Dark Skies
Why Stargazing Has Become One of Glamping’s Most Compelling Experiences
When was the last time you looked up and saw the Milky Way stretch across the night sky? For many travelers, the glow of city lights has dimmed our connection to the stars. Across remote destinations, a growing form of travel combines outdoor comfort with one of nature’s most remarkable displays: truly dark night skies.
“A dark sky is more than a view. It is a protected environment where the night remains as nature intended — vast, black, and filled with stars.”
What Exactly is a Dark Sky?
While often confused with stargazing, the two aren’t the same. A dark sky is an environment free from light pollution, where the stars, planets, and galaxies are visible in their natural brilliance. Stargazing is the activity, the joy of looking up once you’re there.
Dark Sky Places are more than just locations with great views; they’re carefully protected areas where lighting policies, education, and community stewardship ensure the night remains as nature intended — vast, black, and filled with stars.
Where to Experience Dark Skies
The International Dark Sky Places program has certified over 200 locations worldwide since Flagstaff, Arizona, became the first International Dark Sky City in 2001. Today, there are more than 160,000 square kilometers of protected night skies across 22 countries.
National Parks (USA): Big Bend, Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Dinosaur National Monument
State Parks (USA): Cherry Springs State Park (PA), Staunton River State Park (VA)
International Gems: Aoraki Mackenzie in New Zealand, Brecon Beacons and Cambrian Mountains in Wales, and multiple reserves across Europe.
In 2023, Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase in Utah became the world’s first DarkSky Approved Lodging location, recognized for protecting the nighttime environment through responsible lighting, thoughtful design, operations, and guest education.
You can explore a full listing at darksky.org, which provides resources for finding Dark Sky-certified locations near you.
Resorts and campgrounds are beginning to incorporate dark-sky experiences into their programming. Some partners, such as Visit Dark Skies, offer guided stargazing sessions to help guests understand what they are seeing overhead. Participants often spend time allowing their eyes to adjust fully to the darkness before learning about constellations, planets, and the structure of the Milky Way. The result is a quiet but memorable experience that reconnects travelers with a night sky many have not seen in years.
Why Dark Skies Elevate the Stay
Pairing glamping with a Dark Sky experience takes outdoor luxury to another level. Imagine sipping wine by a fire pit before retreating to your safari tent or treehouse, then stepping outside to see a sky glittering with stars few ever witness. It’s not just a night outdoors, it’s a reconnection with the universe itself.
Glamping is about more than where you stay, it’s about how you experience nature. Dark Sky travel invites guests to look up, slow down, and rediscover awe. Whether in a yurt in Utah, a dome in the Adirondacks, or a lodge in the Welsh countryside, the stars remind us: sometimes the greatest luxury is simply the night sky.