Stargazing in Thailand now has more places to choose from. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) registered 15 more dark sky sites in August 2026 under the Amazing Dark Sky in Thailand project, Season 5. NARIT also opened its winter stargazing festival in Chiang Mai on Saturday 31 October 2026. Residents and visitors who want a night away from city lights can pick from national parks, resorts and public observatories.
The registered sites fall into four categories and are spread across several regions. Some are national parks you can visit directly. Others are private resorts or camps that need advance contact. For a telescope session without a long trip, NARIT runs free stargazing every Saturday night in Chiang Mai until May 2027.
Four types of dark sky sites
The NARIT and TAT register groups sites into four types:
- Dark Sky Park
- Dark Sky Community
- Dark Sky Property (private land)
- Dark Sky Suburb
In its Season 5 announcement, NARIT said it chose places with well-managed lighting, skies dark enough for astronomical observation, the ability to host visitors, and the potential to develop astronomy tourism.
Landowners and agencies that want to be registered can apply through the project website, darksky.narit.or.th. Travellers can use the same site to see the latest list. Private properties are the largest group in each season: nine in Season 4 and eight in Season 5. That means more places to stay near stargazing spots.
Season 5 adds 15 sites from 40 applicants
Forty places applied in Season 5 and NARIT registered 15. They are five dark sky parks, one dark sky community, eight private properties and one suburban site.
The five dark sky parks are Hat Chom Tawan at Thap Lan National Park, Khun Sathan National Park (Nan), Nam Phong National Park (Khon Kaen), Phu Pha Thoep National Park (Mukdahan) and Phu Ruea National Park (Loei). The community site is Non Khan Mak, in the Bo Phan Khan area of Roi Et province. The suburban site is the King Mongkut Science Park at Wa Ko, in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
The eight private properties are in Surat Thani, Ratchaburi, Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Prachin Buri and Chaiyaphum. Chiang Mai has three of them, including Yatika Boutique, Sirin Ville Mae Rim and Somphor Village. Overnight options near dark skies therefore exist in the north, the northeast, the central region and the south.
NARIT and TAT announced Season 4 on 23 July 2025 and registered 16 sites. The three years before that produced 48. Season 4 included five dark sky parks, such as Khao Phra Wihan National Park (Si Sa Ket) and Mae Ping National Park (Lamphun). Its nine private properties included the Mae Fah Luang Garden within the Doi Tung Development Project (Chiang Rai). Its two suburban sites were a Dark Sky Suburb site in Surin province (listed in Thai as คชอาณาจักร) and the Valaya Rukhavej Botanical Garden at Mahasarakham University.
Stargazing season in Chiang Mai runs to May 2027
NARIT opened its 2026-2027 winter stargazing festival on Saturday 31 October 2026 from 18.00 to 22.00. The theme was Starry Halloween x Alien Night. It was held at the Sirindhorn Astronomical Park in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, and at NARIT's four regional observatories in Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Chachoengsao and Songkhla. Visitors viewed stars and other objects through telescopes and listened to music.
After the festival, NARIT is running NARIT Public Night, free stargazing every Saturday from 18.00 to 22.00 at the Sirindhorn Astronomical Park until May 2027. Visitors look through a 0.7-metre telescope and other instruments and learn the basics of stargazing. They can also collect NARIT Points, online and at the venue, and exchange them for limited-edition souvenirs. What you can get depends on the exchange point.
For a trip up Doi Inthanon, NARIT is holding two TNO Open House days at the Thai National Observatory, on 30 January and 6 February 2027. Highlights are the 2.4-metre telescope and a view of planets through a 1-metre telescope. The fee is 300 baht per person (about US$9), with 120 places per session. Registration for both sessions opened together on 31 October 2026 through a livestream at 19.30 on the NARIT Facebook page. With registration open since then, places may already be full, so check that page for the current status.
Contact numbers and what to check before you go
Each NARIT venue has its own phone number. NARIT advises calling before you set out, especially if you are travelling far or bringing children. The numbers NARIT gave are:
- Sirindhorn Astronomical Park, Chiang Mai: 084-088-2261
- Regional observatory, Nakhon Ratchasima: 086-429-1489
- Regional observatory, Khon Kaen: 063-892-1854
- Regional observatory, Chachoengsao: 084-088-2264
- Regional observatory, Songkhla: 095-145-0411
For sites on the project register, especially private resorts and camps, open the latest list at darksky.narit.or.th and contact the site directly before you go. The list grows every season, and each site sets its own conditions for staying or visiting. Confirm entry fees and conditions with each site before you go.
Our tip, not a NARIT statement: phone lines may be answered in Thai, so if you do not speak Thai, ask your hotel or a Thai-speaking friend to call for you.
Source: National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), the Amazing Dark Sky in Thailand website (darksky.narit.or.th), and a NARIT press release on the 2026-2027 winter stargazing festival dated 21 October 2026.
This article is adapted from ViewNews' Thai-language report.
