• Accommodation: 17 nights in hotels/cabins/hostels, 3 nights camping in Torres del Paine (all equipment supplied except sleeping bag)
• Meals: Some breakfasts, lunches when travelling on vehicle, meals in Torres del Paine
• Excursions: Fitzroy National Park, Moreno Glacier, Torres del Paine National Park, penguin colony, Beagle Channel cruise, Tierra del Fuego National Park
• Transport: Vehicle, minibus, boat, ferry, on foot
• Group: Average 15 - 24; max 34. Due to the modular system of our tours some passengers may join or leave the tour at different times.
• Age: Open age, recommended max 70.
• Staff: Tour leader, driver, Local Guides

• Local payment
• International and internal flights & flight departure taxes, tips on all excursions, visas, travel insurance, personal items, other tips
• Pre & post tour hotels plus airport transfers
• Spending money, allow US$30-35 per day to cover meals, snacks, drinks, limited souvenirs, laundry and any extras
• Optional excursions - Please see our optional excursions guide for a comprehensive list of optional activities and excursions available on this tour.

This isolated region of the world has an abundance of spectacular scenery complemented by small attractive towns. You'll see deep blue and turquoise lakes, grand forests, towering mountain peaks, immense glaciers and a vast array of wildlife on this adventure of a lifetime.

This is a Discovery Tour.

We now continue on to visit the majestic Torres del Paine National Park. One of the world's most beautiful national parks, Torres del Paine is named after the massive granite towers that rise out of the earth. The park boasts stunning scenery with snow covered peaks, glaciers, beautiful lakes and valleys with a diverse variety of unusual flora and fauna. Some of the varied and amazing creatures you might spot include Andean condors, guanacos (a relative of the llama) and rhea (a type of emu). The best way to discover the national park is on foot and trekking here will take your breath away.

We have plenty of opportunity to trek the many trails in the park. Some of the walks are quite demanding, but there is a good range for all grades of walkers. Options include a full day trek with incredible views of the famous ‘towers' (this walk can be demanding with the final section walking in scree, however it is well worth it), a full day trek and catamaran trip across Lago Pehoe for a full view of the Grey Glacier and a more sedate 3 hour scenic boat trip (dependant on boat availability). We stay in pre-erected tents in the park, with all meals included. Camping in Torres del Paine is a great chance to make the most of the wilderness and enjoy the great outdoors!

Travelling on, we come to the misty port town of Puerto Natales, an important base for agriculture and tourism. After one night here, we cross back into Argentina and to El Calafate, a well-located town on the edge of Lake Argentino. This is our base to visit the spectacular Perito Moreno glacier. With a height of around 60 metres and a front of five kilometres, covering some 250 km² it is an incredible sight. Named after Argentine explorer Francisco Merino, the glacier is coloured in a variety of hues from blue to grey to white. It continually creaks and cracks. Advancing at a speed of around 2m per day, it can put on a spectacular show when giant chunks of ice at the outermost edges crack under tremendous pressure, rupture and crash into the water. You will have the chance to walk around some paths and terraces where you can get some great views of the glacier. We also go on a boat cruise taking us almost the full width of the glacier for amazingly close-up views.

Day 12 to 16
Fitzroy Perito Moreno - Bariloche
We travel on through the windswept Patagonian countryside enroute to the Fitzroy National Park, which is renowned for its spectacular scenery, a great place for trekking. Options include half or full day treks to Lago Capri or various other trails to take in the views of the Fitzroy Massif and the many glaciers. Our next destination is the multicultural town of Perito Moreno, where we overnight then carry on to the resort town of San Carlos de Bariloche on the shores of Lake Nahuel Haupi. This town is a famous winter ski resort, but it also has a great deal to offer during other seasons. Built by Swiss and German immigrants in the Alpine style, here you will find Swiss-style chalets, numerous chocolate shops and even St. Bernard dogs with brandy barrels around their necks! There is a lot to do here including mountain biking, horse riding or a bus ride along the lake with an opportunity to take in the sensational scenery from the cable cars.

Day 17 to 20
Pucon - Santiago

Next we make our way through yet more marvellous scenery to Lago Espejo (Mirror Lake) and across the Andes into the gorgeous town of Pucon, on Lake Villarrica overlooked by the perfect cone-shaped Villarrica Volcano. The whole area is surrounded by lakes, mountains, forests, rivers and waterfalls and offers many exciting optional activities such as trekking to the top of the active volcano, white water rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking and water sports on the lake. We have plenty of free time to take advantage of some of the great activities on offer or simply relax.

Passing through Los Angeles and Temuco we stop at Salto del Laja, where we'll have time to take photos above the waterfalls that drop 47 metres over the rocks below. They're very impressive! Along the Pan-American Highway with vast vineyards, farmlands and pine-forests on either side of the road we enter the Chilean heartlands towards the capital. Pedro de Valdivia established Santiago in 1541 but not much remains of its original glory, except Santa Lucia Hill where the original fortress was constructed, there are excellent views of the city below. However, for even better photo opportunities, take a funicular railway to the top of San Cristobal where the Statue of the Virgin overlooks the capital and the distant Andes. At this very pleasant viewing area you'll find wine-tasting facilities and a couple of beautifully situated swimming pools. Santiago is a very clean modern city with fountains, parks and imposing buildings. In the Plaza Constitucion at the Palacio de la Moneda you can see the changing of the guard on most days or you can take an optional excursion to the port of Valparaiso and the resort of Viña Del Mar. For our last night of the tour we will enjoy one last dinner together and reminisce about our adventure.

Day 21 to 21
Depart Santiago
Our tour concludes on day 21.

Joining in Ushuaia
This tour starts in Ushuaia. There are daily flights via the hub of Buenos Aires so you should book these flights at the same time as your international flights which is less expensive than purchasing it seperately. The airline code for Ushuaia is USH and your Travel Agent should be able to make the booking for you. Please refer to our Independent Travel itineraries if you wish to book hotels and excursions for a stopover in Buenos Aires.

Important note: The itinerary listed above is to be used as a guide only. Occasionally we may need to update this document and it may be different to the information printed in our current brochure. Tour leaders may need to make adjustments due to unforeseen circumstances during the tour. It is very important that you visit our website and review a copy of this dossier as close as possible to your departure date in case of changes that may affect your plans. Any last minute changes may also be posted in the latest news section of our website.

Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Very little time is spent in the starting and finishing cities and you will need to allow a few days at the beginning or end of your tour if you want to explore them further. For details of pre and post tour accommodation bookings (which should be made at the time of your tour booking) please refer to our current brochure or contact our reservations team.

Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment and repatriation. It is also very important that your insurance policy is relevant to our style of travel. You can read more and apply for travel insurance on Travel Amazing South America.

No client will be allowed on tours without suitable insurance. If you have already arranged insurance elsewhere, please be aware that many of the optional activities such as bungy jumping or water rafting may not be covered on your policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance.

At the start of your tour you will be asked to present your original policy document and complete an insurance information form. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original.

Local Payment
The cost of some tours includes a compulsory local payment which is in addition to the tour price paid to your travel consultant. The local payment MUST be paid to your tour leader in full US dollars cash at the pre-departure meeting on the first day of your tour. Your tour leader can not accept any torn or damaged notes, or any US$100 notes with serial numbers CB, B2 or AB. The local payment is administered by tour leaders and no refunds can be made for any unused services or if you decide to leave the tour early.

Pre-Departure Meeting
The address of your joining hotel can be found on your joining letter and tour voucher. On arrival you should look for an information sheet on the hotel notice board where you will find details of the pre-departure meeting. The tour leader will normally hold the pre-departure meeting on the afternoon of day 1 (assuming that all clients have arrived by then). Your tour leader will give a briefing about the tour, outline the plan for the next few days, answer any questions and collect your local payment in full in US$ cash. Then there may be an option for everyone to go out for dinner and drinks to start to get to know one another.

Please note that you will need to bring the following important items to the pre departure meeting:

1. Passport (including any necessary visas) - original document and a photocopy.
2. Vaccination certificates (e.g. Yellow Fever, if required)
3. Travel voucher
4. Travel insurance policy
5. Local payment

Tour Personnel
Discovery Tours use a variety of different styles of leadership. On this tour you will have a combination of tour leader, driver, reps and local guides (a cook will be provided for tours in Patagonia. The tour leader accompanies your tour while the driver is responsible for transporting you safely and maintaining the vehicle. Reps will escort you at times when your tour leader may not be available and local guides will lead your included and optional excursions.

If you feel that any of the personnel, including tour leaders, drivers or local reps have exceeded your expectations during your tour, tipping is appreciated but is not obligatory.

Degree of Difficulty/Fitness
Discovery Tours suit people who are relatively fit and healthy. As the distances between attractions can be great in this part of the world, please be prepared for some long travelling days - some days on the road are between 6 and 12 hours long. Some journeys, particularly between Bariloche and Fitzroy and on Tierra del Fuego, will also be on bumpy gravel roads. This time spent travelling is unavoidable but you will not be disappointed once you arrive!

Some of the treks in the national parks can be quite demanding, with up to 8 hours walking; however there are always shorter/easier options to choose.

Pre-Departure Information
Once you have booked your tour, your travel consultant will provide you with our pre departure information booklet to help you prepare for your trip (if you do not receive this, please ask your agent for a copy or you can download it from our website). It is very important that you read this document before you travel for valuable info on the local payment, travel documents, insurance and health, money and budgeting, packing, joining your tour and life on the road, accommodation, transportation, crew and food details.

Country Dossiers
This tour dossier is designed to be read in conjunction with our country dossiers which you can download from our website or obtain from your booking agent. The country dossiers contain essential information about visas, arrival transfers, spending money and costs, taxes and tips, climate, local food etc.

What you need to bring
A full list of suggested equipment can be found in the pre-departure booklet. Large or rigid suitcases are totally unsuitable for these tours as they often cause problems in vehicle packing. Smaller cases with wheels and a vertical handle (the type which will fit into an overhead bin on an airline) are acceptable as your main luggage but do have a tendency to break easily. A backpack (or similar soft luggage) is highly recommended. You may wish to bring some kind of waterproof protection cover for your pack, as luggage may get dirty and/or wet.

You will need sturdy and comfortable hiking boots for this tour, preferably water-proof. The weather in Patagonia is very changeable and often very windy (with gusts up to 60kmph), so you should pack lots of layers (including thermals) and bring along wet weather gear - a raincoat/mac and waterproof pants/trousers are a must. You will also need a sleeping bag, a sleep sheet is also beneficial. We cannot guarantee that hotels (or the campsite in Torres del Paine) will supply towels so recommend that you bring your own.

Transfers
Airport transfers in joining and departing cities are not included but can be booked at an additional cost. Contact Travel Amazing South America for Transfer prices. If you would prefer to make your own way to and from your hotel, you can find details on public transport and taxis in the joining letter for this tour.

Accommodation
All hotels are chosen for their central locality, security, friendliness, cleanliness and ambiance. Although sometimes simple, you will find clean comfortable rooms with mostly en-suite facilities (occasionally bathrooms may be shared but this is rare), and often a bar and restaurant are attached or close by. All rooms will be allocated on a share basis, usually in twins or triples (depending on the male/female ratio) and on rare occasions, multi-share rooms.

The camp site at Torres del Paine has large fixed tents for the kitchen and dining area and crawl-in A-frame tents for sleeping. Sleeping tents (twin share) are equipped with mattresses however you will need to bring your own sleeping bag and a sleep sheet is recommended. Sleeping bags can be hired locally and cost approximately US$10 per night, please advise your tour leader on day 1 if you require a sleeping bag. Bathroom blocks have warm water showers and there is a restaurant and shop on site.

Transport
Transportation on this tour will either be a modern local coach, one of our more robust Mercedes' Benz trucks or a combination of both vehicles. Some privately hired vehicles may also be used in the Cuzco region. On all vehicles you will find superior comfort, from our carpeted interiors with curtained and tinted windows, modern reclining coach seats, overhead storage shelves, writing tables, a small library (which you can use and add to!) and a stereo cassette player for the groups use. Most vehicles also have a refrigerator for cold drinks and food. There will also be plenty of storage space for your luggage and souvenirs as well as kitchen equipment, tables and camp stools for picnic lunches. Tucked away will be specialised equipment for the maintenance and upkeep of the vehicle. On rare occasions it may be necessary to utilise a privately hired vehicle for the duration of the tour. Although modern and comfortable, these vehicles may not include all the facilities and equipment listed above.
This tour also includes domestic flights and excursions may also include travel by local bus, mini-bus, boats and trains.

Meals
Lunches are included on days travelling between hotels over lunchtime (see below for meal guideline). The food is purchased locally and is prepared by group members under the guidance of your tour leader. The lunches usually consist of cold meats, cheeses, salad, bread and fruit (drinks are not included). Meals are included while in Torres del Paine National Park. 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts and 2 box lunches are served, providing all the necessary energy you will require. For example dinner may be soup or salad followed by fish/meat/stew with pasta/rice, and fruits/cake for desert. On top of your box lunch, snacks (such as cakes or cookies) will also be provided when you return from optional treks in the Torres del Paine area. All other meals, extra snacks and drinks are at your own expense (even on included excursions). Please see the relevant Country Dossier for more information about the local food.

Tour Highlights

• Orientation walks - Introductory walks conducted by your expedition leader at each main stopover
• Ushuaia - The world’s most southerly town.
• Tierra del Fuego National Park - A beautiful park full of deep valleys, craggy mountain peaks and glacial lakes.
• Beagle Channel Cruise - delightful scenery of snow-capped peaks and wildlife.
• Punta Arenas - the ‘capital of Patagonia, a charming duty free port with nearby penguin colony.
• Torres del Paine National Park - dramatic granite towers, mountains, glaciers, lakes, lagoons and diverse fauna and flora.
• Puerto Natales - A colourful town surrounded by mind-blowing scenery
• Moreno Glacier - A truly spectacular sight; 5 km wide and 60 metres high.
• Bariloche - Argentina’s principal skiing town and heart of the Lake District, full of chalets and chocolate shops!
• Pucon - A quaint little town surrounded by mist-ringed mountains with many outdoor activities available.
• Salto del Laja - Beautiful waterfall just south of Santiago

Day 1 - Arrive Ushuaia (Argentina)
Day 2 - Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego National Park
Day 3 - Ushuaia - Beagle Channel cruise
Day 4 - Punta Arenas, L
Day 5 - Punta Arenas, penguin colony (Chile),
Day 6 - Torres del Paine NP, LD
Day 7 - Torres del Paine NP, BLD
Day 8 - Torres del Paine NP, BLD
Day 9 - Puerto Natales, BL
Day 10 - El Calafate, (Argentina), L
Day 11 - Moreno Glacier
Day 12 - Fitzroy National Park, L
Day 13 - Fitzroy National Park
Day 14 - Puerto Moreno, L
Day 15 - Bariloche, L
Day 16 - Bariloche
Day 17 - Pucon (Chile)
Day 18 - Pucon
Day 19 - Pucon
Day 20 - Santiago, L
Day 21 - Depart Santiago

(B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner included)

Please note the day to day itinerary and meal outline above is given as a GUIDELINE ONLY.

Responsible Travel Tips
We are serious about our responsibility to care for the environment and people that we visit. Here are a few tips to help you to enjoy your tour while minimising your impact and enhancing your travelling experience.

1. Bring your own metal water bottle. Fill up at restaurants or treat your own water on tour instead of buying lots of plastic bottles. Bear in mind that there may not be recycling facilities available at some destinations. 2. Cut out plastic - remove and recycle the packaging of new travel gear before you pack, and bring a light cotton or string bag for your shopping so you can politely refuse plastic bags at shops and markets.
3. Bring a stack of pens and pencils and hand these out to children rather than offering sweets. Your alternative gifts will still be popular and the parents will thank you for saving their children's teeth - access to dental services may not be readily available.
5. Learn a bit of the local language before you travel. Being able to say even a few words like hello, please and thank you will help you to connect with people in a positive way and really enhance your personal experience. Bring a phrase book on tour and keep practising to improve your confidence. You will also find some good language tips in the country dossier(s).

Staying in touch

Mobile Phone - Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad. You can opt to use an International SIM Card.

Email - Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers.

Blog - You can keep your friends and family updated by blogging about your adventures.

Postcards - The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

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