Wilderness trekking holiday in Patagonia
| country: | Patagonia, Chile |
| location: | Patagonia |
| trip type: | Moderate wilderness trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 21 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec, 19 Dec 2009: 23 Jan, 20 Feb, 13 Mar, 17 Mar, 17 Apr, 1 May |
| price: | From £1795 (12 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
With stunning camp locations, adventure and style are the key elements of this incredible journey through the undiscovered Northern region of Patagonia.
We travel light through the wilderness but revel in the comfort of luxury fixed campsites in spectacular locations. Dining tents, fantastic food and Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon are all part of this amazing trekking holiday.
By virtue of a special concession to operate in this area, the exclusivity of the experience is guaranteed. You will be among the very few visitors to enjoy this beautiful region as you travel through native forests, mountains and breathtaking glaciers.
In the San Rafael National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve on the edge of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field, here is an opportunity to experience a genuinely pristine wilderness in a magnificent yet unexplored corner of South America.
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-12 like minded travellers.
We travel light through the wilderness but revel in the comfort of luxury fixed campsites in spectacular locations. Dining tents, fantastic food and Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon are all part of this amazing trekking holiday.
By virtue of a special concession to operate in this area, the exclusivity of the experience is guaranteed. You will be among the very few visitors to enjoy this beautiful region as you travel through native forests, mountains and breathtaking glaciers.
In the San Rafael National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve on the edge of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field, here is an opportunity to experience a genuinely pristine wilderness in a magnificent yet unexplored corner of South America.
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-12 like minded travellers.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Santiago, transfer to Coyhaique in Region XI. |
| Day 2: | Head south along the spectacular southern highway to Puerto Bertrand. Overnight by the Rio Baker. |
| Day 3: | Boat crossing of Lagos Bertrand & Plomo and trek to camp in the Cordon Soler. |
| Day 4: | Trekking up the Soler Valley to Palomar Ranch. |
| Day 5: | Climb to the Neff Glacier followed by a traverse of this amazing expanse of ice. Overnight in Laguna Espejo camp. |
| Day 6: | A full day’s exploration of the Neff Valley and Glacier including a climb to the viewpoint with superb views over the 3 valleys. |
| Day 7: | Descent of the Buena Cueva Valley and camp by the Colonia glacier where icebergs regularly calve off into the waiting lake. |
| Day 8: | A spectacular trail to Colonia Camp passing native forest, canyons and glaciers. |
| Day 9: | Descent to the shore of Lago Colonia. Overnight at ranch with traditional Patagonian asado. |
| Day 10: | Further descent down the Colonia Valley to the Rio Baker. Raft crossing to the town of Cochrane for a celebratory overnight. |
| Day 11: | Return journey from Cochrane to Coyhaique. Overnight in Coyhaique. |
| Day 12: | Depart Coyhaique for Santiago on onward travel. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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Travelling by foot is an inherently sustainable activity and is undoubtedly the best way to travel through the wild Patagonian landscape. This trip supports a wide range of local businesses from our guides to locally-owned small lodges and ranches. By travelling to one of Patagonia’s least known regions, we are spreading the benefit of tourism to wild areas and raising the profile of this beautiful area which is under threat from a proposed hydro-electric scheme which will flood the Rio Baker Valley.
By demonstrating that eco-tourism provides economic support to the area, we further strengthen the argument that this wild land should be conserved. Our local partners lead the way in the environmental practice and adhere to the highest standards of “leave no trace” – an essential ethic in this pristine part of the world. In addition, we continue to work closely with two Chilean youth development organizations to implement a programme in Patagonia which will train young local Chileans to act as trekking and mountain guides in their local area. On request, we would be pleased to provide a full copy of our sustainable tourism statements which contains full details on our commitment to responsible tourism in Chile and other destinations in which we operate. |
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. |