Five of the best luxury hotels in the world for stargazing
If one of the big travel trends for 2025 is going off-peak in order to skip the crowds, you can take things one step further and shun daytime for night to go stargazing when everyone else is in bed. This year, despite the increasingly fast-paced world we inhabit, we’re also trying to master the art of slowing down – and there’s no better place to fully unplug than somewhere with zero light pollution.
The online travel agent Opodo has revealed an increase in appetite for stargazing, with searches surging by 67 per cent over the past year. There are lots of celestial events to seek out in 2025, from meteor showers and planetary alignments to eclipses and super moons.
The UK is home to a handful of dark-sky reserves – six national parks have been awarded the status, including the Brecon Beacons, the North York Moors and Snowdonia. City dwellers keen to escape artificial light need only head to the less densely populated parts of the world, from Wadi Rum in Jordan to Namibia’s deserted plains, where the Milky Way shines bright and there’s not a street lamp in sight.
Along with stargazing, activities popular with night owls include diving in search of bioluminescence, after-dark wildlife safaris and, of course, Northern Lights-chasing in the Arctic Circle. Even if you’re not normally nocturnal, stargazing is something that’s worth staying up for – here are some of the best destinations from which to do it…
Utah, United States
The famous big skies of America’s wild west promise excellent stargazing potential, especially in Utah, since the state is home to the highest concentration of Dark Sky International-certified locations. Rangers will take you out in search of coruscating constellations all year round, but for the dedicated, there’s an astronomy festival in June; also look out for the full-moon hikes (though of course, the brighter the moon, the less dark the sky). It’s not all about the gloaming, either – Utah’s lunar landscapes are just as magical by day as they are after sunset.
Where to stay The spectacular Amangiri is carved into the rocks and mesas of its Lake Powell setting, spanning 9,000 acres of the Colorado plateau. Guests can attend stargazing sessions at a local observatory and admire the night sky from the hotel’s suites and pavilions. The property has been meticulously planned so that artificial lighting doesn’t interfere with the dazzling night skies or local wildlife.
Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, South Island, New Zealand
New Zealand has many natural wonders at sea level, so it’s hardly surprising that its night skies are majestic too – all you have to do is look up. One of the best places to go stargazing in the country is the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve on the South Island, which includes the Mackenzie Basin, Mount Cook national park and Lake Tekapo. This is the largest reserve of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Where to stay Around an hour’s drive south is The Lindis, a luxury lodge with some impressive night skies of its own and alfresco hot tubs from which to admire them. The hotel is in the Ahuriri Valley, which was carved by glacial waters over millions of years (we did say the stuff on the ground was just as breathtaking as the displays up above). It’s located on Ben Avon Station, a 6,500-acre estate with a handful of glass pods for the serious stargazers.
The Kerry Dark Sky Reserve, Ireland
Another place to go stargazing in Europe is County Kerry in Ireland, where you’ll find the Kerry Dark Sky Reserve, which has been granted Gold Tier status by Dark Sky International. There are only three reserves in the world at this level, and this is the only one in the Northern Hemisphere. On a clear night, you’ll be able to glimpse the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, star clusters and nebulas, all without any special equipment.
The famous Ring of Kerry is a stop on the Wild Atlantic Way, so you can combine your nocturnal adventuring with a scenic road trip, travelling all the way from Cork up to Donegal.Where to stay Within a 45-minute drive of the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, Park Hotel Kenmare is a country-house hotel that has been welcoming guests since 1897. The Relais & Chateaux property has plenty to keep you busy as you wait for your after-dark adventure, including tennis, croquet, falconry, walks down to the bay and a cocktail bar with a vast whiskey collection.BOOK NOW
Pic du Midi, French Pyrenees
For a galaxy-hunting getaway in Europe, head to the French Pyrenees and specifically Pic du Midi, a mountain with its own observatory. A cable car transports budding astronomers from the town of La Mongie up to the stargazing centre, where there are domes, telescopes and even scientist’s quarters on loan to firmament enthusiasts.
Also within the dark-sky reserve are the villages of the Gavarnie Valleys, so you’ll be in with several chances of finding the perfect spot to scour the skies for shooting stars, planets and constellations.
Where to stay It may sound like it has more to do with udders and dairy farming, but La Voie Lactée actually translates as ‘the Milky way’, and from this boutique hotel in La Mongie, you’ll be able to admire its namesake with great clarity. There are hot tubs out on the terrace for a soak with a view; and the panoramic backdrop also takes in the peaks of the Pyrenees and the ski slopes of Grand Tourmalet.
Atacama Desert, Chile
As well as seeing less rain than almost anywhere else on the planet (its average rainfall is a mere 1mm, and parts of it have never seen a single drop), the Atacama Desert in northern Chile is a stargazing hotspot, which caters to everyone – from first-time astro-tourists to professional astronomers. The desert’s high altitudes, low humidity and zero light pollution create perfect conditions, and the main hubs are the Elqui Valley and San Pedro de Atacama.
Where to stay By far the best place to stay in the Atacama is the Tierra outpost there, closely followed by the Explora camp. Both brands also have a peerless presence in Patagonia. At Tierra Atacama on the edge of San Pedro de Atacama, the surrounding landscape – with geysers, hot springs, salt flats and sand dunes, not to mention the Andes and the Licancabur volcano – is as magnificent as the night sky.
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