World’s Most Beautiful Salt Destinations: Pink Lakes, Salt Flats and Coastal Wonders

Salty escapes. These extraordinary landscapes blur the line between earth, sky and imagination

Story by Lance Hanlin

Salt changes a place. It sharpens the air, brightens colors and leaves landscapes looking almost unreal. Here in the Lowcountry, we know the feeling of salt carried on the breeze and woven into everyday life. These destinations take that sensation much further. From floating lakes and glowing pink waters to mirror-like deserts and endless white horizons, these are places where salt shapes the scenery, the culture and the memory of the journey itself. 

Lake Retba, Senegal

Known for its vivid pink glow, Lake Retba is one of Africa’s most striking salt destinations. The lake’s unusual color comes from algae that thrive in its salty water, creating shades that shift from pale blush to deep rose, depending on sunlight and season. Along the shoreline, salt harvesters wade through the lake collecting salt by hand and piling it into brilliant white mounds. Unlike many salt destinations that feel isolated or untouched, Lake Retba is alive with movement and culture. Salt is not simply scenery here. It is part of daily life and survival. Visitors can watch the harvesting process up close and learn how workers coat their skin in shea butter to protect themselves from the highly saline water.

Best time to go: November through June for dry weather and the strongest pink color.

What to expect: A working landscape filled with bold colors, cultural interaction and a raw authenticity far removed from a traditional resort destination.

Don’t miss: Visiting around midday, when the sunlight makes the pink water appear almost electric.

Getting there: Connect through New York City or Washington, D.C. to Dakar.

Travel time: Around 15 to 18 hours.

Great Salt Lake, Utah

The Great Salt Lake offers one of the most unusual swimming experiences in North America. Thanks to the lake’s intense salinity, floating feels nearly effortless, turning an ordinary swim into something slow, quiet and strangely calming. Wide-open skies and distant mountain ranges frame the water, while nearby Antelope Island State Park adds hiking trails, roaming bison and sweeping desert views.

Best time to go: Late spring through fall, especially September and October for cooler temperatures and softer light.

What to expect: Warm mineral-rich water, glowing sunsets and a landscape that feels both rugged and peaceful. Mornings are often spent hiking or wildlife watching before evenings drift toward sunset floats on the lake.

Don’t miss: A drive out to the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats, where the horizon seems to dissolve into the sky.

Getting there: Reach Salt Lake City with a single connection through hubs like Atlanta or Dallas.

Travel time: Approximately 6 to 7.5 hours.

Dead Sea, Jordan and Israel

The Dead Sea feels less like a lake and more like nature’s version of a spa retreat. The water is so salty that visitors instantly float to the surface, suspended above the water instead of swimming through it. Along the shoreline, salt crystals shimmer in the desert sun, while luxury resorts and mineral spas create an atmosphere built entirely around restoration. Surrounded by rugged mountains and ancient history, the Dead Sea balances dramatic scenery with remarkable calm. One moment you are floating weightlessly in warm mineral-rich water; the next you are exploring landscapes connected to thousands of years of human history. 

Best time to go: March through May or October through November. Summers are intensely hot.

What to expect: Desert beauty, wellness experiences and an atmosphere that feels restorative from the moment you arrive.

Don’t miss: The classic floating photo with a newspaper or book, followed by a mineral mud treatment overlooking the water.

Getting there: Connect through major East Coast hubs to
Tel Aviv or Amman.

Travel time: Roughly 13 to 16 hours, plus a drive to the coast.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The Salar de Uyuni is one of the most visually astonishing places on earth. During the rainy season, a thin layer of water transforms the flats into a giant mirror, reflecting clouds and sky so perfectly it becomes difficult to tell where the horizon begins. In the dry season geometric salt patterns stretch endlessly beneath crisp blue skies. The experience feels remote, cinematic and dreamlike. Most visitors explore the region on guided multi-day 4×4 tours that cross the flats, visit cactus-covered islands and stop at hotels built almost entirely from blocks of salt. 

Best time to go: December through April for mirror-like reflections or May through October for dry conditions and defined salt patterns.

What to expect: High-altitude adventure, enormous open space and some of the most extraordinary photography opportunities in the world.

Don’t miss: Spending a night in a salt hotel and catching sunrise before the crowds arrive.

Getting there: Connect through Miami or Atlanta to La Paz or Santa Cruz de la Sierra, followed by a domestic flight to Uyuni.

Travel time: About 14 to 18 hours.

Salinas Grandes, Argentina

Set high in the Andes, Salinas Grandes delivers a quieter, more intimate version of the salt-flat experience. The road climbs through colorful mountain passes before opening onto a blinding white expanse beneath impossibly blue skies. The contrast feels dramatic and almost unreal. Compared to Bolivia’s famous salt flats, Salinas Grandes feels calmer and less crowded, making it especially appealing for travelers looking for scenic drives, photography and peaceful moments surrounded by enormous open space. Small roadside vendors sell hand-carved salt souvenirs, while nearby Andean villages add another layer of culture to the journey.

Best time to go: April through November for dry roads and clear skies.

What to expect: Sweeping mountain scenery, crisp desert air and a slower pace that rewards travelers willing to venture farther into northern Argentina.

Don’t miss: Pairing the salt flats with a drive through the colorful mountains surrounding Jujuy.

Getting there: Fly to Buenos Aires, then connect north to Salta or Jujuy.

Travel time: Approximately 14 to 18 hours, plus additional driving time.

Camargue, France

In southern France the Camargue proves salt can be elegant. Near the medieval town of Aigues-Mortes, pastel pink salt ponds glow beneath the Mediterranean sun while flamingos feed in nearby wetlands, and white horses roam open marshes. The region blends natural beauty with French style. Long lunches drift into late afternoons. Chilled rosé appears at nearly every table. Winding roads invite slow exploration by bike or car. The salt itself becomes part of the scenery, with pale pink mounds rising beside marshland and sea grass.

Best time to go: May through September, especially June and September for pleasant weather and lighter crowds.

What to expect: Wildlife, coastal scenery, relaxed luxury and a slower rhythm that feels distinctly southern French.

Don’t miss: Sunset over the pink salt ponds followed by dinner in the historic walled streets of Aigues-Mortes.

Getting there: Connect through Atlanta or New York City to Paris or Marseilles.

Travel time: Around 10 to 12 hours, plus regional train or car travel.