Gazing at the far-away, mystical stars and letting their twinkle warm your soul is one of the perks of a tropical holiday. After dusk, the Maldives’ horizon lights up with a scattering of stars both bright and mellow. Let’s talk about how to savour star-gazing moments in the archipelago.

Star gazing is a Maldives experience you’re unlikely to ever forget. The silky, sandy beaches of the Maldives offer plenty of space for stargazing. As the country’s proximity to the equator increases visibility, you’ll step into a spellbinding world of celestial objects from the beach at night. Check with resorts like the Saii Lagoon Maldives for special beach camping facilities to observe the cosmos.

The dry season between November to April is the best period for stargazing in the Maldives. With fewer clouds obscuring the horizon, star-lit cosmos present their full force during these months. And, the lack of rain is ideal for spending a few hours at the beach, lying on a towel or sunbed, looking up into the sky.

Maldives is not an overly populated country, and there is only one resort per island. This means that light pollution is minimal in the blessed archipelago. The equatorial location of the island nation allows for views of both northern and southern hemisphere constellations. And, you get to see some southern hemisphere stars that are not visible from many other spots on Earth. Keep your eyes peeled for the Magellanic clouds, Southern Cross and Alpha Centauri. However, the visibility of these captivating celestial bodies depends on atmospheric conditions and geographic locations.

Have an early dinner, then dress to stargaze with a warm beanie, a scarf and your beach towel. If there is a rooftop bar at your resort, this too would be a good place. Try to move as far away from artificial lights as possible. If this is not the case, pick your spot on the beach in consultation with someone from the resort. You’d have a much brighter view of the stars when the moon is not shining too brightly. Take that into consideration when you pick your star gazing days. And, make sure to check the weather forecast, and avoid potential showers.

You can bring your binoculars to look closely at the stars. This is a more affordable option than pricey and heavy telescopes. Take a wetproof bag to keep all your belongings. Pack a power bank to charge your devices. You can take a portable folding chair along to make star gazing more comfortable. And, take a blanket to spread on the ground. Dress in layers. This way, you can peel off or put on layers to stay warm or cool down. Jumpers, beanies and scarves should do the trick. Ask the resort to pack you a thermos of hot chocolate, tea or coffee. You could ask them for a small hamper of gourmet nibbles like petit fours, chocolate, tiny sandwiches etc.

Bring a star chart or atlas to consult. You could also download a stargazing app to get to know more about specific celestial bodies. These apps use your phone’s GPS to identify the location. And, when you point your phone to a specific star or pattern, it can inform you about what it is. But, you don’t necessarily need technology to savour a true star gazing experience. Simply lie back, let the world drift away and immerse into the magic of a star lit sky.