International Destinations that Will Help You Finally Conquer Your Fear of the Dark

If getting rid of your Nyctophobia is your current project...
by Abu Poblete | May 14, 2016

The world actually has a lot in store for those looking for the perfect adventure in the unknown—and for those seeking freedom from a paralyzing fear of the dark.

Tromso, Norway

If getting rid of your Nyctophobia is your current project, perhaps traveling to Tromso, Norway is the perfect way to do it.

For a significant part of the year, the sun doesn’t rise in Tromso. Seriously, the sun doesn’t show its face to Tromso locals from November to January—a period of time fondly called the Polar Night. While three full months without the sun will make you feel a little blue and tired all the time, there’s actually a very shimmery silver lining to all the darkness: the northern lights.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff, Arizona is one of the best places to go stargazing. And you don’t even need any professional equipment to get your fix of a starry night, all you have to do it go outside and bask in the large painting of small and bright stars in the sky.

If you do want your eyes to get up and personal with the celestial sea, go to the Lowell Observatory. USD12 in the observatory will cover admission, tours and viewing programs.

A photo posted by @junt_sauce on Mar 27, 2016 at 2:05pm PDT

Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico

Although it may be terrifying to go to the sea in the dark, the bioluminescent sea creatures of Mosquito Bay in Puerto Rico will make it one of the best experiences you’ll ever have with Mother Nature.

Filled with dinoflagellates, a type of plankton that literally lights up and produces a photon of light because of the luciferase enzyme, Mosquito Bay looks like a brighter and more star-filled sky—except on Earth, at the tip of your fingertips.

Paddling in a kayak is the best way to go around the bay at night.

A photo posted by Cutting Edge Journeys (@cuttingedgejourneys) on Jan 17, 2016 at 7:44pm PST

Odessa Catacombs

The Odessa Catacombs underneath the capital city of Odessa, Ukraine isn’t as creepy as the Vatican Catacombs (where the sight of piles and piles of human bones might just scar you for life), but it has all the power to give you a bad case of the creeps if solely for how dark it gets inside. The Odessa Catacombs make up three levels and it can go as deep as 60 meters below sea level.

A photo posted by Ana Catas (@babybattery) on May 1, 2016 at 8:11am PDT

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin

The forest covers over 1.5 million acres of Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Activities like hunting, wildlife viewing, fishing, berry-picking, skiing, hiking and motorized and non-motorized sports and campgrounds are only a few of the things you can do in the forest.

What makes it intense is that at night, nature and the dark come together and the wolves howl to communicate with each other, making all your general werewolf nightmares (or Teen Wolf dreams) come to life.

Afraid of heights? Read about Outrageous Travel Ideas That Spell D-E-A-T-H to Acrophobics!