The Institute, Bombay Beach

Entire home in Niland, California

  1. 6 guests
  2. 3 bedrooms
  3. 3 beds
  4. 1 bath
Rated 4.75 out of 5 stars.211 reviews
Hosted by Tao
  1. Superhost
  2. 13 years hosting

Listing highlights

On the lake

This home is right on Salton Sea.

Self check-in

Check yourself in with the keypad.

Dedicated workspace

A room with wifi that’s well-suited for working.
The Bombay Beach Institute is a surreal desert retreat and Biennale landmark, with Zig Zag Plaza right across the street. This 3-bedroom home features art exhibits, lush gardens, an equipped kitchen, large outdoor dining area, and cool, air-conditioned interiors. Located just steps from the Salton Sea and surrounded by iconic installations. Note: Art includes nudity—not suitable for children or the easily offended.

The space
Welcome to The Bombay Beach Institute of Particle Physics, Metaphysics & International Relations. Yes, that’s the real name. No, we don’t expect you to understand it. But if you do, you’ll probably love it here.

A cornerstone of the Bombay Beach Biennale and a sanctuary for the strange and sublime, the Institute is part art installation, part desert residence, and part fever dream. Here, the air buzzes with creative static, and every wall, corner, and object seems to be involved in some kind of silent but sensual argument about the nature of reality.

The 3-bedroom house includes:

A spacious primary room with a queen bed

Two smaller bedrooms with full beds (ideal for couples, loners, or collaborative thinkers)

A living area that feels like a Cold War lounge turned metaphysical observatory

A full kitchen for culinary experiments (no guarantees on results)

Air conditioning, because you’re still human after all

Throughout the space, you’ll encounter curated art exhibits that change periodically, many of which contain nudity, surrealism, and philosophical obscenities. This is not a place for children, nor for those who require trigger warnings on their vacations.

Outside, a private garden blooms with desert life and detritus — a lush oasis ringed with relics, sculptures, and soft spaces for smoking, dreaming, or arguing about time. Past guests have hosted readings, ritual dinners, sound baths, and the occasional international incident.

Just blocks from the Salton Sea and surrounded by the weird and wonderful fabric of Bombay Beach — including Zig Zag Piazza, the Drive-In, and other legendary installations — the Institute offers not just a place to sleep, but a permission slip to lose your mind a little, and maybe come back with something better.

Come prepared to be bewildered. Come with wine. Come with friends who ask big questions and laugh at strange times. The desert will do the rest.

Guest access
Feel free to explore the entire property, including exhibits in each of the trailers.

Where you’ll sleep

1 of 2 pages

What this place offers

Beach access
Ski-in/Ski-out
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm

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4.75 out of 5 stars from 211 reviews

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Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 83% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 11% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 4% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 1% of reviews

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars for value

Where you’ll be

Niland, California, United States
This listing's location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.

Meet your host

Superhost
4114 reviews
4.77 out of 5 average rating
13 years of hosting
Born in the 70s
Where I went to school: UC Berkeley
Half Italian, half American film director, photographer, passionate musician and co-founder of The Bombay Beach Biennale. I love the intersection of art, community, architecture, design, and hospitality which is fostered by hosting on Airbnb. My grandfather had a commune in Italy where he removed the locks from all the doors, psychedelic exploration was encouraged, free love was practiced, and all were welcome. Today, I feel that we can pursue the same ideals, but having learned from the mistakes and excesses of the 1960s. Airbnb allows us to to have this always evolving, self sustaining communal experience, without the chaos and dysfunction that sometimes came with it (In other words, we get people’s luggage, but hopefully not their baggage!) The films I am most proud of are Being in the World, “a celebration of being human in a technological age” (through the writings of Martin Heidegger,) and Monogamish, a quest to understand love in the 21st century, starring Dan Savage, Esther Perel and Christopher Ryan. These days I spend most of my time playing piano and fiddling with synths and guitars in my beloved recording studio on the Yucca Valley compound or down in Bombay Beach while we plan the next Biennale. Please feel free to get in touch with any questions, concerns or potential creative collaborations.

Tao is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Co-hosts

  • Alicia
  • Sarah
  • Dulcinee
  • Paedrin
  • Erik

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in: 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Checkout before 11:00 AM
6 guests maximum
Safety & property
Carbon monoxide alarm not reported
Smoke alarm
Not suitable for children and infants