Why Noctourism Is Luxury Travel’s Next Big Trend

Imagine this: The sun is setting on The Inn of The Five Graces, a 5-star Relais & Châteaux property in Santa Fe. A luxury SUV chauffeurs an intimate group of up to 14 guests from the hotel to Chaco Culture National Historic Park, a designated International Dark Sky Place.  

There, guests settle into spacious, furnished canvas tents where they’ll stay the next two nights. That evening, the stars are bright and plentiful against a blackened sky. A cultural astronomer from the hotel’s tour operator partner, Heritage Inspirations, guides a laser-pointed night sky tour, and guests learn about ancestral Puebloan celestial traditions.  

The experience, which begins and ends at The Inn of The Five Graces and includes meals, lasts about three days and is available to book during specific dates in April, May, August, and September. It’s just one example of how luxury travel suppliers are offering noctourism, a mashup of nocturnal tourism, to travelers seeking more activities under the stars. 

Noctourism: 2025’s Big Travel Trend

Drinking in a clear night sky full of stars appeals to lots of vacationers, especially those traveling from big cities. That luxury is a draw for tourists now more than ever, as the noctourism trend has fully come to light. 

Noctourism is the new term used for travel to “dark sky destinations,” according to Booking.com, which named it a top travel trend for 2025. It can include a range of nighttime activities but typically focuses on stargazing and appreciating nature under the moonlight. 

The trend seems to have sparked after the 2024 solar eclipse drew crowds to watch the rare cosmic event. Now cruise lines like Virgin Voyages, Celebrity, and many others are building itineraries that cross paths with the 2026 eclipse. And of course, people always flock to places like Iceland to see the Northern Lights. 

But travelers are seeking these experiences all over the map now. Any hotel or resort where there’s nothing but open land and a clear night sky is game – and suppliers are responding, offering telescopes and observation programming for guests. 

And Santa Fe is also not the only place with an accredited International Dark Sky Park – in Colorado, there’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Mesa Verde National Park – both near accommodations like Dunton River Camp and Dunton Hot Springs that offer nighttime excursions to the parks. 

While the International Dark Sky program has long been used by nature and astronomy enthusiasts, it can be a great tool for travel advisors now, too, to take hold of noctourism and find the best places to send clients for nighttime activities. 

Nature and Wildlife Spotting

Tour operator Flash Pack saw bookings for trips that include nighttime experiences grow by 40% last year, said CEO and co-founder Lee Thompson. From the company’s nighttime photography tours in Costa Rica to twilight riverboat rides on the Amazon to glamping under the stars in the Serengeti, “these experiences show how nighttime is the best time to connect with wildlife and the natural world in a deeper, more adventurous way.”   

John Hadad, co-founder of HADCO Experiences, calls the trend “a natural evolution of sustainable and experiential travel which encourages travelers to engage with nature while promoting conservation from a new perspective.” 

HADCO Experiences, a lodging and adventure tour operator, hosts night walks at Trinidad and Tobago’s Asa Wright Nature Centre that allows visitors to observe nocturnal animals such as snakes, bats, tarantulas, and more. 

Astronomic Relaxation

“Noctourism also allows visitors to escape the heat, experience a different atmosphere, and enjoy moments of reflection while stargazing under the stars as the night sky remains clear in these parts of Trinidad,” Hadad added. 

Nature at Night Walks are becoming more popular at Rio Perdido, an environmental sanctuary in Costa Rica that has private bungalow accommodations, as well. Rio Perdido also offers guests nighttime ziplining and private helipad stargazing, “perched atop a mountain with panoramic views of canyons, forests, and rivers offering an unforgettable look at Costa Rica’s night sky,” said Rio Perdido co-founder Gabriel Saragovia.  

While Saragovia noted that the property has always offered nighttime activities, the team is excited that noctourism is bringing even more guests to experience them. 

“Whether it’s the thrill of an off-the-beaten path adventure or a moment of serenity in a crowd-free setting to unwind, we’re honored to share these experiences with our guests,” he said. 

Ambergris Cay, a luxury private island villa complex in Turks & Caicos, recently began providing telescopes in each accommodation so guests can observe the area’s clear nighttime skies. Since then, “many have even requested expanded nighttime activities, such as guided stargazing sessions, beach bonfires, and astronomy talks,” said Guillaume Aublet, the resort’s general manager. 

More Noctourism Ideas

Hotel operators like The Inn of The Five Graces and Ambergris Cay are far from the only ones offering nature-focused outdoor activities after dark. Here are some other resorts’ night sky experiences to recommend to your luxury noctourist clients. 

Wailea Beach Resort offers nighttime experiences to groups upon request, including sound healing, guided meditation, and moonlight yoga. Sandos Caracol Eco Resort is soon launching a sky bathing program, too, with details coming soon. 

The Maldives is popular for noctourism: Six Senses Kanuhura offers a 60-minute mindful stargazing experience that includes moonlight meditation and telescope instruction. And at Milaidhoo Maldives, a Sleeping Under Stars program offers a romantic, secluded night spent in a cozy bed beneath nothing but sky. 

Arizona’s desert atmosphere makes for a fitting noctourism destination, as well. At Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, there are starlit movie nights and Astronomy with Mark Johnston, where guests can observe the night sky with this “azastroguy.” 

Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale offers moonlight bicycling, massages, and yoga; and a Night Glow on the 6th Fairway package that provides a six-course dinner for two and a private hot air balloon ride.