Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Argentina – Chile – Antarctica – Buenos Aires – El Calafate – Torres del Paine National Park – Antarctic Peninsula
100% customisable for you
Early morning alarms don’t feel so bad when a trip to Argentina and Antarctica is on the horizon. Head to the airport, breeze through security, shop around for some polar-proof layers and settle into the lounge for some fizz and nibbles before the long-haul.
Today’s journey is a two-parter, taking you first to a European or American hub, where you’ll have time for a quick leg stretch before your second flight to Buenos Aires. Queue up the films, fluff up the neck pillow and try to catch some Z’s – all in all, the journey should take between 15 to 20 hours, depending on connection times.
When you touch down at Ezeiza Airport the next morning, you’ll be met by your private driver and whisked away to your hotel in the heart of the city, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights.
There’s only one thing for it after all that travelling: food. Enjoy your first taste of Argentinian cuisine at the hotel restaurant before crawling into bed – tomorrow promises plenty more excitement...
Rise and shine early this morning to beat the jet lag and treat yourself to some medialunas (Argentina’s take on croissants). You only have one full day to soak up the splendour of Buenos Aires, so hit the ground running with a private tour on foot through this culturally rich charmer.
Set off with your local guide on a greatest-hits tour of the city, which includes the likes of Recoleta and La Boca, the cobbled streets of San Telmo and the glamorous waterfront of Puerto Madero. Admire iconic landmarks, such as the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, Plaza de Mayo, the historic Colon Theatre and the imposing Palace of the Argentine National Congress, all while soaking up the city’s infectious energy.
As the day draws to a close, enjoy a tasty dinner al fresco before heading back to the hotel – our clued-up Concierge is on hand to recommend some hidden gems.
Bid the capital a warm adios this morning as you’re privately transferred back to the airport for your three-and-a-half-hour flight to El Calafate, deep in the heart of Argentine Patagonia.
When you land, you’ll be driven half an hour to your traditional guesthouse overlooking Lake Argentino, your home for the next two nights.
Here, glacier-capped peaks and shimmering waters steal the show, best admired while stretching your legs on the nearby walking trails or on a horseback ride across the rolling hills. Craving some chill-out time instead? Simply curl up with a coffee and soak up views of condors and flamingos soaring across the water, all from the comfort of your lakeside retreat.
This evening, sink your teeth into a juicy Argentinian steak before rounding things off with a generous scoop (or two) of dulce de leche ice cream, a sweet treat locals and visitors alike tend to go wild for.
Fuel up with a hearty breakfast this morning – you’ve got quite the adventure ahead. Meet your local guide and venture into Los Glaciares National Park, home to one of Patagonia’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders: the Perito Moreno Glacier.
As you traverse through the forest, your guide will lead you to some of the best vantage points in the park, each one unveiling a different angle of the 200ft glacier’s dazzling blue ice walls. Listen out for its groans and cracks before witnessing the spectacle of giant ice chunks calving from the glacier face and crashing into the lake below, sending ripples of waves across the water as onlookers gasp, cheer and scramble for their cameras in unison.
After a full day of glacier-gazing, leave dinner plans up to your Concierge – just tell them what you’re craving...
It’s on to the next chapter of your adventure today as you leave Argentina behind and cross the border into Chile. Meet your driver, stick your headphones on and tune into our destination-specific playlist as you hit the road for the three-and-a-half-hour journey from El Calafate to Torres del Paine National Park.
When you arrive, settle into your lodge, your home away from home for the next three nights. Framed by jagged peaks, azure lakes and dense woodland, it doesn’t take long to see why this corner of Chilean Patagonia has earned legendary status among adventurers. Spend the afternoon unwinding after the journey or head out for a gentle stroll to soak up your spectacular new surroundings.
Evenings here come with a crisp mountain chill, so debut your shiny new thermals before heading out for your first Chilean feast. Then, it’s all eyes to the skies: with barely any light pollution here, the stars put on quite the show. Who will be the first to spot Orion’s Belt?
If you’re happiest in the great outdoors, today is bound to be a highlight. Lace up your walking boots and venture deeper into Torres del Paine National Park, where gleaming lakes, striking granite peaks and sprawling meadowland span more than 450,000 acres.
Spend the day hiking panoramic trails, breathing in that wonderfully fresh mountain air and searching for the ultimate picnic spot. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled and camera poised for an abundance of wildlife, including (deep breath) guanacos, rheas, hares, foxes, armadillos, woodpeckers and condors. If luck’s on your side, you may even catch a glimpse of the elusive puma prowling in the distance.
All that explorin’ is bound to work up a mighty appetite, so this evening, head out and see what else Chile has on the menu.
Channel your inner cowboy today for a horseback adventure along Torres del Paine National Park’s Serrano River. After befriending your horse, saddle up and clip-clop through rolling farmlands, tuning into the culture of gauchos – Patagonia’s famously skilled horse riders and cattle herders, known for their deep-rooted traditions.
With your guide leading the way, soak up panoramic views of the mighty Paine Massif and Grey Glacier, with the Ferrier and Donoso peaks rising in the distance. Between the rhythmic clatter of hooves and dusty paths, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve wandered onto the set of an old Western. And before saying your goodbyes, reward your trusty steed with a crunchy apple or carrot – well-deserved after a day exploring Patagonia together.
This evening, bundle up for a cowboy-sized barbecue beside a crackling log fire, clinking glasses to celebrate your time in the Chilean countryside as the setting sun casts everything in a golden glow.
After breakfast, meet your local driver for the four-hour journey from Torres del Paine National Park to Punta Arenas, travelling through the wilderness of Chilean Patagonia. Around halfway through the drive, you’ll reach the shores of Ultima Esperanza Sound before continuing along the road towards the legendary Strait of Magellan, where Punta Arenas awaits.
Arriving by afternoon, head straight to your hotel to drop your bags before making your way to an important briefing ahead of your eagerly anticipated Antarctic air-cruise. Here, you’ll receive the lowdown on your expedition and learn more about the guidelines in place to help protect the White Continent and its wildlife – safe to say excitement levels are likely to be sky-high by this point.
This evening, gather with your fellow adventurers for a welcome dinner filled with regional specialities, Chilean wine and plenty of excited chatter about the journey ahead.
Don your seafaring caps and thermals, because your Antarctic adventure officially begins today. This morning, board a two-hour flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island, located in the South Shetland Islands. Try to nab a window seat for the journey, watching as the deep blue ocean gives way to glistening icebergs and a blanket of white stretching towards the horizon. Then comes the moment you’ve been waiting for: stepping out into Antarctica and breathing in that crisp polar air for the very first time.
Bundle into your transfer vehicle, passing Chile’s Frei Station and Russia’s Bellingshausen Station en route to the shoreline, where a Zodiac awaits to whisk you across the icy waters to your boutique expedition vessel. Once aboard, take some time to explore the ship – your home for the next five days.
By the time evening rolls around, enjoy dinner overlooking the glistening Antarctic scenery, then retreat to your cosy cabin and let the gentle rhythm of the ship lull you to sleep.
Over the next four days (each as long as you like, thanks to the nearly 24 hours of daylight) settle into life on board as your expedition ship charts a course through some of the most remote corners of the Antarctic Peninsula, cruising past frozen wilderness, towering icebergs and glacier-filled fjords.
No two voyages are ever quite the same, and that’s all part of the adventure. Your expedition team will adapt the route according to weather, sea ice and wildlife activity, making the most of whatever opportunities Mother Nature decides to serve up. Along the way, you may have the chance to step ashore and explore remarkable locations such as the South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Sound, the Gerlache Strait and the Penola Strait.
Keep your camera poised for penguins waddling along the shoreline, seals stretched out on floating ice and seabirds soaring overhead. Depending on the season, you may even be treated to sightings of humpback whales and orcas migrating through the icy waters.
Fancy dialling up the adventure? Kayak among the icebergs or brave the legendary polar plunge into the freezing Antarctic waters – just another bucket list item to tick off on your epic expedition.
Back on board, warm up with a hot drink, thaw out in the sauna and relive the day’s highlights with your fellow travellers.
Today, it’s time to bid farewell to Antarctica – and the friendly crew who’ve helped bring it to life. Climb aboard a Zodiac for one final journey to King George Island, then board your two-hour flight back to Punta Arenas, taking in one last glimpse of the icy wilderness below.
When you touch down, you’ll be whisked away by private transfer to your hotel for the night. The rest of the day is yours: perhaps stretch your legs with a stroll around town, toast your Antarctic adventure with something chilled or simply put your feet up and flick through the hundreds (or possibly thousands) of photos you’ve inevitably taken.
Time flies when you’re having fun, and sadly, your adventure has come to an end. Today, you’ll be privately transferred to Punta Arenas Airport for the long journey home, travelling via South American and European hubs before arriving back on home turf tomorrow.
All in all, the return trip should take around 27 hours – plenty of time to start dreaming up your next bucket-list adventure...
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire now
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
