Bolivia: Uyuni Salt Flats
Uyuni, the high-altitude desert region of Bolivia on the Atacama Plateau, is an absolute wonder for night photographers. Famous for the endless salt flats filled with reflecting water, this place, like no other, blends the line between heaven and earth. We’ll be surrounded by 360 degrees of stars, from our feet to those directly above us—including the reflecting southern arch of the Milky Way. We’ll spend our days visiting the small villages that specialize in artisanal crafts, giant salt sculptures, 30-foot cactuses, mummies, an island of flags and more. Then at night, the stars will come alive in one of the darkest and clearest places on Earth.
Tour Details
April 14-18, 2026
This is a 5-day, 4-night tour to the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. Your adventure begins on April 14 and ends on April 18.
$8,995 single, $15,590 two people sharing a room + applicable taxes.
Group size
12, with 2 instructors — 6:1 ratio
Tour Leaders
Tour Registration
| • Deposit of $2,995 is required to reserve your spot on the add-on. |
| • Balance of $6,000 is due on December 15, 2025. → Pay balance here. |
| • You may choose the “Pay in Full” ticket if you desire to pay all at once. |
| • Last day for a cancellation request is December 14, 2025. (see cancellation and refund policy) |
| • See “Ticket Info” further down the page for details about what the add-on tour fee covers. |
The Uyuni Salt Flats Experience
Journey with us north to Bolivia as we set our sights on the world’s largest salt flats, Uyuni.
Salar de Uyuni stretches over 4,000 miles at an elevation of 12,000 feet in the Altiplano region of Bolivia. Known as a night photography wonder of the world, when it rains in Uyuni the salt flats act like an endless reflecting pool and the celestial line between heaven and earth become one.
We specifically timed this trip to fall during the “reflecting season” as well as a new moon. We’ll be able to catch a once-in-a-lifetime shot: the Southern Hemisphere Milky Way arch reflected right at your feet. A bonus on our last night will be a rare planetary alignment of Mercury, Venus, Neptune and Saturn high in the eastern skies.
Pack your trackers and pano gear, and we highly recommend bringing your drone, as the landscapes are so surreal and rich from an elevated point of view.
Other highlights during our time in Uyuni
Stay at the 4-star Palacio de Sal Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in the region made entirely of salt.
Explore the “islands” in the Salar de Uyuni with giant cactuses up to 30 feet high and the famous Flag Monument.
Photograph the surreal giant salt sculptures created by local artists in the middle of the salt flats.
Visit the village of Colchani, where we will spend time in the artisan market and tour a local salt processing plant.
Explore a hidden cave at a volcano with several mummies and ancient artifacts.
Enjoy an Apthapi lunch (traditional Andean meal) in the middle of the salt flats.
Watch the sunset at the salt shore with fine wine.
Combine with The Atacama Plateau Tour
Want some more time in the area? Optionally, preface your journey with the Atacama Plateau in Argentina, where we’ll spend 12 days and 11 nights exploring and photographing the volcanoes, lava fields, cinder cones, dramatic mountains, massive sand dunes, endless salt fields, and seas of sand and pumice rock that make up this fascinating region. See the Atacama Plateau page for more information.
What You Should Know
This tour caters to knowledgeable photographers with an intermediate or higher skill set. Participants should have a firm grasp of the basic principles of photography and of their cameras, and have a comfortable understanding of night photography fundamentals.
If you would like to join us on this trip but are unsure whether you have adequate night photography skills, we can offer pre-event tutoring to get you ready for your adventure with us. Additionally, a few of us have written books that may be productive pre-trip reads.
What You Will Learn
As this is a photo tour rather than a workshop, the emphasis is getting participants to great locations with great light, and making sure that everyone has the trip of a lifetime. It isn’t every day that you get to travel to the high deserts of Bolivia!
That said, the entire trip will be a learning experience. From one-on-one field assistance to casual Q&As during travel to learning from your fellow participants to the cultural locations we'll visit, this tour will be filled with inspiration, adventure and education.
The primary emphasis of the tour is to make you a better travel photographer and to improve your landscape, wildlife and night skills. Each participant will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Gabe and Matt in the field.
OPPORTUNITIES WILL INCLUDE:
Milky Way
Southern Hemisphere dark skies
star tracker education
starlight blends
star points and trails
landscape compositions
drone photography opportunities
wildlife photography
There will not be any classroom time during the tour. However, we will host a pre-and post Zoom session and send you materials, a gear list and homework to prepare you for our epic photographic tour through Argentina and Bolivia.
Night Conditions
Logistics & General Info
Ticket Info
Included:
accommodation in Palacio de Sal, the best hotel/spa right next to the Uyuni Salt Flats
all meals
all transport in comfortable 4x4 vehicles, including transport from the Atacama Plateau
our guide from the Atacama continuing this leg of the trip to Bolivia to make sure it is a smooth international experience
pick-up/drop-off at the Uyuni airport
local guides and drivers
Not included:
international travel home
personal items
tips for our local guides and drivers
Travel
If you are attending only the Uyuni Salt Flats trip (as opposed to combining it with our Atacama Plateau tour, then plan to arrive in La Paz (LPB) and connect to the small airport in Uyuni (UYU) by the evening of April 14. Transportation will be provided from the Uyuni airport to our hotel.
We depart from Uyani to La Paz and continue home on April 18.
There are limited flights in and out of Uyani each day, so make sure you can connect all the way through in one day.
If you want to stay later in La Paz, we can assist with booking.
You are responsible for arranging and paying for your own transportation.
Lodging & Food
Lodging in Uyuni will be at the Palacio de Sal Hotel, the best and most luxurious hotel entirely made of salt in the region! Dedicated spa time here is must.
Food
Expect excellent Bolivian and hyperlocal cuisine including several parrillas - the full Argentinian grilling experience!
All meals while in Uyuni are included.
Weather
Expect daytime highs in the 60s F, and nighttime lows in the 30s.
Recommended Attire
The sun at high altitudes can be intense. Protect your skin and eyes with sunscreen, sunglasses, buffs, wide-edged hats and clothing with UV protection.
Lightweight and breathable clothing.
Layers are essential on this trip as we’ll experience a variety of temperatures at different altitudes. Bring a windbreaker for daytime, and a packable insulated jacket, warm hat and gloves for night.
Comfortable and protective shoes are recommended for getting around. There won’t be long hikes, but we will be on trails, so quality trail shoes or hiking boots would be optimal.
Exertion Level
The exertion level of this tour is Active. (See more about our classifications.)
Please consider your physical abilities prior to registering. There won’t be any long hikes, but we will be doing short hikes on unmaintained trails, and you should be comfortable carrying your own equipment over uneven ground in the dark.
Uyuni sits at 12,000 feet in elevation. Altitude sickness can become a concern at over 8,000 feet, and some people can experience it at elevations as low as 6,000. The guides will monitor for signs of altitude sickness, and we strongly suggest arriving two to four days ahead to acclimate. We also advise staying well hydrated.
Considerations
IMPORTANT: We encourage reading our FAQs page for more information about skill and gear requirements, and other information that pertains to all our workshops.
If you have questions, please contact us—we're happy to talk it over with you.
