Join us on a luxury trip around Chile. Follow in the footsteps of the beloved Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda.  Curl up in soft blankets and spend a night under the stars in the Atacama Desert. Because of its high altitude, nearly non-existent cloud cover, dry air, and lack of light pollution, this desert is one of the best places in the world to stargaze. Discover Chile’s Patagonia, where thousand-year-old ice fields meet native forests and the Andes Mountains disappear into the Pacific. Stay at the amazingly beautiful Hotel Las Torres and explore the rugged Torres del Paine National Park. Cruise to the astonishing Grey Glacier or for a few hours, become a Patagonian gaucho. Combine adventure with a touch of luxury. Rediscover the art of travel. At the end of this trip, we want you to say: “I was here, I saw this and it mattered to me.”

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Chile!

Arrive to Santiago de Chile International Airport, then board a two-hour flight to Calama.

On arrival, transfer to your hotel in the desert oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama.

Good night and sweet dreams.

Tomorrow, you'll embrace the rich colours of the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world recently made famous in "James Bond: Quantum of Solace."

Meals Included:

• There are no meals included on this day.

Hotel:

• Hotel Altiplanico ( 3.5-star hotel)  or similiar

Day 2: Explore Valle de la Luna

Visit the otherworldly landscape of Valle de la Luna, aka Moon Valley. This surreal region was once the training ground for NASA’s Lunar Rover.

At night, prepare to get starry-eyed.

Thanks to its vast, unpolluted skies, the Atacama is one of the best places on earth to stargaze

Meals Included:

• Breakfast

Hotel:

• Hotel Altiplanico or similiar

Day 3: Atacama Salt Lake tour

Travel approximately 2 hours to the otherworldly Salar de Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile.

Visit Chaxa lagoon, part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve en route to to reach Miscanti and Miniques lagoons, which sit on the high plains at the base of two colossal volcanoes of the same names.

Travel to the village of Socaire. Here you will see ancient agricultural terraces with irrigation channels.

Explore the village before returning to your hotel.

Meals Included:

• Breakfast

Hotel:

• Hotel Altiplanico or similiar

Day 4: Hot springs and sunrise geysers

Make a pre-dawn start to witness the legendary Tatio Geysers erupt as the sun creeps over the horizon. The rays reflect a prism of colours as they mingle with the 40m-high jets of boiling water and steam.

After a morning of marvels, unwind in a local hot springs amid desert shrubbery and rust-coloured cliffs.

Meals Included:

• Breakfast

Hotel:

• Hotel Altiplanico or similiar

Day 5: Fly to Santiago

Fly back to Santiago and have a good rest. Patagonia is next.

Optional Activities:

• Urban Adventures: Santiago Nightlife Adventure - - USD 90

Meals Included:

• Breakfast

Hotel:

• Hotel W Santiago (5-star hotel) or similar.

Day 6: Fly to Punta Arenas and arrive in Puerto Natales

Fly to Punta Arenas then take the bus to Puerto Natales.

Meals Included:

• Breakfast

Hotel:

• Hotel The Singular Patagonia (5-star hotel)

Day 7: Arrive to Torres del Paine National Park

From Puerto Natales enjoy a private transfer to your hotel in Torres del Paine.

The national park fee is included.

Meals Incluided:

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel:

• Hotel Las Torre (4-star hotel)
• The hotel's strategic location on the foot of the majestic Torres del Paine mountain range and astride the park's legendary hiking trails makes it a perfect base camp for exploring the area's many natural wonders.

Day 7: Trek to base Las Torres

Trek through spectacular Patagonian scenery.

This is one of the most epic hikes, so rev up for a hearty burst of stamina. Trust us, the views are worth it.

We’ll spend the first few hours ascending into the beautiful Asencio Valley, stopping to admire breathtaking snapshots of Lake Nordenskjöld and Almirante Nieto mountain. After a pit stop at Refugio el Chieno, we’ll carry on through ancient forests and across plunging streams. There’s a steep climb once you cross the glacial moraine of Campamento Torres, but after an hour, you’ll reach the panorama at Base Las Torres.

Gaze up at three immense Andean rock towers rising jaggedly into the sky, with a bright turquoise lake shimmering beneath.

Note:

There are no set itineraries for your stay at Hotel Las Torres. Each day you can choose from five to ten different activities selected according to the weather and your interests. These include hiking, horseback riding, van or motorboat excursions; in groups no larger than ten guests accompanied by a bilingual guide, explorations allow an in-depth contact with the wonders of Torres del Paine National Park, year round. The cost of any of those trips is included, except the cost for the glacier cruise.

Meals Included:

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel:

• Hotel Las Torres

Day 8: Saddle up in Torres del Paine

In the rugged beauty of Patagonia, we’ll saddle up and horse ride into the wild landscape.

Trotting across the terrain in a convoy of horses with the epic mountains rising around you, this is an awesome way to reconnect with nature and embrace the simple lifestyle of a gaucho.

Note:

There are no set itineraries for your stay at Hotel Las Torres. Each day you can choose from five to ten different activities selected according to the weather and your interests. These include hiking, horseback riding, van or motorboat excursions; in groups no larger than ten guests accompanied by a bilingual guide, explorations allow an in-depth contact with the wonders of Torres del Paine National Park, year round. The cost of any of those trips is included, except the cost for the glacier cruise.

Meals Included:

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel:

• Hotel Las Torres

Day 9: Full Paine + Sail the Patagonian  Glacier Grey

This trip truly lives up to its name by giving guests the fullest introduction to Torres del Paine National Park.

The road trip features stops at scenic overlooks, short hikes to natural landmarks, and a wonderful lake cruise to Grey Glacier.

Stops along the way include Puente Negro, Nordenskjold Lookout, Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoe, Salto Grande waterfall.

The Lago Grey cruise takes about 3 hours. You will admire Grey Glacier which tumbles down from the massive Southern Patagonia Ice Field.

Note:

There are no set itineraries for your stay at Hotel Las Torres. Each day you can choose from five to ten different activities selected according to the weather and your interests. These include hiking, horseback riding, van or motorboat excursions; in groups no larger than ten guests accompanied by a bilingual guide, explorations allow an in-depth contact with the wonders of Torres del Paine National Park, year round. The cost of any of those trips is included, except the cost for the glacier cruise.

Meals Included:

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel:

• Hotel Las Torres

Day 10: Fly back to Santiago

Today we will drive back to Puerto Natales, then take a short flight back to cosmopolitan Santiago, ranked the #1 place to visit in 2011 by The New York Times.

Optional Activities:

• Urban Adventures: Santiago Nightlife Adventure - USD 90

Meals Included:

• Breakfast

Hotel:

• Hotel Casa Bueras (4.5-stars hotel) or similar.
• This boutique hotel in the heart of Santiago's up and coming district of Lastarria offers just 14 rooms and the perfect amount of amenities for your stay in the capital.

Day 11: Colours of Valparaiso

Prepare your senses to discover Valparaiso through its traditions, artistic expression, and cultural idiosyncrasies. We’ll take you to the shores of the Pacific to admire the colourful houses, graffiti and murals, and historic hillside elevators of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Discover Chilean culture and traditions outside Santiago in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Valparaiso
• Experience the city’s bohemian lifestyle aboard public transportation, in its mural-lined streets
• Admire the immense Pacific Ocean from a beautiful lookout point, taking in the colourful houses of the surrounding hills
• Take a ride on the famous Ascensores de Valparaiso, unique hillside elevators that date back to the 19^th century

The tour is included in the price of the trip.

Meals Included:

• Breakfast and Lunch

Hotel:

• Hotel Casa Bueras or similar.

Day 12: Fly to Australia

You will arrive home two days later due to crossing the international date line.

Meals Included:

• Breakfast

Note:

You can choose our suggested itinerary or pick and choose elements to build a unique experience.

Unravel the secrets of the areas you want to explore at a pace that suit you.

Trip Includes

Accommodation (twin sharing basis). REST easy.

Our hand-picked hotels offer excellent service and are set in beautiful locations. We test the beds to assure you have the best holiday.

Breakfast. FEAST on local specialties.

Trips with a local English speaking guide where specified. 

Peace of Mind

• We have an office in Melbourne, Australia, staffed by a professional and passionate team. With us your money and your holiday is safe.
• All our itineraries are designed by us, not bought 'off the shelf' from local companies.
• Our founder, Carol Vorvain is a travel writer and publishing speaker.

 

Trip Excludes

International and Internal Flights

• We can arrange these for you for an additional $50 fee per flight per person.

Optional Tours and Activities

Personal Expenses 

• Laundry, gifts, telephone calls, etc

Drinks

Travel Insurance

• Mandatory

Single accommodation supplement

• Available on request at extra cost

National Park fees and entrance fees

• Only the Torres Del Paine national park entrance fee is included

Visa fees

• Please note that depending on your nationality you might need to apply for visa for Chile, Argentina, Brazil and pay a reciprocity fee on arrival.
• We can advise you.