Where to Walk After Dark: the 15 Best Stargazing Hikes Worldwide

1.Sunset Camel Trek, Al Khayma Camp, Stargazing & BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,588 reviews · 6 hours · from $88Our pick

Join a six-hour desert evening with hotel pickup, a 40-minute camel trek at sunset, Al Khayma Camp activities, Arabic coffee, henna, falcon photos, BBQ, live shows, and telescope stargazing. Guides such as Hamid, Yasir, and Mansour Manz are praised for clear help and great photos.

“I highly recommend this trip! We absolutely enjoyed every part of it. Thank you to Hashim for being an awesome guide.”

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2.Big Island GOAT Experience: Mauna Kea Summit, Sunset & Stars

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,706 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $289Top rated

Ride a 4x4 van from Hilo, Waikoloa, or Kona to Mauna Kea’s 13,796-foot summit for sunset, then stop lower on the mountain for stargazing. Guides such as Tay, Kella, John, Chris, and Val share Hawaiian stories and astronomy facts. Coats, gloves, drinks, snacks, and a night photo are included.

“This was an amazing way to spend an evening and it is, in my opinion, absolutely worth the time and money. Shoutout to our guide Chris who did an amazing job.”

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3.Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,545 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $329

Join Hawaii Forest & Trail for an eight-hour Mauna Kea outing with guides such as Jeff, Jason, Wilson, or Eugene. Ride a 4x4 van to the summit, watch sunset above the clouds, then stargaze near 9,000 feet with two telescopes, hot cocoa, dessert, and warm parkas.

“Amazing experience to see the sunset above the clouds and stargazing . Wilson, our driver, was wonderful. So knowledgeable about the mountains/volcanoes ! And the stars.”

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4.Edge Of The World Hike(Dinner under stars,village,bats cave,camp)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 675 reviews · from $55

Join a guided 6 to 7-hour trip from Riyadh to Jabal Firayn, known as the Edge of the World. Hike to its 300-meter cliffs, explore the optional Bin Rasheed bat cave, then enjoy coffee, dinner, music, and target shooting at a desert camp. Guides may include Salman, Othman, or Utman.

“This was a great tour, the leaders were friendly and helpful. The dinner at the end of the tour was really nice. Highly recommend.”

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5.Mauna Kea Summit, Sunset, & Stargazing Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 629 reviews · 390 - 450 minutes · from $289

Ride from Hilo to Mauna Kea with an English-speaking guide such as Val, Tay, John, or Jess. Watch sunset near the summit, visit the great observatories, then stargaze at high altitude with a telescope, hot chocolate, warm gear, and emailed night photos.

“This was an amazing experience for me and my husband! We conveniently got picked up and dropped off in Hilo. John our guide was kind and knowledgeable. The sunset from the top is indescribable, the stargazing was also beyond words. We saw Orion’s Nubela, and two other entire galaxies!! Unreal! It was life changing. Other: we got a little snack bag for the drive up the mountain (chips, crackers, candy), hot cocoa and oatmeal were provided during the stargazing. The supplied jackets were surprisingly warm (gloves available also)! We got complementary photos of our group, and photos of all the amazing we saw in space…all available to download after our…”

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6.Sunset Camel Trek, Al Khayma Camp, Stargazing & BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 605 reviews · from $88

You’ll leave Dubai with an English-speaking driver, ride a camel for about 40 minutes across the dunes, then spend the evening at Al Khayma Camp with dates, coffee, falcon photos, henna, Arabic dress, BBQ, shows, and telescope stargazing. Guides such as Usman, Fazil, and Sufyan have earned special praise for attentive service.

“Camel ride was great! Food very good also, liked the activities and camel feeding. Would definitely go again.”

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7.MaunaKea Summit SUNSET and Star Tour with Photo

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 220 reviews · 8 hours · from $280

Ride a 4x4 van from Kona or Waikoloa to Mauna Kea’s summit with guides such as James, Wes, or Yoki John. You’ll acclimatize at the visitor center, watch sunset above the clouds, enjoy hot drinks under the stars, and receive free DSLR photos of the evening.

“Highly recommend this tour! It was very well organized. Our tour guide James took great care of us, shared a lot of knowledge about Hawaii and had great jokes. Our group had an amazing time!”

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8.Mountaintop Stargazing at Mount John Summit

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 176 reviews · 1h 45m · from $130

Ride from the Dark Sky Project base to Mount John’s 1,029-meter summit for 105 minutes beneath the Southern Hemisphere sky. Guides such as Oscar explain the stars with lasers and telescopes, while supplied cold-weather jackets help you handle the summit chill.

“This tour is well organised and extremely informative. The sheer beauty and clarity of the night sky is breathtaking. There was no moon on the night I visited, but the light from the stars and the Milky Way was bright enough to find your way around. (You do get a lanyard torch however). The views through the telescopes are mind-blowing as well. I thoroughly recommend this activity, and I hope I get the chance to do this again one day!”

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9.Sedona Dark Sky Sunset & Night Hike With a Private Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $185

You’ll leave your Sedona or Village of Oak Creek lodging with a private guide such as Connor, Brett, or David, then hike from sunset into darkness. Expect red-rock views, plant and wildlife details, snacks, headlamps, trekking poles, and thermal or night-vision cameras.

“Great time with a very knowledgeable guide. My family loved all of the special gear amd snacks provided by the company”

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10.Astro-Photo, Hiking and Stargazing Tour in Arches National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $175

Meet at the Windows Section Parking Lot for a two-hour Arches night tour with a guide such as Sam or Brandon. Use provided headlamps and tripods, learn phone or camera settings, and photograph stars framed by the park’s arches. The group is limited to six people.

“The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. I do feel the excursion was over priced. I thought we were going to have a telescope. But it was definitely a memory maker.”

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11.Stargazing Hiking Valle de Elqui

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $100

Join Loreto of Collasuyo Astronómico SPA for a 4.5-hour private outing from Vicuña to Villaseca. Hike with poles, watch the mountain sunset, try meditation and sound therapy, learn Indigenous astronomy, and view Andean constellations through Celestron 20x80 binoculars.

“Loreto is absolutely passionate about creating an experience that you will never forget. Fantastic and highly recommend her tour!”

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12.Sunset Hike and Stargazing Experience in Roque Nublo Mountains

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $70

Join Pablo in Gran Canaria’s high country for a three-hour forest hike to Ventana del Nublo. Your guide supplies a mat, blanket, and front light, then explains geology, sunset views of Roque Nublo and Teide, and simple ways to identify stars without a telescope.

“This tour was one of the highlights of my trip to the island. Pablo was an excellent guide and took us to some truly spectacular spots to watch the sunset over the volcanic landscape — the views were absolutely stunning. After sunset, we explored several viewpoints around the area, including beautiful perspectives of Roque Nublo and other iconic sights. Delicious snacks were provided along the way, with great vegetarian options, which was a lovely touch. Once night fell, the real magic began. We waited as the sky filled with thousands of stars, and Pablo shared fascinating stories about the constellations, which we could even observe through binoculars. Seeing planets, shooting…”

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13.PRIVATE TOUR Teide National Park: Hiking and Stargazing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 38 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $239

Join Javier or another local guide for a private afternoon in Teide National Park. You’ll travel through pine forest, hike to a sunset viewpoint, enjoy Canarian wine and chocolate, then use a telescope beneath one of the world’s finest night skies.

“We had the most amazing time. Javier is so knowledgeable, kind , and flexible. Taught us more in one day then we’d have learned in a university course over a semester. Lovely person. Gorgeous trip. Unforgettable. Worth every penny and more.”

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14.Page: Antelope Valley Canyon Stargazing Night Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 37 reviews · 2 hours · from $65

Meet your guide at the Antelope Valley Canyon parking lot for a two-hour walk through slot canyons after dark. Learn about local geology and history, then stop beneath a moonless sky to find constellations and the Milky Way’s center. Headlamps are provided, but bring warm clothes, water, and sturdy shoes.

“The view was spectacular but little activity for the money we spends”

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15.Cabo de Gata: Guided Night Walk with Stargazing

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 36 reviews · 3 hours · from $29Best value

Meet your Spanish-speaking guide, possibly Mamen, at Mirador del Sollarete in San José. Walk by torchlight toward Los Genoveses beach, hear about Cabo de Gata’s volcanoes, plants, animals, and history, then identify constellations from a mat beside the sea.

“Genial, nos encantó: aprendimos un montón, lo recomiendo.”

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