According to a survey by Booking.com, nearly 62% of travelers in 33 countries said they are considering vacations with night activities such as stargazing, exploring jungles or night tours in famous cities. Luxury travel company Wayfairer Travel also recorded a 25% increase in the number of customers booking night tours by 2024 alone. Young people, especially Millennials, increasingly prefer "alcohol-free" experiences, replacing evenings in bars with unique and memorable adventures.
Noctourism - night tourism is increasingly popular
Wild nature in the dark
One of the reasons why night travel is so appealing is the fresh perspective on familiar places. In Africa, where most wildlife is nocturnal, night safari tours are booming. According to Dan Free, Director of Wildlife Worldwide, tourists are increasingly curious to discover rare animals such as aardvarks and aardwolves - species that often appear at night. Wayfairer Travel alone recorded a 35% increase in demand for night safari tours in Africa compared to last year.
Not only in Africa, rainforest resorts in Madagascar, Costa Rica or along the Amazon River (Ecuador) also organize night trips by canoe or on foot to explore the nocturnal life of the ecosystem. In Europe, the company Amazing Nature Scandinavia organizes overnight camps in the habitat of wolves, where visitors can listen to howls in the night forest. In Scandinavia, specialized observation stations are also set up so that visitors can track brown bears in the wild.
Aardvark
Aardwolf
In Africa, where much of the wildlife is nocturnal, night safari tours are booming.
Northern Lights
No activity epitomizes the spirit of night travel more than chasing the Northern Lights. With the “solar maximum” occurring in 2024-2025, the frequency and intensity of the aurora borealis will increase significantly, driving more tourists to the highlands near the Arctic Circle. Last year alone, seasonal flights to Tromsø – Norway’s “Northern Lights capital” – increased from 22 to 87, with many major airlines taking part.
Hurtigruten’s Aurora Hunter Tom Kerss describes the Northern Lights as “an almost magical miracle of nature.” Hurtigruten ships have become “floating observatories,” constantly moving in search of the clearest skies. Bookings for the company’s Astronomy Voyages have nearly doubled in just one year.
To increase tourists' chances, many companies offer a "Northern Lights Guarantee": if they don't see the phenomenon during their trip, they'll be invited to join the following year's trip for free.
Northern Lights shine brightly over Tromsø, Norway
Experience the “star bed”
As stargazing moves beyond the realm of astronomers, demand for accommodations with stunning night views is booming. In Africa, “star beds” – outdoor sleeping pods in the wild – have become a staple of high-end safari tours. According to Chris McIntyre, founder of Expert Africa, sleeping nights amid the wild calls of hyenas not only offer tranquility but also create a deep sense of connection with nature.
While sleeping outdoors used to mean a thin mattress and a single blanket, accommodations have now upgraded the experience with king-size beds, premium bedding, and even hot tubs. Basecamp Samburu in Kenya recently opened four luxury star beds, nestled under a canopy in the middle of the jungle.
It’s not just Africa that’s getting in on the action, with the Maldives resort offering a “Sleep Under the Stars” package at the Milaidhoo resort in Baa Atoll, an overnight experience on a secluded sandbar in the middle of the ocean, accessible only by boat. In Switzerland, the “Million Stars Hotel” campaign, launched in 2021, now has more than 50 unique accommodation options, from glass domes to farm trailers, all designed for stargazing.
One of more than 50 "Million Stars Hotel" models amidst Swiss nature.
Night Sky - The Treasure Gradually Disappears
With global light pollution increasing by 10% a year, and the Milky Way now out of sight for a third of the world’s population, “getting back to the sky” is becoming an increasingly popular reason to travel. The nonprofit DarkSky International has designated more than 160,000 square kilometres (60,000 square miles) of Dark Sky Reserves and Parks around the world, from the deserts of Namibia to the New Zealand outback. The UK alone has 22 dark sky reserves.
In New Zealand, the Tāhuna Glenorchy Dark Sky Sanctuary was recently recognized in 2025, opening up more options for astronomy enthusiasts. New activities such as night boating to watch the stars, or swimming under the full moon in Lake District (UK) are also being exploited to serve "dreamy" tourists.
Glenorchy (New Zealand) has just been recognized as a Dark Sky Reserve in 2025.
The world glows under the water
The night sea - an untapped "galaxy". Although the rate of participation in PADI night diving courses increased only slightly by 2% from 2020 to 2024, experts say this is a field with great potential for development. With a UV lamp in hand, coral reefs can glow brightly in fluorescent colors, creating a scene like an underwater disco party. Highlights include the island of Bonaire (Caribbean) or the resort of Buceo Anilao in the Philippines.
Those who can’t dive can still “hunt” for bioluminescence, when algae glow like a river of stars beneath the waves. Photos of the neon-blue sea have made Mudhdhoo Island, Maldives, and Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico, dream destinations. Mosquito Bay alone has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as having the world’s most intense bioluminescence.
A glowing blue beach at Mudhdhoo Island (Maldives)
Night travel not only expands the time limit for adventures, but also brings different emotions - deep, primitive and poetic. In the context of the increasingly crowded and noisy world, the night itself becomes a magical "unknown" that attracts tourists.
