Everything You Need to Know About Noctourism

Have you ever traveled somewhere to explore it after dark? I have to say, as someone who likes early mornings and normal bedtimes, I’m not always eager to be out too late. However, some experiences are truly worth it!

Let’s Talk Noctourism

Noctourism is simply a term that means planning your trip around what you want to see after the sun sets.

Tips for Noctourism

Keep in mind that the weather will likely be much cooler!

No matter when or where you go, chances are things will cool down significantly once the sun goes down. You definitely want to bring extra layers. Nothing is worse than sitting through something as magical as a meteor shower and not being able to focus because you’re shivering.

Make sure you know your logistics before and after.

Chances are, most of your noctourism experiences will be with a guided tour that’ll pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. If that’s not the case, however, just make sure you arrange those logistics ahead of time. After all, most public transportation systems have limited schedules, and it may not always be easy to simply call a taxi or order a rideshare.

Stay safe and aware of your surroundings

As with any travel experience in new destinations, you always want to err on the side of caution. That goes doubly once the sun goes down! It’s a lot easier to get lost in a city at midnight than it is at noon.

Noctourism Experiences Worth Traveling For

Northern Lights Chasing

This is the most obvious form of noctourism! After all, who wouldn’t risk sub-zero temperatures for a chance at witnessing an aurora borealis light show?

When it comes to the Northern Lights, just make sure you’re above the Arctic Circle and visit during peak times for your best chances. For example, only the northern half of Norway is within the Arctic Circle, so if you expect to see the lights from somewhere like Bergen or Oslo… you’ll be sorely disappointed!

To make the experience even more special, consider visiting a location where you can truly unwind while watching. Staying over in a glass igloo sounds incredible, but I also love the idea of soaking in hot water like at the Sky Lagoon in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Stargazing

There truly is nothing more awe-inspiring than standing underneath a sky absolutely packed with twinkling stars. If you’ve grown up in a city or somewhere with a lot of light pollution, it really is hard to describe just how tiny you feel. Unlike northern lights, which are fairly limited to time and place, there are countless places where you can stargaze to your heart’s content.

International Dark Sky alone has over 200 chapters, starting with Flagstaff, Arizona. In fact, there are stargazing opportunities all through Arizona, and Tucson alone has its own Astro Trail. Just recently, we visited North Carolina’s Crystal Coast and stargazed from Cape Lookout National Seashore. A few seasons ago, I even got to enjoy them from Borrego Springs, California.

Cities After Dark

I find that most cities offer some kind of tour after dark! It’s a neat way to see a different side of the destination, and often you can experience something you can’t during the day. For example, Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul typically closes by 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM, but occasionally offers special night tours that allow you to witness traditional Korean architecture illuminated.

And, of course, for those of you who enjoy spookier experiences or hope to run into a ghost… You really can only do that once the sun sets!

Nighttime Safaris

If you love animals, you have to try out a nighttime safari. There are so many nocturnal species out there, you might miss out on half a country’s wildlife population if you don’t! For example, while I was in Northern Costa Rica, I learned that nearly 75% of the country’s creatures are nocturnal.

Another nice factor is that a nighttime safari can be as adventurous as you want it to be. Book a tour that allows you to relax in a jeep or lace up your sturdiest boots and head into the jungle, just as we did with Rio Celeste Wildlife Trails.

Midnight Sports

Have you ever wanted to run a marathon? Okay, now how about running a marathon in the dark? What about skiing or hiking in the dark? There is something to be said about breaking a sweat underneath a starry sky at least once in your life!

Bioluminescence Tours

Ever see a picture of water that seems to glow blue in the dark? Don’t worry, you’re not seeing some crazy Photoshop or AI – it’s a real, natural phenomenon known as bioluminescence. Without getting too scientific, bioluminescence is essentially the ability of certain creatures to produce their own light or glow. Like fireflies.

Bioluminescence tours allow you to get out on the water and quite literally feel like you’re floating above starlight. It happens all around the world, from Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam to Florida’s Space Coast.

And there you have it on noctourism!

What do you think? Is noctourism something you would travel for? Let me know below!

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