You might be used to sprinkling it over your fries and seasoning your chicken dishes with it, but did you ever consider that salt could also be the vital ingredient in your holiday? We’ve uncovered some of the world’s most famous salt flats worth visiting.
Bolivian salt flats
Bolivia is home to the largest salt flat in the world, and the Salt Flat of Uyuni is strongly valued for its geological richness and wonders. We can even help arrange your stay at a salt hotel, made entirely from blocks of salt – vinegar not included.
To visit the Salt Flat, it’s best to join a tour from Uyuni city and head there via 4×4, stopping for a look at the 19th and early 20th century steam locomotives at the train cemetery on the way.
Colchani, home of the Cooperative Rosario, the main plant for the iodisation of salt, will show you how the salt is dried and turned into cakes for natural consumption. Walk an eerie surface area of more than 12,000km and marvel at the flats, which are as perfect as freshly fallen snow.
Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira
The first wonder of Columbia, as it is known, is undoubtedly one of the most amazing sights you’re ever likely to behold. Smell the minerals as you enter and admire the sculpture of the Virgen de Guasá in the plaza of flags. As the miners’ patron saint, the Virgen stands with a humbled miner at her feet.
Just 48 kilometres from Bogoto in the town of Zipaquira, this salt mine is buried in the hill of Zipa at 2652m above sea level. We can help arrange your accommodation in Zipaquira and a tour to learn about the fascinating history, which dates back to pre-Columbian, runs to the present day and turned the lucky ancient Muisca indigenous people into one of the most prosperous and envied pre-Hispanic societies in history.
Pamukkale, Turkey
Stay in Pamukkale town’s beautiful pensions and hotels and soothe away your worries in the hot, calcium-filled mineral waters of the travertine pools, which form pure white pools just 19km north of Denizli.
The former Roman Bath of the ancient city of Hierapolis has been used as the site of the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum since 1984 and you can swim for free. If you’re planning on coming from, or going to, the Aegean coast, you can easily visit both Pamukkale and Aphrodisias to have a word with the goddess of love, Aphrodite.
Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is picturesquely located in the town of Wieliczka in southern Poland. There are a wealth of things to discover in Kraków and the salt mine lies conveniently in the metropolitan area, making it a stunning fairytale city to visit for history, mystery and culture.
At the Wieliczka Salt Mine, you’ll find dozens of intriguing statues and an entire chapel that the miners carved intricately out of the rock salt. Roughly 1.2 million people visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine every year, will you be one of them on your next holiday?
If you’re interested in visiting any of these stunning salty destinations, speak to our Concierge Traveller specialists today.
