Patagonia trekking holiday
| country: | Argentina, Patagonia, Chile |
| location: | Patagonia |
| trip type: | Moderate to very challenging trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 12 Dec 2010: 16 Jan, 13 Feb, 13 Mar |
| price: | From US $1950 (10 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. We also offer a tailor made version of this itinerary. We are a UK based company and prices are also available in GB pounds |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The South Patagonian Ice Field is the third largest single expanse of ice on earth, exceeded in scale only by Antarctica and Greenland. This exciting adventure, set amid the wilds of the southern Patagonian Andes of Chile and Argentina, features two of the natural wonders of South America and has as its centre-piece a challenging traverse of the ice field.Entering Argentina's Los Glaciares National Park, we spend ten days amid its towering granite spires and massive glaciers. Our trek takes us up the Marconi Glacier and onto the ice field for several days. We continue to Calafate and the immense and spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier. For this programme, experience in the use of crampons and snow-shoes is not a requirement, but previous experience of trekking and camping in winter conditions would be beneficial.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Chalten, check kit, briefing, hotel | |
| Day 2: | Río Eléctrico Valley | |
| Day 3: | Marconi Glacier – Marconi Pass | |
| Day 4: | Marconi Pass– Circo de los Altares | |
| Day 5: | Circo de los Altares – Paso del Viento Hut | |
| Day 6: | Paso del Viento Hut | |
| Day 7: | Huemul pass | |
| Day 8: | Viedma Lake, return to Chalten | |
| Day 9: | Reserve day | |
| Day 10: | Tour ends |
how this holiday makes a difference
|
It is our policy to carry all waste out of this fragile area. The food we use is purchased locally, we aim to use food products with minimum packagin, and encourage cooking with local products. We cook with gas and use recyclable glass as opposed to plastic wherever possible.
Our staff are local with an excellent knowledge of the area. Our guides hold informal talks with groups to inform about and discuss aspects of local life. This helps understanding of the area and appreciation of the people who live there. We support the local economy by using local transport on much of this trip and always using locally owned and run accommodation and restaurants.  |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |