Bolivian Salt Flats

Bolivian Salt Flats

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Bolivian Salt Flats

Visiting: La Paz, Salar de Uyuni, Uyuni/ La Paz

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

GGAU

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

physical=2, cultureShock=3

Age range:

5-99 years

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Tour Overview

Experience the surreal beauty and overwhelmingly vast expanse of Salar de Uyuni on this journey to one of South America’s most striking natural landscapes. This is a place where things are put in perspective; where the enormity of the scene highlights the fragility of everything else, where harsh is beautiful, time is obscured and reality seems more like a dream.

Highlights

  • Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt lake. Cross the perspective-bending white expanse in a 4WD with a local guide, making several fascinating stops along the way
  • Uyuni was once a distribution centre for trains carrying minerals to the Pacific. Walk among rusty, abandoned trains in the old Train Cemetery
  • As you explore the rocky island of Isla Wasi, rising from the salt pans and covered with flowering cacti, you might feel like you've stepped inside a surrealist painting

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: La Paz

Location: La Paz

Kamisaki! Welcome to Bolivia. Today is arrival day so there are no activities planned until an important welcome meeting at 6 pm in the hotel with our local representative.
Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so ensure you bring these details to provide to your leader. If you're going to be late, please inform hotel reception. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Day 2: Salar de Uyuni

Location: Salar de Uyuni

This morning you will be transferred to La Paz airport in time for your unescorted flight to Uyuni. The exact flight time will be advised at your evening meeting on Day 1.
At Uyuni airport you will be met by your Uyuni local guide who will accompany you for the duration of the Salt Flats tour.
The remote town of Uyuni sits on the edge of the high altiplano, which extends towards the border with Argentina and Chile. Your first stop will be at the Train Cemetery. Uyuni was once a distribution hub for trains carrying minerals on their way to Pacific Ocean ports. In the 1940s the mining industry collapsed and many trains were abandoned.
Next, visit the small town of Colchani, where you'll see how the locals farm and process salt from the Salar.
Finally it’s time for highlight of this trip: the Uyuni's salt flats. The flats are a 12,000-square-kilometre expanse of perfectly flat salt. Spend a full day exploring the lake by 4WD. Make sure you snap some classic perspective-bending photographs with your group. Discover the cacti and coral-like structures on the rocky island of Isla Inca Wasi.
Weather depending, you will be at the flats well into the evening to watch the sun set over the Salar, before heading back to your hotel in Uyuni Town.
This day tour of Uyuni is operated in pool basis (shared with other travellers) and accompanied by a private English-speaking local guide for you and any other Intrepid traveller taking part of this day tour.
The other non-Intrepid travellers you will share the vehicle with have contracted this one-day tour or the salt flats from Uyuni and their service includes a Spanish-speaking guide only. This “guiding” service is provided to them by the driver of the vehicle.
While in the vehicle, your private guide may share information which will be (inevitably) to the benefit of all passengers on board the vehicle (Intrepid and non-Intrepid)
During activities outside the vehicle, your private guide will provide information to you and any other Intrepid traveller separately to the rest of the group. We have asked other travellers (who may also speak English) to avoid tagging along you and your private guide and to allow your private guide to deliver the service you and your fellow Intrepid travellers have paid for.
The vehicles used during this activity are normally Toyota Land Cruisers and they can take up to six passengers plus the driver.

Day 3: Uyuni/ La Paz

Location: Uyuni/ La Paz

This morning you'll take an included flight back to La Paz airport, where sadly your adventure comes to an end. If you are booking a departure flight from La Paz for this day please ensure it's no earlier than 2pm. Alternatively please check with us within 30 days from departure and we can advise you what time your flight from Uyuni is due to arrive in La Paz.
If you need additional accommodation in La Paz and/or a transfer into the city, we'd be happy to help. Just have a chat with your booking agent.

After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback helps us understand what we are doing well and what we could be doing better.
Leave your feedback here - www.intrepidtravel.com/feedback

What's Included

  • Meals

    2 breakfasts, 1 lunches

  • Accommodation

    Hotel (2 nights)

Transport

  • 4x4 , Plane

Included Activities

  • Uyuni - Full-day 4x4 tour of Salar de Uyuni including a visit to Isla Inca Wasi

Accommodation

  • Hotel (2 nights)

Check out our Q&As

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

Maroochy Dazza (Google Reviewer)  

Just leaving a review to...

24-Aug-2023

Just leaving a review to share how much I enjoyed my Central America trip. I thought the guide, Aura was so knowledgeable and organised and clearly a great ambassador for Intrepid. She gave us lots of information on each region, helped us organise anything we needed and dealt with queries from passengers very well and diplomatically. She made the trip run smoothly. She was also keen to explain the Intrepid vision and how the company values making a difference to locals and is a credit to your company. I did Guatemala and beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it - very fast paced, lots to see and do and a great overview of the region. I would definitely recommend 👍

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I just completed my first...

15-Jul-2024

I just completed my first Intrepid tour which was 33 days travelling around Central America - I had the time of my life! It was great to have the benefit of a guide (Fluffy was amazing!) and be able to ask questions at any point, but I also liked the freedom that you were permitted throughout. The group tour made boarder crossings seamless and the whole process felt easy - there was never one hiccup. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe throughout, and I cannot recommend Central America enough - the people, the food, the sun and the activities were just amazing :) Can't wait to book my next adventure soon!

John Appleby (Google Reviewer)  

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V Open (Google Reviewer)  

I have just come back...

26-Oct-2022

I have just come back home after doing Intrepid's 10-day Vietnam Express Northbound tour. What a SUPERB tour. We saw lots and did lots, it was jam-packed full of sights and activities. Our tour leader, Tam, was the best ever. Very knowledgeable, organised and lots of fun too. The other 10 people on the group were all lovely. The places we visited were very interesting. We even visited local homes and ate just like the local people do. I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone considering touring a new country. This was my 5th tour with them and they have consistently been fantastic.

john whelan (Google Reviewer)  

We booked the 10 day...

28-Feb-2025

We booked the 10 day Group Explorer package with them for Vietnam and Wow !!! . It was fantastic. We were initially a bit anxious, but that all settled after day one. There is a fair bit of travelling and moving involved, but we'll woth it as you get to see and experience loads .Our Guide Huy was brilliant and looked after us really well from local knowledge to restaurants and tour information and activities . It's worth doing folks with intrepid . Well done, keep up that standard of service.

Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I have travelled with Intrepid...

03-Jun-2024

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Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on an...

15-Mar-2024

I recently went on an 11 day tour of India with Intrepid and was impressed with every aspect of the tour, the tour leader and the organisation behind the scenes. I always travel alone so it was a big deal to join a tour, I didn't want to feel less independent or ferried about. I loved being part of a group and the things we saw and did on the tour, I would never have known about or seen if I had been by myself. I loved it from start to finish. Yes the overnight trains were not easy to sleep on, but I managed. Meeting locals on board was a high light for me. English is widely spoken in India and its amazing who you strike up a chat with. I had two problems on the tour - one my own fault and one hotel related. The support from Intrepid was amazing. I cannot thank them enough for going the extra mile to support me. I recommend Intrepid 100% and have gone from thinking an organised tour is for people who don't know about Lonely Planet and can't do solo stuff, to realising its a faster, better, more fun way to get to know a country truly and deeply whilst on a bit of a budget. I will book again and again with Intrepid. I loved it that much! Big thanks to tour leader Daddy H. Devender for his help on day one, and Nick in the Oz office for his fab customer care skills. Also the person who staffed the emergency whatsapp in India - you saved my sanity helping me get there a day late! THANK YOU ALL X

Nicole  

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This was my first international solo trip, but I never felt “alone” - there was always someone to go shopping, hike, or grab a quick bite with. The itinerary was a great balance between organized activities, while still allowing free time for exploring. Each location was unique and charming in its own way. Spending the night in the holy city of Moulay Idriss and wandering the winding streets of Chefchaouen were especially memorable. Thank you Mustapha and Intrepid for an incredible adventure!

Declan Curry (Google Reviewer)  

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07-Feb-2025

I have recently completed the Premium India In Depth tour. A most wonderful introduction to this amazing continent. From the Taj Mahal to Tigers 🐅 in the wild , dining whe the locals eat and a couple of meals with families was a great way to embrace the people and their culture. Magnificent architecture,be it Forts or Shrines. The most informative and inspiring of guides was great to have with us. Mumbai to Delhi and 6 more cities plus A Safari included. Best trip to experience India 🇮🇳. Prepare to have all your senses assaulted . Go for it.

D' ARTICULATE (Google Reviewer)  

They offer some great deals...

11-Jan-2025

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit for future tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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