Day 1. Buenos Aires
Arrival to Buenos Aires, and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2. Buenos Aires
After breakfast, a private city tour of perhaps the most cosmopolitan metropolis in South America. The tour will include a visit to the Plaza de Mayo, the hub of the city centre and where many public buildings such as the Catedral Metropolitana can be found. At the east end, you will find the Casa Rosada presidential palace with the famous balcony from which Juan and Evita Peron greeted the masses. A visit will also be made to the Teatro Colon, found at the intersection of Cirrito and Tucuman the world-class opera house that opened in 1908 with a presentation of Aida.
Day 3. El Calafate Airport - El Calafate
Arrival to El Calafate Airport and transfer to El Calafate town. At 7 pm the group will have a meeting at the hotel. You will meet your Guide, converse about the details of your trip and enjoy your first dinner together.
Day 4. El Calafate - El Chalten
After breakfast we will transfer to El Chalten, a small and colourful town next to Mount Fitz Roy. We cross 190 km of gravel road through the Patagonian steppe and stop at La Leona, a picturesque inn to enjoy homemade cakes. The views on the Viedma Lake are superb. El Chalten is located on the edge of Los Glaciares National Park in the surroundings of the Fitz Roy Mount. Hotel.
Day 5. Piedra Del Fraile
Today we start our trek in the Los Glaciares National Park. A short transfer takes us to the Rio Electrico, where we start our trek through the forest to Piedra del Fraile. Leaving our packs here we continue trekking the Rio Electrico Valley for 2 hours and then ascending 1 hour to see the Fitz Roy Mount (3441m/11289 ft) north face and a view of the impressive Marconi Glacier. From here we return to Piedra del Fraile Full Camp. Lodging in full Camp at Piedra del Fraile double base (rural area).
Day 6. Rio Blanco - De los Tres Lagoon
Today we follow the Rio Blanco valley to the lake of Piedras Blancas where we have an impressive view of the hanging Piedras Blancas Glacier. In the afternoon, having left our packs at camp, we ascend the frontal moraine to De Los Tres Lagoon for a stunning view of Fitz Roy Mount.
Day 7. Madre e Hija Lagoon - Torre Mount
This morning we start trekking along the shore of Laguna Madre and Lagoon Hija until reaching Bridwell base camp at Torre Mount area. Torre Mount (3128m/10.262 ft) with its needle shaped peak is a major challenge for the best climbers. We trek along the northern side of Laguna Torre, fed by the Fitzroy River. From here we will have astonishing views of Torre Mount. Lodging in full Camp at Bridwell double base (rural area).
Day 8. Glacier Trek on the Torre Glacier
Today, weather permitting, we perform an impressive activity. You will walk and climb on the legendary Torre Mount Glacier, with its granite walls just behind you. All necessary equipment (rope, harness, crampons, ice-axe) and expert guidance are provided. In order to access the glacier we have to make a Tyrolean crossing of the river. This is done by clipping a little seat onto a fixed rope over the river and pulling yourself, or being pulled, across. Lodging in full Camp at Bridwell double base (rural area).
Day 9. Pliegue Tumbado, Toro Lagoon
Today we cross the Fitz Roy River using once again the Tyrolean traverse. We trek through the forest, before climbing 700 meters (2300 ft) to the ridge which connects the summits of the Pliegue Tumbado. The landscape of the Fitzroy group and the Rio Tunel Valley is breathtaking.
Lodging in full Camp at Laguna Toro double base (rural area).
Day 10. Paso del Viento
Today we trek toward the Paso del Viento (Pass of the Wind, 1550m/5085 ft) with the fabulous Continental Ice Field view and the Mariano Moreno ridge inside it. We depart from the Toro Lagoon getting views of the Tunel Glacier and the river with the same name. It's a demanding, but hugely rewarding trekking day. We trek 6-7 hours approx before returning to the forest for camp.
Lodging in full Camp at Laguna Toro double base (rural area)
Day 11. Tunel River, El Chalten
We return trekking down to El Chalten, and then hiking on to the Tunel River east shore. We descend through forest, whilst enjoying the panoramamic views. We arrive to El Chalten in the evening.
Lodging at a hostel.
Day 12. El Chalten - El Calafate
Free day in El Chalten, resting and enjoying the small town, before heading by bus to El Calafate around 5 pm. Arrival, dinner and accommodation at your hostel.
Day 13. El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier
After breakfast we depart by bus to the Magallanes peninsula, which is the entrance of The Glaciers National Park. Its centrepiece is the Perito Moreno Glacier, which, because of unusually favourable local conditions, is one of the world's few advancing glaciers. Huge icebergs from the glacier wall collapse into the De los Tempanos Channel. The roar of the gigantic ice rocks falling and crashing into the waters of the channel is a unique experience.
Our bus will lead us just in front of the Glacier, allowing us to walk the gangplanks to view the Glacier from different viewpoints. Then we go down to the lakeside to board a ship that carries us very near the Glacier ice walls. Return to El Calafate. Accommodation in a hostel.
Day 14. El Calafate - El Calafate Airport
After breakfast we transfer to El Calafate Airport.
End of our services.
Day 1. Buenos Aires
Day 2. Buenos Aires
Day 3. El Calafate Airport - El Calafate
Day 4. El Calafate - El Chalten
Day 5. Piedra Del Fraile
Day 6. Rio Blanco - De los Tres Lagoon
Day 7. Madre e Hija Lagoon - Torre Mount
Day 8. Glacier Trek on the Torre Glacier
Day 9. Pliegue Tumbado, Toro Lagoon
Day 10. Paso del Viento
Day 11. Tunel River, El Chalten
Day 12. El Chalten - El Calafate
Day 13. El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier
Day 14. El Calafate - El Calafate Airport
Our price Includes:
Price includes international return flights from London, all accommodation in quality hotels and lodges, most meals, all tours with entrance tickets and all domestic flights in Argentina.
Our price does not include:
Meals not specified, airport taxes and travel insurance are not included in the quote.
Please ask for optional tours or business class upgrades on all flights. The tour is available from November until April with a minimum of 3 trekkers.