Dates and Prices 2007/08

Full Patagonia Adventure 17 days (4 half days, 4 full days of trekking):
November 19 - December 05, 2007
January 11 - 27, 2008
March 08 - 24, 2008
March 23 - April 08, 2008

Price: CAD $4305 (US $4100), single supplement: CAD $300

Itinerary in Short (download full itinerary)

Day 1: Meeting at Buenos Aires airport and transfer to town, briefing and welcome dinner.
If there is time in the afternoon, a guided visit of Buenos Aires will be organized in the afternoon.

Day 2: El Calafate airport - El Calafate
National flight to El Calafate, briefing with our local guides, welcome dinner.

Day 3: Bus to El Chaltén - Laguna Capri
After breakfast we take our bus for the 220 km long drive to El Chaltén, a small and picturesque village at the foot of Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre massif. Hike to Laguna Capri camp.

Day 4: Cerro Fitz Roy, Laguna de los Tres
Hike along the Fitz Roy trail up to Rio Blanco, the climbers' base camp to the east side of the mountain. Close up views of Fitz Roy massif spires and glaciers. About 5-6 hours

Day 5: Cerro Torre
Hike around Laguna Capri to get to the Lagoons Madre and Hija Valley and down to Fitz Roy river valley, where we meet the Cerro Torre trail, which we follow to Cerro Torre Full Camp. Walking time 3 to 4 hrs.

Day 6: Lagoon & Glacier Torre - El Chalten
Visit of Laguna Torre, then walk back to Chaltén along Fitz Roy river valley. Walking time 4 to 5 hrs.

Day 7: El Chalten - El Calafate
Morning hike of 5 hours before taking the bus in the afternoon to our next destination of El Calafate.. Roughly a 4-hour bus journey.

Day 8: El Calafate -Perito Moreno Glacier
Visit of the Moreno glacier. This ice field flows down from the Patagonian ice field, At 22.000 square kilometres it is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km).

Day 9: El Calafate - Torres del Paine National Park
Drive 6 hours to reach the Torres del Paine National Park and our campsite. The drive is one of the most stunning of the trip as an abundance of wildlife and towering peaks will make this an incredible experience. Stopping several times along the way for short hikes will allow us to get closer to the wildlife and also to stretch our legs.

Day 10: Paine Towers - Ascensio River Valley
A short 1-hour drive allows us to get to the start of our 8-hour hike, which will take us deep inside the Paine Massif. Back to our camp for the night.

Day 11: Lake Pehoe crossing - French Valley
A short, early morning drives takes us to start of our journey on board the catamaran which crosses Pehoe Lake twice per day. Once across the lake, we can begin our walk along the French Valley Trail, which skirts Paine Grande on its southern slopes. Camping for one night.

Day 12: Lake & Glacier Grey viewpoints
This is one of the most impressive hikes of the journey as we skirt the edge of Grey Lake and Glacier. We make our way back the same way before taking the boat back across the lake and to our base camp. Roughly 8 hours of walking.

Day 13: Torres del Paine - Puerto Natales - Río Grande
Drive to Tierra Del Fuego and back into Argentina. Using a ferry to cross the Straights of Magellan will be an unforgettable experience. Once in our camp, a typical meal or Patagonian style lamb, and good wine not to mention the hot showers will reward us after a long day in the vehicles. No hiking.

Day 14: Río Grande - Tierra Mayor valley
The first half of the day will be spent on a local ranch learning how the Gauchos deal with cattle and sheep using highly trained dogs. We will also get a window into the world of these rugged adventurers who have braved the winds and revolution over the last centuries to forge an existence on these barren steppes.

Day 15: Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego National Park- Beagle Channel boat trip
Drive to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. We will drop off our luggage and continue to Tierra Del Fuego National Park and hike all morning admiring the glaciers crashing into the sea.

Day 16: Ushuaia - Ushuaia Airport
Our last morning together before taking the afternoon flight back to Buenos Aires. The morning can be spent visiting the town of Ushuaia, its museums and interesting architecture. Farewell dinner in Buenos Aires.

Day 17: Buenos Aires - Departure day
Transfer to Buenos Aires International Airport, departure.

Details/Accommodation

Accommodation: Country Inns (double rooms, ensuite bathroom) and some nights of camping (individual tents). All guests will be met at Buenos Aires airport.

Included in the price:

Accommodation and full board throughout the trip, trekking guide fees, local guide fees, tourist guide for Buenos Aires, entrance fees, all local transfers, flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate and back at the end of the trip, full camping equipment (tent, mat, sleeping bag, kitchen, etc).

Trip Leaders:

• Our guiding team consists of an Alpine Interface guide and a local guide. All our guides are internationally certified, and have an in-depth knowledge of Patagonia.
  For more information click here.
• All of our guides are professionals, and are skilled at transmitting their tremendous knowledge of the region/country to you.
• All our guides speak fluently English and at least another foreign language. Wherever you go with us, your guide will be able to communicate at ease, enabling him/her to take care of any problem / special wishes that might occur.

Can I do it? - Trip Difficulty, Full Patagonia Adventure

Level 3 (From 1=easy to 5=very strenuous)

Moderate to difficult walking on some well-marked trails, but also some cross-country hiking.
Scree slopes, some boulder-hopping, some ridge walking with minimum exposure.
6-7 hours max. of daily walking, consecutively for 6-11 days. 1200m (3600ft) maximum elevation gain per day. Day-pack.