Atacama Desert In the world’s driest desert, haunting primeval landscapes are made all the more spectacular by geysers, hot springs and wind-eroded rock formations. Watching the sun set over the moon-like landscape is not to be missed, while the adventurous should make a foray into the neighbouring salt flats to experience South America at its most surreal.
Where: Far-northern Chile.
Best time to go: Year-round. The Atacama Desert truly enjoys year-round sunshine: no rain has ever been recorded there!
How to get there: Fly from Santiago, or take the adventurous option and travel overland from Bolivia via the incredible salt flats of Uyuni.
Combines well with: Bolivia, Chile’s wine region, or the spectacular landscapes of northern Argentina. Patagonia is further away, but worth visiting as part of the same holiday if you have time.
Where to stay: San Pedro de Atacama is the gateway to the region, with many excellent hotels.
Length of stay: As well as at least 2 or 3 nights in San Pedro de Atacama, you’ll need 3 nights for the overland journey if you plan to cross to or from Bolivia. For a Chile highlights holiday, you’ll need at least 2 weeks - ideally 3.

Discovery Journeys - Small group tours

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile & Peru -  Pato Andino Journey: Panorama of the Andes >

20 nights from £3,498 including flights from the UK
Starting in Buenos Aires, visit the Atacama desert, travel across the Uyuni salt flats and on to Lake Titicaca, Cusco and Machu Picchu on this 3 week escorted tour of South America.

Breathtaking scenery and sights
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Argentina & Chile -  Atacama High Pass to Argentina >

15 days from £2,816
We've designed a holiday in northern Chile and Argentina which goes from one extreme to another.The Andean crossing between the Atacama desert and Salta in the Argentine Andean foothills is the highest and most elemental pass, where sun-bleached arid rock gives way to ice-clad skeletal peaks. From here you’ll fly to the sub-tropical rainforest of Iguazú National Park and survey and explore the famous Iguazú Falls. And there’s a sophisticated city – Santiago and Buenos Aires – at either end.

Andean high altitude adventure: road journey over icy mountain pass
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Bolivia -  Highlights of Bolivia with Peru >

15 days from £1,938
A best of Bolivia holiday combined with the highlights of Peru come together in a fascinating journey of rich cultural and scenic attractions, including Machu Picchu. Bolivia is a country of extremes, from snow-mantled, skeletal Andean peaks to the deserts of the high-altitude altiplano. These thrilling landscapes are peopled by ancient indian communities with haunting music, bright costumes and exotic traditions.

Lowlands, Andean highlights and Machu Picchu
Classic Journeys - Superior small group tours

Bolivia, Chile & Peru -  Andean Flamingo Journey: The Andes laid bare >

17 nights from £4,338 including flights from the UK
Starting in Peru, visit Cusco and Machu Picchu before crossing Lake Titicaca by boat, and continuing to La Paz in Bolivia and taking an overland adventure across the Uyuni salt flats on this 3 week escorted tour of Peru, Bolivia and northern Chile.

Andes and Atacama
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Chile -  Highlights of Chile >

14 days from £3,140
Choose a leisurely or active holiday in Chile, with its huge variety of landscapes, from the moon-like Atacama desert through rich orchards and vineyards to the snowy volcanoes of the lake district and the glaciers of Patagonia. There’s a choice of luxury hotels and countryside resorts, self-drive holidays, magnificent treks in the Andes, skiing and horse-riding.

Our pick of Chile's natural highlights
Classic Journeys - Superior small group tours

Chile -  Penguin Journey: From Desert To Glaciers >

13 nights from £3,698 including flights from the UK
Starting in Santiago, fly to the Atacama desert before heading south to Patagonia - the Chilean Lake District and Torres del Paine national park - on this 2 week escorted tour of Chile.

Atacama, wineries, glaciers and Torres del Paine
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Chile -  Andean Wines and Atacama Desert >

8 days from £2,169
This 8-day luxury holiday to Chile visits the Atacama desert in the extreme north and Matetic vineyard, 120 kilometres from Santiago.

Special Offer: Save £330 per person
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