FROM NIGHT SAFARIS TO GHOST TOURS, THE BEST AFTER-DARK ADVENTURES FOR YOUR NEXT VACATION

When traveling, you needn’t squelch your appetite for adventure just because the daylight runs out. These five nighttime excursions prove that some of the most rewarding experiences happen after dark.

Ride by Bike-Light

In Arizona, night brings a respite from the desert sun and, for cyclists, that means ideal riding conditions. At the Boulders Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz., guests can join a guided, moonlit ride along smooth trails, illuminated by the high-power LED lights on their handlebars. Over the course of a couple of hours, riders might spot mule deer, bobcats and night-blooming cactuses. “The desert is a  different place at night,”  said cycling guide Rico Riley. “You can really hear the coyotes howl.”

Experience Things That Go ‘Cheers’ in the Night

During the day, Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, attracts golfers, falconers and archers. But as dusk falls, the nearly 800-year-old castle shows its eerier side. Charismatic restaurant manager, Robert Bowe leads an after-hours tour through shadowy passageways once used to cart coal around the premises. Along the way, Bowe shares tales of the castle’s resident ghosts, like the “Girl in the White Dress” thought to be a former resident. Post-chills, you’ll be treated to wines from the castle’s historic cellar. It’s a bit like a dinner party if your host was centuries-old and partially transparent.

Wake Up With the Jungle

Many resorts on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast equip you to see monkeys, sloths and jaguars by day, but at the eco-resort Botánika Osa Peninsula, the dark hours invest the phrase “a wild night out” with new meaning. On a Jungle Night Walk, guests follow a guide into the rainforest around Crocodile Bay, where red-eyed tree frogs and stealthy ocelots roam.

Swim With Giants

With its Whale Shark Night Snorkeling excursions from November to April, private island resort COMO Maalifushi in the Maldives cranks up the thrill (or terror, if dark water freaks you out). A comprehensive briefing on how to interact with the wild giants respectfully kicks off the evening. Once in the water, you’ll snorkel—flashlight clutched tightly—alongside the world’s largest fish. Each photo taken (no flash allowed) aids conservation efforts, helping to track the animals. Plus, it makes for pretty impressive bragging rights.

Acquire Star Power

You’ve seen the photos on Instagram: eerily in-focus seas of stars. It’s not Photoshop, it’s practice. At Alila Ventana Big Sur hotel in California, night-sky tours are about observing the expanse—and gaining the skills to capture it. With expert instruction from “campground experience leader” Manuel Salas, you and a small group of students will learn how to take photos of the Milky Way with clarity, creativity and confidence.

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2024-04-17T18:21:50Z dg43tfdfdgfd