The group will meet at Santiago's Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport. A single timed transfer to the group hotel in the centre of Santiago is included. This transfer will depart the airport approximately mid-morning. After checking-in there will be a city tour at 12.00 from the hotel. This is a good chance to explore some of the sights in this bustling city. During our walk we'll visit the central market place with its ornate roof and beautiful iron decorations plus the Plaza de Armas, the original centre of Santiago. Most Spanish colonial cities have a Plaza de Armas where local people gather and Santiago's Plaza de Armas is surrounded by a rich mix of architecture including the stunning cathedral and rather decorative central post office. We'll walk past La Moneda which is the seat of the President of the Republic of Chile and the church of San Francisco, the country's first Catholic Church. Finally no visit to Santiago would be complete without a walk up Cerro Santa Lucia. This wonderful manicured park leads you up to the Torre Mirador viewpoint by a web of trails and stone steps - the perfect place for a spot of peace and quiet in a busy city. After our introduction to Santiago we'll head to a local restaurant for dinner before returning to the group hotel.

After breakfast we head to Santiago Airport and fly to Calama (2260m). As one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, the Atacama Desert is a complete contrast to Santiago and our base for the next four nights. From the airport we skirt Calama, one of Chile's largest mining towns with a long history of copper mining. The transfer (106km approximately 1.5 hours) to San Pedro de Atacama (2408m) takes us through a lunar landscape which is stark and incredibly beautiful. On arrival at the group hotel and after checking-in we'll have some time at leisure to settle in and acclimatise. San Pedro has an excellent location due to its closeness to volcanoes, geysers, salt flats, amazing rock formations and a spectacular moon-like landscape. It's a bustling tourist town with meandering streets, a tree-lined plaza, a pretty church and the beautiful volcano of Lincacabur (5916m) as a backdrop. Each day we explore in the morning, relax mid-afternoon when the sun is at its strongest and head out again late afternoon before sunset. The town has a good range of cafes, small supermarkets and a couple of bakeries for lunches. In the afternoon we transfer (25mins) to the start of the Valley of the Moon "Valle de la Luna." Here we hike through gorges in the Salt Mountains before reaching one of the most colourful places in the Atacama Desert. The Valley of the Moon is at its most beautiful late in the afternoon when the whole area is set ablaze with colour as the sun sets. After sunset we return back to San Pedro and head out for dinner.

Today after an early breakfast we transfer (1.5 hours) towards the spectacular salt lake of Salar de Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile. After leaving San Pedro we initially drive south to Toconao (2500m) a small village famed for its picturesque white houses built from volcanic stone and pretty church with bell tower. The village is known for handicrafts made from the local volcanic liparitas stone and a great place to photograph. After exploring Toconao we drive to the Salar de Atacama. At 3000 square kms this incredible "inland sea" is formed by the waters of the high Andes Mountains. After flowing down, the waters are unable to escape from this vast basin and are therefore forced to evaporate. The result is an incredible and offers the unique experience to see octagonal shaped salt crusts in the middle of the driest desert on earth! This is home to various species of flamingos and Laguna Chaxa which is part of the Reserva Nacional de los Flamingoes, and offers a brilliant opportunity to view flamingos in their natural habitat. In the afternoon we return to San Pedro (1.5 hours) and relax. Late afternoon we transfer 5kms to the Catarpe Valley. Here the Rio San Pedro meanders through the valley and we'll find the Quebrada Del Diablo "Devil´s Gorge" (2600m) and Pukara de Quitor. Our late afternoon hike of 4 hours takes us through a landscape of canyons and towering walls. We end the day with a visit to the Fort of Quitor built by the Atacameno people in the 12th century. Declared a national monument in 1982 and sitting on a hill overlooking the San Pedro River, this is a great place to end the day. A short transfer sees us back in San Pedro in time for dinner.

This morning we transfer (20mins) to Ayllu de Coyo to meet the local community of indigenous Atacameño - Lick-Antay. This is a fantastic way to see how traditional people of the Atacama survive in this stark landscape and during our visit we have the opportunity to meet two local families who'll guide us through their community along ancient paths. During the morning we'll learn about their farming methods and discover the secret of irrigating the land in a region which is the driest place on the planet. In the afternoon we'll take part in one of the highlights of our time in the Atacama Desert as we meet some llamas and enjoy a spot of llama trekking! A domesticated South American camelid - llamas are extremely sociable, live in herds and are known for their wool. Alongside discovering how important llamas are for the people of the Atacama, there will be plenty of photo opportunities as we enjoy a 2 hour walk with them. After some quality time with our new furry friends we'll return to San Pedro de Atacama.

After an early start and armed with warm clothes we leave the hotel before sunrise and drive (2hrs) to the incredible El Tatio Geysers for breakfast. Ringed by volcanoes and located at 4320m, El Tatio is fed by over 80 geysers making it the 3rd largest geyser field in the world and one of the highest. With eruptions up to 6 metres high El Tatio is a must see and with zero temperatures it is hard to believe we are still in the desert. As the sun shines through the steam there are plenty of photo opportunities as we explore. After El Tatio we head to the Pozón Rustico hot springs where we can relax in a simple pool and enjoy the warm water heated by surrounding mountains before making our way back to San Pedro through an incredible landscape. We'll pass flora and fauna including Paja Brava (a species of hard grass) and Tolares (a dark green shrub). If we're lucky we may spot the rare vicuna, a wild relative of the llama which is known for its extremely soft wool and now a protected species. In 1974 vicunas were placed on the endangered list as there are only approximately 6000 left in the wild. Finally we visit the village of Machuca, a picture-postcard shepherd hamlet complete with small stone houses, painted blue doors and a tiny white church. We'll arrive back in San Pedro after midday and have the rest of the day to relax or enjoy a spot of souvenir shopping before heading out for a final dinner in the Atacama Desert.

Today we leave the desert and make our way to the Chilean Lake District. After breakfast we transfer back to Calama Airport in time for a flight back to Santiago before we take our second flight down to Puerto Montt. The capital of the Lake District, Puerto Montt is the gateway to Southern Chile's snow topped volcanoes, crystal clear lakes and lush national parks. A brief transfer (30mins) and we are in the "City of Roses" Puerto Varas where we stay for the next 2 nights. Known for its German-style architecture, Osorno volcano backdrop and Llanqihue Lake, Puerto Varas is a chilled-out town and a great place to spend a couple of days exploring the Chilean Lake District. After checking-in at our hotel, we can relax with a pisco sour and head out for dinner in a local restaurant after a long day of travelling.

Today is a great introduction to the Chilean Lake District as we enjoy a wonderful walk in the country's oldest national park. After leaving the hotel, we transfer (1 hour) towards Ensenada in National Park Vicente Perez Rosales. Along our journey, we will be rewarded with incredible views of Osorno Volcano, the perfect backdrop to Llanquihue Lake. On reaching Ensenada, the entrance to the park we take a paved road for a couple of kilometres. Here we leave our vehicles and start our walk of 10km or approximately 4 hours through this incredible and lush landscape. Our footpath "El Solitario" - The Hermit is easy underfoot and mainly consists of soft forest trails. The scenery along the way is stunning as we enjoy native forest which includes nine species of myrtus and Weaver's Broom, a shrub native to the Mediterranean. Situated on the slopes of 3 volcanoes we are sure to see clear views of some volcanic snow-capped peaks. One of today's highlights will be walking over a valley covered in lava flows and we'll be accompanied on this walk with an expert guide who will tell us all about the fantastic flora and fauna. The resident fauna includes the shy puma, red deer, skunk, otter and a rich variety of fish and birds. After our walk we'll meet our vehicle and transfer (1 hour) back to our hotel.

After breakfast, we transfer to Puerto Montt Airport as we leave the lake district and fly (2.5 hours) to Punta Arenas, the gateway to the amazing landscape of Patagonia. After our arrival at the airport we take a short transfer (25mins) to the town of Punta Arena. As the capital of Chile's most southern region of Magallanes, Punta Arenas is located on the Brunswick Peninsula and is one of the largest cities in the Patagonia Region. Between 1890 and 1940 the Magallanes Region became one of the world's most important sheep-raising regions, whilst the harbor was one of the most important in Chile and the town still has a strong link to the sea with ships coming and going. Depending on our arrival time there may be time to stretch the legs and have a wander around the town. A 15 minute walk from the main plaza is one of South America's most fascinating cemeteries where both the humble graves of immigrants lie next to the extravagant tombs of wool barons. The city has an interesting cathedral with a Renaissance tower and a number of mansions left over from the time of the wool boom. Punta Arenas has a range of restaurants to suit all budgets so in the evening we'll head out for dinner.

This morning we leave Punta Arenas, the Gateway to Patagonia, and head towards the Torres Del Paine National Park. Our spectacular journey (5 - 6 hours) takes us through some of the most spectacular landscape on the planet. As one of the world's great wildernesses shared by Chile and Argentina, Patagonia conjours up images of majestic mountains, floating glaciers and crystal clear lakes and in reality it doesn't disappoint! We'll witness this amazing landscape as we drive through the pampa landscape of the Magellanic Region. We'll pass by sprawling estancias (sheep farms). These private landholdings "ranches" are what gave Patagonia its wealth in the past and are home to the famed "gaucho" or cowboy. En-route we'll visit Milodon Cave, a Chilean natural monument. In 1896 Otto Nordenskjold, a Swedish geologist and polar explorer, found an unidentified piece of skin in the cave. This skin belonged to the Mylodon, an extinct animal that had died over 13,000 years below. Due to his intensive research and love of Patagonia, a lake was named Lake Nordenskjold in the explorers honor. In the afternoon we'll arrive in Torres del Paine National Park and check-in at our hotel which has a magical atmosphere. Originally a cattle ranch, we are bound to see some of the resident horses roaming the grounds alongside the occasional gaucho! There will be time to freshen-up and stretch the legs in the hotel's beautiful surroundings before meeting up for dinner.

Today is a holiday highlight but also optional so if you prefer to relax at the hotel, enjoy the breath-taking location, stroll through the stables or explore the organic garden it won't effect the enjoyment of your holiday. The leader will decide on the exact length of walk depending on the group's ability and weather conditions. After an early breakfast we walk from the hotel towards the foothills of the mountains that are our backdrop. Initially the trail ascends and although rocky underfoot is non-technical. Along the way we are rewarded with views of the Rio Ascencio which formed this spectacular valley through the mountains. Approximately two hours after leaving the hotel we reach the refugio "Campamento Chileno" where we'll take a short break. For the next hour we walk through lush forest and our leader will explain about the local flora and fauna. The final hour of our walk is slightly more technical and challenging as we hike over boulders and rocks to reach the viewpoint. Standing at the base of the Paine Towers the view is well worth the effort! Soaring over 2000m high these granite pillars are the symbol of the park and dominate the landscape. After enjoying the views we walk back to the hotel, via the refugio.

Torres del Paine National Park is without a doubt an absolute highlight for everyone visiting Chile. Where the vastness of the Patagonian steppe and the steep peaks of the Southern Cordillera meet, nature shows its most breathtaking side. 2000-meter-high peaks rise out of the vast steppe abruptly; huge glaciers, deep blue lakes and wind-blown, gnarled southern beeches determine the picture. Thundering rivers flow into the valley as waterfalls. This primeval wilderness is a unique refuge for rare animals such as guanacos, Andean foxes, flamingos and condors, the kings of the skies. On a short hiking trail, we reach the viewpoint at Grey Lake, where we have a wonderful view of the eponymous glacier. We continue our tour through the sectors Salto Grande and Nordenskjold Lake; also with short hiking trails. A last panorama awaits us at the viewpoint of Sarmiento Lake, before we return to Puerto Natales.
A transfer of 2 hours sees us arrive in Puerto Natales. With its colourful corrugated roofed houses, fjord views and mountain backdrop, this little town at the "End of the Earth" offers the perfect final night in Patagonia!

After leaving Puerto Natales we transfer (3 hours) to Punta Arenas and fly back to the Chilean capital of Santiago. After checking-in at the group hotel there will be time at leisure to relax and unwind before regrouping in the evening and heading out for our final dinner. (Please note that there is a degree of flexibility in the itinerary today as our exact arrival time in Santiago will depend on flights and weather conditions).

After breakfast there will be single timed transfer to the airport. Santiago is a vibrant city with plenty of things to see and do. If you want to extend your stay in the group hotel then then please don't hesitate to contact us for rates and availability.