Remote desert retreat in north Spain connecting you with nature
Aire de Bardenas / Tudela / Navarra / Spain
This hotel has actually been on my radar for almost 20 years. It was the husband who first read about it in some glossy magazine way back when and showed it to me. There was something about the location, the barren desert landscape and the simple design that made this place look out of worldly and ended directly on my wish list. And sometimes the wait is worth it.
Aire de Bardenas was created by López Rivera Architects and opened its doors back in 2007. It is located between Madrid and Barcelone, right at the entrance of Bardenas Reales Natural Park, the largest desert in Europe. There are a total of 22 rooms and 10 bubbles, spherical rooms with see through ceilings which is perfect for stargazing.
When approaching the hotel you would never think there is a design hotel at the end of the dirt road. It looks like some kind of farm with rows of stacked fruit- and vegetable crates. As you get closer it starts to look less like a farm and more like some kind of Martian base camp with its rows of simple, green, metal houses.
Something that is interesting, what looks rather stern from the outside totally changes when entering the hotel. In the courtyard the fig trees are providing well needed shade, birds are chirping away like there is no tomorrow and there is a warmth (not only weather-wise) but when it comes to the design and the atmosphere.
We stayed in one of the rooms facing the desert which is something I urge everyone coming here to do. The design of the room was built so all the focus turned to the massive window with the deep window sill, where a day bed had cleverly been made so one could lay there just staring into the wild desert landscape.
One final comment. One might ask, considering this place is almost 20 years old, if it is still holds up? The answer is a clear YES!
Welcome to Aire de Bardenas. When approaching one would never think there is a world class design hotel on this site. It is almost camouflaged.
M walking through the reception/lounge
Old wooden vegetable- and fruit crates are used as dividers and to mark the outer border of the hotel. A clever contrast to all the concrete and metal.
I am such a huge fan of the simple yet effective design.
Our room
Just outside the room there was this huge fig tree. The scent was intoxicating.
The first impression when entering the room with the giant window facing the desert.
The shower and bathroom is cleverly hidden behind these sheer curtains.
This was such a favorite spot. To relax here with something to read was such a joy.
The view from our room.
Luckily there is a pool on site where you can cool off.
The pool bar
Next to the pool was a vegetable patch where they grow produce to use for cooking.
Evening light as M heads to the restaurant.
In the evening there is. a complimentary pre-dinner bbq of local sausages.
A pre-dinner drink. Margarita, of course!
The food was really delicious with a lot of vegetarian options. Like this one; fried eggplant in mustard sauce…
…and my zucchini pesto.
M out for an evening stroll after dinner under a dramatic desert sky.
Back at the hotel, enjoying the best place in the house.
Morning light
I have managed to steal the window seat (there was enough room for both) with a cup of coffee, watching the sun rise over the desert.
M is having a morning dip. My favorite start of the day is having a cool dip
RG inside info
Date of RG stay:
July 2025
This place is perfect if you…
…are looking for a place off the beaten track. A hotel that is unique in its paired down design where you feel disconnect from the outside world and your closest neighbor is a desert. If this sounds appealing you are going to like Aire de Bardenas.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the unique feeling this hotel created. It was like being on a different planet. I sent photos to my friend Tore and he said it looked like the set to the movie the Martian. The barren landscape, the simple, military-green buildings and the remoteness all add to this feeling. Basically a great example of when good design takes you places.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to hope for clear sky and then make sure you stay up late. Since the light pollution is close to zero here the star gazing opportunities are magnificent.
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