No fan of crowds? Maybe astro tourism is what you’re looking for
In life, there are different kinds of people. Some of us can’t stand to be alone, while others prefer to stay away from the crowds and do their thing. Same goes for travel. Maybe you’re one of those people who doesn’t mind standing in line for hours just to visit some famous landmark. Or maybe you’re the one walking by, not understanding why the Hell people would do that. In matters of taste, there can be no disputes.
Sometimes it can, however, be a bit difficult to find your perfect holiday destination when you want to stay away from the crowds but still want to visit a beautiful place on Earth. Coasts are often too touristy, as are cities and some of the more popular winter sports destinations. So what remains if cities, beaches and ski resorts are off limits? Well, astro tourism could be the travel trend you’re looking for. Beautiful, yet calm, accessible, yet different. Just what you were looking for, isn’t it?
Stargazing
Maybe it’s time for us to explain the term astro tourism. The concept itself is actually quite simple: you travel to a destination where you can enjoy the starry sky without too many distractions around. Where you stay, is up to you. The best way to enjoy the nightly sky is often by putting down your tent and waking up in the middle of the night to gaze at the stars but you can of course also choose to stay in a hotel or B&B. It all depends on what level of comfort you’re looking for. No matter where you’re sleeping, don’t forget to bring a pillow and a throw to keep you warm during the coldest, most beautiful hours of the night.
Hard to come across
Sadly, finding the perfect place to do some astro tourism isn’t as easy as you’d think. Light pollution is a real thing and especially in more densely populated countries, it can be challenging to come across a good spot to look at the stars. Whether or not you’ll need to travel far from home to find such a place all depends on where you’re living. To make your life a little easier, the International Dark-Sky Association has made a list with certified dark sky parks. We’ve chosen ten but you can find the entire list on their website. Nothing close to you (most of their entries are located in the U.S.)? Maybe you can think of a great place nevertheless and enjoy a beautiful night, looking at the stars.
