A&K Sanctuary is opening Samkani Camp, a tiny new stay planted directly on the world’s largest salt flat. Instead of villas or tents, the whole operation will be housed inside six silver Airstreams: five architect-designed suites and another dedicated to eating, drinking and generally wondering how you ended up here.
The suites are being designed to play nicely with their surroundings. Their metallic shells will reflect the salt and sky, while inside there’ll be blue Bolivian marble, chrome detailing and considerably more comfort than the word ‘camper’ normally suggests. The self-sufficient setup draws on A&K’s experience running low-impact mobile camps in Africa. Location is doing most of the heavy lifting, though.
Salar de Uyuni stretches across roughly 12,000 square kilometres of Bolivia. Depending on when you arrive, you’ll either find an enormous crust of geometric salt patterns or, when water covers the surface, the enormous mirror effect that has launched approximately nine billion Instagram posts.
Overnight accommodation actually on the salar remains rare, and Samkani guests will typically find themselves 20–30km from anyone else.
Each stay comes with a private guide and driver, plus more than 30 possible experiences. Hidden islands, volcanic caves and remote lagoons are on the agenda, along with nights spent staring upwards beneath some seriously dark Southern Hemisphere skies.
RELATED ⟶ MEGA ULTIMA SOUTH AMERICA
And the name? Samkani means ‘the one who dreams’ in Aymara.
Bit hard not to when your bedroom is parked in the middle of Bolivia’s biggest optical illusion.
Samkani Camp is expected to open in late 2027, with bookings yet to launch.
Why It Exists
To put you in the middle of the world’s largest salt flat without making you sleep like you’re actually in the middle of the world’s largest salt flat.
The Vibe
A very fancy trailer park at the end of the Earth. Silver Airstreams, endless white, enormous skies and nobody else for 20–30km.
Your Bed Tonight
One of five architect-designed Airstream suites, decked out with blue Bolivian marble, chrome detailing and a shiny shell designed to disappear into the salt and sky.
The Thing You’ll Brag About Later
Sleeping directly on Salar de Uyuni, then walking outside after dark to find the Milky Way doing its thing with basically zero competition from civilisation.
Eat / Drink This
Whatever’s being poured at the bar inside Samkani’s sixth Airstream.
Steal This Local Move
Take your private guide and driver up on the offer of going properly off-piste.
Share >
More Stays
If you thought camping meant wet socks, lumpy mattresses, and suspicious rustling in the bushes, Phuket’s new Twinpalms Tented Camp is here to ruin those low expectations in the best possible way.
Aman, the brand synonymous with “I can’t believe this is real,” is setting up shop in the Bahamas with its latest miracle of modern escapism: Amancaya.
Gone are the days when dusty motels and outdated lodges ruled the American highway system.
