12 best places to sleep under the stars

Can there be anything better than watching the bright lights of the northern sky dance above you, from the comfort of a luxury glass dome? In Finland, Levin Iglut offers exactly that. Each glass-roofed dome has an unobstructed view and, with little to no light pollution, it allows more reliable sights of the lights. There are 3 suite igloos, 9 prime superior igloos, and 15 superior igloos. They vary in size, facilities and cost. As well as the glass domes, the hotel offers a Northern Lights House which is home to two suites, a bathroom, sauna and a private living area. This is perfect for a group of friends or a larger family. All of the accommodation types have access to the Restaurant Utsu, which is a unique culinary experience as the menu and dishes created vary based on the seasonal ingredients and cooking methods. 

Image credit: Levin Iglut

If you’re looking for the best places on Earth to stargaze, the Atacama Desert in Chile in certainly up there with the best. Located in the northern desert of Chile sits one of the country’s most luxurious properties, Tierra Atacama. While this award-winning lodge offers authentic experiences, a warm atmosphere and some of the most beautiful architectural designs in the country, it is also home to some of the most breath-taking stargazing and astronomy sightings in all the world. Tierra Atacama have a very impressive telescope and local guides who are very knowledgeable when it comes to astronomy, so in the evening, after your delicious dinner and a drink at the luxury bar, head out and learn about the starlit sky. 

Image credit: Tierra Hotels

Located in Chiang Rai in northern Thailand, why not spend the night in a luxury bubble tent underneath the stars? And while you’re there, be surrounded by Asian elephants as they wander below the grasses of your dome. Each luxury bubble dome has its own well-appointed ensuite bathroom, a living space and air conditioning to keep you call in the Thai temperatures. During your time at the Anantara Resort, you can observe, interact and be immersed with the elephants and their natural environment. The resort is partnered with an elephant welfare charity that is pioneering in its kind and location, so know that your stay helps the welfare and protection of these gentle giants. The starlit sky in Chiang Rai is not to be overlooked. Unlike Bangkok, there is much less light pollution so the stars of the southern hemisphere can almost always be enjoyed from the comfort of the Jungle Bubble.

Image credit: Anantara Resort

Elephant’s Eye is an intimate camp located on its own private concession, about an hours drive from Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. Hwange is one of the country’s most popular and visited national parks and famous for its elephant population. In fact, its population of over 45,000 elephants make it one of the densest elephant population in Africa so naming the camp Elephant’s Eye makes sense in every way. The camp has its own sleep-out deck which is called The Eye. In the evening, the guests are escorted further out from camp to stay on a luxury sleep out overlooking the waterhole. Although there is a mosquito net and a raised platform, it is open to the wilderness so the sounds of the bush will be heightened. Fall asleep to the sparkles of the Milky Way, and enjoy one of the most romantic and exciting nights in Zimbabwe.

Image credit: Hideaways Africa

Located in the private reserve of Sabi Sands in South Africa, the Lion Sands treehouses are simply some of the most awe-inspiring sleep-out experiences in the continent, if not the world! Perched up high up on a wooden platform, a night in a luxury treehouse gives you a perspective on the bush. Before you are escorted to the treehouse by a private guide, your treehouse will be prepared with fresh bedding, candles and lanterns lit everywhere and of course, a bottle of wine or bubbly to start the experience. The treehouse has 5-star comforts as well your very own starlit sky. 

Image credit: More Family Collection

Wadi Rum is a vast desert landscape with narrow gorges, dramatic cliffs, and majestic sandstone arches, looking as if it should be on another planet. It was the setting for the most scenes in the epic film ‘Lawrence of the Arabia’. Inhabited by various cultures since prehistoric times, some who’ve left their mark in rock paintings, today visitors can experience the Bedouin way of life by staying in one of the most luxurious desert camps, sleeping beneath the same brilliant starry night’s skies, but with many upscale perks.