This luxury tent camp has celestial credentials
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(CNN) — Sleeping under the stars is a romantic notion but getting a really good look at them in today’s artificial-light-filled world can be challenging.
Now, for the first time, there’s lodging with official “dark sky” credentials.
The luxury tent resort Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase in Utah is the first lodging to receive certification from DarkSky International, a non-profit that has designated more than 200 Dark Sky Places worldwide since 2001 as part of its mission to combat light pollution.
Under Canvas collaborated with DarkSky to develop criteria for certifying lodging. The program criteria will be posted next week so that other interested lodging providers can begin the application process, the organization said.
Luxury tent resort Under Canvas Lake Powell - Grand Staircase in Utah is the first lodging to receive official DarkSky certification. (Travis Burke)
“While this is the first DarkSky Approved Lodge, we are optimistic that the growing interest in astrotourism and dark sky travel will mean it will not be the last,” Ruskin Hartley, DarkSky International’s CEO and executive director, told CNN Travel via email.
Approved lodging will have “distinguished quality starry nights and a nighttime environment preserved through on-site DarkSky Approved lighting,” according to the organization’s website.
“Under Canvas has been working diligently for several years on assessing sky quality, inventorying lights, and making the necessary changes to meet our program requirements,” Ruskin said.
The glamping resort is located on a sweeping canyon rim plateau in southern Utah close to the Arizona border within easy reach of Lake Powell, Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument, Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Plus, it has its own slot canyon on site.
The glamping resort is located on a canyon rim plateau in southern Utah with sweeping views of the landscape. (Travis Burke)
Safari-inspired luxury canvas tents are available in a variety of configurations, including the two-person stargazer tent that has a viewing window positioned over the head of its king-size bed. The tent also has a private bathroom, a private deck and a wood-burning stove. The glamping resort also offers complimentary programming, including stargazing.
Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase rates this year range from $329 to $449 per night through the season’s end on October 30.
The new certification coincided nicely with the Perseid meteor shower, which peaked over the weekend.
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