Patagonia Hike and Antarctic Cruise Holiday » Itinerary

Fly overnight to Latin America. Please note: international flights are quoted separately for this holiday.

Early morning arrival in Santiago. Stretch your legs with a relaxed walking tour and get a bite to eat. After lunch, settle in to your hotel and relax.

Fly south along the spectacular spine of the Andes, over the massive Patagonian ice fields. On arrival you are driven across the open plains to Puerto Natales where you spend the night.

Collection in Punta Arenas to drive to Torres del Paine. Stay in a camp at Laguna Azul enjoying your first night under the stars.

Set off on the famous Torres del Paine Circuit, trekking along the shores of Laguna Azul through southern beech forests. Pass lots of beautiful flower-filled meadows and great mountain scenery.

The first two hours hours are uphill with great views back over Lago & Glacier Dickson. After this initial uphill stretch, the walk is mostly flat through the most beautiful mature forest in the park.

Cross the Paso John Gardner, the highest point of the circuit (1,210m). After four hours walking, some through snow, you will stand at the pass with the icefield below. Stay in a mountain refuge tonight.

Start walking east across Torres del Paine as you leave the glaciers behind you to walk between lakes and mountains towards the dry grasslands.

Walk under the mountain of Paine Grande then a steady uphill and a steep downhill towards the shores of Lake Nordenskjold.

Continue your walk along a good path in the shadow of the mountains throughout today. You should see lots of condors as you pass beneath the high peaks.

Early start to hike up to the small lake at the base of the towers – the culmination of your Torres del Paine walk. Return to sleep in a comfortable hotel.

Drive to Punta Arenas airport where this trip ends.

Make your way south away from Torres del Paine towards Punta Arenas where you spend tonight. Explore this interesting small city on foot this afternoon.

Fly to Ushuaia on the southern edge of the island of Tierra del Fuego. On arrival transfer to your small boutique style hotel for two nights.

Full day to explore the town of Ushuaia or take an optional tour to the inland of the island.

Please note: flexibility is cruicial in Antarctica.
Itineraries and landings are subject to change or even cancellation if the weather or ice make a landing unsafe or to make the most of wildlife spotting opportunities.

Check in during the course of the day before boarding your ship this afternoon. Set off to Antarctica this evening.

Sail to Antarctica, crossing the 400 miles of the Drake Passage over the next two days. Ships in the passage are often good platforms for the sighting of whales, dolphins and sea birds.

Over the course of your two-day crossing you get used to life on board. There is a programme of talks – on most cruises there are two resident experts.

Start your shore landings today. Staff co-ordinate the lectures with shore landings so you can make the most of your visits. Disembark to see elephant seals, gentoo and chinstrap penguins.

Set foot on the Antarctic Peninsula for the first time. As well as the wildlife, the scenery is spectacular with peaks rising to 2,800 metres directly from the sea.

Sail south through the breathtaking Lemaire Channel which runs between the Antarctic Peninsula and Booth Island. The passage is about 7km long, narrowing to just 500m at some points.

Sail into Paradise Bay where you disembark or use zodiacs to explore the faces of huge glaciers. In the evening visit Cuverville Island for a shore landing and wildlife spotting.

Sail to Deception Island, a flooded volcanic cone with a narrow entrance through which ships can sail into the interior of the island. Visit penguin colonies and enjoy a warm bath by the sea shore.

After several days exploring the seas and landmass of the Antarctic peninsula, now is the time to relax and talk over your experiences as you travel back north.

Drake’s passage is entirely open water with no land anywhere around the world at these latitudes. This unimpeded spinning flow water which cools the continent and creates the ice-cap.

After an early breakfast, land in Ushuaia at 9am and bid farewell to the boat. Make your way to the airport to fly home via Buenos Aires.

Arrive back home.