For many city folks, the night sky has long been a blanket of darkness — one that’s devoid of colours and offering glimpses to stars only occasionally. In other parts of the world though, that’s certainly not the case.
With less light pollution in some of these more remote places, you’ll get to gaze deep into a sea of picturesque stars instead. Ready to be starstruck? We’ve gathered a list of stargazing spots across the planet that offer awe-inspiring constellations of the night sky.
1. Tenerife — Canary Islands
Revel in the Canarian skies at any of the many viewpoints at Tenerife – identify the constellations while at it!
Let’s put it this way: The Canary Islands are a stargazer's paradise. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the geographic position of the islands puts them right in the path of trade winds—that means there are rarely clouds that will come in the way of stargazing ventures in the Canarian skies.
There are a total of three recommended viewpoints at Tenerife that people typically travel to stargaze—the Guajara Mountain, Masca viewpoint and Las Canadas del Teide. A night’s stay over at Guajara Mountain pretty much guarantees a good view. Over at the horizon, you’ll get to witness the Cassiopeia constellation in its characteristic W shape, along with a square cluster of stars towards its right, which is also known as the Pegasus constellation.
Now, if you choose to settle at Masca viewpoint instead, it’s best to be there between the months of September and October. After sundown, that’s when you can spot the autumn zodiac constellations of Pisces, Aquarius and Capricorn.
The Masca viewpoint is more than 1,000m above sea level and comes with access to a winding, rugged road. Since there are no towns or services nearby, be sure to pack some sustenance with you beforehand – especially water to keep you hydrated throughout the journey. Why not pack your essentials into a lightweight travel backpack so you’ll have what you need at any time of the trip?
At Las Canadas del Teide, you will find an abundance of stars and see constellations from any part of the park with no obstruction. As it is easily accessible by road, you will find users parking along the road and finding their own viewpoint. You could do that too, but ensure you are parked in a safe spot, or head to one of the official viewpoints along the road. The park is over 2,700m above sea level, and you will be able to see stars shining bright at you on clear moonless nights. Try to plan and visit in August, and you should be able to catch the shooting meteor showers of the Perseids - one of the most vivid meteor showers that happens yearly. You can witness 50 to 100 shooting stars per hour at its peak period!
2. Höfn — Iceland
You probably already know this, but Iceland’s pretty much a place dotted with little towns and villages. The area’s so sparse, with minimal high-rise skyscrapers, that there’s barely any light pollution no matter where you’re at. Höfn, in particular, is a charming fishing village located in Southern Iceland.
Not only will you get to see a sky full of stars at Höfn of Iceland, there’s also a good chance you’ll catch a glimpse of the breathtaking Northern Lights (also named Aurora Borealis) if you happen to visit during the winter months. Very often, people visit Iceland to get the best of the two, making this a stargazing experience like no other.
With the marvellous lights dancing overhead, it might just feel as though you’ve been transported to another planet. Better yet, stay at the charming Hotel Húsafell — it’s known to be one of the best for viewing the Northern Lights in Iceland. Their in-house restaurant even has floor-to-ceiling windows just so visitors can catch a glimpse of the gorgeous skies while dining.
Aside from its star-filled sky, Höfn is also known for its proximity to the stunning Vatnajökull glacier and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which you can easily hop on a tour for.
3. Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve — New Zealand
Within Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve sits New Zealand’s premier astronomical research centre, Mt. John Observatory. Fun fact: Since the 1980s, outdoor lighting controls have been put in place as a way to minimise light pollution in the area.
This has not only helped conserve energy and protect wildlife, but also made the place a popular stargazing spot among tourists. There are a number of stargazing tours you can hop on at the Mackenzie Region (price ranges between S$40 and S$60). Each tour offers awe-inspiring constellations that can only be seen in the southern hemisphere, including the Southern Cross, Magellanic Clouds and the Milky Way. Photography here is a must – enthusiasts will know how important a top-notch camera is when it comes to capturing stunning clicks of the skies.
Needless to say, seeing the sky through a telescope here is unlike any experience. Cliche, but we’re really just a tiny speck in this large galaxy. It’s definitely one great way to feel connected to the universe at large. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, opt for the Chameleon Stargazing tour, with tours starting from S$70 for adults.
For S$60 per child and S$70 per adult, you’ll get to look through a 9.25in telescope with the help of experienced local astronomy guides. It even includes outdoor furniture, hot chocolate and a fire bowl with roasted marshmallows.
4. Jasper National Park — Canada
The Bortle Scale is an instrument created by an astronomer, John E. Bortle, as a way to measure the quality and brightness of the night sky. With a total of nine levels to the scale (one being the darkest), Jasper National Park has skies rated as low as one or two.
In fact, it’s known to be one of the largest Canadian dark sky preserves. Among the stargazing spots, Pyramid Lake is best known to offer a particularly inspiring view. Located just a 10min drive away from north of Jasper, you’ll find a picturesque lake that lies at the base of Pyramid Mountain.
The view, which can be enjoyed from a small wooden bridge, showcases millions of stars with the Pyramid Mountain looming in the foreground. That’s not all. If you’re willing to venture further out of town, you’ll likely get to enjoy an even darker sky. Take Maligne Lake Road from Jasper and you’ll pass Maligne Canyon before reaching Medicine Lake.
Chances are, the place will be rather empty with minimal crowd. With no lights anywhere near this lake, the night view is guaranteed to be unparalleled.
5. Mauna Kea — Hawaii
Situated on the Big Island lies Mauna Kea—a dormant volcano offering both the highest peak in Hawaii as well as the best stargazing lookouts in the region. In fact, you’ll find an astronomy visitor station that offers nightly programmes and tours at the halfway mark of the volcano’s summit.
From that point, visitors can continue heading up with their own four-wheel drive vehicle or through a guided excursion. This takes approximately seven to eight hours. For all its splendour, Mauna Kea is truly a remote location without basic amenities and pitstops. To be safe, be sure to stock up on food and drinks before your journey. The high altitude requires the body to acclimatise as well, so take ample breaks whenever necessary.
A trip here pretty much makes you feel on top of the world, closer to those beautiful stars. Pretty close, since it stands at nearly 14,000ft above sea level. It’s a one-in-a-lifetime experience—tours typically involve a guide who would use lasers to point out fascinating constellations, star clusters and other celestial bodies. This is also where you can gaze through a Celestron telescope to observe the Milky Way in detail, including planets, nebulas and distant galaxies.
6. Atacama Desert — Chile
Sizzling salt flats, barren beaches and patches of cacti may dominate the Atacama Desert in Chile, but it’s also one of the best places on Earth to witness the most dazzling dome of glittering stars. Due to a unique combination of low humidity and high altitude, this makes Atacama an optimal home for ground-based astronomy projects and astro-tourism.
For the best view, base yourself up at stargazing hubs like the San Pedro De Atacama in the Antofagasta Region. Lying in the middle of the desert, this is Atacama’s most famous oasis—a resort town with a good mix of stargazing tours, lodgings and observatories.
Hop on an educational astro-tour with their leading agency, SPACE, where you’ll learn how to identify dwarf galaxies like the Magellanic Clouds from experts. They currently only offer private tours. Contact them here for more information.
There’s nothing quite like looking up into an expansive sky that’s dotted with stars and constellations. This deep connection with nature is mostly lost today, especially among city-dwellers who are very much accustomed to artificial light.
These places offer some of the clearest and most unforgettable lunar landscapes to gaze at. If you're a fan of stars, or want to go on a romantic holiday with your other half, then you might just want to add some of these destinations to your travel bucket list!
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