Luxury Chile Explorer
Staying in luxury accommodation throughout, this 13-day discovery tour of Chile takes you from the chic, colonial streets of Santiago to the wilds of Patagonia, via the barren beauty of the Atacama Desert. Along the way you’ll experience immersive tours of each destination with the chance to learn more about this fascinating country, with time to relax or explore in the stunning surroundings of the Lake District and sample wines or indulge in spa treatments in the vineyards just outside Santiago.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore the colonial streets of the capital, Santiago
- Experience the incredible landscapes of the Atacama Desert
- Relax in the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District
- Discover Patagonia on foot, on horseback or by bike
- Sample delicious locally-produced wines in the vineyards of the Millahue Valley
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Arrive in Chile
Fly to Chile and land in the capital city, Santiago. On arrival you will be driven to your hotel in the city, the Hotel Magnolia, where you will spend the next two nights. This grand, elegant design hotel was once a private mansion and is just steps from the old town. Interiors are chic and modern, with a monochromatic marble entryway and a suspended metal staircase.
Day 2 – Explore Santiago
Spend the day exploring the capital, starting with a half-day tour with an expert guide. The city sits in a valley surrounded by snow-capped mountains, meaning stunning photographs. You can visit the highlights, including the heart of the colonial centre at Plaza de Armas, neoclassical landmarks and glorious parks such as Cerro San Cristobal. Don’t miss dinner at one of the city’s gourmet restaurants, and sip a pisco sour as the sun goes down.
Day 3 – Fly to the Atacama Desert
Fly to Calama, gateway to the Atacama Desert. On arrival you’ll be met by a driver and driven to the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama, where you’ll spend three nights at the Hotel Alto Atacama. This adobe-walled lodge has a geothermal spa and six plunge pools, set within the tangerine hills of the desert, and is perfectly positioned for stargazing.
Days 4-5 – Discover the Atacama Desert
Choose from a range of excursions to help you better understand the fascinating wonders of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on the planet. The hotel has 30 different tours and excursions to choose from, including hiking, biking, spa therapies, visits to the salt flats, the observatory or the geysers of El Tatio.
Day 6 – Fly to Puerto Montt
After breakfast, you’ll be taken to the airport for your flight to Puerto Montt, gateway to Chile’s beautiful Lake District. Here you’ll check in to Hotel Awa, where you’ll spend the next two nights. The hotel has a striking location on Lake Llanquihue, overlooking the lake and mountains with views of Osorno Volcano from all of its rooms.
Day 7 – Visit the Lake District
Today you have the opportunity to explore Chile’s stunning lakes, whether by spending the day gazing across Lake Llanquihue from the hotel’s spa or by taking one of the local excursions. The hotel can arrange fly fishing, kayaking, treks and even birdwatching activities. There’s also the opportunity to hike up Osorno Volcano.
Day 8 – Fly to Patagonia
You’ll be driven to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas, the airport which services Patagonia. On arrival your driver will take you overland to your luxurious hotel the Singular Patagonia, a former sheep-processing plant that has been creatively refurbished and now offers extremely comfortable lodgings on the shores of a Patagonian fjord, Last Hope Sound. The hotel retains many of its original features, which you can enjoy in the restaurants and lounge areas.
Days 9-10 – Explore Patagonia
You’ll have two days in which to explore the area around the hotel, thanks to a wide array of excursions. Head into Torres del Paine National Park and discover the landscapes on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback, or perhaps kayak or take a boat trip across the lake for stunning views of the Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers. Tours of the hotel will unveil its history and the transformation from cold storage plant to hotel, or alternatively you can bunker down with a good book in the spa.
Day 11 – Fly to Santiago
You’ll be taken to the airport for your flight to Santiago, where you’ll be transferred to your hotel Vina Vik Millahue where you’ll spend the next two nights. Set within the Millahue Valley, the hotel is blessed with a peaceful setting overlooking the surrounding vineyards and mountains. Small but perfectly formed with just 22 suites, you can relax in serenity in the granite infinity pools.
Day 12 – Free day to explore
Spend the day relaxing in the beautiful surroundings of the Millahue Valley, whether that’s on one of the hotel’s seven horses, complimentary bikes or on foot. Explore the vine-filled landscapes with a guide or perhaps book a treatment at the spa – wine-inspired, of course.
Day 13 – Return flight