We have discovered the best places in the world to go stargazing, offering clear, dark skies and stunning arrays of stars. These locations provide breathtaking and humbling views of the night sky, perfect for any stargazing enthusiast.
Finding a good stargazing spot can be challenging due to light pollution, often requiring travel to remote corners of the world. Explore these amazing stargazing destinations and book your trip before they become too popular. When it comes to stargazing, fewer people mean a better experience!
NamibRand Nature Reserve
One of the best places to stargaze is the NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia. In fact, it is second place in the world to be listed as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserve. This title helps preserve the location, keeping it restricted and dark! Here you will find sand dunes and dark skies that will show off millions of stars. To top it all off, there are several local lodges that offer stargazing safaris, astronomy programs, and even hotel rooms with open-sky stargazing ceilings. You can sleep under the stars in the lap of luxury here!
Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve
With very low light pollution and gorgeous mountainous landscapes, the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is the perfect place to see the stars. The South Island of New Zealand, also known as Te Waipounamu, is home to this protected nature park. Slightly south is Stewart Island, also known as Rakiura, which is just as dark and stunning. Here you will see the Aurora Australis or the southern lights. If stargazing in the mountains paired with a natural light show sounds like something you want to see, then this is the stargazing destination for you!
Canary Island
The entire Canary Island of La Palma, located in Spain, is protected from light pollution by law. The area is listed as a “Starlight Reserve” and offers plenty of trails that are designed for night hiking and stargazing. There is even a starlight winery where you can drink wine in the moonlight. Head to the world-class observatory at the top of a volcano for incredible, crystal-clear views of the stars.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park located in Utah, USA is one of the best places to see the stars in the world. Utah itself has 24 designated dark sky locations that offer unobstructed views of the night sky. Thanks to the arid climate and high elevation, you are almost guaranteed to see billions of glowing orbs when you look up into the sky. Look for some of the regular stargazing events then start planning your trip!
Sagarmatha National Park
Head to Nepal and then straight to Sagarmatha National Park if you want to do some serious stargazing. If the park sounds familiar, that may be because it is home to Mount Everest, the world highest peak. But don’t worry! You do not need to climb a mountain in order to see the stunning night sky. There are plenty of lower-altitude zones where you can see the broad sky and clear views of the Milky Way.
Denali National Park Reserve
The Denali National Park Reserve located in Alaska is a 6 million acre preserve where you will see even more than stars in the sky. When the sun goes down, you will find tons of wildlife such as caribou, bears and even wolves. Look upward and you will see the Aurora Borealis glowing the the dark sky. The area has almost zero light pollution and a completely unspoiled landscape. Plan your visit in the fall or winter when the sun sets earlier and you can enjoy the night view for even longer.
Mauna Kea
Head to the big island of Hawaii to the dormant volcano of Mauna Kea. Not only is it t he tallest peak in Hawaii, but it also has the best stargazing opportunities ever. There are telescopes set up for tourists to use and even an astronomy information station located at the top. You can see the entire night sky whil sitting atop the summit of a volcano. Seems pretty amazing!
Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve
If you have always wanted to visit Ireland, now you have one more reason to do so. The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve is in the southwest area of Ireland on the Iveragh Peninsula. Here you will see breathtaking views of the starry sky with Mountains in the background and the Atlantic Ocean below. There are also several campground you can check out the the reserve so you can even sleep under the stars.
Uluru
Uluru Australia is home to quit a few exciting stargazing adventures. The Sounds of Silence tour is one of the best star viewing tours in the world and will take you on a trek through the iconic rock formations of Uluru which glow red at night. The dunes open up to a huge plateau where you can sit and dine on Aussie fare in the complete darkness while enjoying the otherworldly southern sky. With plenty of places to stay nearby, this is an easy stargazing destination to visit with your family.
The Atacama Desert
High altitude and almost zero light pollution or radio interference is what makes this location in Chile perfect for stargazing. The Atacama Desert also receives only millimeters of rain each year which means there are never cloudy skys or harsh weather to disrupt your perfect view. If you want crystal clear views of the best constellations in the southern hemisphere, this Chilean destination is where you need to go!
