This trip generates 149 kg of CO2-e per person per day. Learn more about our climate commitment.
Premium Patagonia





Journey through Patagonia’s glaciers, fjords and wild southern landscapes
Discover the natural wonders of wild Patagonia on this nine-day Premium journey. Travel from Santiago through Torres del Paine National Park, take in stunning views of glaciers and icebergs and explore the incredible Perito Moreno Glacier – one of the few glaciers left in the world that isn’t shrinking! Along the way, keep your eyes open for sea lions, penguins, guanacos and pumas. Cruise past icebergs and glaciers and listen to the crack of the ice as it plunges into the waters below, then learn about Patagonia’s sheep-farming heritage and wool handling at a local estancia. This trip takes you into the heart of the drama and the calm of this vast wilderness with unique wildlife opportunities and striking natural landscapes.
4.8
50 reviewsStart: Santiago, Chile
End: Ushuaia, Argentina
- Duration
- 9 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
- Premium
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Stay just outside Ushuaia at your Feature Stay that boasts panoramic views of the Beagle Channel and the surrounding Martial Mountains.
- Witness Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier and listen to the thundering ice cracking on this 30 km (18.6 ft) beast – one of the few glaciers left that isn’t shrinking!
- Explore the best of Torres del Paine National Park on a day packed with incredible activities – your day will be customised by your expert guide to perfectly suit the group’s fitness levels and interests.
- Spend the day in the Beagle Channel, sailing to the shore of Martillo Island to observe the resident Magellanic and Papua penguins that live there.
- Take part in Signature Experiences – meeting a local sheep farmer and enjoying a homecooked asado dinner in El Calafate – that add another layer to your discoveries and bring you closer to Patagonian culture.
Itinerary
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Chile. Your adventure begins in Santiago, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Here, you’ll meet your fellow travellers and local leader at a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe head out for a self-paced walking tour and get to know your surroundings. After your meeting, head out for dinner at a local wine bar. Get to know your group over a multi-course meal of ancestral cuisine, including Mapuche dishes, and learn more about your upcoming adventure in the wilds of Patagonia.
- Hotel Bidasoa or similar (1 night)
- Dinner
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Today is a travel day so sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. You’ll leave the hotel early in the morning (your departure time can vary depending on the flight) and fly from Santiago to Puerto Natales. From here, drive to your accommodation, passing views of the Patagonian landscape along the way. Look out for wildlife like guanacos and take the opportunity to get to know your group a little better. When you arrive, check into your hotel, which has been designed to blend into the landscape and make the most of the sweeping views. With amazing scenery right outside your window, this is the perfect spot to connect with nature and leave the rest of the world behind. After an orientation walk with your leader around Puerto Natales, you might like to join your group for dinner at a local restaurant.
- Altiplanico Puerto Natales or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
Your travel time today will be approximately 7 to 8 hours.
Today’s itinerary will depend on the time of your flight to Puerto Natales. If it departs in the afternoon, your leader will take you to an orientation walk in Santiago in the morning. If the flight is in the morning, then the orientation walk will be provided in Puerto Natales.
With a full day to explore Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia, you’re set for some great adventures. Today’s activities will be customised based on the weather and your group’s fitness level and interests. You might see Grey Glacier and the surrounding icebergs, or head to the Salto Grande waterfall and see the Paine Massif. Maybe go on some short hikes – the great thing about this national park is that its natural beauty can be seen from anywhere!
- Altiplanico Puerto Natales or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Puerto Natales - Full Day Torres del Paine Tour
Today you’ll be exploring the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers within Bernardo O’Higgins National Park – only accessible by sea. Cruise through the Ultima Esperanza fjord, passing by glaciers, waterfalls and small estancias and eventually arriving at the Balmaceda Glacier. Continue to the end of the fjord and take a short walk to a viewpoint overlooking the glacier before cruising back the way you came, keeping an eye out for imperial cormorants and sea lions as you go. After your cruise, head to nearby Estancia Perales to enjoy lunch and amazing views. Tonight, perhaps head out for dinner with your group in Puerto Natales and share stories about today’s adventures.
- Altiplanico Puerto Natales or similar (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Puerto Natales - Full Day Bernardo O'Higgins Tour with Serrano and Balmeceda Glacier
After a hearty breakfast to prepare you for a day of travel, cross the international border from Chile to Argentina. On the way, stop off at Tierra de Ovejeros ranch – a traditional Patagonian estancia – for an authentic introduction to the area’s sheep-farming heritage. Join a local woman in her home as she shares stories of her life as a sheep farmer and learn about the wool-selection process, observe different stages of wool handling and gain insight into customary shepherding practices that remain central to life here. Plus, you’ll see a sheepdog at work and a sheep-shearing demonstration. Then, continue to El Calafate, your gateway to Glaciers National Park. As a major hub for adventurers headed to Perito Moreno, El Calafate has undergone a lot of development in recent decades. Located on the shore of the Argentino Lake and surrounded by the Andes range, this is a scenic place to spend a few days. After your long travel day, you may want to simply relax at your hotel.
- Design Suites Hotel or similar (1 night) (1 night)
- Breakfast
- El Calafate - Sheep Estancia Visit
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours, including border formalities.
Today, drive to the Perito Moreno Glacier – one of the few balanced glaciers in the world. At 3 km (1.8 mi) wide and 30 km (19 mi) long, it’s a spectacular sight. There are multiple viewing platforms overlooking Lake Argentino, providing an ideal vantage point to watch and listen to the crack of the ice as it plunges into the waters below. After you have watched the calving glacier, board your boat with an English-speaking guide for a glacier cruise that takes you even closer to the massif. You can also choose to pre-book a mini trek that will have you walking on the glacier. After an amazing day, you’ll head back to your accommodation. Freshen up, then join your group for an intimate asado (South American barbecue) dinner with a local couple in their home.
- Design Suites Hotel or similar (1 night) (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- El Calafate - Perito Moreno Tour
- El Calafate - Asado Dinner
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
We recommend booking the Perito Moreno Mini Trek before leaving home, as it will likely be booked out if you wait until you are in Argentina. You can book this directly with Hielo & Aventura and you must add their optional transfer when booking: https://www.hieloyaventura.com/en/excursiones/minitrekking
This is a full-day activity, with pick-up and dropoff from El Calafate. You will be separated from your leader and group for the day.
The maximum age limit for this activity is 65. There are no exceptions, even with a doctor’s certificate.
If you don’t do the mini trek, you will walk along the platforms and balconies surrounding the glacier with your leader and have the option to book the glacier cruise. Depending on the weather, your leader may also be able to organise some free time at the north face beach (viewpoint).
Take to the skies on a flight from El Calafate to Ushuaia this morning. When you arrive, check into your Feature Stay just outside the city. Boasting stunning views of the Beagle Channel and the Martial Mountains, this will be your home for the next two nights. Head out for a walk around town with your leader to get your bearings, then the rest of the day is yours to enjoy your own way. Maybe visit the Museo del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Museum) or take a stroll along the waterfront. Tonight, you might like to head out for drinks or a casual dinner with your group or enjoy a quiet night in.
- Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night) (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Ushuaia - Orientation Walk
Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.
Today’s itinerary will depend on the time of your flight to Ushuaia. If it departs in the afternoon, your leader will take you to an orientation walk in El Calafate in the morning. If the flight is in the morning, then the orientation walk will be provided in Ushuaia.
Your flight today has a strict luggage allowance of 15 kg (33 lbs) – one piece – for checked luggage.
After breakfast with your group, take a boat trip through Tierra del Fuego National Park along the dramatic coastline of the Beagle Channel. Transfer to a private boat and continue towards Martillo Island, home to one of the few penguin colonies left in South America. As the boat approaches the island, the engine is turned off, allowing for respectful, distanced viewing of the two species of penguins that live here – the Magellanic and the rare Papua (Gentoo) penguin. Watch them waddle along the shore and dive into the icy waters before heading back to Ushuaia by land.
- Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night) (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Ushuaia - Acatushún Museum Entrance
- Ushuaia - Martillo Island Penguin Boat Trip
There are no activities planned for today, and you’re free to leave at any time after checkout. If you’d like to spend more time in Ushuaia, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to book additional accommodation. Ushuaia is the starting point of the Antarctica sailing trips, so speak with your booking agent if this is something that you’re interested in.
There are no activities planned for today, and you’re free to leave at any time after checkout. If you’d like to spend more time in Ushuaia, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to book additional accommodation. Ushuaia is the starting point of the Antarctica sailing trips, so speak with your booking agent if this is something that you’re interested in.
- Breakfast
Inclusions and activities
Meals
8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Private Vehicle, Plane, Boat
Accommodation
Comfortable Hotel (5 nights), Feature Stay (3 nights)
Premium inclusions
- Arrival airport transfer
- Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
- Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
- 24/7 on-ground support
Included activities
- Puerto Natales - Full Day Torres del Paine Tour
- Puerto Natales - Full Day Bernardo O'Higgins Tour with Serrano and Balmeceda Glacier
- El Calafate - Sheep Estancia Visit
- El Calafate - Perito Moreno Tour
- El Calafate - Asado Dinner
- Ushuaia - Orientation Walk
- Ushuaia - Acatushún Museum Entrance
- Ushuaia - Martillo Island Penguin Boat Trip
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Why choose us
We’re adventure travel experts with decades of experience and proud to run trips in over 100 countries.
We keep our group sizes small and our experiences big, so you can get more out of your travels.
Leaders don’t just show off a destination, they’re the heart and soul of our trips.
The Intrepid Foundation gives back globally and our B Corp status is proof that we're dedicated to creating a positive impact.
Before you book you should know
- Weather in Patagonia can be wild, so it’s important to prepare for all elements. Rain, wind and extreme cold are all part of the adventure. As a result of this wild weather, the hikes and activities within Torres del Paine National Park may not always be possible, but if you are prepared to be a little flexible, you will have a great time.
1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. We highly recommend you take US Dollars with you to Argentina and change it locally. While ATMs are widely available, there is a daily limit for withdrawals and the exchange rate does fluctuate.
4.The optional mini trek on Perito Moreno glacier is possible on this itinerary. Please see the itinerary above for full details of this activity. Places are limited and we recommend you book in advance. Please inquire when booking your trip to book this optional activity. Full passport details are required to hold space.
Visa information is provided by Sherpa, a third-party. The "Add connection" feature shows transit visa requirements only and does not include full entry visa needs. Please note, additional service fees apply if you choose to purchase a visa through Sherpa.
Travel and visa requirements
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Hotel Bidasoa
Avenida Vitacura 4873 Vitacura,
Santiago
CHILE
Description
Located in the exclusive Vitacura district of Santiago, Hotel Bidasoa blends sustainability, style, and comfort in a chic urban setting. This eco-friendly hotel offers spacious rooms with modern amenities, ideal for both leisure and business travelers. Guests can enjoy two on-site restaurants, the elegant Bidasoa and the creative Casa Sanz featuring locally inspired, gourmet cuisine. With a rooftop pool, lush gardens, and its prime location just 15 minutes from downtown Santiago, Hotel Bidasoa is a serene yet vibrant retreat in the city.
Instructions
A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
For your confirmed arrival transfer, you’ll be met at GATE 4 by a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign. Please ask them who they’re picking up to confirm you’ve met the correct transfer representative. Confirm your booking code with the representative before following them anywhere. Be aware that taxi and transfer scam artists are very common in Santiago. In case of flight cancellations, changes, or unforeseen delays, please contact our local office on the number in the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section. Free Wi-Fi is available at the airport.
Dates and prices
Learn more about pricing
Reviews
Filter by rating