Stargazing in the Tabernas Desert: Is the Night Tour Worth It?

Almería’s reputation is sunshine, and sunshine is a good sign for the night: the Tabernas Desert gets, by one tour provider’s account, over 3,000 hours of it a year and under 250 mm of rain, which makes clear skies likely. That is not a promise for any one evening, but it is the reason there is a stargazing tour here at all.

The tour

The stargazing night in the Tabernas Desert costs €35 per person and has 111 reviews at a perfect 5.0. It lasts 2 to 3.5 hours, with a certified astronomy guide and two professional telescopes. That range is wide enough that you should read the booking page for the actual start time and length on your date.

There is also a Cabo de Gata stargazing experience, 2 hours at €35, but with 9 reviews at 4.4 stars it has far less behind it. If you are choosing between them, the numbers favour Tabernas. If you are staying on the coast, check how far you would have to travel to the start.

Why it is worth considering

The telescopes are the point. A dark place shows a lot to the naked eye; two telescopes and someone who can point them show more, and explain it.

When it works best

• Moon: a new moon gives the darkest sky; around the full moon the faintest objects are washed out. Check the moon phase before you pick a date.
• Clouds: the weather decides. Ask the booking page how a cancelled evening is handled before you commit to your last night.
• Season: darkness falls early in winter and late in summer, so the start time shifts through the year. The booking page shows the time for your date.

What to bring

Desert nights are colder than the day suggests, in every season. Bring layers and a windproof jacket, and wear shoes you can walk in over uneven ground. Phones lit at full brightness are the main enemy of the dark-adapted eye, so keep the screen low.

Getting back

Tabernas is about 30 km north of Almería, and the tour finishes after dark. The listing does not tell us whether transport from the city is included, so find out on the booking page before you book.

Which one

For most people the Tabernas night. If you would like to see the desert in daylight too, 4x4, horse riding or a Western town compares the day options, and all eight offers are on the Tabernas Desert tours page.