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Multi-Country Landmark Tours Holidays

Towering Antarctica Glaciers, Icebergs, Andean Mountain Peaks & wildlife encounters at the end of the world

14 Night Itinerary from  £14,971

Orca Tour

An epic adventure flying to Antarctica and back, to avoid Drake Passage at sea. Explore Santiago, hike in Patagonia, then fly to Antarctica, join the ship and fly back, for a memorable five night expedition cruise in the White Continent

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Tour Route

Travel Highlights

  • An epic adventure combining Antarctica and Chilean Patagonia
  • Start in elegant Santiago for an in-depth view of Chile's past and present
  • Choose from a range of activities in Cajon del Maipo's mountain scenery
  • Explore the glaciers, plains, lakes and the chiseled peaks of Torres del Paine
  • Observe pumas, condors, parakeets, foxes and herds of guanacos
  • Fly over Drake Passage, marvel at breathtaking icescapes amazing wildlife
  • Enjoy a 5 night Antarctica Expedition Cruise on the Ocean Nova, limited to 71 passengers
  • Finish with the bohemian port city of Valparaiso and Chile's Pacific coast

This itinerary can be tailored to your preferences by our specialist advisors, who can provide a guaranteed price based on your choice of route, duration, flights, hotels, transport and excursions.

Tour Itinerary

Pixabay (3)

Santiago de Chile - 2 Nights

Day 1 - Fly to Santiago

Day 2 - Santiago in-depth tour

Day 3 - Cajon del Maipo

  • Full Description

Friday, 19 April 2024

Fly to Santiago 

Depart on a direct overnight flight from London Heathrow to Santiago de Chile, arriving the next morning.

 


Saturday, 20 April 2024

Santiago in-depth tour

On arrival you will be welcomed to Chile by our friendly guide, your host for the next couple of days. Transfer to your central hotel for a 2 night stay. After you have settled in, your guide will introduce you to the surrounding area. In the afternoon we will explore the historic and modern sights of Santiago de Chile, visiting the main streets and squares of the capital. The tour will include the Government Palace, La Moneda, Plaza de Armas and Santa Lucia hill, the hill on which the Spanish founded Santiago. Crossing the Mapocho River we explore Bellavista, the cultural and artistic neighbourhood of Santiago, at the foot of the Metropolitan Park's San Cristobal, the highest hill in town. Finally we will visit Providencia, one of the noble parts of Santiago, with top restaurants, elegant shops and modern high-rise buildings. 


Sunday, 21 April 2024

Cajon del Maipo

Today we head out towards the Andes and the Maipo River Valley, where we explore a park of rugged mountains and valleys, rivers, springs and waterfalls. Designed to help guests relax from the frantic pace of the modern world, this park is filled with flower gardens, and quiet forest trails for exploring. More adventurous activities include horse riding, trekking and hiking, white water rafting and zip line/canopy tour. 

Happy days in the wilderness

Torres del Paine - 3 Nights

Day 4 - Travel to Torres del Paine

Day 5 - Torres del Paine and Glacier Grey

Day 6 - Torres del Paine 

  • Full Description
  • Accommodation

Monday, 22 April 2024

Travel to Torres del Paine

This morning we fly to Puerto Natales, gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. Transfer to you lodge for a 3 night stay. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty, deemed a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978. Thick magellanic forests, barren pampa, turquoise lakes with huge glaciers and beautifully sculpted icebergs surround you; and soaring out of the earth stand the majestic, granite towers of Torres del Paine.


Tuesday, 23 April 2024

Torres del Paine and Glaciar Grey

In the company of an expert park guide you will get to know the National Park, visiting its most famous attractions, enjoying beautiful walks and learning about the flora and fauna of the marvellous mountains that form part of the Paine Massif. After enjoying a lunch outdoors we will take you to Lago Grey where you will have the option to take a walk around the lake shore or take the navigation and get close up to the Grey Glaciar.


Wednesday, 24 April 2024

Exploring Torres del Paine 

In the company of an expert park guide you will get to know the National Park, visiting its most famous attractions, enjoying beautiful walks and learning about the flora and fauna of the marvellous mountains that form part of the Paine Massif. After enjoying a lunch outdoors we will take you to Lago Grey where you will have the option to take a walk around the lake shore or take the navigation and get close up to the Grey Glaciar.

Hotel Las Torres

Patagonia and Torres del Paine - First Lodge

The Hotel las Torres was once an Estancia that has now been developed for tourism with comfortable, purpose built accommodation with private facilities and heating; restaurant, bar and social area. The Hostel is ideally located for those wishing to trek along the Ascension River and up to the 'Towers', the rocky peaks with towering above a lake. Visits to Lago Grey on the other side of the park are possible with private transport and excursions arranged at the hotel.

The rooms of the hotel provide a cozy atmosphere, being the perfect setting to relax and enjoy after a long days excursion. Central heating, box spring beds, telephones and private bathrooms in a rustic yet elegant decoration provide the ideal ambience in our superior rooms for resting and preparing the next days activities.

Several services are available in the relaxing environment of your room, with a simple call you have the possibility of enjoying massages, food, wine and drinks.

Hostería Las Torres offers single, double twin, matrimonial and triple rooms in categories standard and superior.

Large variety of excursions

With over 25 excursions to choose from every day, passengers will have the opportunity to decide the next day's trip with the assessment of their guide. Many of the outings are very different to what is ordinarily offered in the park. Interesting Archeological areas visited on 4x4, private paths that climb to the base of mountain glaciers and the more subtle yet profound walk in the Lenga forests provide an in-depth view of the powerful nature in Patagonia.

2019 Hosteria Las Torres
Cape Horn at dawn on a rare calm, sunny day with M/V Australis waiting

Antarctica Air-Cruise - 7 Nights

Day 7 - Punta Arenas

Day 8 - Fly to the South Shetland Islands

Day 9 - Ocean Nova Expedition Cruise

Day 10 - Exploring Antarctica

Day 11 - Exploring Antarctica

Day 12 - Exploring Antarctica

Day 13 - Return flight to Punta Arenas

  • Full Description
  • Accommodation

Thursday, 25 April 2024

Punta Arenas

You will be transferred from Torres del Paine to Punta Arenas and taken to your hotel for a 1-night stay. In the evening there will be a briefing and a special Patagonian welcome dinner and a chance to meet your fellow adventurers.


Friday, 26 April 2024

Fly to the South Shetland Islands 

Transfer to the airport and board the 71 passenger BAE-146. Your Antarctic adventure begins with a two-hour flight to King George Island, in the South Shetland Islands. Explore the area surrounding Chile's Frei Station and Russia's Bellingshausen Station, before boarding a Zodiac to embark your expedition vessel, the Ocean Nova for a 5 night cruise on a full board basis. 


Saturday, 27 April 2024

Ocean Nova Antarctica Expedition Cruise

Cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and among spectacular icebergs, while enjoying the company of sea birds, penguins, seals and whales. Each day, disembark by Zodiac and explore the landscape together with expert polar guides. On board the ship, attend an engaging program of lectures and presentations, and enjoy spectacular vistas from the panoramic lounge while sharing your daily adventures with fellow guests. No journey is the same as flexibility is the key to success in Antarctica. The Expedition Team sets the voyage route to take advantage of the ever-changing opportunities provided by nature, crafting a unique and extraordinary experience each time. While the exact itinerary changes with each expedition, you will explore several spots that offer the best possible overview of the varied Antarctic environment. Your voyage may include visits to sites such as Paulet Island, Hope Bay, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Deception Island, the Lemaire Channel, or many other magnificent places.


Sunday, 28 April 2024

Exploring Antarctica

Enjoy explorations ashore and informative presentations on board the Ocean Nova.


Monday, 29 April 2024

Exploring Antarctica

The small size of the group on board means it is quick and easy to disembark into zodiacs on your guided shore adventures.


Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Exploring Antarctica

Your last day in Antarctica with the expert expedition team.


Wednesday, 01 May 2024

Return flight to Punta Arenas  

Return to King George Island and bid farewell to Antarctica. Fly back to Punta Arenas, with the afternoon at leisure to relax or explore the town. Transfer to your hotel for a 1-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

Ocean Nova

Antarctica Cruises - Tourist Expedition Ship

Choose to fly over the Drake Passage, either one way or both, and combine with a cruise around the remote wilderness of the Antarctic Peninsula; a world of towering icebergs and huge penguin colonies. Built in Denmark in 1992 and refurbished regularly, the Ocean Nova is a comfortable specialist expedition vessel, limited to the 71 passenger capacity of the BAE airplane. This provides an intimate experience, with lower numbers of explorers. Enjoy regular zodiac boat outings and shore landings on a choice of itineraries, as shown below.

8326 Ocean Nova
1708 Valparaiso

Valaparaiso, Vina del Mar and Santiago - 2 Nights

Day 14 - Fly to Santiago 

Day 15 - Valparaiso, Vina del Mar and Pacific Coast

Day 16 - Overnight flight to UK

Day 17 - Arrive in the UK

  • Full Description

Thursday, 02 May 2024

Fly to Santiago 

Transfer to the airport and fly to Santiago, arriving mid-afternoon. From here you will be met by your guide and taken back to your hotel for a 2 night stay, with the rest of the day free.


Friday, 03 May 2024

Valparaiso, Vina del Mar and Pacific Coast 

We end your unforgettable trip with a full day excursion to the coastal cities of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso. En route we pass the agricultural valleys of Curacavo and Casablanca to reach Vina del Mar, famous for its shopping, parks of huge trees and palms that gave it the well-deserved name of 'Garden City'. We visit the beautiful park of Quinta Vergara with its amphitheatre, its arts museum and its public beaches.

We then travel down the coast to Valparaiso, whose picturesque bay is enhanced by surrounding hills covered in colourful houses. The city was once the most important maritime destination of the Pacific coast of South America and today offers a rich mix of arts and culture, as well as being the country's principal port and the home of the Chilean Navy. We will visit the downtown area, with its public buildings and monuments as well as its picturesque walkways and art galleries of the hill neighbourhoods. Return to Santiago for the evening.


Saturday, 04 May 2024

Overnight flight to UK

You will have the morning at leisure to do some last minute sightseeing or shopping and to say goodbye to Chile before being collected for your transfer to the airport. A mid-afternoon flight travels overnight and arrives in the UK the next morning.


Sunday, 05 May 2024

Arrive in the UK

Arrive back in the UK in the morning.

Price Guidelines

Season
Travel Dates
Room Arrangement First
Multiple Travellers - Twin Room £14,971

Prices are a guideline and per person. Please request a quote for Special Events, Christmas, New Year's Eve & Easter.


What's Included

  • 17 Days / 14 Nights
  • International flights (2 overnight)
  • Internal flights & flights to/from South Shetland Islands
  • Accommodation as shown in the itinerary
  • 5 night Ocean Nova Expedition Cruise, all meals & excursions
  • Price based on air-cruise departing 7th December 2019. Other dates may vary.
  • Breakfast every day
  • Transfers to and from airports
  • Transport throughout the itinerary
  • Excursions listed, all with expert, English-speaking guides

Client Testimonials

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