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As night falls and stars fill the sky, a new world waits to be discovered. While many people enjoy daytime experiences during trips, there’s always the opportunity to explore the world in the dark — when it is most mysterious and alive.
According to HuffPost, noctourism is a booming travel trend, which offers a new and exciting way to travel. Whether it is embarking on a moonlit wildlife safari, walking through night markets, or gazing at wonders in the nighttime sky, the trend is allowing travelers to see the world in a whole new way.
Stepping out after sunset can offer a unique perspective and reveal the hidden in well-known destinations, explains Travelbinger. When familiar landmarks are illuminated by special lighting or the glow of the moon, they magically transform.
Touring by night is also a way to escape the crowds and experience thrills that daylight does not offer. Ready for adventure beyond the expected? Step into the night! Here are four ways to incorporate noctourism into your next travel adventure.
Cities After Hours
Food-market strolls are among the most popular noctourism experiences, especially in East Asia and Latin America. Here, street food sizzles and the energy is electric. Night markets pulse with life and are a foodie’s paradise!
Architecture also takes on a new perspective at night, with nocturnal tours to ancient sites offering a special view, according to National Geographic. By night, the Nabatean Treasury in Petra, Jordan, is lit by thousands of lanterns. In India, people visit the Taj Mahal under the beams of a full moon. And in the quiet solitude of night, tourists explore Tokyo’s oldest temple.
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The Magical Night Sea
Under the cover of darkness, some places in the sea offer a living light show. Scuba divers can go for a fluoro dive, where coral reefs explode with color from biofluorescence. Those who do not dive can also witness bioluminescence, an incredible neon-blue light created by plankton. Marvel at this glow on beaches in the Maldives and Puerto Rico.
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Wild Night Safaris
Three-quarters of wildlife in some areas of the world is nocturnal, according to Travelbinger. Jungles, forests, and the bush come alive at night as lions, leopards, hyenas, and other animals are active. At night, nocturnal birds call and creatures rustle in the underbrush, revealing the magic of wildlife after dark.
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Camping Under Starry Skies
Sleeping beneath the stars offers “a blend of tranquility and exhilaration, deepening your connection to the wild,” Chris McIntyre, founder of Expert Africa tells National Geographic. Some lodges even feature deluxe ‘star beds’ where you sleep outside in luxury under pristine starry skies.
Tuck in for the night on a private sandbank in the Maldives, snuggle inside a geodesic dome, or lie back on a farmer’s hay cart in Switzerland. These unique experiences all offer an intimate connection to the inspiring night sky.
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