From £4,481 per person for 9 nights
Ready to bookVisit vibrant Santiago, vineyards and coastal cities, before venturing into the world's driest non-polar desert, the other-worldly Atacama. Then spend 3 days relaxing in a spa hotel in the desert.
Combine cosmopolitan Santiago and its surrounds with the lunar-like landscapes of the epic Atacama.
What makes this experience awesome:
The plateau of the Atacama desert is like nowhere else on earth, movie directors use its empty red landscapes as a stand-in for Mars. An adventure here feels like stepping into another world, where geysers soar from the scorched earth and snow tops distant volcanoes. This specially designed experience contrasts time in this unforgettable desert landscape with the vibrant city of Santiago, its nearby vineyards and the contrasting coastal cities and of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso. Starting in Santiago, you’ll begin your slow adjustment to altitude by exploring the city with your private guide (and there’s also the option to see the city’s twinkling sprawl at sunset, from South America’s tallest skyscraper, Sky Costanera).
Then it’s time to head for the seaside, to the pretty resort city of Viña del Mar and the romantic port of Valparaíso, with its rainbow-hued streets. You can’t come to Chile without tasting some of its fantastic wines, so you’ll spend half a day sampling Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons at the renowned Santa Rita winery. The rest of your experience is dedicated to exploring the incredible landscapes of the Atacama. View the dramatic sand formations of the Valley of the Moon whilst sipping a cocktail, as the dusky sky turns orange and then purple; visit a tiny mining settlement and have lunch in a local house; and enjoy an optional evening under the stars with an incredibly knowledgeable local guide, who’ll tell you about the Big Bang, life and the universe as you search out planets and keep warm with a traditional Chilean hot chocolate.
End your experience with three nights all-inclusive at the acclaimed Tierra Atacama hotel. Exquisitely designed, with unparalleled views of the Atacama landscape from its rooms, ithe hotel is renowned for its spa, which has a fantastic view of Licancabur volcano. It also has a brilliant range of activities, and you can choose between two half-day or one full-day of excursions included in your stay, including Full Moon hiking (date dependent), horse-riding and star-gazing.
Pressed for time? View our Landscapes of the Atacama Desert Express trip here!
To view our related Chile trips, click here!
To get our mini brochure for this holiday please click here, and we will email you a PDF copy.
For UK Government travel advice on this destination see: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
9 photos from this experience
