It’s only a matter of hours before the moon reaches its full lunation, and the scent of burning sage fills the room as my body is cleansed from head to feet. This is how my ‘Spirit of the Full Moon’ treatment—a service that’s only offered during the two days surrounding this lunar event—begins at Mii Amo, a wellbeing resort in Sedona, Arizona.
The ritual consists of multiple stages: After the cleansing, I’m given a tissue-thin sheet of paper and instructed to write down what I want to let go of in my life, since the full moon is a potent time for release and transformation. After a quick strike of a match, I set the paper on fire and watch as it crumples and incinerates into nothingness—but not before embers dance across the surface like twinkling stars. The treatment concludes with a full-body massage using sage oil, starting with the scalp (releasing negative thoughts from my mind) and ending with the feet (for grounding). With each swipe across my muscles, I envision negativity and past emotional pain evaporating from my body and mind—and, by the end, I feel noticeably more at peace.
Full moon tourism, a.k.a. taking a trip and booking an experience around the full moon, is alive and well at Mii Amo. This spa service is just one of the various experiences offered around the full moon each month. Earlier that day, for instance, I visited the Crystal Grotto—the hotel’s planetarium-esque meditation room, built directly onto the red sands of Sedona—for a group full moon ceremony, which involved a gratitude meditation and releasing ritual.
The Crystal Grotto at Mii Amo.
Photo: Douglas Friedman
Granted, a visit to Mii Amo would have been magical enough on its own—thanks to its world-class spa, nourishing and delicious dining menu, incredible range of wellness classes and services, and stunning decor inspired by the very essence and earthen hues of the Sedona landscape. However, timing my visit to the full moon, with all of the property’s unique celestial offerings, made it all the more meaningful.
And I’m certainly not the only traveler drawn to trips with celestial ties. Astrotourism (travel focused on viewing the night sky and celestial events) as a whole has been rising in popularity over the last couple of years, setting the stage for an even more niche travel objective: full moon tourism.
Beyond the novelty and mysticism of it all, astrology indicates that aligning a trip with a full moon can be quite powerful. “Full moons offer us an opportunity not only for beautiful photos while we’re traveling, but a potent opportunity to see our daily life more clearly from afar,” says Meghan Rose, an intuitive astrologer based in Rome. “Taking time away from your habits and daily routines while a Full Moon is occurring can help you to better understand what parts of your life are habitual and which ones truly align with who you are and what you want.”
Hotels and resorts, it seems, are taking note of travelers’ interest. Mii Amo—with its dark skies, location amid an energy vortex, and deep roots in spiritual wellness—is a standout in this space, but certainly not the only property jumping on the full moon trend. Just 30 minutes away, in Scottsdale, Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa hosts the Celestial Circle Series, an immersive gathering that features a guided Yoga Nidra meditation meant to help guests connect with the cycles of the moon. “We chose to feature a full-moon offering because the lunar cycle represents renewal, reflection, and natural rhythm, all core principles of holistic wellness,” says Jessica Rosas, wellness manager at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa. “Celestial Circle allows our community to gather in alignment with nature’s cycles, creating a shared ritual that supports nervous system restoration, intention-setting, and emotional balance.”
Across destinations, full moon offerings are as varied and vast as the night sky itself—from curated menus to spa treatments to ceremonies that honor longstanding spiritual practices—creating touchpoints for travelers no matter how well-versed they are in astrology or astronomy.
With the heightened energy that comes with the full moon, it’s no surprise that many such rituals are rooted in movement. For instance, Aquaterra Spa at Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, California hosts full moon yoga each month, inviting guests to practice mindful movement, breathwork, and intention setting—all to the rhythmic soundtrack of crashing ocean waves. At Mii Amo’s sister property in Sedona, Enchantment, guests can sign up for a full moon hike, which involves trekking through Boynton Canyon at sunset as the moon rises over the Red Rocks and then returning to the hotel guided by the bright moonlight.
Other full moon experiences are more celebratory, like at Howl, an event that takes place monthly at the iconic Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara, California. Each full moon, the hotel’s Djinn bar turns into a vibrant party with a vinyl record DJ set, signature cocktails inspired by that month’s lunation, and personalized tarot or rune readings. “Howl was conceived as an immersive ritual. The intention is to create a recurring moment of collective energy—where guests and locals gather to pause, celebrate, and reconnect under a shared celestial experience,” says Giovanni Prada, VP of marketing at Hotel Californian. What’s more, “as a coastal property situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Hotel Californian is deeply attuned to natural rhythms. The full moon, with its influence on tides and atmosphere, provides a dramatic and meaningful backdrop. It allows us to anchor programming in something organic rather than manufactured.”
In fact, Rose notes that traveling to a destination near the water can be particularly powerful, as the full moon influences tides. She even suggests bringing a small (TSA-sized, of course) vessel to collect some of the moonlit water and bring it home with you, if possible.
Cape Sounio, a resort in Greece embraces that waterside magic throughout the year, but particularly with the full moon—welcoming night swims in the Aegean sea, easily accessible from its private beaches. The property also just unveiled The 13 Full Moons of 2026, a year-long celestial theme with curated experiences aligned to each lunation. Here, guests can watch the full moon rise directly behind the ancient Temple of Poseidon, one of the most important landmarks in Greece.
The pool at Cape Sounio, overlooking the Temple of Poseidon.
Photo: Courtesy of Grecotel
If travelers won’t be near any natural bodies of water, Rose suggests getting outside during the nighttime (like with a hike), observing the moon, meditating or journaling under the moon. “These are all easy and accessible rituals no matter where in the world you are traveling during this lunation!” she says.
And while the full moon itself occurs at one distinct point in time, the energy of full moons “is also present for about two and a half days, so taking that period of time to sit with yourself, your emotions, and your body and asking what feels like it’s past its expiration date is key,” says Rose. “This is also a great time to connect with your dreams and see what memories, themes, or fears are arising in the subconscious so you can address them in your waking life.”
What’s more, for any ritual around the full moon—whether it be movement, meditation, or a full-on moon spa treatment—Rose says an attitude of gratitude goes a long way. “If you’re able to interweave the simple words ‘thank you’ into whatever habit, thought, relationship, job, etc, you realize you’re ready to release, it often sets the tone for the new chapter you’re ushering in.”
In line with Rose’s advice, I spent my days at Mii Amo musing about aspects of my life that were no longer serving me, and exactly what I needed to release. Away from home, amid the palpable calm of the property and in the wake of an energy vortex, I found the mental space to really self-reflect. On the night of the full moon, I swam in the small pool just outside of the spa, with a direct view of the dazzling sphere. As I gazed up at this stunning lunation, I was met with an intense sense of gratitude and an eagerness to move towards a brighter chapter. Now, I may need to plan all my future trips around the full moon—and with the trend continuing to rise, there will certainly be no shortage of destinations to revel in the moonlight.
