Discover Patagonia

New

14 Days Excluding Flights From

0 Days from

~~£ 5999~~ £ 5499

Culture

Activity Level

Moderate & Challenging

Comfort Level

Classic

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group

Activity :

Culture

Group Size :

5 - 16

Ages :

18+

Trip Code :

AAH

Carbon Footprint :

153.9kg CO2e per person per day

Discover the spectacular wilderness of southern Chile and Argentina

Sprawling over the southern tips of Argentina and Chile, Patagonia is an icon of adventure travel, a vast playground for hikers and nature lovers to experience the wild world on a grand scale. On this classic trip, we explore its most beautiful landscapes, from the majestic Torres del Paine National Park to the granite peaks of Mount Fitz Roy. Leading the way is an expert tour leader, who knows the routes inside-out and takes care of all the planning – allowing you to concentrate on the trails and fully enjoy the company of your new-found friends and awe-inspiring views.

Highlights

Experience the most beautiful landscapes in Patagonia, visiting Argentina and Chile
Hike to the base of the Torres del Paine amid majestic scenery
See amazing glaciers in Los Glaciares National Park
Marvel at the stunning granite peaks of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre
Discover mountain-backed Ushuaia, the most southerly city in the world
Explore Buenos Aires, the beautiful and cosmopolitan capital of Argentina

Key Information

Accommodation: 13 Classic nights
Travel by private minibus and three internal flights
Four day hikes of up to ten hours’ duration
Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 18

Countries visited: Argentina, Chile

What's Included

All breakfasts, four lunches, five dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

Day 4

23 km / 14.3 miles

Day 5

16 km / 9.9 miles

Day 9

21 km / 13 miles

Day 10

20 km / 12.4 miles

Day 12

4 km / 2.5 miles

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

TRIP

AAH - Discover Patagonia

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

For flights call us on 0203 733 5948 or enquire when booking online

Regional flights available

Competitive flight prices

Specialist Flight Support

ATOL protected

Itinerary

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires

Begin your adventure in Buenos Aires, a city that moves to the rhythms of tango.

Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Latin welcome by arranging dinner at a great local restaurant.

Want to explore Buenos Aires further? Additional pre-tour hotel nights are bookable through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Huinid Obilisco (or similar)

Meals included: Dinner

Today’s half-day city tour will showcase the many faces of Buenos Aires. Discover key plaza’s, monuments and barrios, such as colourful La Boca, fashionable Palermo and historic San Telmo – the birthplace of tango.

This evening we recommend joining a dinner and tango show in the old quarter of San Telmo (optional).

Accommodation: Huinid Obilisco (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate this morning and transfer (approximately three to four hours) to the small mountain town of El Chaltén. The town has a beautiful location in Los Glaciares National Park with breathtaking views of Mount Fitz Roy and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

Accommodation: Poincenot or Fitz Roy Inn (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Set off for a day of trekking amid the incredible mountains and valleys of Los Glaciares National Park.

Our hike begins alongside Rio Blanco (the white river), taking us through a forest of lenga and ñire trees. Once out of the forest we get our first view of the Piedras Blancas Glacier. From basecamp, our trek continues up to Laguna de los Tres, a glacial lake whose still waters reflect the three main peaks of the Mount Fitz Roy massif. We return to El Chalten via the Laguna Capri lookout point trail, for serene views of Fitz Roy.

This is a challenging full-day trek over fairly rough terrain which is widely regarded as one of the best and most iconic hikes in South America. It’s possible to do a shorter, moderate version of today’s hike which doesn’t involve going all the way to Laguna de los Tres.

Accommodation: Poincenot or Fitz Roy Inn (or similar)

Distance covered: 14mi (23km)

Ascent: 2,874ft (876m); Descent: 3,018ft (920m); Activity hours: 9-10

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

A drive of around 40 minutes will bring us to Los Huemules Natural Reserve, a private estancia located in the shadows of Mount Fitz Roy.

Today’s hiking trail follows the Diablo River Valley (Devil River Valley), through native forest, past the Diablo Lagoon and across hanging bridges before emerging at the Cagliero Glacier. A cosy refuge is located in front of the glacier. This will be a welcome lunch stop before our trail continues past the Blue and Green Lagoons. Look out for sightings of the torrents duck, magellanic woodpecker and condor in this pristine environment.

Accommodation: Poincenot or Fitz Roy Inn (or similar)

Distance covered: 10mi (16km)

Ascent: 1,148ft (350m); Descent: 1,148ft (350m); Activity hours: 8

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

For those who want to keep their legs moving, it’s possible to do a three-hour hike to the Cerro Torre viewpoint this morning. The trail hugs the Fitz Roy River to reach a viewpoint of the canyon, the margarita waterfall and eventually the granite needles of Mont Torre.

Afterwards, we leave El Chaltén behind and return to El Calafate, a drive of around three to four hours.

Accommodation: Los Hielos (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Visit Perito Moreno Glacier today, a jagged ice sheet that stretches more than 3mi (5km) across Lago Argentino and rises 200ft (61m) out of the cold waters. It is the fastest-moving glacier on the planet and the eerie creaks and thunderous groans add an atmosphere of anticipation.

Every so often, an office block-sized chunk of ice calves from its face into the water below before slowly floating down the lake as an iceberg. A series of walkways offers different vantage points of the glacier, and an optional boat trip gives an even greater appreciation of the immense scale of this wonder.

Accommodation: Los Hielos (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we drive (approximately five hours) across the border into Chile before arriving at Torres del Paine, one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. Due to local regulations we must change buses at the border.

We may have time after check-in for a short walk next to Laguna Amarga, which offers great panoramic views of the Paine Massif and the striking granite Horns of Paine.

Accommodation: Hosteria Pehoe or Lago del Toro (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Without a doubt, one of the park highlights is the hike up to the base of the Torres del Paine. The walk itself is beautiful, trekking primarily through forests along the Ascencio River valley with incredible views. This is a challenging full-day trek and the last section is steep with rocky terrain, so you need a reasonably good level of fitness and confidence. Adverse weather conditions can make this walk much harder; your tour leader will give a trek briefing and be on hand throughout. It’s possible to do a shorter, moderate version of today’s hike which doesn’t involve going all the way to base of the towers.

Accommodation: Hosteria Pehoe or Lago del Toro (or similar)

Distance covered: 13mi (21km)

Ascent: 2,625ft (800m); Descent: 2,625ft (800m); Activity hours: 8-9

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Another great day of trekking lies ahead as we venture into the French Valley. A 30-minute boat trip along Lake Pehoé takes us to Paine Grande, where our trail starts with views of the azure water of Lake Skottsberg, before reaching Campamento Italiano where we begin our ascent. We hike for around 1hr 30min until the French Glacier lookout, where we can observe an impressive hanging glacier and listen for the rumbling of small avalanches as great chunks of ice and snow fall off.

The trail continues until Campamento Británico and onto another lookout point, Mirador Británico. The full trek distance of 12.5mi (20km) applies if we reach the very end of Valle Frances; often, we only go as far as one particular viewpoint due to the weather and/or group condition. We return back along the French valley to Campamento Italiano, catching sight of Nordenskjöld Lake and re-tracing our steps to the boat back across Lake Pehoé.

Accommodation: Hosteria Pehoe or Lago del Toro (or similar)

Distance covered: 12mi (20km)

Ascent: 1,969ft (600m); Descent: 1,969ft (600m); Activity hours: 8

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We transfer around six hours to El Calafate before flying to Ushuaia, which (as the southernmost city on the planet) is often called ‘the end of the world’!

Accommodation: Altos Ushuaia (or similar)
Upgrade to a junior suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Breakfast

Spend this morning in the secluded wilderness of Tierra del Fuego National Park, walking among varied terrain, flora and fauna. A short circular trail takes us along the beach and through the forest, affording views of the Chilean coast across the other side of the Beagle Channel. We also visit Lapataia Bay, the end of all roads in the Americas!

In the afternoon, there is an optional boat ride along the Beagle Channel to see marine wildlife including penguins, sea lions and many species of water bird. Enjoy fantastic views of Ushuaia and its backdrop of often snow-capped peaks from the water.

Accommodation: Altos Ushuaia (or similar)
Upgrade to a junior suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Distance covered: 2mi (4km)

Activity hours: 3

Meals included: Breakfast

Depending upon the flight schedule, we may have some free time this morning in Ushuaia. There are magnificent views from the hills leading up to the Martial Glacier and some small shops to pick up souvenirs. Ushuaia has just one museum, housed in the former prison, which is worth a visit. Fly back to Buenos Aires this afternoon, there will be a farewell dinner organised at a local restaurant for our last meal together.

Accommodation: Huinid Obelisco (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

The main adventure comes to an end today. Bid chau to each other and begin your return journey home.

Want to explore Buenos Aires further? Additional post-tour hotel nights are bookable through your sales representative.

Meals included: Breakfast

Post-trip Extensions

Valdés Peninsula Add-on Tour

Discover Patagonia

Discover the Patagonian coastline in four days on this compact adventure to uncover the marine highlights of the Valdés Peninsula. Known for its rich marine life, we have the chance to observe sea lions, elephant seals and southern right whales (optional, in season). Further south we visit a noisy magellanic penguin colony, one of the largest breeding colonies in the world. Immerse yourself in nature and enjoy the unique Welsh cultural heritage of this fascinating region.

The detailed itinerary is here, or speak to your sales representative for more details.

Iguazu Add-on Tour

Discover Patagonia

Straddling the border of Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls forms the world’s largest waterfall system, best appreciated from both sides. In Argentina, walkways lead above and below the cascades for close encounters with the water as it plunges toward the Garganta del Diablo. Crossing into Brazil reveals a contrasting, wide-angle view of the entire horseshoe of falls, ending near the base of Devil’s Throat. Together, these perspectives show the full force and character of this UNESCO-listed wonder.

The detailed itinerary is here, or speak to your sales representative for more details.

Code: XTNIGUAZU

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 4 (Moderate/Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Itinerary: We feature four classic Patagonia treks, one in Los Glaciares National Park (Day 3), one in Los Huemules Natural Reserve (Day 4) and two in Torres del Paine National Park (Day 9 and 10). These are full-day treks with sections of steep and rocky terrain, which have been graded as Challenging. We recommend you have reasonably good fitness levels to maximise your enjoyment of the trip. There is a moderate option available to shorten the hiking in Los Glaciares National Park (day 3) and Torres del Paine (Day 9).

Internal flights: There are three domestic flights included which are based on a set flight schedule and cost. Depending on flight availability at the time of booking, there may be a supplement to pay. If applicable, this will be communicated to you at the time of booking. Flight times are subject to last-minute schedule changes.

Drives: In addition to the three included flights, we have some distance to cover by vehicle where you can take in the sweeping views of Patagonia. The longest drive is the border crossing between El Calafate and Torres del Paine.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Joining Instructions

Key information
Start hotel: Huinid Obelisco, Sarmiento 1431, C1042 Cdad. Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone: +54 11 6088-0869
Recommended arrival time: Our welcome briefing is planned for 6pm on Day 1.
Airport: Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE)

Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Make your own way 
If you do not take this transfer, or miss it, you must make your own way to the start hotel at your own expense.

Catching your return flight
There’s one group transfer to the airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Buenos Aires
Location end: Buenos Aires

Vaccinations and Health

Argentina

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, and yellow fever (strongly recommended if you intend to visit the Iguazu Falls due to a recent outbreak in the Misiones province). Please check all vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

Bilharzia is known to occur in some lakes or rivers in Argentina; follow advice from your guide or leader locally before venturing for a swim.

Dengue and zika, both mosquito‐borne viral diseases, are known risks in Argentina. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available; therefore, the best form of prevention is to take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Chile

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid.

Dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Passport

Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.

Visa

Argentina

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Argentina. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/argentina
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/argentina
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Argentina.html

Please note, if you are crossing the border into Argentina from Chile on your trip, we will need to know your profession to provide when entering Argentina.

Chile

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Chile. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Please note, a PDI tourist card will be given to you by migration at Santiago airport, upon arrival to Chile, and asked for upon departure from Chile (please retain this important slip of paper). The PDI certifies that you are a visitor and must be given back to migration upon departure from Chile.

Food & Drink

Hotel breakfasts are normally buffet-style and are included. The accommodation arranges packed lunches for trekking days. There is a variety of good-quality food in local restaurants and cafes, usually for relatively low prices. Supplies or choice may be limited when in very remote areas. Vegetarians are catered for throughout the trip, but please advise us before you travel so we can make arrangements on your behalf.

Weather

We schedule our Patagonia trips between October and April to take advantage of the longer days and warmer temperatures. During these months, the temperatures in Buenos Aires reach a maximum of 30C (86F); in El Calafate/Torres del Paine/Punta Arenas around 15C (59F); and in the extreme south, Tierra del Fuego, 14C (57F). These are the daytime maximums, and the average temperatures are likely to be a little lower than this.

In Patagonia, the nights can drop to freezing point, but often remain just above. Patagonian summers tend to be dry although rain cannot be ruled out, particularly in the mountainous regions along the Chile-Argentina border where you might experience all four seasons in one day! Patagonia is renowned for being windy… and sometimes very windy (dress accordingly and watch your step).

In Patagonia, the changing weather is part of the adventure; however, in extreme wind/weather conditions our tour leader may modify the itinerary for safety reasons.

TRIP

AAH - Discover Patagonia

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Hotels and hosterias

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Upgrade to a junior suite on Day 11 and 12 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Named accommodation: The itinerary indicates the typical accommodation used on each day; however, these may need to be changed for alternative accommodation of a similar standard.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we pair solo passengers together in a room. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.