Under the Night Sky
Hotel Rangá’s northern-lights viewing in Iceland.
(All photos courtesy respective venues.)
It wasn’t the darkness that first struck me as we turned our headlights off and stepped out at Inspiration Point, a popular stargazing spot inside Bryce Canyon National Park, but rather the brightness.
The stars illuminated the park in a way that reminded me of the time I had been trekking through the Sahara Desert with a Bedouin guide at night and even when I had slept outside my glamping tent in Uganda. The Milky Way was in plain view, and shooting stars sparkled with a brazen confidence, seemingly conscious that they were being watched by the select few who had chosen this prime viewpoint to see them in their unobstructed glory. Situated at 8,000 feet, far from city lights and light pollution, Bryce Canyon earned its status as a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park in 2019, and the park has been a popular celestial stopping point for serious star gazers and the astro-curious alike ever since.
But Utah’s remote canyon landscape isn’t the only place attracting star-curious visitors, and according to the Astro Tourism Market Research Report 2034, astro tourism (a.k.a., dark-sky tourism or astronomy tourism) is more popular than ever, driven by an increase in dark-sky designations for parks worldwide, but also by the fact that 83 percent of the world’s population lives under light-polluted skies and craves the chance to see the sky clearly.
Thankfully, the chance to witness a clear view of the cosmos is no longer reserved for those willing to rough it in the wild, and, increasingly, more and more luxury properties are expanding their reach into the ether with professional grade telescopes and fully equipped observation centers. From the prime viewing point for the 2027 “Eclipse of the Century” to an otherworldly outpost in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, here are some of the top resorts around the world for viewing the night sky.
FOUR SEASONS RESORT SHARM EL SHEIKH
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Set at the confluence of the Sahara Desert and the Red Sea on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, this resort town is known for having some of the darkest, clearest night skies in the world. On any given night, guests of the Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh can witness the breadth of the stars above, but for an even deeper cultural tie to the landscape and what hovers above, guests can book a desert stargazing adventure. The experience begins with a visit to a traditional Bedouin camp, where tea, flatbreads, and warm Bedouin hospitality set the stage for a memorable evening to come. Once the camp flames have flickered out, a powerful stationary telescope becomes the centerpiece for witnessing celestial magic, especially on August 2, 2027, when the path of totality of one of the most monumental solar eclipses in recent history will move directly over the resort.
THE LODGE AT PRIMLAND, AUBERGE COLLECTION
Meadows of Dan, Virginia
The Blue Ridge Mountains paint an idyllic picture on ground for the dramatic displays that appear once the sun sets. The Lodge at Primland is set atop a plateau just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, where a mix of luxury residences, suites, and treehouses each offer a unique view of the 12,000 acres of the estate. The main lodge has arguably the best views though, and that’s because it’s also home to a fully equipped observatory inside the adjacent silo. A Celestron CGE Pro 1400 and a CPC 800 telescope offer views into the solar system year-round, where a dedicated astronomer leads nightly stargazing sessions inside the silo. The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks in mid-August each year, and the resort is the prime location for witnessing the impressive celestial show.
NAYARA ALTO ATACAMA
Atacama Desert, Chile
The Nayara Alto Atacama is surrounded by the Salt Mountain Range on a desert valley floor that’s just 2,500 meters above sea level. It is also home to the only open-air observatory in the greater Atacama Desert region, and it is widely known as one of the best places on earth for stargazing. The observatory features eight swivel chairs and one powerful telescope, manned by a professional guide to help point out and explain what is taking place in the sky above each night. Along with private stargazing terraces on the main property (and a dedicated astro-guide), this desert hotel also hosts one of the most awarded spas in the world, which bases its treatments on the ancestral elements of earth, fire, water, and air.
POST RANCH INN
Big Sur, California
The guestrooms of this coastal California resort were all designed to get guests to look out and look up to take in the full breadth and beauty of their Big Sur surroundings. But even the greatest skylights ensuite cannot compete with this cliffside resort’s complimentary stargazing activities. The light pollution is so minimal in Big Sur, that it’s possible to spot galaxy dust on a clear night. Thankful, most nights are clear nights, and the resort’s powerful telescope can bring guests even closer to some of the most impressive nuances of the Big Sur sky with help from a dedicated on-site astronomy expert who leads each night sky session. Book one of the luxury treehouses for the chance to stargaze in bed, as glass skylights directly over the bed offer guests the feeling of sleeping beneath the stars in the comfort of luxe linens.
Caldera House’s stargazing excursions in Wyoming turn the night sky into part of the experience.
(All photos courtesy respective venues.)