TOUR SUMMARY

• Duration: 21 days starting and finishing in Buenos Aires
• Trip focus: Hiking in remote national parks and outdoor activities
• Accommodation: 17 nights comfortable hotels and family run bed and breakfasts twin share, 3 nights national park lodges,
• Transport: flights, bus, boat, foot and zodiac
• Group Size: Min 4, Max 12 + S.E.T. tour leader

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Feel the passion of a Tango show in Buenos Aires
• Enjoy stunning views over Lake Nahuel Huapi at Bariloche
• Cross the Andes on the Chilean Lakes crossing to Puerto Varas
• Watch house sized blocks of ice fall from the Moreno Glacier
• Hiking amidst the lakes and mountains of Glacier National Park
• 4 Day hiking excursion to Torres Del Paine National Park
• Ride a zodiac into the Park and view immense glaciers
• Follow in Darwin's footsteps and cruise the Beagle Channel
• Cruise on Grey Lake, viewing the glacier and icebergs from below
• Meet many of our local friends and exchange stories
• Hike the coastal trail of Tierra Del Fuego National Park

ITINERARY

Day 1 & 2
ARRIVAL DAY, BUENOS AIRES. You are free to arrive and check in at any time. There will be a briefing that night and a chance for you to meet your traveling companions and ask questions. The information will be awaiting you at the reception regarding that nights briefing. If arriving late in the evening, don't worry! You will be briefed in the morning and meet the group. On our first day in this vibrant city, we visit the colorful La Boca district and then start a walking tour from the leafy suburb of Recoleta. Enjoy a spectacular Tango this evening as an introduction to Argentine culture.

Day 3 & 4
BARILOCHE  A morning flight takes us to the urban centre of San Carlos de Bariloche. As famous for it’s chocolate and resemblance to a European alpine resort, as it is for it’s beautiful location. Sample a sumptuous beef parillada, or a variety of fresh salmon or lake trout, and don’t forget the supermarket dedicated entirely to Chocolate! Explore the surrounding area, by foot, bike or vehicle.

Day 5
CHILEAN LAKES CROSSING, PUERTO VARAS  There are few areas in the world, which can match the Chilean Lake District for scenic grandeur. On today's lakes crossing from Bariloche to Puerto Varas, you'll find everything from snow-capped mountains to deep blue and emerald lakes, smoking volcanoes, forests and glaciers. It’s a day you will never forget as we cross the Andes to the western coast of South America and Puerto Varas, a charming lakeside village of German style houses.

Day 6 & 7
PUERTO NATALES  A stunning flight this morning, takes us along the Andes and Southern Patagonian ice field to the historic port of Punta Arenas, former hub of the wool boom in the area. We then jump on a bus to the quaint town of Puerto Natales on Seno de Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope Sound). Don’t forget dinner to sample that fresh seafood and salmon Chile is so famous for. We also have time for an optional hike up Cerro Dorothea, with stunning views over Last Hope Sound and a visit with a local farming family.

Day 8 to 11
TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK We make sure you will remember the journey into the park too as travel boat and zodiac for the ride of your life! The following day we hike to French Valley, which is one of the most spectacular views as you walk around the base of the Horns of Paine and up the valley watching ice falling from hanging glaciers on the surrounding mountains. Walk 15km along Gray lake and watch icebergs floating by as we stop at iceberg beach. That afternoon we return by boat on a 2 hour voyage of Gray lake along the face of the Glacier to the other end of the lake. Along the way we’ll pass icebergs of brilliant blue and bizarre wind eroded shapes. The final day’s trek is to the namesake of the park, the Torres of Paine. It’s about a 7hr round trip stopping for a picnic lunch along the way before the last scramble up the boulder field to a view of the towers that you will never forget. You will be back in Puerto Natales by late evening for a for a well deserved rest (and night out).

Day 12 & 13
CALAFATE/CHALTEN  A local bus ride will take us to El Calafate on the shore of Lago Argentino and the next morning a breathtaking visit to the Moreno Glacier. A deep blue relic of the ice age and one of the few advancing glaciers in the world. Once you have torn yourself away from watching the ice plunging into the lake below, we jump on a bus out to the remote village of Chalten (population 900!)

Day 14 to 16
CHALTEN & THE FITZROY RANGE  Feel like a pioneer as spend the next few days hiking among the lakes and moraines of the Fitzroy range at the northern end of Glacier National Park. These granite pinnacles are famous the world over to climbers and hikers. We have time for some full day hikes and, if you wish, optional excursions to Laguna del Desierto, Glaciar Viedma ice trekking, or horse riding, before returning by early morning bus to catch our flight to Ushuaia on day 17.

Day 17 to 19
USHUAIA  Time to explore the world’s southern most city, overlooking the Beagle Channel. In the morning we head out to visit the national park and hike the spectacular coastal trail, with it’s beautiful flora and fauna. Our last day in Ushuaia takes us out onto the Beagle Channel for a cruise to the penguin colony and fur seal colony. Then its time to enjoy a final night out in the southern city and sample the local crab and seafood specialities.

Day 20
BUENOS AIRES Our Patagonia travels come to an end as we fly back up to Buenos Aires. Spending our last night as a group of friends who have shared the special experience of Patagonia.

Day 21
On your last day you have free time to do some last minute shopping of great wines, leather goods and clothes before your onward flight home, or enquire about our Iguazu Falls extension. DEPARTURE HASTA LUEGO AMIGOS, GRACIAS Y NOS VEMOS PRONTO

IS THIS HIKING ADVENTURE FOR YOU?

This active hiking tour takes in the best that Buenos Aires, and Patagonia has to offer. This itinerary designed for the traveler who has 3 weeks to do and see as much as possible. The trekking can sometimes be a little challenging due to the unpredicablity of the weather, especially the strong winds, so you need to be in reasonably good shape. However altitude is not a factor here, but the walks are 15 to 25km in length. 

All the walks are day hikes of 5 to 8hrs return to base camp, except for the Refugio Grey to Pehoe hike of 3 to 4hrs one way to get to our camp. So how much you want to achieve on any given day is up to you. Typically each hiking day involves a minimum of 6-8 hours of walking at altitudes of up to 1600m. There are plenty of non hiking days also.

Accommodation is simple but comfortable with private facilities. The 3 multi share nights in the Torres Del Paine National park refugios are 6 to a room, with shared bathrooms, hot water showers, a bar and restaurant.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE?

• Tango show with full dinner, wine and non alcoholic drinks
• Circuito Chico half day tour of the surrounds of Bariloche
• One day guided tour to Moreno Glacier
• Day hikes in Glacier National Park
• 4 day guided excursion to Torres Del Paine National Park with bilingual guides
• Guided Beagle Channel Cruise to view penguins and other wildlife 
• All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners
• Domestic flights in Chile and Argentina. 
• All land transport during the itinerary
• The entry fees for all included excursions
• All hotel accommodations* (on a twin share basis, multi share in the park lodges).
   * Additional accommodations can be arranged at the clients’ request

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:

Your international flight to/from South America, transfers to/from your international flights, domestic and international airport departure taxes, pre & post tour accommodation, visas, vaccinations, personal insurance, meals (except those listed ) , drinks, laundry, souvenirs, tips, and other items of a personal nature.

PAYING LOCALLY

Most of our adventure tours involve a local payment. Paying locally allows us to keep the overall cost of our tours competitive and pass the savings on to you. These funds are put towards local expenses. In some developing countries the transferring of funds is at times problematic so this is a way to help us serve you, whilst saving you money. This is especially true of Argentina since the devaluation of the peso. Payment is to be made to your leader upon arrival in cash.

All prices are approximates and subject to currency fluctuations until final payment has been made.