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Stargazing Tours

For those of us living in light-polluted urban environments, the night sky is pretty much a blank canvas. Yes, the Moon, a planet or two, and a few bright stars are usually visible. Perhaps you can even spot the seven stars of the Big Dipper from your backyard or balcony in the city. But otherwise, when viewed from a light-filled city, the night sky is pretty much starless.

Conversely, under a dark night sky, the stars literally jump out at you. It’s easy to become lost in the heavens. So many stars. Where are the constellations? What are the names of all those bright stars? And the Milky Way—what an unexpected and beautiful sight! These are views you won’t see from in, or even near, your city. To truly appreciate the night sky and all its wonders, you’ll need to join a stargazing night watch.

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Stargazing Far From Home

What is a stargazing tour? Simply put, it’s a trip, arranged by a travel company, with the primary purpose of observing the night sky from a remote location that’s not infested with bright lights. A stargazing trip connects you with the universe—nature on a grand scale. For many, there is great pleasure in simply standing beneath a dark, crystal-clear night sky, gazing up and out into the cosmos. Far from city lights, the heavens glow with a light show of its own, a show highlighted by the naked-eye spectacle of the Milky Way.

With stargazing, there is no need to rush; it’s a very tranquil pastime. Given the hectic pace of modern life, it’s extremely pleasant to be able to just kick back, relax, and connect with the universe—and with yourself. You’ll also connect with other, like-minded travelers who share your interest in the night sky.

During the day, and throughout the course of the trip, there are a variety of non-stargazing activities to participate in and numerous sights to see. Most dark-sky regions are in interesting areas that are well worth exploring during the day. Some stargazing trips stay at a dark-sky site for several days, visiting nearby areas of interest either before, or after, a number of evenings of observing. Other tours move more frequently from site to site but usually with at least two evenings set aside for stargazing.

Perhaps the best thing about a stargazing tour is that you don’t need to know anything about the starry sky; just have a curiosity about what’s overhead at night. There is always an astronomer along on these trips to help guide you through the cosmos during the evening and answer astronomy questions during the day. Often there’s a telescope at the observing site, and binoculars are good for both terrestrial and celestial sights.

The Summer Triangle region of the northern Milky Way is a lovely sight in a dark night sky. (Photo by Rick Fienberg)
Waiting for sunset, chairs and telescopes are set up just steps away from our cabins in Costa Rica. (Photo by Aram Kaprielian/TQ)

Enjoy Earth and Sky on a Stargazing Tour

Stargazing is extremely relaxing. There’s no hurry, no stress, no competition. Our stargazing trips are small-group travel at its best. You’ll learn about the heavens by observing the sky and talking with our trip astronomer. While on a stargazing vacation with TravelQuest, you’ll connect with other tour participants who share your interest in the night sky, many of whom are repeat stargazing clients. They’re a friendly lot, always willing to help someone who doesn’t know their way around the night sky. On this tour, you’re guaranteed to have many fascinating discussions about astronomy.

So, you don’t need to know a thing about astronomy or the night sky. Our trip astronomer will introduce you to the heavens by way of evening talks prior to the observing sessions, then take you outside to point out some of the finest sights and help you get the best out of any equipment we have with us. Depending on where we go, we’ll sometimes have a telescope available for group use. If you own binoculars, bring them along.

Stargazing trips with TravelQuest are about more than the stars. Our dark-sky sites are set in interesting locales that we explore during the day. For example, on our stargazing trips to Costa Rica, we visit several regions in this central American country known for its rich biodiversity and dramatically varied landscapes. In Iceland we stay at remote hotels or guesthouses with dark skies and quick access to the outdoors for stargazing or aurora viewing. During the day, the magnificent Icelandic countryside spellbinds us. On the big island of Hawaii, we do some stargazing, visit the summit of Maunakea, and enjoy the many tropical sights the island has to offer. And we’re considering a stargazing tour to the Baja California Peninsula to gaze at stars and watch for whales.

The night sky can sometimes surprise with the passage of a satellite or the burst of a meteor plunging Earthward. (Photo by TravelQuest)
On a stargazing tour, you’ll find yourself in extraordinary places with like-minded travelers. (Photo by Paul Deans/TQ)
On a ship off the Norwegian coast, a stargazing tour was interrupted by an amazing display of the northern lights. (Photo by Paul Deans/TQ)

Let’s Go Stargazing

Almost every year, you can find a stargazing tour offered by TravelQuest. Each year we spend a week under the dark skies of Costa Rica, usually during February or March. We journey to Iceland or Norway in the early autumn to seek out the northern lights and to do a little stargazing. In July 2021 our Hawaiian Fire and Skies tour launches, with night-sky viewing and a trip to the top of Maunakea, home to numerous professional observatories.

If you’ve never gazed in awe at a dark, star-speckled night sky, or watched in wonder as the northern lights dance overhead, then you’re in for a real treat. A stargazing tour puts you in touch with the universe—it is nature on the largest scale possible. Sometimes, you won’t believe your eyes. If this sounds appealing, contact TravelQuest today to learn more about one of our upcoming stargazing tours.

Tranquility. A beautiful sunset followed by a relaxing night of stargazing—a combination that’s hard to beat. (Photo by Gary Seronik/TQ)

Header image by Max Alexander/European Southern Observatory.