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Noctourism: The five best holidays for stargazers next year

Simon Calder’s Travel

Gazing up at the stars always feels particular special, but have you ever thought about magnifying this feeling by planning a whole holiday around it?

Booking.com said searches for accommodation in Tromso, Norway more than doubled in the three months to the end of October compared with the same period last year.

The travel company has attributed this rise in popularity to ‘noctourism’ – short for nocturnal tourism – where people are seeking holidays that include experiences after the sky turns dark.

More and more people are rushing to Norway in the hope of seeing the Northern Lights, but what other countries are offering equally breathtaking nighttime experiences?

Rediscover darkness at one of the following five fabulous locations…

1. Bryce Canyon National Park, USA

The Milky Way low in the sky over Thor’s Hammer below Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (Alamy/PA)

The Milky Way low in the sky over Thor’s Hammer below Sunset Point in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah (Alamy/PA)

Passionate stargazers from across the globe flock to Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, USA every year in the hope of getting a glimpse of one of its dazzling star displays.

The sprawling reserve is renowned for its crimson-coloured spire-shaped rock formations and achieved its impressive gold tier International Dark Sky Park status in 2019.

Its high elevation, clean air and remote location allows the cosmic displays to really shine.

This breathtaking park is open 24 hours a day and the best time of year to go is between June and August.

Astrophiles can view the mesmerising magic from one of the park’s iconic viewpoints (Sunrise Point, Inspiration Point, Whiteman Bench Picnic Area and Yovimpa Point) or attend a full moon hike in a group.

2. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland

Northern Lights from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Southern Iceland (Alamy/PA)

Northern Lights from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Southern Iceland (Alamy/PA)

If you are yet to tick the Northern Lights off your bucket list, then book a flight to Iceland and venture down to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon at the Vatnajökull National Park.

This special lagoon is a honeypot for photographers as the magnificent red, green, blue and purple auroras reflect against the water and the ice.

The best chance of seeing this incredible light phenomenon dance through the sky is between 9pm and 3am from early September until mid-April.

The drive from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon takes…

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