"It was after dark when I arrived in Torres del Paine National Park in far southern Chile... at the hotel I curled up to sleep wondering why on earth anyone would come to this half-million acre park at the bottom of the world. Morning would show me why."

National Geographic Traveller / USA

overview

If there is one place on earth where stark, pure beauty takes your breath away, it has to be Patagonia. Located at the southernmost tip of South America, the Patagonian Andes are shared between Chile and Argentina. Here, almost at the end of the world, you'll find an unspoiled wilderness of soaring pink and white granite rock spires, jagged snowy peaks, and golden grasslands bright with wildflowers, dramatic ever changing skies, glaciers forgotten by the last ice age, and a wealth of sparkling lakes of the most incredible hues. Civilizations with magical rites, sailors and pioneers have also contributed to Patagonia’s fame. It is a mythical place of enduring natural beauty.

This trip takes you from the area that stretches from the Strait of Magellan to the Southern Ice Field in Chile to El Chaltén in Argentina.

In Chile, the trip is centred around the Torres del Paine National Park, using the Hotel Salto Chico as a base. Widely heralded as South America's most beautiful national park, Torres del Paine offers outdoor-lovers everything they could want: rugged landscapes, snow-capped peaks, massive glaciers, and abundant wildlife. Named for the towering granite columns (torres) that dominate the park's gorgeous skyline, the park also contains dozens of crystal-blue lakes, including Lago Pehoe, Lago Nordenskjold, and Lago Grey, the latter of which contains scores of breathtaking blue glaciers.Torres del Paine is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world. The park was designated a Unesco Heritage site in 1978.

In Argentina the journey focuses on the village El Chaltén, which is located at the foot of the spectacular peaks Torre and Fitz Roy. The crossing between the two locations El Chaltén to Torres del Paine is an impressive experience. Guests travel along the Argentino and Viedma lakes, the River Santa Cruz and the River La Leona.

Both locations offer trekking to the bases of incredible summits, travelling through valleys and past glaciers that offer access to exceptionally magnificent natural landscapes.