Mini-expedition in Patagonia

Airfare is not included on this trip, so you are responsible for arranging your own transportation to and from El Calafate, Patagonia. There is no program scheduled for the first day, allowing you to arrive in El Calafate at your convenience. Upon arrival, we will be driven to our hotel for the next two nights. We will check in and familiarize ourselves with the city on our own. In the evening, we meet for a joint welcome dinner and go through the program for the next days. Can you feel the buzz of excitement building up? Tomorrow marks the beginning of our extraordinary glacial encounters.

Early in the morning we are picked up and driven a couple of hours west towards the border with Chile. Eventually we arrive at Perito Moreno National Park, where we witness the captivating sight of the glacier continuously calving with its thunderous echoes.The sights, sounds and colors are some of the greatest nature experiences you can have. We return to the hotel in El Calafate in the afternoon and gather for a pleasant dinner in the evening.

Today, all the equipment we need for the trip will be distributed and our mini expedition begins! We drive past El Chaltén, Argentina's trekking capital, before driving further into Los Glaciares National Park to the Electro River Bridge where we will start the trip. We walk steadily uphill as we approach the heart of the Andes. After 2-3 hours of walking we arrive at La Piedra del Fraile - a well-known camp in a great location - and we pitch our tents for the night.

After a fresh breakfast at the campsite, the hike continues along the famous Electrio River, named after its "electric" blue color. We hike on and eventually change shoes to cross the Pollone River - the river flows out from a glacier, and the water temperature is accordingly brisk. If there is a lot of water in the river, we have to zip-line across instead. After hiking in the stunning scenery, we set up camp for the night on the west side of Laguna de los 14 - which is a feast for the senses. From camp our gaze is drawn toward the renowned peak, Monte Fitz Roy. This formidable mountain is among the world's most challenging to conquer, its summit an aspiration of adventurers worldwide. Notably, it straddles the border separating Chile and Argentina. We will make a nice dinner in camp and reflect on the days adventures.

There will be an early start today, as we will embark on one of the tougher stages of the trip. We'll climb around 700 meters in varying terrain, and if conditions allow, we'll belay the first part of the stage with ropes. At the top of Marconi Pass, we encounter the first sight of the massive glacier - it's like entering a completely different world! Weather permitting, we will eventually find a suitable place to camp on the glacier. If the weather is too bad, we continue up to a mountain hut and camp outside.

We wake up to our first morning on the world's third largest ice mass! We start the morning with breakfast and get ready for the day's activities. This will be a slightly shorter and less demanding day than yesterday, as there is almost no difference in altitude between this camp and the next. The destination for the day is one of the most iconic areas for mountaineers worldwide; "El Circo de los Altares." This area is worth every calorie it takes to get here, and for many this will be the highlight of the trip. We pitch our tents and prepare dinner together for the evening.

Fueling up with a hearty camp breakfast, we're geared up for another thrilling day of hiking. Our path leads us southward, traversing the glacier's icy expanse for approximately 4 hours. Then, we pivot toward the colossal mountain range once more, ultimately arriving at the pristine shores of Lake Ferrari, our campsite for the night. Should the weather be in our favor, an awe-inspiring treat awaits: a panoramic spectacle showcasing the glacier's icy majesty and the Chilean mountain peaks. As we gather for dinner, we revel in this breathtaking vista, savoring every bite and moment, as camaraderie and nature's splendor envelop us.

Now we start our descent from the glacier, and will walk more meters down than up today. First of all, we will cross the famous mountain pass "El Paso del Viento", which means the wind pass in English. The wind speed is often high here, but the pass has one of the best views of the glacier where we have been hiking for several days. Here we take a well-deserved break, enjoy the view and snap some awesome photos with our cameras. Eventually we continue down the valley, past a small glacier, while looking up at the Cerro Grande mountain. Just before we arrive at our campsite at Lake Toro, we have to cross a river - either on foot or by zipline.

We press on with our descent, and today, we set our sights on the vibrant town of El Chaltén. Our trail meanders beside a lively river, leading us gradually down to the lowlands. As we tackle the final pass of our journey, the landscape transforms into a tapestry of lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and teeming wildlife. At last, we arrive in Chaltén, greeted by the comforts of civilization. Our quaint hostel awaits, promising a well-deserved rest. Reacquainting ourselves with the conveniences of town life, we relish the contrasting experiences of our adventure.

We spend the day in El Chaltén, where we can take in the atmosphere and enjoy the view of the mountains. We get tips for activities from our local guide, if we still have some energy left to use up after the days in the mountains. This day can also be used as a spare day, if we get weather-proof in the mountains.

Following a tranquil morning in El Chaltén the group will transfer to El Calafate for their onward travels. It's time to bid adieu to our newfound friends and the wonderful moments shared in Patagonia. Participants are then at liberty to organize their onward travels, whether it be heading to the airport and home or venturing off to yet another exotic destination.