Top 10 Astounding Getaways for Stargazing and Cosmic Exploration

Discover the magic of the night sky at these incredible locations, perfect for stargazing holidays. From traditional trullos in Italy to beach resorts off the coast of Thailand, these destinations offer unparalleled views of the cosmos.

In the heart of Puglia, Italy, Masseria Gialli boasts a unique observatory housed within a traditional 'trullo' (dry stone hut). Not too far away, Parco Astronomico, about 20km away, offers several optical telescopes and even a Sun-scope for daytime viewing.

The Canary Islands, one of the best places in Europe for amateur astronomers, is home to several UNESCO Starlight Reserves. El Teide National Park on Tenerife's island is one such reserve, offering stargazing sessions with telescopes at Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide. Fuerteventura, another Canary Island, is also a UNESCO Starlight Reserve and offers a four-day night photography course with professional photographer Simon Waldram.

Crossing the Mediterranean, we find Hotel Rangá in Iceland, far from any light pollution and boasting a roll-off roof observatory equipped with an 11-inch Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain and a TEC 160ED apo refractor on an Astro-Physics 900 mount.

Moving towards the United States, Utah is a world-famous dark-sky location and a great place for stargazing astronomy holidays. Bryce Canyon National Park offers an astronomy and night-sky programme every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The Grand Lodge at Brian Head is handily located near Cedar Breaks National Monument, which offers even better stargazing due to its high altitude (more than 3,000 metres).

In the heart of Andalusia, Spain, Sierra Sur de Jaén Starlight Reserve offers 300 clear nights a year and hosts stargazing events and workshops at Observatorio Andaluz de Astronomía at La Pedriza. Casa Olea Starlight Hotel in the reserve offers stargazing weekends.

For those seeking a tropical stargazing experience, Soneva Kirii, a beach resort off Thailand's west coast, includes a private trip to its own observatory in its Celestial Experience. Six Senses' Con Dao in Vietnam offers a similar experience with a private observatory equipped with a 5-inch Maksutov-Cassegrainian telescope.

Finally, in the UK, Brecon Beacons, Wales, has become the fifth International Dark Sky Reserve in the world, and the first in Wales. The national park hosts a Dark Sky Festival in September and has some of the highest quality dark skies in the UK. Hotel SaharaSky, Morocco, offers a more exotic stargazing experience with a rooftop observatory equipped with an impressive range of telescopes.

Whether you're an amateur astronomer or simply looking for a unique holiday experience, these dark sky destinations promise an unforgettable journey into the cosmos.