Patagonian holiday
| country: | Argentina, Patagonia, Chile |
| trip type: | Strenuous walking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 29 Nov, 20 Dec 2010: 10 Jan, 17 Jan, 24 Jan, 31 Jan, 7 Feb, 14 Feb, 21 Feb, 28 Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 7 Nov, 14 Nov, 21 Nov, 28 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec, 19 Dec, 26 Dec 2011: 2 Jan, 9 Jan |
| price: | From £1300 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Become an adventurer in the wilds of Patagonia - one of the most remote and beautiful wildernesses in the world. From the tango bars and heaving streets of Buenos Aires, head to the striking mountain scenery, vast open plains, dramatic ice fields and advancing glaciers of Patagonia. Trek to the spectacular Laguna Torre and the iconic Torres del Paine, hike glaciers and visit the quirky towns at the end of the world.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Buenos Aires. Enjoy the city at leisure. Perhaps feast on a famous Argentine steak at an asado restaurant, or sit back with a glass of Mendoza Malbec, then take a walk around the Recoleta cemetery, stopping by Evita's flower-covered grave. |
| Day 2: | El Calafate. Fly south to the shores of Lago Argentino and El Calafate, gateway to the Glacier National Park. |
| Days 3-4: | Perito Moreno Glacier/El Chalten/Glacier National Park. Admire one of the world's few advancing glaciers, and watch as huge shards of ice creak and collapse into the freezing water below. |
| Day 5: | El Calafate. Hike to Laguna Torre to see the majestic spire of 3,128 m Cerro Torre rising out of the misty valley. |
| Days 6-9: | Torres del Paine National Park/Puerto Natales. Trek through the dramatic granite pillars, sparkling lakes, gushing waterfalls and herds of wild guanacos in dramatic Chilean Patagonia. |
| Day 10: | Punta Arenas. Unravel the intriguing history of a city that's close to the end of the world. Visit the hillside cemetery to see the crypts of the city's leading ladies and gentlemen and be sure to sample some seafood dishes - said to be the finest in the country. |
| Days 11-13: | Ushuaia. Visit the world's southernmost city and cruise along the Beagle Channel to watch the marine wildlife playing along the shores of the small islands and inlets. |
| Days 14-15: | Buenos Aires. Back in the capital, relax over a glass of vino, wander through the elegant boulevards or visit the Casa Rosada, the pink presidential palace where Evita once appeared on the balcony in front of adoring fans. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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We just can't get enough of the Amazon, not only as a jaw-dropping travel destination but also as a global treasure and this trip will help to ensure that the incredible Amazon Rainforest is here for us to enjoy for generations to come! Our Amazon Fund will help support on the ground projects by our long time partners Greenpeace and WWF. By booking your Latin American adventure with us you're helping us work towards a sustainable future for the Amazon.
This trip gives you plenty of opportunities to get to know the culture and vibrant history of Latin America. There are numerous chances for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey. Your leader and the occasional local guide will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip, helping you discover real local fare at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some Spanish at the same time). All travellers are encouraged to explore with the group and on their own, learn a few words of the language and interact with the locals as much as possible. Local guides are employed to help explain as much as possible about the cultural differences and the historically significant places that we visit. This also allows us to appreciate the importance of preserving and respecting these sites and to help us minimise the impact of our visits. There are plenty of opportunities to support local merchants in the markets and stalls that we pass along the way. We can purchase traditional handicrafts from local artisans and learn more about the importance of preserving these crafts. |
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. |