Living in the UAE means you might have to go into the desert to watch the night skies at its best. Looking up at the stars and enjoying the glimmering canopy that the sky becomes at night is a true treat, and our friends at HolidayMe gave us some recommendations as to where stargazing fanatics should go at least once in their lifetime.
1. Atacama Desert, Chile
Being one of the driest places on earth (it receives only a millimetre of rain every year), Chile’s Atacama Desert is a cloudless landscape. Add to that an altitude of 8,200 feet and you get one of best places on the Earth’s to stargaze from.
Expert tip Go to the Paranal Observatory to enjoy an undisturbed view of the Southern Hemisphere sky. You can stay either in the luxury of a hotel nearby or camp under a canopy of stars.
2. Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
While pristine beaches and volcanic mountains make this place a tourist favourite, low pollution levels and unspoiled night conditions make Tenerife one of the best locations in the world for star-gazing.
Expert tip Leave for the famed Tenerife observatory or simply set up a camp in the Teide National Park (awarded the title of ‘Starlight Tourist Destination’ and ‘Starlight Reserve’) to see our Milky Way, nebulae and shooting stars.
3. Kerry, Ireland
As a recent addition to the short list featuring Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserves around the world, Kerry is situated on a picture-perfect landscape. With Kerry Mountains on one side and Atlantic Ocean on the other, Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve gives you a spectacular view of the dark sky, and also offers basic astronomy classes and workshops throughout the year.
Expert tip Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve has many guesthouses, self-catering homes, or caravans available for stargazers who visit.
4. Hawaii, USA
So this view comes at the cost of a high risk of frosty temperature and altitude sickness (typical for altitudes of around 14,000 feet above sea level) but the result is a priceless heaven for professional as well as amateur astronomers.
Expert tip If you're going, check in to the Mauna Kea Visitor Centre before 10 pm, or prepare for a memorable camping night at the nearby Haleakala National Park.
5. Aoraki or Mount Cook, New Zealand
This mountainous country, aside from being a popular tourist destination, is also home to the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, world’s largest dark sky reserve, spanning nearly 1,700 square miles.
Expert tip There are companies offering trips to the reserve located in the picturesque Mackenzie Basin, so choose one to make the best of your trip.
6. Galloway Forest Park, Scotland
The Scotland’s Galloway Forest Park was the first dark sky destination in United Kingdom, and here you can have a heavenly glimpse of more than 7000 stars, constellations and planets post sunset.
Expert tip Need some professional guidance on astronomy the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory is your best bet. You can also camp under the stars.
