In 2025, travelers will increasingly swap the sun for the stars on vacation. Nocturnal tourism, or "noctourism," tops Booking.com's 2025 Travel Predictions, and it's not just Star Wars fans changing their trip orbit.
According to Booking.com, over half (59%) of surveyed American travelers express interest in choosing destinations that offer quieter, starlit experiences. Skyscanner's 2025 Travel Trends report reveals explorers 18 to 34 are most interested in keeping their eyes on the skies.
What's Causing This Change?
"At Booking.com, we're always looking at emerging travel trends, and our 2025 Travel Predictions reveal that more travelers are looking skyward for unforgettable experiences. What's driving this trend could be a result of the viral total solar eclipse we saw earlier this year," shares Ben Harrell, U.S. Managing Director at Booking.com. "However, the shift could also result from Americans wanting to make more climate-conscious travel, opting for trips to darker-sky destinations."
According to NASA, 2024 was the hottest summer on record. These record temps will push travelers to vacation spots that escape the daytime heat.
"We've noticed a growing curiosity among our clients who are more drawn to the magic of exploring destinations at night. Whether they're going on a night hike while stargazing at Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island or admiring the mesmerizing Northern Lights from their cozy chalet in Alaska, these experiences offer a completely different perspective in the world of darkness," explains Tom Marchant, co-founder of Black Tomato. It's not just about avoiding the crowds or the heat; it's about the intimacy and otherworldly atmosphere that comes with the quiet and stillness of the night. In these moments, it feels like you're seeing a side of the world hidden during the daytime, connecting with the destination and yourself on a deeper, more meaningful level."
However, travelers don't need to leave the mainland United States for an out-of-this-world vacation. They can head to this small Arizona town, which many call "The Most Beautiful Place on Earth," two hours south of the Grand Canyon's South Rim.
Stunning Sedona
Surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest land, four wilderness areas, two state parks, and perched 4,500 feet above sea level, adventurous Sedona is ideal for stargazing. In 2014, DarkSky named it the world's eighth Dark Sky Community. With 300 clear nights yearly, observers can easily watch stars move over otherworldly red rock formations.
"Sedona is proud to be an International Dark Sky Community, and at Hyatt Vacation Club at Piñon Pointe, we're committed to preserving these pristine night skies. Our lighting guidelines, which include no overhead lighting and adherence to city ordinances for lights per acre, allow guests to fully experience the beauty of the stars. We even provide flashlights in each villa to ensure guests can navigate safely in the evening while admiring the night sky," explains Victoria Cameron, General Manager of Hyatt Vacation Club at Piñon Pointe.
"For travelers who value the beauty of the nighttime sky, we are proud that Sedona and the Verde Valley provide an opportunity to see the Milky Way, the stars, and the planets in a serene environment. We are seeing a growing number of astrotourists seek out places like Sedona where, surrounded by undeveloped National Forest land, they can contemplate the wonders of nature," says Craig Swanson, President of Keep Sedona Beautiful.
Joining an expert-led tour means seeing planets and clusters of millions of stars light-years away.
"Under Sedona's pristine night skies, our guided stargazing tours bring the cosmos to life. With state-of-the-art telescopes and expert guides, we offer visitors an unforgettable journey through the stars, an experience unique to Sedona's unparalleled dark skies and natural beauty, " shares Clifford Ochser, Founder & President of Sedona Stargazing Tours LLC.
"I wasn't expecting to see Jupiter and Saturn, as well as a close-up view of the full moon," adds Daniel, a dad from New Jersey who brought his two young kids on a fall Sedona Stargazing Tour. "They knew exactly where to aim telescopes so we could see six mind-blowing celestial objects. All we had to do was bundle up and show up for this once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Expert Stargazing Tips
"Move away from city lights, as human-made light pollution makes it much harder to see stars, and choose a location with unobstructed views, such as a lake, shore, or meadow, to increase your visibility of the night sky," explains Preston Dyches from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
For those heading out alone, he recommends scouting stargazing spots during the day to identify rocks, branches, or other potential hazards not visible at night.
Weather Channel meteorologists Jonathan Erdman and Chris Dolce explain that winter is generally best for U.S.-based observers, particularly beginning in November when most of the country reverts to standard time, bringing more darkness.
"While winter can have its share of cloudy days, you also have a better chance of a crystal clear night in winter than summer. That's because summer's humidity and wildfire smoke can add a veil of haze to the sky, making it less clear and distinct, especially along the horizon. Summertime's scattered clouds, showers, and thunderstorms could also interfere with your stargazing," they add.
FOX28 Spokane©