8 of the best camping and glamping spots for stargazing

Photo courtesy of E+ / bjdlzx

Due to the pandemic, it sure seems like a lot more time is being spent outdoors. And what could be better than setting up camp under a sky full of stars and constellations? Well, if roughing it isn’t your thing, then the next best thing to a camp bed will be a “glamp” bed, so take your pick between some of these underrated glamping and camping options where you can enjoy the natural world at its best.

Photo courtesy of Shinta Mani Wild

Luxury camp in the Cardamom Rainforest, Cambodia

If you’re heading to Asia, don’t miss splashing out for a stay at renowned hotel designer Bill Bensley’s Shinta Mani Wild resort. Fifteen uber-luxurious tents are set up here in Cambodia’s remote Cardamom National Park, where in addition to stargazing and enjoying all the trappings of glamping galore, you’ll also be able to go on kayak and boat excursions on the Tmor Rung River.

Best yet, you can even arrive at your tent via a 1,000-foot-zipline over the forest canopy!

Photo courtesy of Shinta Mani Wild

Alone in nature at Shinta Mani Wild

Not only is there a resident botanist at Shinta Mani Wild, you can even join a patrol of Wildlife Alliance rangers as they head out to look for poachers or remove illegal traps to protect wild elephants. This low-impact camp covers 865 acres and includes some 875,000 trees, 4.5 kilometers of wild river and 3 magnificent waterfalls.

The camp was purchased to stop logging and mining, in addition to making a sustainable way to protect the forest and its wildlife inhabitants.

Photo courtesy of Isla Chiquita

An island to yourself: Glamping at Isla Chiquita, Costa Rica

Set just off of Costa Rica’s dramatic Nicoya Peninsula, Isla Chiquita Resort is the country’s only island glamping destination. Located on the tiny Isla Jesusita in the Gulf of Nicoya, you’ll find a host of natural attractions here to keep you content while getting to live out some “Robinson Crusoe” fantasies at the same time.

The water here features a high concentration of light-emitting plankton, so you can go on neat bioluminescence tours at night, check out tropical wonders on the hiking trails of the resort’s private reserve, and go kayaking and birdwatching. In addition, you can check out the night skies and beautiful tropical surroundings from this empty island which you’ll have all to yourself. 

Photo courtesy of Isla Chiquita

Luxury glamping overlooking the Gulf of Nicoya

You certainly won’t be roughing it at Isla Chiquita. The cool Master Sunset Suite features a palapa terrace with sweeping 360-degree views, an ocean view and even an outdoor private whirlpool! This is glamping at its finest.

In addition to all the natural-based activities on tap here, the resort also boasts a spa and a fine dining restaurant. Those who want to indulge in a little VIP action can avoid the regular ferry service the resort provides and instead fly in like the birds, as Isla Chiquita even has a helicopter landing pad for those wanting to make a fast and furious visit from San Jose. But why rush it, when this paradisiacal spot has enough to keep you chilled out and happy for weeks.

Photo courtesy of Little Heaven Ranch

Dark skies and stars guaranteed at Little Heaven Ranch

While you won’t find any glamping here, Little Heaven Ranch just outside of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, is perfect for doing astral photography. This off-the-grid remote campground is meant for adventurers looking to soak in the wilderness and detox from modern life. 

The Grand Canyon is a Dark Sky Park known for its exclusive views of faraway planets such as Saturn, Mars and Jupiter, along with other galactic phenomena. And you can be guaranteed a lot more than just five stars here; think more like a million! 

Photo courtesy of Nature Observatorio

Camping in the forest canopy at the Amazing Treehouse

While most camping and stargazing involves looking up from the ground, at the Amazing Treehouse and Nature Observatorio in Costa Rica, much of your time might be spent looking down. That’s because this amazing spot, located in the middle of an unspoiled rainforest in the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge on the country’s Caribbean coast, offers visitors the chance to trek through prime rainforest, then spend the night in an 80-foot tree.

You’ll be comfortably camping out in a well-equipped and comfortable treehouse, with excellent opportunities to spot wildlife or just enjoy the jungle from the treetop canopy vantage point. The 360° panoramic view from here takes in the surrounding greenery, as well as the Caribbean Sea stretching out to the eastern horizon – and the tropical sky above.

Photo courtesy of Nature Observatorio

A home at the top of the rainforest at Nature Observatorio

There aren’t too many comfortable tent accommodations on the planet that need to be reached via climbing a tree using a double rope technique that utilizes the strength of your legs. And the whole treehouse camp is also as eco-friendly as possible.

Set in a 350-year-old monumental Nispero (loquat) tree, the treehouse was built from top to bottom with not a single nail or screw used! A once-in-a-lifetime bird’s-eye experience is guaranteed for all here, and even if you don’t want to partake of an overnight camp, you can still opt for a day tour which allows you to check out the magnificent rainforest, climb up into the treehouse and contemplate your next visit. 

Photo courtesy of The High Desert Ranch Colorado

Open space and big sky at the High Desert Ranch

Another spot with simple camping but incredible unpolluted skies is found in Colorado at the High Desert Ranch in Moffat. This laid-back campground is a short drive from the Great Sand Dunes National Park, a designated Dark Sky Park filled with otherworldly sand dunes and clear skies.

Visitors can even bring a sand sled to surf the dunes beneath the interstellar glow for a once-in-a-lifetime experience straight from a sci-fi movie. In addition to renting tent and trailer sites, The High Desert Ranch is also a working ranch and is home to Colorado’s second largest herd of elk. 

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Under the Milky Way at Moke Lake

For a real dark sky experience, make a beeline to Queenstown, New Zealand. Just seven miles from town, the Department of Conservation’s Moke Lake Campground offers an unrivaled camping experience. This scenic alpine lake offers excellent fishing, canoeing, hiking and mountain biking, and when night falls, you’re in for a real treat with superb opportunities to take in all the Southern Hemisphere constellations.

You’ll need your own tent and you best get here early, as sites are limited and it is first come, first served. 

Photo courtesy of Selina La Fortuna

Cozy teepees at Selina La Fortuna for Magellanic cloud viewing

Set close to the active Arenal Volcano, Selina La Fortuna is home to some snazzy glamping teepees which ensure you have quick access to viewing the rare Magellanic clouds, seen from December to April. Additionally, you can see northern and southern constellations, as the resort is close to the equator.

Selina La Fortuna also offers yoga workshops and cooking classes, and even has a swimming pool to lounge in by day. There’s a tour desk to arrange excursions to Arenal or local hot springs should you still need something more to do.

Photo courtesy of Selina La Fortuna

Selina runs an array of boutique-style hostels across Central America and is a popular option for budget-for-comfort travelers looking to meet similar nomads. You can sit around the fire in front of your teepee here swapping travel tales and wildlife sightings, staying warm while stargazing.

You’re also just down the road from La Fortuna’s top attraction, the 200-foot La Fortuna Waterfall, as well as the mystical hanging bridges, which offer walks up above the cloud forest. If you want to stay and pursue life as a digital nomad, Selina La Fortuna even offers monthly Co-Live options where you can utilize their accommodation, co-working spaces, and fantastic atmosphere and surroundings.

Photo courtesy of Dave Stamboulis

Atop the mountains at the Nuvolau Hut in Italy’s Dolomites

Finally, for something really special, you’ll have to be willing to walk. High in Italy’s gorgeous Dolomite Mountains, you’ll find a series of alpine huts to call home for the night. The “rifugios,” as they are called, provide beds, food, warmth and plenty of good cheer with other hikers, also meaning you don’t have to carry a large pack.

The pick of the huts here has to be the Nuvolau Hut, set on top of a mountain. It’s the oldest refuge in the Dolomites and, needless to say, the unpolluted dark sky views at night are unrivaled. Just be careful where you walk though, as this place is literally perched right on top of a rock face!

Bookings can be made via their website, which has phone and email info. Given the limited space, it’s most definitely advised to contact them in advance, so as not to be shut out from the majestic alpine views.