Tour:Introducing Chile

This two week luxury itinerary gives you the chance to experience the highlights of Santiago and the Vineyards with the dramatic landscapes of the Atacama Desert and the impressive ice fields, lakes and glaciers of Chilean Patagonia. A brilliant overview of the diversity of this pencil thin country, staying at two award winning Explora properties.

The Chilean capital is a cosmopolitan city founded in 1541 against a backdrop of the snow-capped Andes. At 1700ft (520m) above sea level Santiago enjoys warm days and cool evenings, a perfect place to spend a few days exploring the museums, squares and parks or to visit one of the nearby vineyards. The charming Santa Rita Vineyard was founded in 1880, enjoy a few days here sampling and learning about Chilean wines.

The driest desert on Earth rises from sea level to 13,000 ft up in the Andes. There is something quite extraordinary about desert at this altitude. Strange lunar landscapes, flocks of vicunas, geysers and salt flats which attract a myriad of bird species. Stay at the fantastic Hotel Explora en Atacama. This hotel includes full board with open bar and a range of excursions from short walking tours to bike rides, horse riding and high altitude trekking for the more strenuous.

Travel on down to the tip of the country into the heart of Patagonia, the Torres del Paine National Park. Here you will see the iconic snow-capped granite towers, the "torres", that rise above the lakes and forests. The Hotel Explora en Patagonia is the best base from which to explore the area with a choice of five tours a day led by experienced guides.

Highlights:  Santiago, the Vineyards, Atacama Desert, Torres del Paine National Park.

Last Updated: Tuesday May 13 2008