From Desert To Glaciers

Day 1 Sat, UK clients depart on overnight flight.

Day 2 Day at leisure in the sunny parks and plazas of Santiago.

Days 3-5 Fly north to San Pedro, quaint adobe village in the uncompromisingly arid but scenically spectacular Atacama Desert, our base for included and optional excursions to lagoons, geysers and an Inca fortress.

Day 6 Return to Santiago via Calama.  Upon arrival visit a local winery (flight times depending).

Day 7 Explore Santiago, including a local winery if not taken the day before. Optional excursion to the colourful, port town of Valparaíso.

Day 8 Fly to Puerto Montt, in the Lake District, where the fertile rolling countryside is dotted with snow-capped volcanic cones.  Continue by road to Puerto Varas, a lakeside village with stunning views of the snow capped conical Osorno Volcano on a clear day.  Optional afternoon excursion to the nearby volcanic Petrohue Falls.

Day 9 A popular highlight of the tour is the full day trip to Chiloé island, a forgotten land of myth and legend with distinctive wooden architecture and age-old agricultural practices.  Included is a zodiac ride to a penguin colony, oyster tasting and a traditional meal of 'curanto' with a welcoming chilote family.

Day 10 A flight further south takes us to the heart of Patagonia. The wind-buffeted, tawny steppes are pitted with lagoons and punctuated with stunning mountain ranges. Drive to Puerto Natales on picturesque Last Hope Sound.

Days 11-13 By road to Torres del Paine National Park where we have three nights based at an excellent hotel, allowing 2 full days to fully explore this beautiful park. You can appreciate the perpendicular granite towers and explore walking trails, bright blue-green lagoons and glaciers.

Day 14 Return to Punta Arenas on the Magellan Straits, Chile’s southernmost city.

Day 15 Visit the Seno Otway penguin colony (November - March only) before flying to Santiago.

Day 16 UK clients depart arriving Day 17, Mon.