It may not be possible to permanently leave Earth behind, but perhaps the next best form of escapism is losing ourselves in the mystery and majesty of the constellations that shimmer above us. Plus, it’s no disadvantage that many of the best places for stargazing and astrotourism are inherently unsullied, rejuvenating and life-affirming. Whether ensconced in a desert camp in the wilds of Namibia or wrapped up extra warm under the glow of rippling Northern Lights in Greenland, astronomy aficionados who explore new frontiers in pursuit of their passion will be reminded that it’s a wonderful world after all.
Cookson Adventures
Cookson Adventures’ clients will go to extremes if there’s an opportunity for astrotourism (though this isn’t necessarily arduous, given custom-made camps might be created in advance of a client’s arrival to ensure every moment of their trip is spent in uncompromising comfort).
Take the group that went in pursuit of the Northern Lights in the depths of rural Iceland — Cookson Adventures built a series of off-grid, igloo-style domes on a frozen glacier lake just for them, with a sauna and bar carved from ice rounding out the offering. The clients’ abodes were movable, so they could always enjoy the best Northern Light views through their floor-to-ceiling windows.
On another trip in northern Kenya, clients went sandboarding down isolated dunes and then soared above thousands of flamingos at Lake Logipi by helicopter before landing back at base to observe the dazzling Perseid meteor shower in the company of their own astronomer, whose commentary was occasionally interrupted by the sound of hyenas cackling. With every trip bespoke, future clients will have complete flexibility to craft their own heavenly itinerary.
Alongside other choice pieces of gear, the Cookson Adventures team will happily bring along Unistellar telescopes — their pick when it comes to top-tier astronomical equipment that is especially easy for beginners to use — and can highlight future astronomical occurrences of interest to help prospective travelers plan journeys that offer the best probability of standout stargazing experiences. Of particular note right now is the total solar eclipse that will be visible in Greenland in August next year. On the day itself, Cookson Adventures advises taking to the skies by private jet to mitigate the risk of cloud coverage compromising ground-level viewing.
cooksonadventures.com
The Red Sea
Along the western coast of the country, Saudi Arabia’s tourism authorities have committed to creating one of the world’s preeminent vacation destinations at The Red Sea. A region about the size of Belgium that is ringed by towering mountains, cascading desert dunes, vanilla-white beaches, turquoise waters and the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef, one of the setting’s key selling points is its immense natural beauty. When the team greenlit the development of a tightly curated collection of ultra-luxury hotels and lifestyle amenities here, rigorous sustainability and regeneration objectives included ambitions to make this the Middle East’s largest designated Dark Sky Reserve.
Now, lighting at every property — whether on buildings, paths or roads — is aimed downwards rather than up, and bulbs emit soft golden hues rather than punchy whites and blues — primarily because those more abrasive tones disrupt and confuse animals’ natural rhythms, though the end result just so happens to be very pretty for humans too. Those crucial decisions and various other initiatives have significantly contributed to the setting’s growing status as a spectacular setting for stargazing, and it’s something local operators have embraced wholeheartedly.
Inspired by the region’s past, when Bedouins and pilgrims relied on the constellations above to safely guide their path through formidable deserts, astronomers at resorts here, such as Six Senses Southern Dunes, lead sessions that fuse staggering scientific detail with a rich seam of history, folklore and storytelling. Some of Desert Rock Resort’s accommodations are built into and suspended between towering granite mountains. Guests enjoy elevated skyline views from their private swimming pools but can also revel in endless cosmic vistas on night hikes. At Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve set on its own private island, those night-sky views are wondrously reflected in the calm waters of the surrounding sea. A telescope in each villa means guests can enjoy the panorama in total privacy.
visitredsea.com
Zephalto
Maybe Vincent Farret d’Astiès’s destiny was written in the stars. As the Franco-Prussian war raged, his great-great-great-grandfather escaped Paris by hot air balloon in 1870. Now d’Astiès has devised a significantly more advanced ballooning concept, Zephalto, that will allow present-day adventurers to temporarily escape Earth entirely.
Seated in Céleste, a metallic pod that comfortably accommodates six passengers and two pilots, they’ll float 15.5 miles upwards into the stratosphere to enjoy a life-altering view of our planet below and the unknowable immensity of space beyond. With each six-hour journey costing €170,000 (approx. $193,000), privileged parties on board can expect an entirely bespoke experience — the Zephalto team will happily arrange Michelin-level dining or photography master classes on board, for example — and there are grand plans to invite artists and musicians on flights who can create works inspired by the experience.
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Of course, the debut of such a pioneering service means prospective clients will likely have safety concerns: The Zephalto team says the craft will have all the requisite EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) certifications and that “a Zephalto flight offers the same guarantee of safely as traveling on a commercial flight operated by a reputable airline.” The launch is backed by some powerful sustainability claims, too. Zephalto’s engine-free balloon technology will rely on hydrogen to generate lift force and then sail on natural winds to complete its voyage — one jaunt will supposedly produce carbon emissions equivalent to a 140-mile car journey.
zephalto.com