Noctourism: Exploring the World After Dark
04 December 2024
By Amy Brear
As we head into 2025, the world of travel continues to evolve at a rapid pace. With a growing focus on sustainability, the rise of technology, and shifting travel preferences, the trends shaping the future of tourism promise to transform the way we explore the world. From eco-friendly destinations to immersive experiences powered by AI and virtual reality, we’re taking a closer look at one new trend for 2025, Noctourism.
While many of us retreat indoors to sleep, a growing number of travellers are finding adventure under the cover of darkness. This emerging trend, known as noctourism, is redefining how we experience our favourite destinations, shifting the focus from daytime sightseeing to exploring cities, landscapes, and cultures once the stars come out.
Astro noctourism is a subcategory of noctourism that focuses specifically on stargazing, astronomy, and celestial observation as its main attraction. It’s the perfect blend of travel and science, offering you the chance to explore the universe beyond our planet while enjoying stunning and remote natural landscapes. Whether you're an amateur stargazer, an experienced astronomer, or simply someone fascinated by the night sky, astro noctourism could be the perfect trend for you to take part in, in 2025.
So, where should you go to see the night’s sky at its best?
Iceland is widely regarded as one of the best destinations for stargazing, and there are several reasons why this small Nordic island attracts both amateur stargazers and professional astronomers alike. From its remote location to its crystal-clear skies, Iceland offers an unparalleled environment to observe the wonders of the night sky.
Here's why Iceland is so exceptional for stargazing, and of course, hunting down the Aurora Borealis.
Low Light Pollution
One of the most important factors for stargazing is the lack of light pollution. Light pollution from urban areas or street lights can obscure the night’s sky, making it difficult to observe the stars, planets, and Aurora Borealis. Iceland is one of the few places in the world where large parts of the country are almost completely free from artificial light.
Long Nights in Winter
Iceland’s polar location means it experiences long nights during the winter months, particularly from November to February, offering extended hours of stargazing. Depending on the time of year, the sun barely sets in the summer, but in winter, Iceland sees up to 20 hours of darkness a day, providing ample opportunities for night-sky exploration.
Clear, Crisp Air and Low Humidity
Iceland's cool, crisp air plays a big role in the quality of stargazing. The low humidity levels and the relatively stable weather conditions in many parts of the country help create clear skies free from the clouds and fog, giving you more chances of seeing activity in the night’s sky.
Want to see Iceland for yourself? Join us and BBC Sky at Night presenter, as we take you on an Icelandic adventure you’ll never forget. Limited spaces are available for our 17th March departure.
5 Days from just £1299pp
Your holiday includes:
- Return flights to Keflavík
- Airport taxes & luggage allowance (one piece of checked-in hold luggage per person)
- Airport & hotel transfers in Iceland
- 1 night at a selected hotel in Reykjavík (JG3 rating) with breakfast
- 2 nights at the Hotel Lækur, Hella (JG3+ rating) with dinner & breakfast
- 1 night at the Konvin Hotel, Keflavík Airport (JG3 rating) with breakfast
- Full day Golden Circle Tour with an English-speaking guide
- Full day South Iceland Tour with an English-speaking guide
- Visits to the Urriðafoss Waterfall, Hveragerði & Reykjavík with an English-speaking guide
- 2 presentations and astrophotography guidance by Pete Lawrence
- 2 nights watching for the Northern Lights with Pete Lawrence
- Services of a tour manager
Find out more.
How about stepping on board a Northern Lights Flight?
For over 25 years, our sister company, Omega Breaks, has been taking passengers on their flight excursions in search of the Aurora Borealis, or as it’s more commonly known, the Northern Lights. This natural light show resulting from an interaction between the magnetic fields of the Earth and the Sun is a bucket list 'must' for many and our flight excursions are perhaps the easiest and most affordable way to see this natural phenomenon.
The Aurora’s appearance can vary from a weak glow to a breathtaking, sky-filling display, and even though the best views may be had from ground level, visibility can be hampered by surrounding light pollution, bad weather or an inconveniently cloudy night. Our flight excursions endeavour to eliminate these factors, aiming to improve chances of viewing this spectacle.
In addition to searching for the Northern Lights, this experience also includes fascinating, exclusive pre-flight presentations with our expert team of astronomers who provide you with a wealth of information about the wonders of the night sky. Throughout the flight, our astronomers will also give expert commentary on the many wonders you will see, from the Milky Way to Orion’s Belt. Away from light pollution, this is perhaps the most vibrant you will ever see some of the more famous constellations.
We are delighted that once again our main guest astronomer for these excursions will be Pete Lawrence, one of BBC's Sky at Night presenters.
Find out more about 2025 departures.