Bucket list travellers take note, there’s a new destination you might want to add to your travel list as the first dome lodge in the Bolivian Altiplano has opened its doors for reservations.
Located right on top of the Uyuni Salt Flats, one of the world’s most intriguing natural landscapes, Kachi Lodge is a cluster of six domed sleeping tents plus an oversized lounge dome that’s set to welcome travellers atop the world’s largest salt flat.
From a distance, the white bubble domes look almost like a space station surrounded by an obscure landscape of colours and contours but once you’re checked in, it’s all about the comfort.
The lodge can sleep a maximum of 12 adults across six tents, each of which comes with a huge central bed placed to make the most of the breathtaking views through the tent’s transparent panel wall. En suite bathrooms and showers plus a central stove ensure that once you’ve bedded down for the evening, you’ll be all set to watch the stargazing show brought to you courtesy the epic Bolivian outback plateau.
Mealtimes in the lounge dome feature dishes from the award-winning restaurant Gusto in La Paz. That means dishes will be 100 per cent Bolivian and guest can expect to try things like palm marrow, alpaca jerky, cherimoya and more.
A stay in the Bolivian salt flats wouldn’t be worth it without learning more about the region’s lifeline mineral. Guests can roll up their sleeves then head out on the flats with some of the local people who’ll demonstrate how to collect the salt from the Salar and tell you more about what it’s used for.
There’s also a host of excursions designed to build a connection with the landscape. Avoiding the tourist-filled island of Inca Husai, guests at Kadhi Lodge can instead hike to a lesser-known but equally intriguing nearby island smothered in layers of wild cactus. They can also delve into history with a visit to the archaeological site of Alcaya or a mummy-filled cave in the village of Coquesa. A trek to the lower lip of the Tunupa volcano crater offers fantastic views of the surreal landscape and, if biking is your thing, there’s no better place to two-wheel around.
Introductory rates cost USD1,980 (Dh7,271) per person for two nights full board including activities, transfers and local taxes.
