Starry, starry nights

From the spectacular Northern Lights to the crystal clear skies of Western Australia, Alanna Gallagher looks up some of the world’s best stargazing

IN GALAXIES far, far way is a spectacle that doesn’t cost the earth to anyone who takes the time to look up. Indulge in the heavenly pursuit of stargazing where the bright matter in the sky takes centre stage.

As the nights draw in, here’s some of the world’s best places to watch the stars.

Scotch sky at night

Scotland’s Galloway Forest Park is billed as Europe’s only “Dark Sky Park”. On a clear night, you can see the Milky Way, the space station orbiting earth; satellites; Orion the Hunter; shooting stars; planets; comets; and perhaps even a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

The Selkirk Arms Hotel, a three-star family-friendly establishment that also has excellent food, debuted its Stargazing weekends last month.

Two nights’ dinner, BB costs approximately £199pps (€234) and includes talks with astronomer Steve Owens who ran the city’s planetarium for seven years and then co-ordinated the UK’s activities for last year’s International Year of Astronomy.

The hotel will transport you to the park, supply torches, filters and telescopes. Afterwards, sip on a beer called Stargazer, created by hotel owner Chris Walker.

Travel from Belfast to Stranraer on Stena Line costs from £136 (€160) return for two passengers and a car when booked through the Selkirk Arms which can arrange discounts. Kirkcudbright is a 60km drive from the ferry.

Selkirk Arms Hotel (00-44-1557-330402, selkirk armshotel.co.uk), High Street, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries Galloway.

Moonstruck in France

Through a powerful telescope at Les Granges in Baronniers in southern France, the Milky Way, the Galaxy of Andromeda, Saturn’s rings, the cloud belts of Jupiter and the ice caps of Mars are all visible in their seasons, says owner astronomer Olly Penrice. “You can also see the craters on the moon as well as the impact debris.”

Enjoy the astronomy facilities on a BB basis for €42 per person per night. There are no single supplements. Or rent the entire gîte with friends or family.

The house has two twin rooms. A sofa-bed sleeps two more people. A week-long stay at the house costs €800 for up to six guests.

Both options include guided tours of the night sky and the chance to do some astronomical photography. Meals are served in the farmhouse kitchen and cost €17 per person including drinks.

Les Granges Astronomy Holidays accommodation (00-33-492-662257, sunstar france.com) is 35km from the town of Gap. The closest airports are Nice, Nimes and Marseille. Aer Lingus (aerlingus.com) flies to Marseille from early May. Both Aer Lingus and Ryanair (ryanair.com) fly to Nice. Or fly Dublin to Paris CDG and take the TGV to Aix-en-Provence.

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights or aurora borealis remains one of the sky’s greatest light shows and is a constant on Top 10 lists of Things To Do Before You Die. The best time to view the lights is February, when the skies are clearest.

There are numerous Arctic excursions including Aurora Sightseeing, which costs from €150 per person. Seeing the lights is not a cast-iron guarantee, but thrilling if and when you do.

To really experience the landscape, take an overnight trip to a pre-heated Lavvo, a traditional-style tent used by the Saami or Lapps. This excursion includes a trip by dog sled or snowmobile, weather permitting.

Travel back the next morning after breakfast, all the while imagining you are following in the footsteps of Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen. This costs €385 per person.

Gohop (01-2412389, gohop.ie) has flights to Tromso in Norway from €353 per person, including tax, on Scandinavian Airlines via Oslo. Stay at the basic but central Clarion Hotel Bryggen on a BB basis, from €129 per person, per night.

The sky Down Under

The minimal artificial light and clear skies over Western Australia allow you an unrivalled view of the stars and planets in all their finery.

Through the five state-of-the-art telescopes at the Gingin Observatory (00-61-8-9575-7740, ginginobservatory.com), see the constellations in the night sky, including the Small Magellanic Cloud not seen in the northern hemisphere, that has been visible since September.

An astronomer gives you all the information you need to fully appreciate the night’s constellations. Events usually run from 7pm-9.30pm and cost from Aus$34 (€26) per adult. If you don’t want to drive to the observatory, there are also bus tours available.

Travelmood (01-4331023, travelmood.ie) has a package to Perth which starts at €1,374 per person and includes return flights to Perth with Malaysian Airlines, five nights at the Quality Resort Sorrento Beach (in northern Perth, closer to the observatory and also just a few minutes from the beach) and five days’ car rental.

Diamond sky

Lonely Planet describes mineral-rich Namibia as having “a sky so thick with stars you can’t differentiate between constellations”. Set in the world’s oldest desert, the Sossusvlei Desert Lodge (00-27-11-809-4300, sossusvlei-namibia.com) not only offers impressive wildlife viewing but also some of the best stargazing in southern Africa.

The NamibRand Nature Reserve is 140km from the nearest town, so light pollution is minimal. Join the resident astronomers either before or after dinner to unlock the mysteries of the diamonds in the overhead sky. What a great aperitif to any meal.

You can even stargaze from your bed. The 10 stone and glass villas boast large windows, verandas, outdoor showers and skylights to make the most of the celestial setting.

Five nights on all-inclusive basis at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge costs from €2,900 to €4,450 per person sharing and includes flights from Dublin to Frankfurt with Lufthansa and onwards to Windhoek with Air Namibia. There is also a light aircraft transfer from Windhoek to Sossusvlei Desert Lodge and scheduled safari activities.

Sky views in Chile

The dark, secluded setting of Chile’s Elqui Domos Hotel, in the remote Elqui Valley, is reputed to be the earth’s magnetic centre and offers brilliant stargazing clarity.

Chill out in one of the planet’s only astronomic hotels in a geodesic dome. The spaces are simply furnished. Each dome has a living room and bathroom. The bedroom is set high above on a mezzanine and comes with a detachable roof to gaze at the heavens from the comfort of your own bed. Each dome also comes with its own decked terrace if lying down looking up isn’t your thing.

Sign up for the astronomic tour which includes a full guide to the skies and use of a telescope. The bilingual tour in Spanish and English costs $60 (€43) per room, each of which comes equipped with specialised astronomic literature – perfect for bedtime reading. You can also take an astronomical tour on horseback. This excursion costs approximately $36 (€28) per person.

The hotel is 110km from La Serena and 580km from Santiago. The rooms cost between $105 (€83) and $130 (€103) per night. Rates are per dome and include breakfast.

Elqui Domos, Camino Publico Pisco Elqui Horcón, Sector Los Nichos s/n, Paihuano, regionale Coquimbo, 00-56-97-709-2879, elquidomos.cl.

Urban elevation

Few cities fire the imagination quite like Bangkok. Its ornate palaces, Buddhist temples, serpentine canals and night bazaars that never sleep have all proved powerful magnets for travellers.

Few places out-wow the Vertigo Grill and Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree Bangkok’s rooftop bar and restaurant. Elevated 61 floors above the city, on a clear evening it is one of the best urban locations to stargaze. Kickstart the evening with a sundowner and enjoy 360-degree views across the city. Watch out for the first of the evening stars.

Three nights at Banyan Tree Bangkok (00-66-2-679-1200, banyantree.com/en/Bangkok) in a deluxe view suite, followed by eight nights on the coast at Saree Samui, costs €1,729pps, incl taxes and airport transfers. Or spend three nights at Banyan Tree Bangkok in a deluxe view suite followed by eight nights in a deluxe room at Krabi Thai Village Resort for about €1,460, including taxes, surcharges and airport transfers. Both offers are on a BB basis and valid for travel completed between January 16th and March 31st. Book by January 5th. For reservations, call TwoHigs Worldwide Holidays, 01-6480800, twohigs.com.