safari glamping coachella

Tucked behind the main festival venue lies the best kept secret in Coachella lodging: the Safari Campground. Fully furnished, air-conditioned accommodations amidst lush palm trees and mountain views are just the beginning. Sweeten your weekend with golf cart transportation between stages, private parking adjacent to the campground, air-conditioned restrooms and showers, breakfast and late-night snacks, an air conditioned lounge, concierge service and so much more.

Want even more check out the resort at coachella for elevated festival access and individualized on-site service for your group., safari pricing things to know before you book a package faqs, safari info & pricing coming soon.

safari glamping coachella

The following FAQs apply to all guests of the Safari. Additional Resort at Coachella FAQs follow.  

Q: Can you mail our wristbands?

A: We are unable to mail out any credentials. All passes are redeemed at our off-site check-in location. Please stay tuned for all check-in details as we near closer to the event.

Q: I purchased a package as a gift, but I will not be in attendance. How can my friend or family member pick up their pass on my behalf?

A: In order to accommodate this, the original purchaser must contact our Guest Services team at [email protected] to authorize an alternate pick-up person no more than 24 hours after purchase to avoid transfer fees. This authorization will allow a friend or family member to pick up the package on the purchaser’s behalf. All informational emails and correspondence will still go to the original purchaser, and it is up to them to relay the information to the guest that is attending the event.

Q: I can no longer attend the event. May I transfer it to a friend? A: If you are unable to attend, we are able to add an alternate name to your package. Please note, however, these types of updates are subject to a $1,000.00 name change fee.

Q: Can I purchase a package over the phone?

A: Unfortunately, we are unable to process any orders over the phone and therefore all packages must be purchased online. However, we’re happy to help walk you through the purchasing process if you’d like to give us a ring at 888-527-6658.

Q: Is there a payment plan?

A: There are no payment plans for Safari packages.

Q: Can I add guests to my reservation at a later date? A: If you’d like to inquire about adding additional guests to your reservation, please email us at [email protected] and we will present your options, pending availability.

Q: Can I purchase more wristbands at check-in? A: Yes, we will have limited additional wristbands. Remember: Each package includes 2 Guest wristbands with the option to add up to 2 additional per unit. If you already have the maximum amount, you cannot add more.

Q: Is parking included?

A: Yes! Parking for 1 car is included and conveniently located adjacent to the campground. You will have easy access to your car throughout the weekend.

Q: Can I receive additional parking passes for my guests? A: You are guaranteed 1 parking pass per package. However, we may have limited additional quantities to distribute at check-in for additional vehicles. Please note: they will not be 100% guaranteed and should be requested beforehand.

Q: What access will Guest passes afford my group? A: Guest wristbands will give you exclusive access to all VIP sections, guest viewing areas, Artist Compound and production road. However, you will not be able to go on stages, inside Artist dressing room areas or in any stage production areas.

Q: When does Safari check-in begin? When is the latest I can check out? A: Safari check-in will open on Thursday. We will have an off-site check-in location where you will redeem all of your package elements. The latest you can check out of Safari camping is the Monday after the event by 12PM.

We will be sending an email as we near closer to the event date that will disclose more specific check-in and package details. Stay tuned!

Q: Can I change my accommodation type after I purchase? A: We can change accommodation types up until mid-March, availability permitting.

Q: How often will the golf cart transportation be running? A: Golf Cart transportation is scheduled from 11am-3am each day. While we will have ample staff and golf carts available to transport you throughout the site, we recommend that you give yourself a comfortable amount of time to get back and forth.

Q: Will we have access to our cars throughout the weekend? A: Yes, you will have access to your car. You will be able to store things in your car as well as take it off site at any point in time to run any errands you may have. Please note that there is a traffic lockdown between 9PM-2AM each day of the festival, so make sure you are back on-site before 9PM if you leave at any point throughout the weekend. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get back in until after 2AM.

Q: What food is offered? A: We will be serving Breakfast and Late-night snacks in the Safari lounge daily.

Q: Do the Safari tents and cabanas lock? What about the Residences and Yurts? A: Tents and cabanas do not lock; residences and yurts do! If you have valuables, it is recommended that they be locked in your vehicle.

Q: Do I get my own restroom? A: No, restrooms are shared amongst all Safari guests. There will be air-conditioned restroom and shower trailers available throughout the weekend.

Q: Can I just buy the Guest passes alone? A: No, Guest passes can only be sold in conjunction with Safari tent packages.

Q: Can I get day passes to bring guests back to the Safari campground?

A: No, only safari guests will be permitted into the Safari campground.

Q: Do our tents, cabanas and residences or yurt have electricity, air conditioning, and a refrigerator? A: Yes!

Q: How far is Safari from the festival site? Do you have a map? A: Due to the exclusivity of the program, the Safari area is not listed on any official Coachella map. However, directions will be provided to you as we near closer to the event date. Our Safari campground is located on the festival site closest to the VIP Rose Garden.

Q: What if I change my mind and don’t want my package?

A: All packages are non-refundable. Please refer to our Purchase Policy for complete details.

Q: Am I going to have an amazing time?

safari glamping coachella

The following FAQs apply to the Resort at Coachella. Additional Safari Campground FAQs follow.  

Q: What access will these Artist passes afford my guests and I? A: These Artist wristbands will give you exclusive access to all VIP sections, guest viewing areas, Artist Compound, production road, and Artist Catering for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, you will not be able to go on stages, inside Artist dressing room areas or in any stage production areas.

Q: How often will the golf cart transportation be running? A: Resort guests have access to a personal concierge/golf cart driver to use at their leisure. Your concierge will take you to/from the stages and campground whenever you’re ready!

Q: What food is offered? A: We will be serving Breakfast and Late-night snacks in the Safari lounge daily with options to have breakfast delivered to you each morning. You will also have access to Artist catering for all meals.

Q: Do the Yurts and Residences lock? A: They do! Your concierge will have a key for you when you arrive.

Q: Do I have access to my own restroom? A: Yes, each Yurt and Residence in the Resort will have a private restroom and shower assigned to it. Only the guests in that unit will have access to it.

Q: Can I just buy the Artist passes alone? A: No, Artist passes can only be sold as part of Resort at Coachella packages.

Q: Can I get day passes to bring guests back to The Resort? A: No, only Safari and Resort guests will be permitted into the campground.

Q: Do our yurts and residences have electricity, A/C, and a Refrigerator? A: Yes!

Q: How far is The Resort from the festival site? Do you have a map? A: Due to the exclusivity of the program, The Resort area is not listed on any official Coachella map. However, directions will be provided to you as we near closer to the event date. Our campground is located on the festival site closest to the VIP Rose Garden.

Q: I can no longer attend the event. May I transfer it to a friend? A: If you are unable to attend, we are able to add an alternate name to your package. Please note, however, these types of transfers are subject to a $1,000.00 name change fee.

A: All packages are non-refundable. Please refer to the Purchase Policy for complete details.

A: TOTALLY!

Thank you for visiting!

Sign up to receive the latest info and updates:.

Disco Ball image

  • 2024 YouTube Livestream
  • Coachella: 20 Years In The Desert
  • Past Festivals
  • 2025 Pass Types
  • 2025 Advance Sale Info
  • Amex® Passes
  • Hotel Packages
  • 2024 Festival Info
  • 2024 Camping
  • 2024 Getting Here
  • 2024 Health & Safety
  • 2024 Support & FAQ
  • 2024 Services
  • 2024 Accessibility / ADA
  • 2024 Activities
  • 2024 Canvas
  • 2024 Eat & Drink
  • 2024 Coachella in Fortnite
  • 2024 Community
  • 2024 Mobile
  • 2024 Photo Gallery
  • 2024 Sustainability

safari glamping coachella

  • 2024 Health & Safety
  • 2024 Support & FAQ
  • 2024 Eat & Drink

Camp onsite and make friends for life. Build your own oasis or book one of four ready-to-go options.

safari glamping coachella

  • Car Camping & Preferred Car Camping

Tent Camping

Lake eldorado, camping rules & info.

  • Camping FAQs

Amenities & Activities

Safari camping, the resort at coachella.

  • Offsite Camping

Car Camping & Preferred Car Camping

Car Camping & Preferred Car Camping

What To Expect

Explore all the extra amenities and activities camping has to offer before and after the show each night. Make friends for life from all over the world.

  • All car camping sites are 30'x10'
  • Unlimited friends/tents per site, if they fit!
  • One vehicle per site allowed.
  • One vehicle per site required.
  • Sites assigned in order of arrival. (review camping info & rules below for “wait together camp together” details!)
  • Preferred Car Camping sites located in lot 8. Don’t rush! Arrive at your leisure.

Vehicle Type

  • Passenger cars, trucks or vans only.
  • NO motorcycles, RVs, trailers, motorhomes, buses or U-Haul trucks.
  • NO vehicles with running water/toilets.
  • Review FAQ about cooking.
  • If you have a pre-installed, factory stove in your vehicle, your vehicle is allowed, however DO NOT cook inside the vehicle.
  • Everything else is allowed if it fits in your spot.
  • Are you sharing a spot with someone driving separately to join you? Add’l. vehicles must purchase Camping Companion Parking.
  • For the safety of you and your neighbors, once you are parked in a camping spot, you may not move your vehicle for the duration of the festival. If you need to leave early and do not plan on returning to the festival, please visit the nearest Info Kiosk to inquire about an early vehicle escort. If your request can be accommodated, an escort may take up to two hours from the original request time. Vehicles may not exit between 9pm-2am FRI-SUN (daily). Once a vehicle vacates its spot, the site is considered relinquished. Any items remaining in the campsite will be considered trash and permanently disposed of.

Additional Car Camping Requirements

  • Emergency vehicle access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 24 feet and unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches.
  • Vehicles shall be parked in that the front of the vehicle is facing the drive isle/fire lane.
  • Vehicles shall not be permitted to park parallel to the drive isle/fire lane.
  • Review all Camping info & rules below!

Tents on lawn in campgrounds

Make new friends from all over the world!

  • All tent camping sites are 15'x10'
  • Sites assigned in order of arrival, separate from car camping.
  • Includes one (1) overnight parking space in an adjacent lot to leave a car for the weekend. Add’l. vehicles must purchase Camping Companion Parking .
  • Short walk to visit your friends in Car Camping!
  • Review all camping info & rules below!

Lake Eldorado

  • Separate private check-in location.
  • 24-hr. concierge.
  • Includes one [1] overnight parking spot in an adjacent lot.
  • Add’l. vehicles must purchase Camping Companion Parking.
  • The sleeping bags and pillows are yours to keep. Any left after departure will be donated.
  • Exclusive flushing toilets & showers located within Lake Eldorado.
  • Mirrors and plugs to do your hair.
  • Cell phone charging stations.
  • No smoking inside lodges or tents.
  • No, these are not air conditioned.
  • Damage to lodges or tents will be billed directly to your credit card.
  • No additional tents or canopies are allowed.
  • Accommodations are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early to ensure your preferred location.
  • Vehicle lockdown hours may change depending on traffic conditions. Please be prepared to wait. If you must leave Lake Eldorado parking before 2am on Sunday night, you need to depart before 9pm.
  • No swimming in Lake Eldorado.
  • Sorry no air conditioning or power inside tents or lodges.
  • Additional details will be emailed to purchasers closer to festival dates.
  • Review all Camping info & rules below!

2-Person Lodge

Ready to go 8’ x 12’ x 8’ wood lodge. Comes with two cots, sleeping bags and pillows, a lockable door, wood floor, 3 windows for added ventilation, indoor/outdoor lighting and storage cubbies. Includes 2 GA or 2 VIP passes.

4-Person Tent

Ready to go 12’x14′, fully pitched with four cots, sleeping bags and pillows, as well as chairs and a cooler. Includes 4 GA or 4 VIP passes.

  • Festival pass required for entry.
  • Camping is open Thu 9am-Mon 10am. Four nights stay!
  • Car/Tent check-in Thu 9am-2am; Fri & Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 9am-3pm.
  • This is for joining your friends who already have a campsite or visiting friends that have a campsite.
  • This is not for checking into a site you bought.
  • After 10AM, any items left behind in the campgrounds will be donated to our local nonprofit partner.
  • Noise curfew starts at 1:30am.
  • Campers and vehicles are searched at check-in.
  • Everyone must be wearing a Festival Pass to enter camping.
  • No camping allowed between festival weekends.

Campers must be 18+ over unless with a parent/legal guardian.

A legal guardian is a person who has the legal authority and corresponding duty to care for the personal and property interests of another person. An older sibling, older friend or friend of the family does not automatically count as a legal guardian. A legal guardian is someone who would be held legally responsible for you by a court of law.

Legal Guardianship in CA Read More about Legal Guardianship

  • No vehicle ins/outs.
  • No exit during lockdown hours Fri - Sun 9pm-2am.
  • Vehicle lockdown hours may change depending on traffic conditions. Please be prepared to wait. If you must leave camping before 2am on Sunday night, you need to depart before 9pm.
  • Multiple cars wishing to camp in sites next to each other must arrive at the same time.
  • You should plan on meeting up prior to driving into camping at the same time.
  • This applies to tent-only campers too.
  • If you don’t check-in together, you won’t be able to camp next to each other. There are no saving spots.
  • It's essential your entire group drives into the toll booth/search area together.
  • As your cars proceed through search, you can continue into a limited-time waiting area.
  • Once your entire group arrives in the waiting area, you may proceed to the lanes to enter the camping lots.
  • Camping staff will try their best to accommodate directing your group to an appropriate location. Let them know how many cars (or tent only campers) are part of your group.
  • In order to accommodate all campers, you must camp where assigned. Be kind to other campers. Attempting to camp anywhere else creates a significant disruption that negatively impacts everyone's comfort and safety.
  • All of your items must stay within the marked lines. Do not sleep in or allow any items to extend into the fire lane. Party!
  • Car Camping and Tent only camping is not mixed together.
  • Car Camping and Tent Camping areas are open to visitation by all Coachella attendees.
  • Lake Eldorado access is restricted to Lake Eldorado guests.
  • All campers are expected to behave in a manner that is courteous to other campers.
  • All times and information on this page are subject to change without notice.
  • Venue/promoter are not responsible for any materials misplaced, lost or stolen. It is recommended that you do not bring valuable items. If you do bring valuable items, please lock them in your car. Do not leave valuable items in your tent.
  • High winds and heavy dust are common in the Coachella Valley. Prepare your campsite by sealing, securing or collapsing any structures or items that may be affected.
  • We do not have communal toasters, toaster ovens or microwaves for use in camping.
  • Campers may bring food & beverages.
  • No glass allowed. Review prohibited items below.
  • Campers 21+ may bring 1 case of beer cans or a box of wine.
  • If it appears that there is an excessive amount of alcohol for the number of people in the vehicle, or if anyone in the vehicle is under 21 years of age, we reserve the right to deny entry of the vehicle or require you to surrender the alcohol.
  • Propane stoves allowed in Car Camping only. Review FAQ about cooking .
  • There is a General Store in camping with tons of stuff.
  • Mobile Ice Sales will be available in all camp lots Thur 2pm – 5pm and Fri - Sun 9am – 3pm. Flag them down if you see them! Ice is also for sale in the General Store in Lot 8.
  • Stay tuned for the Camping Eats & Drinks to be listed!
  • NO Amplified Sound (Large Speakers, DJ Equipment, Non Factory installed Car Audio)
  • NO Animals (Service Animals Are Allowed - See Accessibility )
  • NO Branded Pop-Up Canopies or Tents
  • NO Compressed Gas Tanks (Helium, Nitrous (haha), etc.)
  • NO Drones or Remote-Control Vehicles or Toys
  • NO Drugs or Drug Paraphernalia
  • NO Extra Car Batteries
  • NO Flammables (Incl. Fireworks, Explosives, Ammunition)
  • NO Flashlights Over 5.5” In Length
  • NO Furniture (Sofas, Couches, Recliners, Lay-Z-Boys, Home Furnishings, Non-Inflatable Mattresses - LEAVE NO TRACE)
  • NO Generators (Gas)
  • NO Glass Of Any Kind (Bottles, Large Mirrors, Containers, Solar Panels, Lights, etc.)
  • NO Heating Appliances
  • NO Metal Tent Stakes
  • NO Open Flames (Campfires, Candles, Tiki Torches)
  • NO Prescription Medication (must be in properly labeled containers that match the holder’s ID. No pillboxes.)
  • NO  Propane (Propane stoves allowed in Car Camping only. Review FAQ about cooking. )
  • NO Party Balloons
  • (Personal Mobility Devices for ADA Guests and Bicycles are ok.)
  • NO Rugs or Astroturf
  • NO Scissors
  • NO Slip-N-Slides
  • NO Sports Equipment (Golf Clubs, Bats, Hockey Sticks, etc.)
  • NO Squirt Guns Or Water Toys
  • NO Tools (Sledgehammers, Screwdrivers, Hammers, Shovels, Gardening Tools, Metal Mallets, Woodchippers) (SMALL RUBBER MALLETS OK)
  • NO Vending (Inventory will be considered surrendered and not returned.)
  • NO Walkie Talkies / 2-way Radios
  • NO Weapons - Guns, Ammo, Tasers, Pepper Spray/Mace, Knives (incl. Cooking or Steak Knives)... INCLUDES ALL OFF-DUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CONCEALED PERMITS
  • NO Workout Equipment (Kettlebells, Dumbbells, Barbells, etc.)
  • NO Wrapped or Sponsored Vehicles. (Your vehicle will be turned away if it has ads, marketing, sponsors or company logos on it. Rental company logos Are permitted.)

Camping Frequently Asked Questions

illustration of piece of pizza

Eat & Drink

water bottle illustration

Free Water Refill Stations

wifi illustration

Find #CoachellaWiFi in select areas.

Connect: You'll find #CoachellaWiFi in the following areas:

  • Coachella Stage bar
  • 12 Peaks bars
  • Terrace Food areas
  • Outdoor Theatre bar
  • Indio Central Market
  • Rose Garden
  • Camping General Store
  • Camping Activities area
  • Rideshare Lot

*Subject to change.

shopping cart illustration

General Stores

Food, Toiletries & More

illustration of melting ice cubes

Sold at the General Store and from Ice golf carts roaming around camp.

mobile phone illustration

Phone Charging

USB and AC charging stations located in the camping center + smaller stations in all camping lots.

  • Keep your phone powered up by plugging in throughout the festival & camping.
  • BYOC (Bring Your Own Cable)
  • Outlets are AC (2-prong North American) and USB (at most locations).
  • Power cubes are for charging mobile phone only.
  • Do not charge external battery packs or attempt to power hair dryers, curling irons, air pumps or any other electronic devices.

illustration of roll of toilet paper

Portable Restrooms

Located in ALL camping lots, usually along the perimeter on 1 or more sides.

emergency icon illustration

Security & Medical

24-hour emergency response.

Location on Map.

shower nozzle illustration

Free for all campers or Super Duper showers for a fee.

bus illustration

Free Supermarket Shuttles

Need to get something from the store? Shuttle from camping to a nearby grocery store and drug store with a pharmacy.

Located on the NW Corner of Lot 7.

Hours Thursday 3pm-7pm Friday-Sunday 7am-1:30pm

*Departure location & times subject to change.

illustration of balloon dog

From the Silent Disco, to water balloon tosses, to the Coachella Art Studios & More.

More activities details will be added closer to show dates. Sort by “CAMPING”

info icon illustration

Additional Services

Other services such as PediCabs, Lost & Found, locksmith & more also exist.

Safari Camping photo

Nestled in an exclusive, secluded camping area, Safari guests reside in furnished Shikar-style tents and cabanas, enjoy all the comforts of home and zip around the venue via golf cart all weekend long. Includes Guest Passes for 2 people with the option to add additional guests.

The Resort at Coachella photo

The Resort at Coachella provides premium festival access, featuring stylish studio style Residences or furnished Yurts on the Safari Campground. Cruise around the festival grounds in a golf cart all weekend and live like a VIP with Artist Passes for 2 people.

Gatica's Road

  • About the Blog
  • Privacy Policy

The Ultimate Guide to Coachella Safari Tent Camping

The Ultimate Guide to Coachella Safari Tent Camping

The after Coachella blues have kicked in. Now that this year’s festival is over all I can do is draw on the great memories created at one of the most amazing music festivals in the world. Our experience was made even better this year because we splurged on Coachella Safari Tent Camping (or Glamping). If you’re thinking of Safari camping then I highly recommend it. Here is everything you need to know about Coachella Safari Tent Camping.

What’s Included with Your Safari Tent

safari glamping coachella

Our golf cart driver giving us the grand tour!

First be prepared to spend some dough since Coachella Safari Tent starts at about $8000. When you take into consideration that this includes:

  • A large safari tent with AC
  • Mini refrigerator
  • 1 or 2 Queen beds
  • 1 large towel per person
  • Full-length mirror
  • Partially covered outdoor sitting area
  • Breakfast buffet
  • Late night buffet
  • Backstage access
  • Non-alcoholic drinks and light snacks
  • A 30-minute massage
  • Golf cart transportation to the stages
  • Special stage viewing area (worth it just for this)
  • Concierge service

You see where I’m going here, it’s totally worth it. Plus Safari guests are treated like royalty! Tents sell out so purchase early to secure one.

safari glamping coachella

The manual to all things Safari

safari glamping coachella

Souvenir Pillow- You get to keep!

safari glamping coachella

Full-length mirror- Glamping at its best!

safari glamping coachella

Mini fridge

safari glamping coachella

We got two towels each since we had two queen beds.

Coachella Safari Tent Camping Check-In

It all starts at check-in. We checked in on Thursday morning at one of the nearby hotels- the Rennaissance Indian Wells Resort and Spa. Check in starts on Thursday between 10 am-2 am and continues until Friday between 9 am-Midnight. It was convenient checking in early because we were able to get a head start on setting things up. There weren’t many people on the grounds until Friday. We booked our massages, had a comp glass of champagne and checked out the grounds. Afterwards we went to a nearby Walmart for supplies. There we purchased a kiddie pool, drinks, snacks, a lounge chair, a combination lock and some accessories.

safari glamping coachella

Check in at the Renaissance

safari glamping coachella

You get a personal escort to the Safari Tent Camping grounds.

safari glamping coachella

Parking right next to the Safari grounds.

safari glamping coachella

Safari tents!

safari glamping coachella

Safari tent side view

safari glamping coachella

Your luggage and goods are transported from your car in a golf cart.

safari glamping coachella

Welcome champagne or drink

Setting-Up Your Coachella Safari Tent

We set up our tent with a kiddie pool, lights, a fan and some outdoor decor.  By the end of the 4 days, we had a good amount of drinks left in our fridge since you can get drinks by the concierge and in the Safari lounge. They provide complimentary waters, Gatorade, sodas, and snacks. You can’t take alcohol off the grounds but you can drink in your tent and around the grounds.  So you’ll need more alcohol and less non-alcoholic drinks.

We mostly used the chairs they provided and never used the lounge chair since it was just 2 of us. The kiddie pool offered a great place to cool off during the day since it gets pretty hot after 11 am. At night we soaked our tired feet in it. You can dump and refill the water throughout the weekend with the garden hose. Luckily we were close to one, if not the gardener may help you if you’re nice.

Lastly, a fan is also a great investment. You can get one for 20 bucks at Walmart. You’ll need it in the late morning to supplement the AC while getting ready or doing anything inside the tent. Next year we’re getting two fans. It helps when getting ready to go out for the day. I cannot stress enought how hot it gets in the late morning inside the tent.

safari glamping coachella

Our set up complete with kiddie pool and garden gnome

Concierge Service

The concierge service is amazing; they are super nice! We were provided with most anything we asked for. They even had an iron and ironing board. If they don’t have it they will go out, get it for you and bring it to your room (for a fee of course). They offered early merch purchase at the concierge desk on an iPad although they didn’t have band merch just Coachella stuff. This is also where you will book your comp massage, which really eases any stress from hard partying. You will also walk by the concierge to go catch a golf cart to the festival.

safari glamping coachella

The concierge desk

safari glamping coachella

Me in the picture staging area

Golf Carting Around and VIP Areas

So golf carts, they are readily available during the day, up until around 6:30 then they get busy.  Plan for the cart to take 15-20 minutes or longer at this time. The golf cart drivers are super nice and accommodating. Sometimes they carry water in case you need it. They will take you to any of the stages you want including the Sahara, Mojave, Gobi, Outdoor and Main. You also have access to all VIP areas including the artist VIP section. We didn’t spend much time there.  Keep in mind that they water down the street where the golf cart travels so you may get some mud splatter on you. It’s truly a rock star experience.

The only improvement I would suggest is transportation to the Yuma (dance tent). We usually were dropped off at the Main to walk to the Yuma. If you want to be carted from one stage to the other after a set that is also an option. This makes it so that you can maximize your time and see as many sets as possible. You can walk right into the guest viewing areas from where the golf cart drops you off. These areas sectioned off to the left of the stage. If you want to see a band at the rail make sure to get there about 15-30 minutes early, maybe more for headliners.

safari glamping coachella

Artist Backstage Area

safari glamping coachella

Coachella Stage Guest Viewing Area (mainstage)

safari glamping coachella

Late night snack or meal- they offer a good selection of food

safari glamping coachella

A sample menu

Safari Grounds

The Safari tent grounds are pretty plush. The Safari Lounge sits in the middle and all tent rows lead to it. This is where you will get your breakfast and late night snacks. It is an air-conditioned tent with wifi, a bar, and DJ. There are lawn games close to the yurts (these are on the same grounds) and an outdoor lounge area with hammocks and loungers. There is a pergola where pilates and yoga take place in the morning. The massage rooms are closer to the concierge desk. You will find three coolers with drinks you can pick up on your way in and out of the grounds by the concierge desk.

Two bathroom and shower trailers sit at each end of the camp. The air-conditioned bathrooms are kept pretty clean and stocked with lotion and feminine products. The showers are decent and also stocked with shampoo, conditioner and body wash. I did notice that when there were more than 3 people in the shower the water pressure and hot water became scarce.

safari glamping coachella

Lounging area

safari glamping coachella

The 25k yurts are also on the Safari grounds

safari glamping coachella

Concierge desk which leads to golf cart pick up and drop off

safari glamping coachella

Games including a giant Beer Pong

safari glamping coachella

Coachella Safari Tent Camping Lounge

safari glamping coachella

Inside the main lounge breakfast, late night snack, bar and DJ all in here

safari glamping coachella

Safari walkway to concierge and golf carts. The camp is especially nice in the evening. It’s dark however there is beautiful landscape lighting, which really sets the mood.

To Sum It All Up

Coachella Safari Tent Camping is the one if not the best music festival experience I’ve ever had. I’ve been to multiple festivals including Ultra, Bonnaroo, Panorama, Okeechobee and other small festivals The only suggestion I would make is that they add a couple more shower trailers and a lounge on the festival grounds just for Safari guests. Also, something to do on Thursday night for Safari guests, for instance, something like the Outstanding in the Field Dinner or a more formal sit-down dinner for Safari guests.  All we were able to do was The Antartic and the buffet dinner in the lounge but something more substantial and social would rock.  Other than that, I highly recommend Safari camping it’s a truly luxurious and unforgettable experience.

' src=

It’s actually a nice and useful piece of information. I’m happy that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

' src=

is it worth the money? I want to do safari camping!

' src=

Was looking for something just like this and you nailed it thanks! Hopefully they don’t raise the price next year

' src=

I think its totally worth it. You get to see more sets up-close in the VIP section just for Safari guests. They serve an awesome buffet breakfast and late night spread. There’s a concierge service that goes out to fetch you most anything you need. It’s a total rock star experience!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

safari glamping coachella

gaticasroad

Freelance writer 👩🏾‍💻 mom 💪🏼 wife 👰🏽 arts enthusiast 🎨 music freak 🎼 my fur kids 🐶 🦊 @cowkyandgingi RVer 💜 @nomadsyouknow

Charo Hidalgo-Gato ONeil

Recent Posts

  • Tips to Stay Healthy on The Go While Traveling
  • Igniting Curiosity: Ways to Keep Your Child Excited About Learning
  • Impromptu RV Road Trip to Coachella
  • Simple Steps to Encourage a Love for Reading in Children
  • This is Sock Heaven- Organize Socks and so much more!

Powered by WordPress | Designed by Elegant Themes

Glamping near Coachella

Discover and reserve the best campgrounds, cabins, RV parks, and more.

  • United States —
  • California —

Popular camping styles for Coachella

Cabins

NowHere Drive Inn

The Sunrise Sanctuary

The Sunrise Sanctuary

DragonflyHill Desert Farm

DragonflyHill Desert Farm

Kamp Snoozy

Kamp Snoozy

Available this weekend.

Tent #2 at Sunset.

Desert Rose Collective

The Lovelight Ranch

The Lovelight Ranch

Mosaic Springs Resort

Mosaic Springs Resort

Scorpion Ranch

Scorpion Ranch

Native Falls Campground

Native Falls Campground

12 top glamping sites near coachella.

Mineral Springs Date Farm

Mineral Springs Date Farm

Sahara House

Sahara House

The Castle House: Estate

The Castle House: Estate

Secluded Romatic Oasis w Gr8 Views

Secluded Romatic Oasis w Gr8 Views

Cozy Retreat in Joshua Tree

Cozy Retreat in Joshua Tree

What could be cuter?

San Diego Mountain Lodge

Star hosts in coachella, dog-friendly getaways, nearby parks, explore the area’s public lands..

Hiking through Split Mountain to Elephants Knees, a 10mi hike to some geologic features I had no idea existed in California.

Glamping near Coachella guide

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to resource for camping near Coachella, California! If you're looking for a glamorous camping experience (aka glamping), you're in luck. We have over 960 options available specifically for glamping near Coachella. With prices starting as low as $20 per night and an average price of $99 per night, there's something for every budget. Looking for the best of the best? Check out our top-rated campsites, The Lovelight Ranch (532 reviews), Magical Harrison Serenity Ranch (518 reviews), and The Desert Rose Collective (378 reviews). Enjoy popular amenities like potable water, showers, and campfires while engaging in activities such as wildlife watching, whitewater paddling, and climbing. Start planning your unforgettable glamping adventure today!

Popular Coachella trips

Top parks near coachella, top cities near coachella, best camping near me, safety at hipcamp.

Inclusion Policy

Safety partners

Recreate Responsibly

  • All About LA
  • Food + Drink
  • Founder Favorites
  • Everything Coachella
  • All About NY

The LA Girl

  • Holiday in LA
  • Coachella 2024
  • Work With Us

How to Have the Best (and Safest) Coachella Camping Experience (With List)

Coachella Camping

 iCoachella, the land of fringed boots, flower crowns, delicious food, unforgettable memories, and amazing music. And if you decided to REALLY go for it, you’re Coachella camping. Lucky for you, t he campgrounds are a walk and a skip away from the festival which makes it extra fun and extra easy for you and your squad. So to ensure you have a blast, here are 8 tips for the best and safest Coachella camping experience. 

Keep Track Of Your Camping Spot

Camping at Coachella is one of the best ways to make memories, make new friends and hang out with your crew before and after the shows each night. But when you arrive at your spot, whether it be tent camping or car camping, make a note of where you are! There are “street” numbers to help you, but taking a picture of your surroundings never hurts. Be sure to arrive early! Sites are assigned in order of arrival and it’s never fun to set up camp in the dark. But if you wanna skip setting up your own tent, check out the Safari Campgrounds . They offer a luxe “glamping” experience with air-conditioned, furnished accommodations. Check out their rates here .

FYI:  only cars, trucks, and vans are allowed at Coachella 2024. Motorcycles, RV’s, trailers and motor homes are not allowed.

Coachella Camping Packing List

Rule no. 1 of Coachella: bring a tent along with you! Tickets for Car campsites are $149 this year , and they offer you 30′ x 10′ of space! Considering that most sedans are 16′ x 6′, these sites have plenty of room for a lofty tent and other essentials.And if you’ve never set up a tent before, save yourself the time and trouble by opting for this instant tent from Beyondhome . It only takes 60 seconds to set up! And in temperatures as high as 90 degrees in Coachella Valley, this tent is a lifesaver. Sleeping bags should be comfy and low maintenance, and this Wawona sleeping bag from The North Face is as comfy as it is cute. But for that extra touch, try this sleeping pad from Coleman . Outside the tent, set up your drink station with this Maelstrom cooler . It holds up to 60 cans of your favorite soda (or hard seltzer), so grab some ice from the grocery store to keep your drinks cool all weekend long! Water (aka the source of all life) is an obvious essential for a three-night-stay in the Coachella Valley desert. Bring at least three of these gallons of water from a tried-and-true brand like Crystal Geyser . Also, for those sunset views from your campsite, be sure to grab at least two folding chairs . This one from REI is so chic and it has a cupholder. You should always be ready for a photo-op at Coachella. Decorate your site with these globe string lights from Amazon are the perfect touch for an aesthetic backdrop.

safari glamping coachella

Pack Baby Wipes, Shower Shoes, & Dry Shampoo

Coachella camping has showers . They may not be as fancy as the new Safari Glamping tents,  but they are functional. Are they sanitary? TBH, not really. Be sure to bring flip flops and get to the showers early in the morning. (We recommend these sandals from Birkenstock ) And since it might be cold or dusty, don’t forget to bring  baby wipes . They don’t have to be a substitute for a shower but they are a savior if it’s too cold for wet hair before bed. On the other hand, if you don’t wanna deal with washing your hair every night, opt for a dry shampoo to keep your scalp clean and nourished.

safari glamping coachella

No Glass On The Camp Grounds

You’re almost ready for an amazing Coachella camping experience! But wait,  you are planning to pack food and possibly alcohol, right? Of course! Don’t forget a big rule when heading into the Coachella campgrounds: they search all vehicles and do NOT allow glass . Whether it’s a bottle of alcohol or a jelly jar, sorry it’s a no-go. Security doesn’t care and will make you toss it. Here’s a tip, choose the flavor of drink you want to bring and pour it into a large canteen before throwing in it into the cooler. You’re almost set for an incredible Coachella camping adventure!  And remember, for a hassle-free experience, opt for plastic containers to avoid any issues with security. Save yourself some time and money and transfer whatever things you may need into plastic containers like these. ProTip: Pack beer and soda cans instead of bottles.

safari glamping coachella

Don’t Forget Your Charger

Take it from the many people who get stuck at the scarce charging stations around the camping and festival grounds, you do NOT want to forget portable charger ! Yes, you can technically charge your phone in your car if you’re car camping, but how many hours can you leave your car running and how many phones can you efficiently charge while at camp? Bring those portable chargers that are cute and colorful and life will be a breeze as you walk around AND charge your phone.

safari glamping coachella

Drink Lots of Water

Please don’t be the person to pass out from dehydration. It’s dangerous to get rushed to the medical tent because you forgot to drink water in between those beers and cocktails. Have fun, drink those margs, but don’t forget to drink plenty of bottles of water. You can even bring a pre-filled waterbottle and fill them up at the camping sites, they will have free & clean refill stations set up . You’ll thank yourself later. Also, be sure to keep a few gallons of water in your car for easy refills. If you’re thinking about bringing alcohol – here’s the gist. You can bring 1 case of beer cans or a box of wine . 

safari glamping coachella

Bring a Hat & SPF

We hope that you’ve incorporated a chic hat (like this cowgirl hat from Janessa Leoné ) into your Coachella look so you can be protected from the sun! But if hats aren’t for you, definitely don’t skip suns creen. This sunscreen from Paula’s Choice has high SPF and will keep your skin beautiful and healthy despite desert rays. And for more outfit inspo, check out our OOTW here .

safari glamping coachella

Protect Yourself From The Dust

Think you’re too cool for a bandana ? Or maybe you don’t want to be one of “those” people? BE one of them and bring it with you! With some luck, the wind will be minimal and the grounds won’t be too dusty. But if the wind picks up, having a bandana will prevent you from breathing in dust all weekend.

safari glamping coachella

Now imagine, it’s the end of Day 2, you’re walking back and you are TIRED. If you bring cash, you can pay a pedicab and get back to your camping spot in no time. You may have to splurge, but it will be worth it. Be sure to keep cash on you in a cute shoulder bag like this one from Jacquemus , or maybe in this Kate Spade wristlet .

safari glamping coachella

Now that you’re prepared, go get that cute photo in front of the Ferris wheel and don’t forget to tag @thelagirl in your photos. Also, check out the hottest festival parties you need to be at.

' src=

Crystal Zahler

When I’m not writing for The LA Girl or talking on the radio, I love traveling, going to concerts, hitting the beach and eating lots of ice cream!

whitecollarwanderer logo with paper airplane graphic

Discover the Best Places to Stay During Coachella

Known for its electrifying music, captivating performances, and unforgettable moments, Coachella is an experience like no other.

But finding the perfect accommodation can enhance your festival adventure even further. Whether you’re seeking luxury, convenience, or a unique experience, you’ll find it all covered here.

Discover the best places to stay during Coachella to make your trip truly extraordinary. Let the countdown to Coachella begin!

*This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Where to Stay During Coachella

Finding a place to stay during Coachella is probably one of the trickiest parts of the whole experience. There are many factors to consider such as transportation, proximity to the festival grounds, and the balance between convenience, comfort, and budget. Here are the most popular places to stay during Coachella.

Coachella Camping

Camping at Coachella is a unique and immersive experience that allows festivalgoers to fully embrace the spirit of the festival, especially those on a tighter budget.

Coachella offers on-site camping options, allowing attendees to stay within walking distance of the festival grounds. The camping areas are transformed into vibrant communities, filled with rows of tents, campers, and canopies, creating a lively and communal atmosphere.

The campsites are equipped with various amenities to ensure a comfortable stay such as restrooms and showers, water stations, charging stations, and even a general store for essential supplies. There are also dedicated food vendors and dining areas where campers can enjoy a range of culinary options.

The sense of camaraderie is palpable in the camping areas, as attendees bond over shared excitement for the festival. It’s common to see people hanging out, playing games, or hosting impromptu parties. The energy is infectious.

One of the major advantages of camping at Coachella is the convenience of being just a short walk away from the stages. Campers can easily return to their tents between performances to rest, freshen up, or grab supplies. This proximity allows for a stress-free experience, as you can totally immerse yourself in the festival’s activities without worrying about transportation logistics.

As the sun sets, the campgrounds come alive with illuminated decorations, art installations, and a vibrant nightlife. I’ve even attended a silent disco in the campgrounds. It’s a perfect opportunity to explore and connect with fellow festivalgoers, sharing stories, and creating lasting memories.

It’s important to note that camping at Coachella requires some preparation and planning. Bringing essential camping gear such as a tent, sleeping bag, camping chairs, and portable lighting is crucial. It’s also advisable to pack sunscreen, a hat, comfortable clothing, and sturdy footwear to withstand the desert environment.

Read more about what to pack for Coachella .

And although Coachella tries to make it as enjoyable as possible, keep in mind you are still camping in the desert. It will be extremely hot while the sun is out, cold at night, dusty and windy, and the showers don’t always work.

If this sounds like your vibe, you will need to purchase Coachella Camping Passes. For Coachella 2024, there are several different ticket options:

Car Camping

The most popular option. Allows you to park your car next to your camping spot so you can build a little oasis. Comes with a 30’x10′ spot and you can fit as many tents and friends as you can. Only 1 vehicle is allowed per spot, and can only be passenger cars, trucks or vans only (no RVs).

You are assigned your spot when you arrive, but if you don’t want to worry about getting in line early, you can upgrade your camping pass to “Preferred”. Preferred Camping Pass holders can arrive anytime because they are preassigned to a specific lot.

Tent Camping

Tent camping is just as it sounds, camping with tents only. Similar to the Car Camping, you can have as many tents and friends as you can fit on your lot. But no cars allowed. If you have a car that you drove to the desert in, you’ll need to buy a separate “Camping Companion Parking” pass to park your car in a different area during the festival.

Check out all the Coachella Camping details and pricing .

If you’re not a povvo like me, there are actually a several options available for glamping at the Coachella festival grounds that look bougie and amazing.

Lake Eldorado : Camp in style in a 4-person tent or 2-person lodge at an exclusive lakeside oasis, in close proximity to the general store, food vendors and camping center hub, and just a short few minutes walk to the venue entrance. You can even keep the pillows and sleeping bags after your stay. Packages include Festival Passes.

Safari Tents : This glamping option comes furnished with all the sleeping or lounging essentials plus air conditioned restroom and shower access, breakfast and late night snacks in the air-conditioned Safari Lounge, and of course Guest Passes to Coachella Weekend One or Two.

Safari Residence : (new in 2023) Glamping comes furnished with all the comforts of a studio-style dwelling, plus golf cart transportation, access to private restrooms and showers, breakfast and late night snacks in the air-conditioned Safari Lounge, and Guest Passes. Safari Residence packages include accommodations, passes and concierge services for 2 people.

The Resort at Coachella : A fully furnished modern yurt with A/C, power outlets, mini-fridge, towels, seating, and more. Comes with Artist Passes to Coachella (granting access to the artist compound and artist catering for gourmet breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and Yurt wristbands (exclusive access to exclusive The Resort areas, Safari campground, and Safari Lounge).

But wait, there’s more. You’ll also get a personal golf cart driver and concierge to assist you all weekend long; access to all VIP amenities and shared guest viewing areas within the festival; breakfast served to your yurt each day; and nightly  Outstanding in the Field  dinner reservations for 2 people.

Get all the details about Coachella glamping options and pricing .

Vacation Rental

Renting a house or room for the weekend is my preferred way to do Coachella. I just love being able to take a long, hot shower at the end of the night and then crawl into a comfy bed.

Renting a house for Coachella allows you to have a dedicated space to retreat to after a long day at the festival. Instead of staying in a hotel or camping, you’ll have an entire house or apartment to yourself or your group, providing a sense of privacy and relaxation.

The houses available for rent during Coachella range from cozy apartments to spacious villas, catering to various group sizes and preferences. You can even rent the extra rooms in someone’s house as a budget friendly option. There is a wide selection of properties on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO, located in nearby cities such as Indio, La Quinta, or the surrounding areas.

Renting a house often offers additional amenities like a fully equipped kitchen, backyard or patio space, private pool or hot tub, BBQ facilities, and ample parking (one year we had a trampoline!). And you can plan meals according to your preferences, saving time and money on dining out.

It’s also an opportunity to spend quality time with your friends or travel companions, creating memories and shared experiences outside of the festival.

While renting a house offers comfort and privacy, it’s essential to plan and book in advance, as availability will be limited during the festival dates. Consider factors such as group size, proximity to the festival grounds and transportation logistics.

The biggest downside to staying in a vacation rental during Coachella is transportation and logistics. Getting to and from the festival can be a harrowing experience, and you could end up stranded and waiting for a ride at the festival grounds for hours. Vacation rentals can also be quite expensive, especially the closer you get the festival.

Renting a house for Coachella offers a comfortable and personalized accommodation option, allowing you to retreat to a private space and recharge for the next day of festivities. It’s a great choice for those who value comfort, convenience, and the freedom to create their own festival experience.

Book a vacation rental with VRBO today !

You should book your accommodations well in advance , as options fill up quickly once tickets go on sale.

Hotels and Resorts

Opting for a hotel or resort during Coachella offers a hassle-free experience with a range of amenities and services at your fingertips. Hotels in the vicinity of the festival grounds often provide shuttle services, making transportation to and from the festival more convenient.

Hotels and resorts offer comfortable rooms equipped with essential amenities, and depending on the hotel or resort you choose, you may also have access to additional facilities like pools, fitness centers, restaurants, and bars, allowing you to unwind and relax between festival days.

Staying at a hotel or resort provides a sense of luxury and convenience. You can enjoy daily housekeeping services, concierge assistance, and on-site dining options, eliminating the need to worry about meal preparations or cleaning up after a long day at the festival.

Some hotels and resorts even host pre and post-festival events.

It is possible to book your hotel as a package from Coachella which also includes GA or VIP tickets and shuttle passes. It is extremely pricey, but if this hassle-free approach interests you, check out Weekend 1 or Weekend 2 hotel packages.

It’s important to book your hotel or resort far in advance, as availability quickly fills up. Consider factors such as proximity to the festival, pricing, and the specific amenities or services that are important to you when making your selection.

Book discounted hotels and resorts with Expedia today !

Other Campgrounds or RV Parks

In addition to the on-site camping options at Coachella, there are other camping and RV parks available in the surrounding area. These parks offer alternative camping experiences for festivalgoers who prefer a different atmosphere or amenities.

Off-site camping or RV parks provide a quieter and more secluded camping environment compared to the bustling and noisy on-site campgrounds. They offer a range of amenities such as spacious campsites, clean restrooms and showers, laundry facilities, and even recreational areas like swimming pools or hiking trails.

These parks often cater specifically to RV owners, providing hookups for electricity, water, and sewage disposal. They are suitable for those who prefer a more self-contained camping experience with their own vehicle or mobile home.

The atmosphere is generally more relaxed and serene; a peaceful retreat after a day of festival excitement.

It’s advisable to check the distance to the festival grounds and explore transportation options to ensure convenient access to Coachella.

You can stay at designated campgrounds, or I’ve also seen people offering spaces in their yards where you can pitch a tent for cheap. There are also some glamping options you can book through Airbnb and other sites.

In my opinion, this is the worst option because it combines camping (which I hate) with the hassle and inconvenience of getting to and from the festival each day. But these alternative camping options offer a different experience for those seeking a more tranquil camping environment.

Read more: A Beginner’s Guide to Coachella

Best Areas to Stay During Coachella

You know what they say about property… location, location, location! And when planning where to stay during Coachella this is true as well. Although technically you can stay at any location on the map below and still have a good time at the festival, but you might also have to deal with traffic, transportation logistics, long car rides, late nights, and stress.

map of where to stay during coachella; greater palm springs area

Indian Wells and La Quinta

These neighboring cities provide the majority of the lodging choices, including luxury resorts and vacation rentals. They are within a short driving distance from the festival grounds, which you will be paying a premium for.

Although Coachella is technically in the city of Indio, the festival is located at the intersection of Indio and La Quinta.

Coachella and Indio

These two neighboring cities located just east of the festival are mostly residential neighborhoods. People in these areas often put their extra rooms for rent on Airbnb at a “decent” price. They are also within a short driving distance from the festival grounds, but aren’t quite as nice as the other areas nearby.

Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert

These two suburban cities are about 30 minutes to an hour from the festival, depending on traffic. They although it could take you a while getting to and from Coachella each day, it’s not as far as some of the other cities, and Airbnb’s will be less than in the cities closest to the festival.

Cathedral City

This city is getting pretty far from the festival grounds, and with traffic however, it could take just as long to get there (or longer) as staying in Palm Springs. Airbnb’s in Cathedral City will likely be the cheapest due to how far it is from the festival. If you stay here, it may be best to drive yourself as Uber’s could get very pricey. I stayed here one year and it was fine, but I would prefer to be closer as we spent a lot of time in the car.

Palm Springs

Located about an hour away, Palm Springs is a popular destination for Coachella attendees. The city offers a wide range of accommodation options, including hotels, vacation rentals, and resorts, along with a vibrant nightlife and dining scene.

If you want the option of having things to do before or after Coachella each day, Palm Springs is great. But the majority of people just want to go home at the end of the night. Between shuffling out of the festival in a hoard of zombies, waiting in line for the shuttle buses, and then another hour commute (or more), you might not get home until after 3am.

Common Mistakes When Deciding Where to Stay During Coachella

Booking a hotel listed on the shuttle pass without checking where it’s located..

The shuttle passes are a great solution if you want to avoid the nightmare that is trying to find an ride home after the festival. Ubers and Lyft’s have been almost impossible to find in recent years.

However one mistake I’ve heard people make, especially those who are not from SoCal, is booking one of the hotels listed in the shuttle pass’s designated drop off sites without researching where it’s actually located. The shuttle buses drop people off at hotels and resorts as far as Palm Springs, which is over an hour from the festival grounds.

Although this is about as far from Coachella as you can get, there is a ton to do in Palm Springs outside of the festival, but I personally don’t have the time or energy to do any other activities.

Waiting until the last minute to book an accommodation.

Waiting too long to book a place to stay during Coachella will result in very limited options. This could mean paying more, staying far away, or sacrificing quality. This one has always been my biggest struggle because I can never get my friends to commit that far in advance.

Staying in an accommodation that is far from the festival grounds.

You might notice when booking your accommodations for Coachella, the farther away you look, the more reasonable the price. But beware, getting home from Coachella is no easy feat. If you didn’t get a shuttle pass, you must rely on rideshares that are unfortunately not reliable anymore. This becomes expensive not to mention extremely stressful.

Depending on where you stay, you could be commuting over an hour each way. Last year I stayed relatively close to the festival and still got home at 4am, simply trying to find a ride home.

If you do choose to stay far from the festival grounds, I think driving yourself to and from Coachella is the best way to go. It may be annoying making sure someone is the designated driver, but it will save so much stress and money at the end of the night.

To ensure no one gets stuck driving the whole time, you can rotate so the person who drives to the festival doesn’t have to drive home. And the person who drives home at the end of the night can drink before and still have time to sober up. That way everyone gets a turn going crazy and being responsible.

Not accounting for traffic when looking at distance to the festival.

Distance isn’t the only problem when looking at where to stay during Coachella. Traffic is a real issue. If you look on google maps on a normal day you may see Palm Springs is only 40 minutes from Indio, but during the festival? It could easily take another 40 minutes with traffic.

Similar Posts

7 Essential Cooking Tips for Travelers

7 Essential Cooking Tips for Travelers

Choosing to cook at home when traveling, not only saves you money, but is much better for your overall health. And it doesn’t have to…

A Deep Dive into the SafetyWing’s Latest Nomad Insurance Updates

A Deep Dive into the SafetyWing’s Latest Nomad Insurance Updates

You never expect to need travel insurance, but when you do you’ll be grateful for the safety net it provides. Life on the road as…

3 Ways to Travel from Egypt to Jordan

3 Ways to Travel from Egypt to Jordan

Jordan has been on my bucket list for a while… Petra, Indiana Jones, the Martian desert? So when we were staying in Egypt, I was…

How Much Does it Cost to be a Digital Nomad?

How Much Does it Cost to be a Digital Nomad?

We’re pulling back the curtain today to reveal how much being a digital nomad costs, working and traveling full-time. When I first started traveling, I…

What do Digital Nomads do with Their Mail?

What do Digital Nomads do with Their Mail?

“What do digital nomads do with their mail?” This is one of many questions I get when I talk about my nomadic lifestyle. Several years…

5 Tips for Choosing the Best Nile River Cruise

5 Tips for Choosing the Best Nile River Cruise

You’ve decided to cruise down the Nile, the best way to see Egypt in my opinion. But now what? This is the hard part, narrowing…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Safari Tent Glamping

Vegan coachella.

Cookie banner

We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy . Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use , which became effective December 20, 2019.

By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

Site search

  • Los Angeles
  • San Francisco
  • Archive.curbed.com
  • For Sale
 in LA
  • For Rent in LA
  • Curbed Comparisons
  • Neighborhoods
  • Real Estate Market Reports
  • Rental Market Reports
  • Homelessness
  • Development
 News
  • Transportation
  • Architecture


Filed under:

  • Palm Springs

This is what camping looks like this year at Coachella

Spacious lakeside yurts, hipster-friendly teepees, and down-and-dirty tailgating

The Empire Polo Field Prepares For The 2013 Coachella Music Festival

For a privileged few, Coachella is not only about gyrating against your fellow molly-fueled, bralette-wearing music lovers. It’s about what happens after the EDM stops throbbing and you stumble back to your own tent. These are the campsites at Coachella, where the party never stops.

Coachella has always offered camping as part of the festival, but in recent years organizers have designed a premium camping experience — glamping experience, really—for those who aren’t really the roughing-it type. Packages may include “safari-styled tents” with cots, bedding, coolers, showers, and 24-hour concierge service.

The resulting mix of spacious lakeside yurts, hipster-friendly teepees, and what’s basically down-and-dirty tailgating in a parking lot proves that Coachella really does have something for everyone.

Vestal Village

Woke up like this #vestalvillage #lakeside #palmsprings #beauty #naturalbeauty #spaday #livelife A post shared by Epithereal (@epithereal) on Apr 14, 2017 at 8:20am PDT
#glamping #Coachella #indio #california A post shared by Albert Manduca (@albertmanduca) on Apr 14, 2017 at 10:02am PDT
And so it begins. #happycoachella #Coachella A post shared by Ben de Ayora (@alldaybda) on Apr 14, 2017 at 10:16am PDT

Safari tents

We made it. #coachellasafari A post shared by Kieran Meaney (@kieranmeaney) on Apr 13, 2017 at 4:57pm PDT
haha A post shared by Ed Jennings (@edjennings1) on Apr 14, 2017 at 9:43am PDT

Car camping

Good Morning from the top of my car at Coachella 7:31 AM ☀️ A post shared by Jamie Esquivel (@jamieeesquivel) on Apr 14, 2017 at 8:42am PDT
Tent is up. A post shared by Ivan Gregoro (@pensiveaventura) on Apr 14, 2017 at 9:03am PDT
our camp is ready A post shared by ali (@controlaltdelight) on Apr 14, 2017 at 8:58am PDT

Lake El Dorado

Not a bad way to celebrate Chella #lakeeldorado #nomorepeasentlife #coachella17 @stevenjames0989 @chasingjlb A post shared by Dennis Hester Jr (@go_dj13) on Apr 13, 2017 at 11:39am PDT
#coachella A post shared by S.Yamamoto (@nowiwannaphoto) on Apr 14, 2017 at 8:47am PDT
Home for the weekend #teepees #lakeeldorado A post shared by TAYLA CAMPBELL✨ (@taycampbell) on Apr 13, 2017 at 3:52pm PDT

Marriott-designed tents

Welcome to the @lemeridienhotels safari tent, where a few lucky guests will get to experience a chic escape in between musical acts at @coachella. #marriottXcoachella #coachella #DestinationUnlocked A post shared by Le Méridien Hotels (@lemeridienhotels) on Apr 14, 2017 at 12:27pm PDT
Spending the weekend immersed in the art, music, and design @coachella. Click our story for a full tour of our Safari tent. #ACHotels #MarriottxCoachella A post shared by AC Hotels (@achotels) on Apr 14, 2017 at 12:56pm PDT
We're glamping at #Coachella! Here's a peek into our #exactlylikenothingelse Moroccan-inspired Safari tent. #marriottXcoachella A post shared by Autograph Collection Hotels (@autographhotels) on Apr 14, 2017 at 1:12pm PDT
Hello from #Coachella! Step inside our desert-chic Safari tent, inspired by an airstream. #marriottXcoachella A post shared by Tribute Portfolio (@tributeportfolio) on Apr 14, 2017 at 2:01pm PDT

Loading comments...

Share this story.

safari glamping coachella

How To Go Glamping, Coachella Edition!

safari glamping coachella

I just finally recovered from Coachella this past weekend, and it was so worth it! I’m a Coachella veteran at this point, but this time was unlike any other. This year I was lucky enough to partner up with Marriott and experience their luxury Safari Tents, which were located within the artists area literally right behind the stages. If you’ve ever been to Coachella, you know what a nightmare it is to get home at the end of the night, so we felt so lucky to zip back to our tent in a golf cart after the festival.

Not only were the tents just steps away, the decor was so cute! The tents were all decked out to represent different Marriott hotels around the world, and ours was inspired by the Autograph Collection – perfectly boho, with major Coachella vibes. It had dream catchers above the bed, Moroccan slippers, aztec rugs and hanging lanterns, plus a bottle of tequila on ice waiting for us when we checked in – heaven! And thank goodness, Marriott had set up a concierge tent where every single amenity was available – from electrolytes and advil, to chocolate chip cookies and earplugs – which ended up being a total life saver. On top of all that, our neighbors were Emma Roberts and Vanessa Hudgens!

On our first night, the sun was setting as we checked in and unpacked (and also maybe had a couple shots of tequila). Once we settled in, we took a golf cart to the vip area to meet up with friends and go watch Radiohead on the main stage, which was so amazing. After a long night dancing we strolled back to the Safari Tents area and OMG, there were midnight snacks being prepared! Pizza and ice cream, the perfect way to end our first night at Coachella. With the rest of the weekend jam packed with parties and music, we just loved coming back to our little oasis at the end of the day. Read below for some tips that we learned about how to go glamping in style at Coachella!

Louise Roe Coachella glamping tips

Coachella Glamping Tips:

1. Have your outfits planned. Packing light makes life so much easier and getting ready a breeze. Even though it’s a luxury campsite, it’s still camping, so don’t bring your entire closet with you.

2. Bring an eye mask and earplugs. The tents are super comfortable and air conditioned but you’re in the thick of it all, so if you need to sneak away for a nap or pass out early, you’ll hear the goings on of the festival until late in the evening. It’s all part of the experience!

3. Channel your inner desert goddess. I’m not really one for ‘roughing it’, so to be honest I was a little nervous to go camping (though if you’re going to do it, this is definitely the way to go). But once I got there, it was all so well curated and the vibe was so much fun, I got over those fears immediately. Waking up to the view of the mountains and the sounds of the festival each day made it all worth it, so just go with the flow and embrace the experience – noise, dust and all!

4. Make friends with your neighbors. As we learned, you never know who will be staying around you. Who knows, you might get a new celeb bestie out of it! Or at least be able to borrow some sunscreen if you run out 😉

5. Pack these fashion essentials. For the campsite and the festival in general, you’ll need a pair or two of closed toed shoes (preferably boots – your feet will get pretty nasty in sandals!), flowy crop tops that are off-shoulder or balloon sleeved to beat the heat, giant mirror sunglasses to protect your eyes but also double as a mirror for quick touch ups, a big boater hat to protect your face, and a chic later backpack for housing all other necessities (lip balm, sunscreen, band aids, and water).

Until next time Coachella!

safari glamping coachella

2 responses to “How To Go Glamping, Coachella Edition!”

' src=

Where is the shirt you are wearing in the first picture from?

' src=

Love your outfits<3 It looks super fashionable! xx http://www.oneirojewelry.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Join us on the FRONT ROE

Related Posts

The Perfect So-Cal Weekend Getaway

Follow My Adventures on Instagram

Read previous post:.

safari glamping coachella

How To Get Your Patio Summer-Ready

I’m just about to head to Coachella for the weekend, and I’m so excited to be heading back to the...

safari glamping coachella

Here's How To Camp At Coachella Like A Complete Boss

Attending the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a right of passage in its own right, but it's not until you take the final decision to camp instead of stay in some fancy AirBnB that you truly become a Coachella expert.

But let's be real: Camping at a festival ain't easy. Here are a few tips to have the ultimate camping experience.

Stay somewhere fly.

This year, Elite Daily made the decision to stay at Base Camp , a 40-acre ranch that will be taken over during the festival.

Derek Boucher from Base Camp walked us through a few of the amenities at Base Camp including,

The property has a lake on-site, a pool. We will be doing special guest performances, curated DJ sets. There will be hot air balloon rides, festival transportation, pop-up restaurants and cocktail bar.

So, yeah, clearly a dope glamping experience.

Beyond camping, Base Camp is also offering some seriously awesome day parties. Each day, the camp will bring in a different curated experience. Get your free RSVP here .

safari glamping coachella

There are only a few spots left at Base Camp, so make sure to reserve your spot next to Elite Daily now .

Bring all the necessary accessories.

Sure, you may know to pack a sleeping bag and your toothbrush, but don't forget all the extra stuff that can make the camping experience complete.

Reddit user (and clear Coachella pro) Kmart_Elvis shared his ultimate packing list:

Decide if you're a tent or car camper.

This year, we made the decision to up the ante a bit by not only becoming car campers, but also becoming Happier Campers.

safari glamping coachella

That's right; we're rolling in like true professionals. The Happier Campers , which fit a few Coachella-goers, also come equipped with a few amenities like a fridge and stovetop. Oh, and they look dope as hell.

For others, you must choose between packing in all your stuff or driving your car, allowing for more stuff. But let's be real: This is Coachella. You really only need a few crop tops, a sleeping bag and a flower crown anyway.

Know the rules before you go.

If you're camping on-site at Coachella, make sure you know all the rules before you go.

The rules aren't as simple as you'd expect. One rule of car camping, for example, is you can't leave between certain hours.

As Coachella's site explains,

Please be advised all car/tent only camping lots will be on lock down between the hours of 10pm and 2am nightly. Cars Camping will NOT be allowed to exit during those times. If you need to leave car camping prior to Sunday at 2am, you must do so before 10pm.

Check out the full list of rules here .

Make friends with your neighbors wherever you camp.

View on Instagram

Having a great attitude is the number-one recommendation any Coachella-camping expert will give. It's clutch to make friends with your neighbors, as they will likely be the ones you run to when you need something.

Pack light, bring extra water and, most importantly, have fun!

Stay tuned for more Coachella coverage here , and follow us live weekend 1 on   Snapchat (EliteDailySnap),  Twitter  ( @EliteDaily ) and  Instagram  ( EliteDailyEnvision ).

safari glamping coachella

Would you pay $33,000 for four nights in a Coachella festival VIP yurt for two? It includes free Wi-Fi!

The Empire Polo Club's El Dorado Lake

The festival’s highest-end on-site accommodations option includes dining in the Coachella artists compound, a concierge, maid service, a golf cart with a chauffer, and much more

  • Show more sharing options
  • Copy Link URL Copied!

It remains to be seen if Frank Ocean’s Sunday headlining performance at Coachella includes “Super Rich Kids,” his 2013 song from the soundtrack to the film “The Bling Ring.”

But having money to spare may come in very handy for attendees at the festival — which takes place Friday through Sunday and April 21-23 — at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

Illustration of the empty site of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Analysis: Coachella returns — Is the world’s biggest annual music festival losing some allure after 24 years?

Despite such headliners as Bad Bunny, Blackpink and Frank Ocean, and the last-minute addition of blink-182, the festival — which runs Friday through Sunday and April 22-24 — has not sold out in advance for the first time since 2010

April 14, 2023

This year’s edition will see the debut of Coachella’s Safari Residence. Its new, studio-style accommodations cost $15,000 for two per weekend and includes a pair of guest passes and various VIP amenities.

By comparison, the festival’s “glamping” Safari Campground tents for two are a relative bargain at $11,000 each. (The tents cost $4,500 for two when they debuted at the festival back in 2008.)

Rapper Pusha T performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2019

Analysis: Coachella 2022: True to tradition, or a TikTok makeover? Festival undergoes new generational shift

Up until a few years ago, it may have seemed unthinkable that One Direction boy-band alum Harry Styles would headline the festival. Times have changed

April 13, 2022

But those who really want to splurge may opt for The Resort at Coachella luxury yurts. Priced at $32,000 for two — up from $25,000 in 2017 — the yurt package includes an array of enticing amenities.

How many amenities? Here’s the rundown.

• A four-night stay in a fully furnished modern yurt that includes A/C, power outlets, lighting, a mini-fridge pre-stocked with your choice of food and beverages, towels, linens, seating, a full length mirror, and more.

• Two 3-day artist passes to Coachella’s 2023 weekend one or two, including access to the festival’s artist compound and artist catering for gourmet breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

• Two yurt wristbands for exclusive access to The Resort at Coachella areas, Safari campground and Safari Lounge.

• A personal golf cart driver and concierge to assist you all weekend long.

• Access to all VIP amenities and shared guest viewing areas within the festival.

• Breakfast served to your yurt each day and nightly gourmet Outstanding in the Field dinner reservations for two people.

Entertainment

Coachella Day 3: Gourmet dinner time!

The price isn’t cheap, but fine dining has come to the festival in Indio, replete with multiple courses and wines from three countries

April 13, 2014

• Locking doors and 24-hour security on the Safari campgrounds.

• A restroom and shower private to your group.

• Airport transportation to and from Palm Springs or Thermal, CA.

• Spa treatments and massages in your yurt or at the nearby La Quinta Resort and Club.

• Daily maid and turn-down service.

• A Coachella 2023 merchandise pack.

• House car service for your group’s off-site needs.

• And, of course, free Wi-Fi!

All yurts are sold out for Coachella this weekend, but some are still available for the festival’s second weekend.

How many yurts are there?

“We don’t disclose that information,” said a representative for Valley Music Travel, the company behind the festival’s upscale VIP package options.

For the record, the yurts are not the most expensive option for Coachella attendees.

“We have our Platinum Experience packages,” said the representative, who declined to disclose how much they cost but allowed that they could include staying in a mansion.

“You create the Platinum packages,” the representative said. “The price depends on what you include.”

More information and reservations are available by phone at: (888) 527-6658; via email: [email protected]; and online: valleymusictravel.com/events/coachella/safari-campgrounds

[email protected]

Get U-T Arts & Culture on Thursdays

A San Diego insider’s look at what talented artists are bringing to the stage, screen, galleries and more.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

safari glamping coachella

More from this Author

San Diego, CA - April 30: San Diego Symphony CEO Martha Gilmer poses for a photo at Jacobs Music Center on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

San Diego Symphony announces 2024-25 season at newly renamed concert hall after $125 million redesign

May 7, 2024

WonderFront Music & Arts festival

Wonderfront returning to San Diego this week as landscape for music festivals grows increasingly challenging

May 5, 2024

CJ Chenier at 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival May 1, 2022

Gator by the Bay will celebrate zydeco-music giant Clifton Chenier’s legacy with all-star lineup

May 3, 2024

Drummer Budgie at Hammersmith Apollo on November 12, 2015 in London

This week’s three San Diego concerts you won’t want to miss!

May 2, 2024

North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, with a capacity of nearly 20,000, is San Diego's largest outdoor concert venue.

Live Nation ticket sale: $25 each for 117 San Diego concerts, including Janet Jackson, Santana, Iron Maiden

May 1, 2024

 Sara Petite (L) and Mike Kastner, Belly Up Tavern February 26, 2021

San Diego Music Awards: Top winners Sara Petite, Jonny Tarr each score two victories

April 30, 2024

More in this section

The JACK Quartet performed a concert Monday, May 6, at the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla.

Classical Music

Review: JACK Quartet concert combined 20th century moderns with 21st century eclectics

Last-minute venue change to the Birch Aquarium proved no obstacle to the expert performances

May 8, 2024

MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 10: Steve Albini of Shellac performs on stage during day 3 of Primavera Sound Madrid 2023 on June 10, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Aldara Zarraoa/WireImage)

Nation-World

Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61

Albini, who was prepping for a tour with his band Shellac, passed away from a heart attack on Tuesday night

Tyler Burkum, left, and Josh Lovelace of NEEDTOBREATHE perform "I Wanna Remember" with Carrie Underwood at the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. The awards show airs on June 9 with both live and prerecorded segments. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

After 23 years, NEEDTOBREATHE bandmates are growing older, wiser and still evolving

The South Carolina-born alt-rock band will perform Tuesday at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego

Sky Deck, a 26,000-square-foot upscale food hall,  above the Jimbo's market at Del Mar Highlands Town Center.

San Diego stores: Jimbo’s adds DoorDash, and one man’s digital nightmare leads to free jazz in May

Vallarta Supermarkets join the DoorDash bandwagon, along with Jimbo’s

Tijuana, Baja California - April 24: Daniel Atkinson and Julian Plascencia founders/producers of the San Diegio Tijuana International Jazz Festival, which will debut on both sides of the border in October, including on outdoor stages on several blocks of Avenida Revolucion. Julian Plascencia and Daniel Atkinson pose for a photo near a mural in Downtown on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in Tijuana, Baja California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival to debut, with seed money provided by Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs

The three-day festival has been designated as an “impact project” in the yearlong San Diego Tijuana World Design Capital 2024. It will feature drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, pianist Gerald Clayton, trumpeters Gilbert Castellanos and Ivan Trujillo, singer Magos Herrera, the Hausman Quartet, and more.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 31: Guitarist Stevie Salas performs onstage with Kings of Chaos at the Adopt the Arts annual rock gala at Avalon Hollywood on January 31, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, George Clinton: 2024 San Diego Music Awards honoree Stevie Salas has played with them all

Oceanside native Stevie Salas be honored Tuesday as the 2024 San Diego Music Awards Country Dick Montana Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. His many credits include working with Public Enemy, Adam Lambert, Ronald Shannon Jackson, George Clinton, Duran Duran, Terence Trent D’Arby and other musicians, and producing the acclaimed film documentary, ‘Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World.’

April 28, 2024

Take a look inside Coachella's most expensive campground, where people pay up to $25,000 to sleep in yurts and be driven around by personal golf carts

  • Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Coachella has been postponed until October, CNN reports . The popular music festival will now take place on the weekends of October 9-11 and October 16-18.
  • The festival was originally scheduled to take place the weekends of April 10-12 and April 17-19.
  • Though Coachella has more affordable packages, it is also known for its luxury.  The most expensive on-site campsite at Coachella is Safari Campground , and it features luxury tent rates beginning around $10,000 for a four-night stay.
  • Festival packages including lodging at circular Resort Yurts cost around $25,000, according to Money.
  • Staying on the campgrounds gives festival-goers access to a private bar and spa, along with personal golf cart transportation to and from the stages.
  • Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories .

Coachella has been postponed until October amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The popular music festival, which was set to take place the weekends of April 10-12 and April 17-19, will now happen the weekends of October 9-11 and October 16-18. Ticket prices are expected to stay the same, though it's not known whether the line-up will change.

Though the festival offers more affordable packages, it is also known for its luxury. For some Coachella attendees, $429 tickets may well end up being one of the cheapest purchases of the long weekend.

While many people opt for luxury hotels or mansion-sized Airbnbs, others choose to stay at the Safari Campground, the festival's most expensive on-site campground.

Fancy camping is not a new concept: A luxury Chicago hotel offers a glamping package on the terrace of its penthouse suite, and there's a $700 glamping package on an island in New York City Harbor . The latter is a steal compared to Coachella's campsite, where prices are in the thousands.

As Business Insider's Hillary Hoffower previously reported, total Coachella costs vary widely depending on attendee preferences. While it is possible to budget, the rich and famous who attend the infamous festival are usually more than willing to pay above-average costs. On the other end of the spectrum, there's also the more affordable but far less glamorous $102 car camping option.

Prices for Safari Tents begin at $9,500 with the option to add up to two additional guests for a $2,500 fee per person. For Resort Yurts, prices vary depending on customization packages. Money previously estimated a yurt stay to cost $25,000 for the weekend, which also included catered meals and two artist passes to the festival shows.

Keep reading for a complete look at the Coachella campsite.

Coachella's Safari Campgrounds are located close to the performance venues, making them a prime location for wealthy festival-goers.

safari glamping coachella

Source : Valley Music Travel

First, guests check into the campgrounds with photo ID. Changes to the will call name after the initial purchase result in a $1,000 fee.

safari glamping coachella

After check-in, guests are permitted through the gates and into the campsite.

safari glamping coachella

Safari Tents are the cheapest option and have a starting rate of $9,500 for the weekend.

safari glamping coachella

Guests can choose from a single queen bed, double queen bed, or a lounge set-up. If two guests are sharing queen beds, additional fees run $2,500 per person.

safari glamping coachella

The tents are spacious, come fully furnished, and include a small refrigerator and air conditioner.

safari glamping coachella

Other set-ups include small villas with chair seating on the mock front porch.

safari glamping coachella

An interior shot reveals sleeping arrangements in a rustic room. Lounge set-ups include couch seating, a coffee table, and a mini-fridge.

safari glamping coachella

The campsite also features Resort Yurts, which can house two people in a queen-sized bed. These structures include a more customized experience, including airport transportation and mini-fridges stocked with your personal favorites. According to Money, these will run guests around $25,000 and come with premium tickets, a complimentary bottle of Champagne, breakfast served daily, and dinner reservations.

safari glamping coachella

Source : Valley Music Travel , Money

Guests at Safari Campgrounds also have access to a private spa lounge ...

safari glamping coachella

... as well as the Safari Lounge.

safari glamping coachella

The lounge is, fittingly, decorated in safari theme, and is completely air-conditioned.

safari glamping coachella

The tent includes plenty of seating for guests to enjoy food and drinks in between shows or during after-parties.

safari glamping coachella

The tents are neatly arranged around an open, grassy area.

safari glamping coachella

And while they appear secluded, they are close enough to the venue for private golf-cart transportation — for those who spring for the most expensive package.

safari glamping coachella

  • Main content

Glamping California: The 17 Best Spots for a Luxe Outdoor Escape

A beginner’s guide to “glamorous camping” and our top picks for the best glamping spots in the great state of California

Glamping California: The 17 Best Spots for a Luxe Outdoor Escape

Katherine Englishman

Photographer

Photo courtesy Mendocino Grove

Katherine Englishman

Short for glamorous camping, the term glamping refers to resort-style accommodations in scenic destinations that provide guests easy access to the outdoors. Also known as “boutique camping”, glamping combines all the amenities and creature comforts of the indoors (gourmet meals, cozy beds, heat and AC, and of course, proper bathrooms) with an opportunity to immerse yourself in the outdoors’ restorative effects or go off and seek adventure. Canvas tents, bell tents , and yurts for glamping are most common, though the Golden State has so much more to offer. Visitors can also stay in an Airstream trailer or a treehouse—both valid glamping accommodations if you stretch the definition just a bit.

Whatever your prerogative, glamping is ideal for your brunch-loving, camp-curious crew or even new outdoorists who aren’t ready to make the jump from soft, cozy bed to cold, hard ground—no judgement here!—but still crave a proper adventure. It’s the perfect compromise that comes with the added benefit of experiencing unique design and the great outdoors all at once.

Over the years, this more deluxe mode of escapism has graduated from a popular trend to a mainstay of adventure travel, but a little known fact reveals that today’s form of glamping is really just a modern take on something that is centuries-old. In the early 1920s, wealthy travelers from Britain and the US would go on an African safari in the classic canvas tents that are still commonly used in glamping today. Go even further back in time and you’ll find historical records of royalty who galavanted all over the globe in lavish, palatial tents.

With colonizers and monarchs (mostly) behind us, glamping today is a popular and more inclusive way to travel to destinations like California, a world-class outdoor adventure hub with a glamping option for everyone. From its sun-drenched southern beaches, rocky high-desert landscapes , dramatic coastlines, and ancient redwood forests , the best glamping in California has something to suit everyone no matter their flavor of adventure. Skip the crowds and any chance of heat by visiting from September through October when it’s pleasantly warm, sunny, and conveniently, harvest season at its many wineries.

If glamping isn’t for you, there’s no shortage of well-designed rental cabins in California , whether along the coast or in the mountains ; but if you’re ready for an open-air escape, here are 15 of the best California glamping sites, divided by region.

Best Northern California Glamping

ca-glamping-mendocino-grove-exterior-edited

Mendocino Grove — Mendocino, CA

Vibe: refuge in the redwoods.

Minutes away from Mendocino proper, these safari-style canvas tents are built for unparalleled comfort in the woods. Inside, each roomy abode has heated beds (?!?!) while outside, guests can enjoy a more authentic camping experience with their own fire pit and grill. This spot also earns bonus points for offering wheelchair accessible canvas tents to keep the outdoors open to all.

Rate: $199/Night

tentrr-signature-site-ukiah-california

Tentrr Signature Site — Ukiah, CA

Vibe: group camping trip.

Just two hours outside of San Francisco, this luxury camping site includes a two-person canvas tent with space for sleeping bags, an extra five-person pop-up dome tent, and campsites for additional glampers. The property includes a 6-ft picnic table, outdoor fire pit, Coleman Sun Shower for hot showers even off-grid, and over 100 acres to explore.

Rate: $179/Night

the-knoll-tent-garberville-california

The Knoll Tent — Temecula, CA

Vibe: peaceful retreat.

Tucked amongst the Redwood trees of NorCal, this secluded glamping getaway is located on the grounds of a small family farm. Amenities include a queen-sized bed with comfortable linens, furnishings, an outdoor kitchenette, and a shared hot tub and outdoor shower with other glampers on-site.

Rate: $109/Night

ca-glamping-wildhaven-exterior-edited

Wildhaven — Sonoma, CA

Vibe: camp coachella.

Get comfy and cozy in the heart of Sonoma County’s beautiful wine country. Their classic luxury glamping tent doesn’t only provide a cushy, fully-furnished place to stay, but morning yoga classes, live music, and stargazing events nearby the Bay Area.

Rate: $159/Night

ca-glamping-treehouse-exterior-edited

Treehouse in Vineyard — Los Gatos, CA

Vibe: like a fine wine.

Have yourself a vacation in this treehouse by the sea. Located on Lago Lomita Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this elevated glamping site has minimal decor but comes with electricity, a queen-sized bed, and a deck to enjoy your meals with a side of endless views.

Rate: $260/Night

ca-glamping-autocamp-exterior-2-edited

Autocamp Yosemite — Yosemite, CA

Vibe: go retro.

Take your pick of a stay in a well-designed Airstream trailer or a classic, canvas safari tent on the fringes of Yosemite National Park. Mid-century Mod furnishings in both the luxury tent and airstream makes Autocamp feel nostalgic.

Rate: $269/Night

ca-glamping-wylder-exterior-edited-2

Wylder Hope Valley — Hope Valley, CA

Vibe: home sweet home.

Get cozy in a rustic custom glamping yurt from Wylder near the idyllic Lake Tahoe . This all-season campground keeps the feel-good vibes high with little touches like a cafe that serves up three home cooked meals and a private soaking hot tub.

Rate: $280/Night

Best california coast glamping spots.

alila-ventana-big-sur-resort-california-6

Ventana Big Sur — Big Sur, CA

Vibe: back to nature.

Ventana offers nature lovers a picturesque retreat among the Redwoods and the rugged California coast. Although you’ll be tempted to stay in one of their beautiful luxury hotel rooms , its glamping experience doesn’t fall short, thanks to 20 acres of property with 15 glamping spot options that sit on the creekside.

Rate: $80/Night

ca-glamping-bad-moon-exterior-edited

Bad Moon — Idyllwild, CA

Vibe: hippie campers.

These bohemian-style bell tents have a deluxe setup that comes with a memory foam mattress, pillows and rugs, a french press, plus, poufs for lounging, because chairs are boring. Explore the stunning San Jacinto mountains around the glamping site and pull up a pouf to roast s’mores around the campfire at night.

Rate: $189/Night

ca-glamping-treebones-resort-interior-edited

Treebones Resort — Big Sur, CA

Vibe: nice curves.

Perched on a cliff with views of the Pacific Ocean, this extra fancy campground uses solar power to keep the 600+ square-foot interior comfy and cozy when a chilly sea breeze blows in. Make a fire indoors or out on the spacious deck, to watch an especially epic sunset over the horizon.

Rate: $695/Night

ca-glamping-el-capitan-safari-tent-edited

El Capitan Canyon — Santa Barbara, CA

Vibe: california coast luxury.

Whether you’re choosing an adventure yurt or a canvas safari tent, this little slice of glamping paradise provides all the perks of camping with hotel-style amenities. Enjoy stargazing through the clear roof of the glamping yurt, cooking up a camp dinner outside the tent, or an expansive network of hiking trails on the Central Coast.

Rate: $225/Night

Best southern california glamping.

sunbeam-rv-joshua-tree-california

Sunbeam RV — Joshua Tree, CA

Vibe: super rv.

Outside of Los Angeles and San Diego, and in the middle of Joshua Tree, this converted, off-grid RV is glamping at its finest. Outfitted with contemporary Southwest decor, the interior is thoughtfully renovated with sleeping and living areas, and a food prep station. A spacious deck outside provides additional seating and a small pool, and a bath house hosts a composting toilet and outdoor shower.

Rate: $619/Night

conestoga-covered-wagon-malibu-california

Conestoga Covered Wagon — Malibu, CA

Vibe: wild wild west.

Located in the Santa Monica Mountains outside of Los Angeles, this covered wagon includes space for the whole family, outfitted with a lush queen-sized bed, bunk beds, and a small dining table. The surrounding area includes hiking, biking, horseback riding, beaches, wine-tasting, and oh, an authentic saloon just next door.

Rate: $288/Night

paradise-ranch-bell-tent-three-rivers-california

Paradise Ranch — Three Rivers, CA

Vibe: recharge along the river.

Located along a river bank with private swimming holes and waterfalls to explore, this secluded glamping site includes a unique mixture of bell tents and small mirrored cabins. Each site comes equipped with a Casper mattress, solar panels for power, a hand made Estonian wooden bed, wifi, and access to a shared outdoor kitchen, bath house, sauna, and meditation deck.

Rate: $300/Night

ca-glamping-joshua-tree-glamping-exterior-edited

Joshua Tree Glamping — Joshua Tree, CA

Vibe: starry night sky.

The rugged, rocky landscape of Joshua Tree’s desert landscape is balanced out by the sleek, minimal design and comfy amenities of these glamping yurts. Take a dip in the pool, explore the surrounding area, or kick back under a never-ending dark, starry night sky.

Rate: $296/Night

ca-glamping-blue-sky-center-exterior-edited

Blue Sky Center — New Cayuma, CA

Vibe: glamping on wheels.

Only two hours from Los Angeles, Blue Sky offers glampers the chance to stay in a unique canvas hut in the Cayuma Valley. The no-frills interior doesn’t have electricity or heating and cooling, but features pops of color in its decor. Keep to yourself or enjoy the more communal feels of this one-a-kind retreat.

Rate: $104/Night

ca-glamping-speakasy-lodge-yurt-edited

Speakeasy Lodge — Cuyama, CA

Vibe: choose your own adventure.

This is glamping two ways: pitch your own tent on this vast property, or stay in the secluded yurt, named Songdog Glampout that’s a short distance from the main lodge. Cook up a camp feast to enjoy at the family-style dining area that brings together fellow glampers for a totally unique stay.

Rate: $150/Night

Inspired to take a road trip now? Check out 12 photos from a trip up California's coast in an '86 Toyota Van

Published 10-06-2021

Updated 03-17-2023

Sole Searching: How NNormal Changed Trail Running With Radical Durability

From New England to California, Midwest, Mountain West, and Deep South, these one-of-a-kind treehouse rentals guarantee a memorable trip

Glamping Arizona: The 10 Best Spots for a Luxe Desert Getaway

With access to famous canyons and opportunities for endless stargazing, these yurts, canvas tents, and Airstreams offer an ideal way to explore AZ

Best Outdoor Shower Guide: Design Ideas & Shower Kits You Can Trust

A deep dive into the different types of outdoor showers, which to buy, and inspiration for building your own

Glamping Bay Area: The 10 Best Escapes In & Around San Francisco

Choose from modern yurts, sky-high treehouses, or upscale canvas tents for an ideal retreat in California’s scenic Bay Area.

Glamping in Texas: The 18 Best Spots to Relax & Embrace Nature

These modern, luxurious campsites and resorts in the Lone Star state offer a rejuvenating outdoor experience with the comforts of home

10 Best Glamping Tents of 2024: What to Know & Which to Buy

From classic bell tents to more creative canvas options, here we break down the many different types of iconic camping shelters

Gallery Mode

‘The Idea of You’s’ meet-cute is set at Coachella. How realistic is it?

Two strangers meet in the bathroom.

  • Show more sharing options
  • Copy Link URL Copied!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a meet-cute in a romantic comedy, be it on the page or the screen, must have at least a sliver of “it could happen to you” magic to work.

The new film “The Idea of You,” adapted from Robinne Lee’s 2017 novel, features Anne Hathaway as 40-year-old divorced mom Solène. She has a chance meeting with 20-something boy band singer Hayes Campbell ( Nicholas Galitzine ) in a bathroom at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival , planting the seeds for their romance. (Yes, a bathroom.)

Since the real-life Coachella just wrapped its twin weekends in Indio (with early tickets going on sale for the 2025 edition Friday, May 3), let’s take a look at how realistic a celebrity meet-cute at the festival actually is.

a woman holds a man's face while leaning in for a kiss in a scene from "The Idea of You"

Company Town

Oscar winner Cathy Schulman on ‘The Idea of You’ and making it as a female producer

Plus, Skydance has sweetened its offer for Paramount controlling shareholder National Amusements. And Paramount ousted its CEO.

April 30, 2024

The film opens with aerial shots of Silver Lake , including the Sunset Junction sign, before Solène drops off her teenage daughter and two friends at her ex-husband’s house. He has gotten them all-access passes to Coachella and a VIP meet-and-greet for fictional boy band August Moon, which seems to be one of the festival’s headliners. But then he has to bail and it’s up to Solène to skip her first solo camping trip — which she’s ill-equipped for judging by the “Camping for Dummies” book she’s packed — to save the day and take the teens to Indio.

In case you don’t know where they’re going, a montage of footage with the word “Coachella” superimposed on top shows off festival scenery. And some shots, like that of the campground, look like the real festival, with the palm trees and the mountains that surround the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

A boy band performs live.

Other glimpses of the field will feel slightly off to the eagle-eyed Coachella-goer. The Ferris wheel isn’t quite in the right place, and while you may spot some of the large-scale colorful art pieces that have been at Coachella in the past, others, including a cluster of giant red-capped toadstools, aren’t quite the festival’s vibe.

Closer are the generic food stands in the background advertising burgers, dumplings, lemonade, etc., as the group arrives at the festival. Then there is a nod to a very real Coachella item from the past.

“VIP entrance is by ‘Lodestar’?” Solène asks while looking at a map. “Lodestar” was a real art piece at the festival in 2018 created by artist Randy Polumbo and made from the fuselage of a jet.

Indio, CA - April 14: Bebe Rexha performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Indio, CA. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

The best moments of Coachella 2024 in photos

Check out the best images from L.A. Times staff photographers on the ground at the first weekend of the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

April 15, 2024

The teens ditch Solène, ostensibly to go watch St. Vincent , because they just got the stage lineup upon arrival, and she tells them to check their texts, which, if you’ve been to Coachella, you know is not a reliable way to communicate once the field fills up .

Left on her own, Solène walks into an enclosed air-conditioned area with couches and a bar where an enthusiastic August Moon fan directs her to the VIP bathrooms outside the space.

Solène doesn’t quite follow directions and finds herself surrounded by a bunch of identical unmarked trailers. She picks one and goes inside to use the facilities, currently occupied by our Harry Styles-inspired pop star .

Fans watch a concert at a festival.

He is surprised to see her and she is confused because she’s just there to use the bathroom and doesn’t initially recognize him, despite his fame. After she emerges from the restroom Hayes explains it’s his trailer.

“I’m in the band,” he says. “We’re performing on the main stage.”

Finally, the light bulb goes off for our heroine and she realizes that he’s in August Moon. After some banter, they meet again when her daughter and friends come through for the meet-and-greet.

And later, when performing on stage, Hayes sees Solène in the crowd and then decides on the fly to change the song during August Moon’s set.

INDO-CA-APRIL 12, 2024: Sabrina Carpenter performs at Coachella on Friday, April 12, 2024. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The 15 best things we saw at Coachella 2024

From Paris Hilton playing cornhole at Vampire Weekend’s set to No Doubt’s reunion, these are the best things our team saw at Coachella 2024.

So, could any of this actually happen?

First, if August Moon was real, would they even be able to headline Coachella? The festival has had its share of pop stars in recent years, including headlining sets from Beyoncé (2018), Ariana Grande (2019), Harry Styles (2022) and Blackpink (2023), August Moon is made to sound like the peak of their popularity has passed, since the teen daughter liked them back when she was in seventh grade. Unless it was a big reunion gig like Guns N’ Roses back in 2016 , it’s doubtful that August Moon would headline Coachella.

And if August Moon did get booked in that coveted spot, Coachella doesn’t typically host big meet-and-greets like you’ll find at arena shows where an artist is headlining.

But let’s say all of this does happen, one of the most unlikely things is that a headliner would change the set list in the middle of the performance.

Suspending disbelief on all of those practical matters, would Solène even have a chance to run into Hayes at the festival the way the movie portrays it?

INDO-CA-APRIL 12, 2024: Zurie Joseph, 24 of Riverside, wears an aqua ensemble at Coachella on Friday, April 12, 2024. "The skirt is my favorite part, I love the flowiness." (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Coachella 2024: Photos of festival fashion

These are some of the festival outfits we saw on the field at the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

April 14, 2024

If you have a regular VIP pass for Coachella, which is available for purchase, absolutely not. A VIP pass doesn’t get you backstage or anywhere near the artists. The only way to get that access is if you have an artist or guest pass. Neither are for sale in the typical ticket-buying process.

However, there is a way regular people can get those. When begging Solène to take his place, the ex-husband tells her he splurged for all-access passes and “everything’s paid for — the hotels, the meals.”

While not a hotel, the luxe Safari camping on-site at the real Coachella comes with that coveted backstage access and breakfast daily. For 2024, Safari camping started at $9,000 for two people. The ex-husband could have theoretically dropped $18,000 to get accommodations for four people, which would include those all-access guest passes.

The ultra-luxe “Resort at Coachella” yurts include artist passes and access to catering at the festival. In 2023, a luxury yurt for two cost more than $30,000 for the weekend .

But even if you had those passes at the real Coachella, wandering into an artist’s trailer is highly unlikely. First, you would need to scan your wristband to gain access to the artist compound, where the trailers are set up. Once you’re in there, it’s clear that the trailers belong to specific artists because they have signage posted on the doors. The top-billed artists’ trailers tend be more secluded.

And unlike in the movie, the real Coachella has a lot more security posted around the artist area so people don’t snap photos or, you know, wander inside a trailer to relieve themselves.

The moral of the story? Don’t expect to find true love in a Coachella bathroom — at least not one backstage.

More to Read

Indio, CA - April 26: Thousands of country music fans arrive at Stagecoach and some make a dash for the best viewing position on the first day of Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio Friday, April 26, 2024. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The differences — and similarities — between the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals

April 26, 2024

Indio, CA - April 14: Rapper and singer Blxst poses for a portrait at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Indio, CA. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. artist Blxst on his Coachella debut and where he’s eating Weekend 2

April 18, 2024

Indio, CA - April 14: Food reporter Danielle Dorsey, left, does a taste test with DJ Will Clarke at Saucetails brought to you by Postmates at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Indio, CA. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Coachella is bigger than ever. Where to find the best food spots for Weekend 2

April 16, 2024

Only good movies

Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

safari glamping coachella

Assistant editor Vanessa Franko oversees audience engagement for the Los Angeles Times’ Entertainment and Arts section. She was previously the digital director of entertainment and features at the Southern California News Group.

More From the Los Angeles Times

INDO-CA-APRIL 14, 2024: Dave Rat, sound consultant and founder of Rat Sound Systems that provides sound for Coachella, is photographed at the Sahara stage on Sunday, April 14, 2024. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Coachella and Stagecoach sound guy Dave Rat reveals the secrets to keeping the music crystal clear

April 22, 2024

Tony Kanal, who is the bassist and co-writer for the band No Doubt

No Doubt’s Tony Kanal talks band’s Coachella reunion and scoring new career as a TV and film composer

Indio, CA - April 14: Doja Cat headlines at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Indio, CA. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Coachella 2024: Doja Cat brings us dancing Yetis and mud wrestling on a strangely satisfying Day 3 finale

Le Sserafim performs during Weekend 1 of Coachella

After Blackpink, a new crop of Korean artists take on Coachella

Connect Socal

Students share storymaps and posters at the 2024 regional conference and general assembly.

Student showcase winners were invited to attend SCAG’s Regional Conference & General Assembly in Palm Desert as SCAG conference fellows. The “Student Showcase” poster and StoryMap competition challenged students to think innovatively and meaningfully to tell a story, provide insight, showcase plans and projects, engage supporters and stakeholders, illustrate the possibilities of data and highlight the usefulness of open data at the regional level.  

A panel of judges selected one poster and one StoryMap for the “Jury Award. ” 

  • Carolina Carlos – California State University, San Bernardino  
  • Michael Sutedjo – University of California, Irvine  

AUDIENCE AWARD

Conference attendees voted on their favorite poster and StoryMap for the “Audience Award.”   

  • Anna Eichelberger – University of California, Irvine  
  • Andrea Perez – California State University, Long Beach  

In all, a total of $6,000 across four prizes have been awarded.   

PARTICIPATING PROJECTS 

  • Siwei Hu – University of California, Irvine  
  • Saba Hashem Sharifi – California State University, Northridge  
  • Nicole Larson – University of California, Irvine  
  • Arek Boynerian – Glendale Community College  
  • Eman Raim Arellano – University of California, Irvine  
  • Sophia Hernandez – University of California, Irvine  

For more information on the Student Showcase, visit the SCAG website . 

  • Request new password
  • Support portal
  • Share full article

A tall, four-walled canvas tent is pitched in a park-like setting. It is night, and the tent is lit from within. Beyond the tent, but at quite a distance, are other tents. Above, the night sky is filled with stars.

Glamping With the Stars

Would cloudy weather ruin a visit to the first-ever resort to receive certification from DarkSky International? A stargazer in Utah holds on to her optimism.

Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase, a glamping resort in Utah, is the first resort to be certified by the nonprofit authority on light pollution, DarkSky International. Credit... John Burcham for The New York Times

Supported by

By Colleen Creamer

  • Published May 1, 2024 Updated May 2, 2024

As I exited Harry Reid International Airport on a bright March afternoon, my hand flew up to protect my eyes, which had grown accustomed to the dull light of a long, gray Tennessee winter. I’d headed west for the sun, but even more so for the night sky, so I was hoping for clear weather ahead. I climbed aboard a shuttle bus that would take me two hours east to Utah, where I planned to spend a starry night at Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase .

The glamping resort, one of 12 Under Canvas sites, is anchored on a canyon rim plateau in southern Utah and is the first resort in the world to be certified by the nonprofit authority on light pollution, DarkSky International . My aim was to beat the heat and the crowds — but what I really wanted was to be an early adopter of certified starry resorts.

The DarkSky Approved Lodging program is another step forward in the nonprofit’s history of advocacy for the reduction of light pollution. Broadly, the requirements for certification include being situated in an “exceptionally” dark location; having approved means of reducing the impact of light at night; and providing educational materials about night sky conservation to guests.

Under Canvas, said James Brigagliano, the program’s manager for DarkSky, was a good fit for the project because the company’s sites are in dark locations, and they already follow eco-friendly practices. Since the Lake Powell site was certified in August, other Under Canvas locations in the National Park Service’s Grand Circle Western parks area have also been approved.

On a rugged desert landscape with tufts of low, scrubby vegetation, a large canvas tent overlooks a dramatic landscape of canyons and buttes. The early morning sky is a pale orange.

Hoping for good weather

In St. George, Utah, I rented a car and headed southeast, the Pine Valley Mountains hovering to the north. The second half of the two-hour drive was on Route 89, which runs from Mexico to Canada. My roughly 60-mile section was marked by sienna-hued mesas and buttes, and cornflower-blue skies.

By 3:30 p.m., I was bouncing along a red dirt road until Under Canvas’s cream-colored tents came into view. There are 50 in all, scattered across 220 acres, all of them with views of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument , a massive geological formation that occupies about 1.87 million acres of public lands, from desert to coniferous forest.

As I got out of my car, I looked up at the sky warily. Clouds were gathering.

In the dirt lot, there were vehicles from Western states and a few from the Northeast. Like me, these travelers had come early — one day after the resort opened for the season — to take advantage of the cool weather and outdoor activities like horseback riding, hiking, rappelling in nearby Elephant Canyon and private tours of the Grand Staircase. There is also boating and fishing on Lake Powell, though the water level there has been much impacted by drought .

Many, like myself, came mainly for the night sky in Utah, which has large swaths of land with minimal artificial light and a dry climate that translates into less water vapor, which can blur the stars.

But would the weather cooperate?

Reaching for the stars

Under Canvas is certainly not the first hospitality company to tout its access to the night sky. Over the last 20 years or so, hotels in bucolic settings, along with permanent glamping sites, have been working stargazing into their guest offerings. There’s the observatory at Primland Resort in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, and the astronomy dinner at Soneva Jani in the Maldives. Elqui Domos in northern Chile has geodesic domes and cabins that open to the sky.

With stargazing in mind, Under Canvas began working with DarkSky in 2021 to arrive at a lighting design plan.

“Getting the certification from DarkSky was altruistic in terms of intention,” said May Lilley, the chief marketing officer at Under Canvas. “It’s a part of our mission to make sure our guests leave with a little bit of a different philosophy, whether that means they just turn the lights off when they leave a room.”

DarkSky’s hope, said Mr. Brigagliano, is that the new certification program will become the de facto standard for all lodging in locations dark enough to pass the organization’s protocol.

Attention to the night sky could not happen sooner. A study published in Science magazine in 2023 revealed that the sky glow from cities and towns increased 10 percent each year from 2011 to 2022, underscoring the startling results from a 2016 study that showed that 99 percent of those living in highly populated areas around the world can no longer see most stars, if any.

The category for lodging complements DarkSky’s existing certification program for International Dark Sky Places , of which there are more than 200, including Zion and Yellowstone national parks; the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in Australia ; the Namibrand Nature Reserve in southern Namibia; and even urban places, like Parc du Mont-Bellevue in the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Response to news of the program was fairly immediate, said Mr. Brigagliano. “So far, nearly 100 resorts, retreat centers, ranches and other lodging properties from the United States, Canada, Britain, Thailand, Australia, India, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the Cook Islands have contacted us regarding the program. We are getting interest from a variety of businesses, from nonprofits to luxury, high-end properties.”

Where are the stars?

Inside the common area — a large tent that acts as a front desk, restaurant, snack bar and hang out — a couple from San Francisco with a dachshund had just finished registering. The woman who registered me took me by A.T.V. to my safari-style tent.

All the tents are within a soft yell of each other and all have decks, en-suite bathrooms with showers, and four vertical walls that provide more room than traditional pyramid-shaped tents. Inside mine was a king-size bed, two leather chairs and a wood-burning stove. My choice, the Stargazer (I paid $432, including taxes and fees), also has a sky-viewing window that arcs above the bed.

I stepped out on the deck. The valley was dark below dense clouds. Back inside, I could hear the patter of rain on canvas. I ditched my plan to walk to the on-site slot canyon — slot canyons can flood — and slid under the viewing window, which was dotted with raindrops. The prospects of a starry night seemed remote.

I zipped up my parka, wishing I had brought better shoes for hiking in the rain, and walked down to the main common area. The roasted trout ($25) looked tempting, but the cafeteria was uncomfortably cold. I pulled out a protein bar from my backpack and took a seat under one of the sheltered gathering areas, noticing how the rain transforms Utah’s striated Navajo sandstone into deeper hues of coral and ecru. The wide valley between myself and Grand Staircase might have been two miles or 20, the scale was so unfathomable. A couple from Idaho in oilskin jackets and hiking boots, who looked as though they could ice-pick up Mount Everest, joined me. Unlike me, they were better prepared for inclement weather, which hadn’t stopped them from hiking nearby canyons.

By 8 p.m. the rain had become a misty drizzle. Hoping for the best, I set my alarm for 3:30 a.m., around the time the outer regions of the Milky Way appear in the Northern Hemisphere (given the right conditions).

When the alarm went off, I opened my eyes to stars shining through the still-damp window. I got dressed, grabbed a battery-powered lantern and stepped out into the night. Above me, in all directions, the sky was at last unblocked; I could not have been more surprised.

I made my way down the dirt path, which was lit by small solar ground lights, to get closer to the canyon rim. Smoke from the stoves in several tents drifted up and disappeared. A jack rabbit crossed my path. I sat down on a patch of dry scrub. This was the Colorado Plateau, one of the darkest sections of the United States, and even with a remaining cloud or two, thousands of stars shone through the darkness. Was that the veil of an aloof Milky Way above me? With a clear view to the west, I was almost certain I could see Venus. Using my stargazer app, SkyView, I managed to find the constellations Orion and Leo.

I lay back and stayed there until the stars faded in the predawn sky and the morning light began its spectacular migration across the wide valley.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

Advertisement

IMAGES

  1. Coachella 2023

    safari glamping coachella

  2. Coachella 2019

    safari glamping coachella

  3. Coachella 2022

    safari glamping coachella

  4. Coachella 2022

    safari glamping coachella

  5. Coachella 2022

    safari glamping coachella

  6. Coachella 2022

    safari glamping coachella

COMMENTS

  1. Coachella 2025

    Tucked behind the main festival venue lies the best kept secret in Coachella lodging: the Safari Campground. Fully furnished, air-conditioned accommodations amidst lush palm trees and mountain views are just the beginning. Sweeten your weekend with golf cart transportation between stages, private parking adjacent to the campground, air ...

  2. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

    The Resort at Coachella. The Resort at Coachella provides premium festival access, featuring stylish studio style Residences or furnished Yurts on the Safari Campground. Cruise around the festival grounds in a golf cart all weekend and live like a VIP with Artist Passes for 2 people. Learn More.

  3. The Ultimate Guide to Coachella Safari Tent Camping

    The Safari Lounge sits in the middle and all tent rows lead to it. This is where you will get your breakfast and late night snacks. It is an air-conditioned tent with wifi, a bar, and DJ. There are lawn games close to the yurts (these are on the same grounds) and an outdoor lounge area with hammocks and loungers.

  4. Everything you need to know about camping at Coachella

    Tent-only camping spots are a 10-by-15-feet grass area and you can have as many people as you can comfortably fit. Each tent camping spot comes with one overnight parking spot to leave your car ...

  5. Everything You Need To Know About Camping At Coachella

    Camping Passes. In order to camp during Coachella, festival goers must purchase a camping pass along with their ticket. Tent camping and car camping tickets, Coachella's most popular camping options, go for $102 plus fees. VIP camping options, additional vehicle parking passes, and other add-ons are also available for purchase.

  6. The Best Glamping Safari Tents to Rival Coachella

    From locations near the Coachella site to rentals far and wide across the globe, a stay in any one of our best safari tents is sure to rival a weekend at Coachella. With luxury linens, incredible views, and plenty of privacy, expect to make plenty of unforgettable memories form a charming safari tent Coachella offers! Coachella glamping awaits.

  7. Best Glamping Sites near Coachella

    Experience Coachella in style while staying in one of the best glamping sites near the festival! Coachella is a world famous music festival and thousands of people come from all over the world to take part in the insanity. Staying at one of these glamping sites is the best because the event is located in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley in ...

  8. Glamping in Coachella, CA, US: 12 Best Luxury Glamping Sites 2024

    Star Hosts in Coachella. 97%. (197) DragonflyHill Desert Farm. 14 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents 3 acres · Desert Hot Springs, CA. About Welcome to DragonflyHill Desert Farm & Wildlife Habitat where you can experience desert magic, starry skies, and natural mineral water from our private well.

  9. How to Have the Best (and Safest) Coachella Camping Experience (With

    They offer a luxe "glamping" experience with air-conditioned, furnished accommodations. Check out their rates here. FYI: only cars, trucks, and vans are allowed at Coachella 2024. Motorcycles, RV's, trailers and motor homes are not allowed. Coachella Camping Packing List. Rule no. 1 of Coachella: bring a tent along with you!

  10. Discover the Best Places to Stay During Coachella

    Safari Tents: This glamping option comes furnished with all the sleeping or lounging essentials plus air conditioned restroom and shower access, breakfast and late night snacks in the air-conditioned Safari Lounge, and of course Guest Passes to Coachella Weekend One or Two. Safari Residence: (new in 2023) Glamping comes furnished with all the ...

  11. Glamping at Coachella by that jenn girl

    Based on my past experience, we decided to stay in the Safari Tents, which are located right on the polo fields of Coachella. Safari Tent Glamping We flew into Palm Springs on Thursday, we had a driver take us to the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort hotel to pick up our wristbands and from the hotel, the safari concierge drove us to the safari ...

  12. This is what camping looks like this year at Coachella

    We're glamping at #Coachella! Here's a peek into our #exactlylikenothingelse Moroccan-inspired Safari tent. #marriottXcoachella A post shared by Autograph Collection Hotels (@autographhotels) on ...

  13. Glamping in Coachella, California, United States of America

    Discover the best of Coachella glamping this year Coachella is a stunning city in Riverside County, California. It is the most eastern city in Riverside County and is collectively known as the Coachella Valley. It is located 28 miles east of Palm Springs, 72 miles east of Riverside, and 130 miles east of Los Angeles making it extremely easy to ...

  14. Lake Eldorado

    Camping is open Thu 9am-Mon 10am. Noise Curfew starts at 1:30am. Vehicle check-in starts Thu 9am, open 24 hours excluding lock down hours. [Pedestrian check-in is always open.

  15. Louise Roe's 4 Secrets to Glamping at Coachella Like a Boss

    After a long night of dancing, we strolled back to the Safari tent area, and OMG, there were midnight snacks being prepared! Pizza and ice cream: the perfect way to end our first night at Coachella. ... Read below for some tips we learned about how to go glamping in style at Coachella! 1. Have your outfits planned.

  16. How To Go Glamping, Coachella Edition!

    Pizza and ice cream, the perfect way to end our first night at Coachella. With the rest of the weekend jam packed with parties and music, we just loved coming back to our little oasis at the end of the day. Read below for some tips that we learned about how to go glamping in style at Coachella! Coachella Glamping Tips: 1. Have your outfits planned.

  17. Here's How To Camp At Coachella Like A Complete Boss

    One rule of car camping, for example, is you can't leave between certain hours. As Coachella's site explains, Please be advised all car/tent only camping lots will be on lock down between the ...

  18. Would you pay $33,000 for four nights in a Coachella festival VIP yurt

    By comparison, the festival's "glamping" Safari Campground tents for two are a relative bargain at $11,000 each. (The tents cost $4,500 for two when they debuted at the festival back in 2008 ...

  19. Most Expensive Campground at Coachella Costs up to $25,000: Photos

    The most expensive on-site campsite at Coachella is Safari Campground, and it features luxury tent rates beginning around $10,000 for a four-night stay. Festival packages including lodging at ...

  20. California Glamping Guide: The 17 Best Spots for R&R

    Vibe: Camp Coachella. Get comfy and cozy in the heart of Sonoma County's beautiful wine country. Their classic luxury glamping tent doesn't only provide a cushy, fully-furnished place to stay, but morning yoga classes, live music, and stargazing events nearby the Bay Area. Rate: $159/Night

  21. safari camping? : r/Coachella

    thinking about saving up for safari camping one year mainly for the guest passes and guaranteed good viewing for big shows. also glamping is p fun haha. id wanna buy at the cheapest tier ~7500 but i wanted to hear what peoples experiences were.

  22. Anne Hathaway's 'The Idea of You' Coachella meet-cute

    While not a hotel, the luxe Safari camping on-site at the real Coachella comes with that coveted backstage access and breakfast daily. For 2024, Safari camping started at $9,000 for two people ...

  23. Students Share StoryMaps and Posters at the 2024 Regional Conference

    Student showcase winners were invited to attend SCAG's Regional Conference & General Assembly in Palm Desert as SCAG conference fellows. The "Student Showcase" poster and StoryMap competition challenged students to think innovatively and meaningfully to tell a story, provide insight, showcase plans and projects, engage supporters and stakeholders, illustrate the possibilities of data and ...

  24. Glamping Beneath the Stars in Utah

    The glamping resort, one of 12 Under Canvas sites, is anchored on a canyon rim plateau in southern Utah and is the first resort in the world to be certified by the nonprofit authority on light ...