One of 2025’s most intriguing trends – the rise of ‘Noctourism’ and why it has such an irresistible allure
The night sky has captivated humans since the dawn of time, with early civilisations basing myths and legends around constellations, using the stars to navigate and track the seasons.
These days the appeal has far from waned, with a recent survey by Booking.com of more than 27,000 travellers finding that two-thirds are considering visiting ‘darker sky destinations’ for the chance to experience unique night-time activities. One of the factors driving this rise could be the current burst of solar activity, with NASA predicting a peak in 2025 – I have just got back from a trip to the Lofoten Islands, Norway and the Northern Lights were more bewitching and vibrant, than I had hoped. Perhaps, however, there is a deeper reason for the boom in noctourism’s popularity. With all the instability in the world right now and constant slew of bad news globally, turning our gaze upwards to the heavens is a humbling reminder of our place in the universe and the beauty that surrounds us. Tempted to try it out? Here are some of our favourite spots for after-dark adventures…
Full moon yoga and bioluminescent paddle-boarding
Where: Castara Retreats, Tobago
Light pollution is low in the languid, go-slow speck of Tobago in the Caribbean, making it an ideal spot for soaking up the beauty of inky night skies. Far from the bling and bright lights of larger resorts found elsewhere in the Caribbean, the boutique eco-lodge of Castara Retreats is a nature-lover’s dream. A cluster of treehouse-inspired cottages, each with a wraparound deck, gaze out over the moonlit sea and makes a dreamy base for star-spotting. Castara is known for its inspiring yoga classes and retreats, held in a breezy open-air studio high on the hillside. New for 2025, Full Moon yoga classes offer guests the chance to practise their moves bathed in moonlight – a magical experience. Another unmissable nocturnal activity is an after-dark paddle-boarding or kayaking tour through a bioluminescent lagoon. As you glide along, watch the waters light up with glowing plankton called dinoflagellates, leaving a glowing trail.
Dining under the stars in the African bush
Where: El Karama Lodge, Laikipia, Kenya
Who needs fancy restaurant lighting and sparkly chandeliers when you could have a glittering galaxy of stars overhead as you dine al fresco? Add to the mix a backing track provided by trumpeting elephants and lions and you get some sense of the immersive experience that awaits here. Kenya’s pristine equatorial night skies are truly magnificent with constellations such as the Southern Cross, Orion, Scorpio and the Seven Sisters to name just a few. It’s a spectacular setting for culinary retreats run by Kitchen In The Wild, who specialise in far-flung gastronomic adventures led by top guest chefs from around the world. Their Kenya retreat is taking place in October 2025 and promises to be a truly unique experience. Along with starlit suppers, there are game drives, guided bush walks, craft workshops and plenty of time to marvel at the astonishing night skies.
Aurora hunting in Scotland
Where: Atholl Estates, Perthshire
Thanks to the unusual burst of solar activity this year, there’s no need to head up towards the Arctic Circle – you’ve got a good chance of spotting the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, in the Scottish Highlands. The Gaelic name for the lights is ‘na fir-chlis’, which translates rather poetically as ‘merry dancers’ or ‘nimble men’. One of nature’s most extraordinary spectacles, the otherworldly sight of shimmering, rainbow-hued lights flitting across the night sky has inspired wonder for centuries. For untainted dark skies, head to Atholl Estates, where 145,000 acres of wild moorland, shimmering lochs and ancient woodland make a soul-stirring setting for aurora spotting. There is a range of delightful accommodation on the estate, from romantic shepherd huts to gorgeous cottages – some even have wood-fired outdoor bathtubs, the perfect place to spend an evening scanning the sky for that glorious celestial display.
Star-trekking in Europe’s largest dark sky reserve
Where: Cévennes National Park, Southern France
A majestic swathe of mountains, plateaus, valleys and gorges, The Cévennes National Park rises high above the rolling vineyards of the Languedoc. The largest dark sky reserve in Europe, it’s an extraordinary place to experience the awe-inspiring night skies and their clouds of stars. One of the most memorable ways to visit is as part of a seven-day guided wilderness hike with Azimut (www.azimut-voyage.fr), accompanied by an astronomer and a team of donkeys to carry luggage. Along the way you’ll discover constellations, planets and nebulae, sleeping in an astronomical observatory, yurt and wilderness bivouac. After a week in the wild, drive south and treat yourself to a dose of luxury at Château Les Carrasses. A historic wine estate turned chic retreat, it’s the ideal spot for a bit of R&R, with a vast infinity pool, estate-grown wines, gastronomic restaurant and even a sleek Airstream food truck tucked away among the vines, with cocktail evenings and burger nights under the stars.