Destination: Atacama Desert and the Bolivian Andes
Essence of the trip:
A unique expedition that will see you travel across the sun scorched Atacama Desert by horseback and 4×4, before you cross the border into Bolivia. There you will head to the stunning setting of the largest salt flats on Earth, before trekking to the summit of a volcano, ending an adventure that spans some of the most dramatic scenery in South America.
This trip will give you:
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The chance to travel through the incredible natural setting of the Atacama Desert by horseback, camping in the wilderness at night under the stars for a true back to nature experience.
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An amazing sense of achievement after you have scaled the Tunupa Volcano and taken in the panoramic 360-degree views from its 5,500m summit.
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The opportunity to explore the otherworldly landscape of the largest salt flats on the planet, before spending the night in a hotel constructed entirely of salt.
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Memories of a stunning scenic flight back to La Paz, which will take you over countless volcanoes and the peak of the highest mountain in Bolivia during a breathtaking final leg of your trip.
Details:
After flying into Santiago and connecting with a domestic flight to Calama, you will be transferred to San Pedro and begin acclimatizing for your challenging expedition ahead. The following morning you will head to the Herradura Ranch, before beginning a 3-day horse trek through the incredible setting of the Atacama, a desert so vast at over 46,000 square miles that it can be seen from outer space.
Over the next 72 hours you will then travel by horseback through some of the most arid and diverse landscapes on the planet, making your way through both the Valley of the Moon, an eerie lunar-like landscape, and the stunning Cordillera de la Sal and camping in the wilderness each night.
After finishing your horseback journey at the deserted site of Lago Salado, which is today completely unpopulated but is renowned for its 2,000 year old ancient rock etchings, you will then cross the border by 4×4 and pass the mesmerizing Green and Red Lagoons to the Uyuni salt flats, which are the largest of their kind on Earth. This is a simply unforgettable place to experience and you will then spend the night in a hotel made entirely of salt, before watching the sun rise over the flats the next morning.
Having moved on to the base of the Tunupa Volcano, you will spend the day battling to the summit at 5,500m, which is not a technical climb but is a serious challenge due to the altitude involved. The following morning you will be picked up by a private light aircraft and taken on a spectacular flight over the salt flats, past the summit of the highest mountain in Bolivia and along the range of volcanoes on the Chile/ Bolivia border back to La Paz, which will be the final destination of this unique dual-country epic adventure.
If you are interested in taking this trip and would like to discuss it in more detail with our team of experts touch here or call us on 0207 426 9899 (UK) or 1-888 341 9663 (US) to start planning your trip.