA
Moab is famous for its fiery red rock landscapes and exceptionally dark skies. Visit Under Canvas Moab or ULUM Moab (both certified as Dark Sky lodges) or any other nearby lodges in Moab. Some of these lodges provide canvas tents or cabins with giant windows and private telescopes. Evening programs include star tours led by local astronomers who bring the cosmos to life with stories of constellations and deep-sky objects.
By day, you can hike through Arches or Canyonlands National Parks and explore slot canyons. At night, enjoy a curated dinner under a canopy of stars. Imagine reclining on a shaded deck with a glass of your favourite beverage while the Milky Way arches overhead. It’s a stellar reset for mind and body.
2. Kaikōura, New Zealand
Where the Southern Alps meet the Pacific Ocean, Kaikōura offers one of the most stunning combined mountain and marine stargazing experiences. Recognised as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, more than 98 per cent of its sky meets strict lighting standards.
Stay at coastal lodges like Sudima Kaikōura for front-row seats to the stars. While the hotel doesn’t offer guided stargazing tours, it’s perfectly located for easy access to local astronomy experiences like Moana Skies. You can join a night tour or head to recommended dark-sky spots nearby for a DIY stargazing adventure. During the day, you can take whale watching trips or hike through native bushland. At night, enjoy fireside chats with local guides beside your beachfront cabin.
3. Sedona, Arizona, USA
Sedona’s dramatic red rock formations aren’t just for daytime hiking and vortex experiences. In 2014, Sedona was recognised as a Dark Sky Community, and hotels are offering full evening sky programs. Ambiente Sedona, for example, hosts rooftop stargazing events. These include high-powered telescopes, expert-led constellation tours, and nighttime hiking options that combine energy-vortex walks with star lore. The town’s low lighting and high elevation make celestial viewing spectacular.
By night, you can drift away under a full sky show after a day of exploring the red-rock canyons and catching local art and sound healing sessions.
4. Alentejo, Portugal
Alentejo is the first region in Europe to receive UNESCO Starlight certification for sky quality. Lodges like Montimerso SkyScape sit near Alqueva Lake. Your room may feature panoramic windows or a private terrace facing the sky. Evenings include guided star viewing sessions from lakeside platforms or intimate stargazing gardens. Stargazing is paired with local drinks, wildlife-spotting sounds, and yoga or meditation under the stars.
Your daytime might include kayaking on the lake, visiting medieval villages, enjoying farm-to-table dinners, or taking a dusk tour by bike that ends with a night sky lesson.
5. Wadi Rum, Jordan
In the heart of Jordan’s iconic red rock desert, several camps provide immersive night sky experiences. Options range from luxury bubble domes to traditional Bedouin tents under the same dome of stars.
Ideal camps like RumSky or Memories Aicha include guide-led astronomy nights with telescopes, simple astronomy primers, and traditional campfire dinners under the open sky. Wake just before dawn to watch desert red rock geology transform with sunrise and sip tea in silence. Expect dusty silence, sweeping skies with uncut views of the Milky Way, and being surrounded by massive sandstone cliffs at sunrise. This is a celestial wonder combined with Bedouin magic.
Ready to Star Gaze?
If you want a peaceful trip that calms your mind and elevates your soul, these five stays deliver unforgettable skies and meaningful experiences. Looking for a seamless way to book one?
QVI Vacay helps you find these cosmic-friendly retreats with elegant filters and member perks, making planning simple and fun.
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