Admire the iconic peaks of Torres del Paine National Park.
Observe incredible wildlife - Guanacos, condors, rheas and more...
Get up close and watch Perito Moreno glacier calving on a boat tour.
Hike the magnificent trails surrounding Mount Fitzroy and El Chalten.
Stay in a lodge in the heart of Torres del Paine, with views of 'The Towers'.
Local guides for expert knowledge and guidance
Trip Information
Where the craggy peaks of the Patagonian Andes are too steep to hold snow, bare rocks pierce the sky. The famous Torres del Paine are perhaps the most well-known and iconic example of this. Snowy mountains are common but here things are different. Weather is extreme, colours are rich and vibrant, and views are simply too beautiful to put into words.
We begin our Patagonian journey in Buenos Aires where we take a guided tour exploring all the sights and sounds of the city, including an unmissable tango night. Next up is El Chalten where rewarding walking awaits, with magnificent views of Fitzroy and the surrounding peaks. One of our walks ends on the shores of Lago Torre, where we are rewarded with immense views of Cerro Torre and of the Grande Glacier.
Water is everywhere in Patagonia. Glacial streams plummet from the mountains into rivers and lakes. A boat trip from El Calafate takes us past immense icebergs, floating gently by as we cruise alongside a vertical wall of ice. Perhaps we’ll be lucky and hear the thunderous cracking as a chunk of ice the size of a car, calves off and crashes into the water. The feeling is eerie but quite magnificent.
In Torres del Paine National Park the walking is superb, some of the finest in the world. This treeless world offers expansive views and you may notice a guanaco has strolled into view or an Andean condor crossing the sun. These are not experiences to be had elsewhere. We’ll explore valleys and hills always with the Andean peaks as a backdrop. Light and shadow change constantly as southern winds drive clouds across the sun; this is nature at its wildest and most pure.
We leave Torres del Paine and drive south to Punta Arenas; we therefore leave the mountains in favour of a town that is surrounded by flat barren plains and open water. We’ll have time to explore before our flight to Santiago where we have a guided morning tour of Santiago to discover the city highlights. Literary buffs might be attracted to sites associated with Pablo Neruda, Chile's Nobel prize winning poet.
What's included?
Return flights from Heathrow to Buenos Aires via Madrid (Iberia) returning Santiago to Heathrow (British Airways).
Internal flights (Aerolineas Argentinas and LAN Chile).
Airport transfers.
En suite accommodation with breakfast.
Dinners taken in the hotels or local restaurants, lunches on some days.
Local English speaking guides to enhance your experience.
All local transport costs.
What's not included?
Entrance fees (unless otherwise specified)
Personal expenses (such as your bar bill)
Discretionary tips
Optional excursions
Travel Insurance (you can add this when you book)
Holiday Grade
This is a Grade 5 holiday. It combines walking in the Patagonian Andes with a little sightseeing in Buenos Aires and Santiago, two iconic capital cities. There are plenty of opportunities for walking through beautiful scenery. The walking in all of our Patagonian centres is not particularly high altitude.
The highest point we reach on the holiday will likely be 1200m at Pliego Tumbado walking from El Chalten. Paths are generally good underfoot. However they are sometimes stony and steep for short sections so walking poles can be useful.
Our bottom line is happy travellers, and to that end we trust our tour leaders to use the itinerary below as a basis for providing you with a great holiday. We expect our leaders to make adjustments to the itinerary if the weather, group ability or other local conditions make that necessary. There are normally more options available to our leaders than those listed below and one or more of these options may well be chosen. All distances, heights & timings are approximate.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we may unfortunately need to withdraw a tour that is currently confirmed to operate and we therefore reserve the right to cancel your booking. We would always do our utmost to give you plenty of notice should we have to do this. Selected elements of this tour, including local attractions and restaurants, may change at late notice. Please ensure you have valid insurance cover before you travel.
Proposed Itinerary
Day 1
Proposed Itinerary
Day 1
In flight
Meals
In-Flight
Depart London Heathrow for the overnight flight to Buenos Aires via Madrid.
Day 2
Day 2
Buenos Aires
Meals
Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel NH Buenos Aires Florida
Morning arrival in Buenos Aires. Transfer to our hotel (45 minutes) in the city where we spend two nights. We enjoy a guided afternoon sightseeing in Buenos Aires checking out the highlights. These include a visit downtown to Plaza de Mayo where we find the Catedral Metropolitana, Cabildo and the Presidential Palace (Casa Rosada). We also drive down Avenida de Mayo which houses Plaza de Congreso and Palacio de Congreso (Parliament).
The different districts we visit highlight the sheer diversity of Buenos Aires. Therefore, we pass through so many to platform what an eclectic city it truly is. Keep your camera ready.
La Boca is the artist quarter and very colourful destination. The Caminito, a short pedestrian walk, is a good crafts shopping area. The nearby buildings are painted in a variety of bright colours and some of the artist's display work.
Recoleta is one of the more expensive areas in the north-west part of the city. The cemetery, the most famous attraction here is home to the grave of Eva Peron.
San Telmo is typical for flea markets and generally a buzzing hive of activity. Sunday is particularly wonderful to find antiques. Around the stalls are street cafes and buskers including street musicians, mimes and Tango dancers.
Puerto Madero is the old port area has been extensively renovated and with many new buildings constructed. This area has become a tourist destination with several old ships.
Day 3
Day 3
Buenos Aires
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel NH Buenos Aires Florida
Today we take things at a more leisurely pace and explore with the Ramblers Walking Holidays tour leader. We spend the day discovering Buenos Aires and perhaps visit some of the country outside of the city. There is so much to see and the leader will make up a plan based on the season and exciting things happening around the city.
In the evening we will enjoy a tango show, a classic Buenos Aires tradition, over our dinner . Buenos Aires is famous as the birthplace of the tango and attending a live show is an unforgettable experience. So settle in, take to your seats for a meal and a spectacular tango performance. You could not get more quintessential Argentina than this!
Day 4
Day 4
El Chalten
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel Poincenot
We fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate, and then travel by road (c. 3hrs) to El Chalten for four nights. El Chalten is named for Cerro Fitzroy’s Tehuelche name, meaning ‘peak of fire’ or ‘smoking mountain’ a literal description of the cloud-enshrouded summit. This colourful village overlooks the beautiful northern sector of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Founded in 1985, El Chalten is still a frontier town.
Day 5
Day 5
El Chalten
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel Poincenot
Time
5.5 hours
Distance
9 miles
Ascent/Descent
300m
Mount Fitzroy Base Camp. A linear walk rising through woodland onto open moorland with great views of Fitzroy and the surrounding peaks. This walk explores the area at the foot of Mount Fitzroy, initially following the Rio Blanco and passing through southern beech woodland with excellent views of the Piedras Blancas glacier. The walk reaches Poincenot camp - previously the base camp for climbs up Mount Fitzroy - occupying a low col above the Rio Blanco.
Day 6
Day 6
El Chalten
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel Poincenot
Time
5.5 hours
Distance
11 miles
Ascent/Descent
600m
Cerro Torre. The walk follows the Fitzroy valley as far as Lago Torre, crossing several moraines. After an initial ascent to a viewpoint and a short descent the path is relatively flat. The walk ends on the shores of Lago Torre, where there are great views of Cerro Torre (weather permitting) and of the Grande Glacier. There may be icebergs in the lake.
Day 7
Day 7
El Chalten
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel Poincenot
Time
6.5 hours
Distance
12.5 miles
Ascent/Descent
500/1100m
Pliegue Tumbado. This is an out and back walk. To reach the peak itself is at the very top of the grade involving an ascent over scree but weather permitting everybody can enjoy stunning views of the Fitzroy range and Lake Viedma. As we have a local guide and group leader some flexibility can be offered.
Day 8
Day 8
El Calafate
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation
Patagonia Queen Hotel Boutique
After checking out of the hotel, there is time for a short walk but will involve some travel time. In the early afternoon, we return and continue back to El Calafate town where we stay two nights.
Day 9
Day 9
El Calafate
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation
Patagonia Queen Hotel Boutique
We have a day trip by boat out to see the Perito Moreno Glacier and will hopefully see it calving into the lake. This would justify the holiday on its own.
The Perito Moreno glacier drops into the Canal de los Tempanos, a narrow arm of Lago Argentina (claimed to be the third-largest lake in South America and upon which El Calafate also sits). Behind the glacier, one of the few in the world that is not retreating, is the third largest ice field in the world - the largest being Antarctica and the second being the northern Arctic, so it is extremely impressive!
Chunks of ice are continually falling from the 60-metre-high glacier wall into the lake below with a large rumble. The drive is about one and a half hours with photo stops, followed by a one-hour boat trip along the southeast face of the glacier. The coach will then take the group to the upper parking area near the glacier lookout. There is a network of 3 km boardwalks including a descent close to the face, where we have free time.
Day 10
Day 10
Puerto Natales
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel HD Natales
Time
1 hours
Distance
2 miles
Ascent/Descent
100m
The drive from Calafate to Puerto Natales takes about 4 hrs. It is 2 hrs to Cancha Carrera, the Argentine border, across Patagonian steppe then another 15min to Cerro Castillo, the Chilean border. Border crossing shouldn’t be too time-consuming but be prepared for a wait if there is a queue. From the border it is another 2 hrs to our hotel.
If we arrive in time there should be time to walk locally from the hotel which is just to the north of Puerto Natales.
Day 11
Day 11
Torres del Paine
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel Las Torres
Time
6 hours
Distance
12 miles
Ascent/Descent
500m
The Torres Base Walk This is one of the finest and most recognisable walks of the trip and although strenuous, it is well worth the effort. This is your opportunity to see the three towers of the Torres del Paine and the Glacial Lake at close quarters. There are some short sections with exposed scree slopes with steep drops to the river below.
Day 12
Day 12
Torres del Paine
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel Las Torres
Time
6 hours
Distance
12 miles
Ascent/Descent
360m
French Valley. This provides a superb walk right in the heart of the mountains. It is a long day involving a return trip on a catamaran. Great views of the Cuernos del Paine, the Frances glacier and over the lakes to the south of the massif.
Day 13
Day 13
Puerto Natales
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel HD Natales
Time
3 hours
Distance
6 miles
Ascent/Descent
150m
Lago Grey offers is a lovely hike although it can get windy. It goes over a low, wooded moraine before heading out over a flat, pebble spit to a rocky island in the middle of the lake. The short, circular, rocky path has great views of the lake and the famous large glacier. Usually, there are icebergs piled up on the shore. At times of high ice melt (March) the lake can rise and cover the spit so that this walk is not always possible, but this is rare. After the walk we drive back to Puerto Natales for another night.
Day 14
Day 14
Santiago
Meals
Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation
Panamericana Hotel Providencia
We travel south to Punta Arenas on the shores of the Magellan Straits. Here we have lunch included and (depending on flight times) a chance to look around this distinctive town. We are out of the mountains here, the town is surrounded by flat barren plains and open water. Later we fly 3000km north to Santiago, as we arrive late dinner is not included in Santiago so you might like to purchase supplies to tide you over.
Day 15
Day 15
In flight
Meals
Breakfast
After checking out of the hotel, we enjoy a guided tour of Chile's capital city with our local guide. Attractions included are the funicular at Cerro san Cristobal and a visit to Plaza de Armas with free time to visit the cathedral for photographs. We are hoping to visit the central market which is a great place for lunch.
From here we return to the airport for our overnight flight back to London with a bag full of memories from this iconic adventure.
Day 16
Day 16
Travel
Meals
In-Flight
Arrive back in the UK.
Walks & Excursions
Patagonia is wide open big sky country, there are few trees so wherever you look you will see broad open vistas of the stunning landscape. On this holiday we do not plan to scale peaks but instead, enjoy walking a distance back from the mountain peaks so you will be best able to enjoy the views. You will not be disappointed. The walking is generally very good on recognised paths although it can always be a little boggy underfoot. The vegetation tends to be ground-hugging with stunted bushes, shrubs and flowers. Because of the open terrain, you will doubtless see all kinds of wildlife which should greatly add to the experience.
Please note at El Calafate, El Chalten and in Paine, as well as the RWH leader, all our walks will be accompanied by knowledgeable local guides who add enormously to the experience. They know the area, the wildlife, the culture and the history. You should make every effort to ask questions as they are only too pleased to share the knowledge with you. Having two guides for each walk also allows us to offer some flexibility on occasions.
Local Transport Costs
All local transport costs in conjunction with the advertised activity programme are included in the holiday cost. There may be occasions where additional visits or excursions are added to enrich your experience, these will be paid for locally by you if you choose to participate. Local transport can be a mix of private hire coaches, taxis, local buses and ferries depending on the itinerary.
Optional Excursions
A range of local excursions and activities may be available to book at your destination through a local operator.
We have no involvement in such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by
us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions.
Spending Money
Holiday Budgeting
When budgeting for your holiday, you will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price,
non-included entrance fees, optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally and any souvenirs or
additional services such as laundry. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is £10-£20 per person per day.
Currency in Chile
Chilean Peso. Unusually for Latin America, US Dollars are not widely accepted.
Currency in Argentina
The currency in Argentina is the Peso. US Dollars are also widely accepted.
Holiday Currency
Chilean Peso and Argentinian Peso. It is advisable to take US Dollars and not Sterling with you, if possible prior to leaving UK obtain Argentinian and Chilean Pesos. US dollars can be exchanged in Buenos Aires the local guide will arrange for a money changer to come to the hotel. US Dollars can be exchanged at the border crossing with Chile (albeit at a very poor exchange rate) just ask the leader. You can also use ATMs but you will be charged for transactions and this rate can vary depending on which local bank you use. The equivalent of about 100 -150 US Dollars in both currencies should be adequate for purchasing snacks, lunches and some drinks for evening meals.
Tipping
Although entirely at your own discretion, tipping is an important aspect of tourism and hospitality life and expectations are fairly high. In order to simplify tipping, we strongly recommend that you allow your leader to take care of making sure tips are given to hotel and restaurant staff & to local guides and drivers. This will be done using some funds provided by us together with, if you wish, a contribution from you, which he/she will collect during the holiday.
Tour Leaders & Local Guides
Tour Leaders
Your tour leader makes the world of difference to your holiday and ours are as passionate about discovering the world on foot as you are. They're resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They will handle all the local administration and other needs that might arise to ensure that you don't have to worry about planning your days and you can enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual style, talents and professional backgrounds and all are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible.
Leader's Evening Briefing
Each evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. This will be your opportunity to discuss the details and ensure the planned activities suit your walking ability. If you have concerns on clothing or equipment, this can be discussed then also. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know.
Local Guides
To enhance your experience, as well as your tour leader, each holiday will be accompanied by a well qualified and knowledgeable English-speaking local guide.
Your Travel Details
We will travel from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires and return Santiago de Chile to London Heathrow with British Airways. Travel within South America is by road and air.
We fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate on Aerolineas Argentinas. Our flight from Punta Arenas to Santiago is on LATAM. The hold baggage allowance for both flights is 23kg. Please note these limits can change at any time.
If you are joining the holiday in Argentina and leaving in Chile, we assume that you will meet and leave the party at the hotel. If this is not your intention, please let us know in writing at least 5 weeks before departure.
Booking Your Own Travel Arrangements?
If you wish to organise your own flights from a non-UK or provincial airport or travel by rail or car to your holiday destination, 'land only' reductions are often available. Please contact us for details.
Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us first - especially if doing so 12 weeks or more before your intended date of travel. If you do intend to join your holiday locally please do tell us at least 14 weeks in advance.
If you are joining and leaving your holiday overseas we assume, unless you advise us otherwise, that you will join and leave the holiday at your hotel.
Although airport transfers are not included for those making their own independent travel arrangements, if you wish to join the group at the overseas airport, depending on your flight arrival time, you may be able to be included on the group's transfer. Please contact us at least 5 weeks before departure for more details.
Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, arrival time and departure point so that the group leader is able to meet up with you.
Luggage Allowance & Travel Documents
For all those booking a flight or rail inclusive holiday, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure.
Personal Details Check
To ensure that we can accurately administer your holiday arrangements, please confirm that the personal details we hold for you are up to date and that you have provided the information we need to secure your holiday travel and accommodation arrangements. Please check your passport details, date of birth and any other important details necessary for us to properly manage your holiday booking. You can view and update information already provided, and add details not yet asked for, by using the Manage My Booking facility on our website www.ramblersholidays.co.uk, or by calling our Sales and Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 331133. When you receive your booking confirmation please check the details as soon as possible.
Passports and Visas
General Passport Advice
It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport.
Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents
and your return to your home country.
Passport and visa requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to
ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply
with, such requirements.
No visas are required for Chile but passports must be valid for the duration of your stay.
In Chile your passport is often required when checking in and when changing money, so carry it with you on these occasions.
Please note no meat, vegetables, fruit or nuts are allowed to be brought in Chile. Any attempt to do so may result in confiscation and a fine being levied
Passport Information for Argentina
Passports required and must remain valid for the duration of your intended stay in Argentina. Visas are not required by British Citizens, or most EU nationals.
Accommodation
Where are we going to stay?
Hotel NH Buenos Aires Florida
Calle San Martin 839
C1004AAQ
Buenos Aires
Argentina
Located in Retiro, Hotel NH Buenos Aires Florida is steps away from Naval Center and Galerias Pacifico. Plaza San Martin and Florida Street are also within 10 minutes. San Martin Station is 7 minutes by foot and Florida Station is 8 minutes. Along with a restaurant, this smoke-free hotel has a fitness centre and a bar/lounge. Wi-Fi in public areas is free.
Hotel Poincenot
Avenida San Martin 668
Z9301ABA
El Chalten
Argentina
+54 2962 49-3252 https://hotelpoincenot.com.ar/
Hotel Poincenot is positioned conveniently close to the starting point of the trails that lead into the mountains. It is within walking distance of the amenities of El Chalten itself, which has become known as the “Trekking Capital of Argentina”.
Spacious rooms come with en-suite bathrooms, a safe, telephone and television and many have views onto the beautiful mountains. Free Wi-Fi is present but can be patchy. The hotel has a Bar and Coffee House that is open 24 hours a day, a lounge and a common area where you can relax and a restaurant where you can enjoy a continental breakfast and dinners.
Patagonia Queen Hotel Boutique
Av Padre Agostini 49
9405 El Calafate
Argentina
+54 2902 49-6701 http://www.patagoniaqueen.com/
Patagonia Queen is a boutique hotel offering comfortable accommodation in El Calafate, only 100 yards from downtown and nearby Lago Argentino Lake. Rooms feature cable TV and a private spa bath. They also have a minibar, heating and a safety deposit box. Facilities include a gym and a games room that comprises a pool table, board games and table tennis. Services of massage and laundry are available. For relaxation, guests can visit Patagonia Queen´s cocktail-wine bar.
Hotel HD Natales
Kilometro 5 Puerto Bories,
6160000 Puerto Natales,
CHILE
+56 61 241 1101 www.hdnatales.cl/
Set in an attractive garden, Hotel HD Natales is a couple of miles from the centre of town. Rooms access in Puerto Natales. The spacious and bright rooms feature offer free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms and heating. A buffet breakfast is included.
Hotel Las Torres
Barrio San Pantaleon numero 23,
39193,
Arnuero
+34 942 657 129 https://www.lastorres.com/en/
Set in Torres del Paine National Park, Hotel Las Torres offers great views of the mountains. Cosy, warmly decorated rooms offer flat-screen TVs and minibars. Amenities include an elegant restaurant, an airy, glass-enclosed bar with views of the grounds, spa and sauna. There's also an organic garden. Breakfast is buffet style.
Panamericana Hotel Providencia
Francisco Noguera 146,
Providencia 7500006
Santiago
Santiago Metropolitan
With a swimming pool, Panamericana Hotel in Providencia offers modern rooms that are tastefully furnished and spacious. They include an LCD TV with cable, air conditioning, and free Wi-Fi access. Panamericana offers room service until 11 pm each night. Alternatively, La Terraza Restaurant serves authentic Chilean dishes.
Meals
Breakfast and dinners are included on this tour. Breakfast will be taken in hotels, whereas dinners will be served in a combination of hotels and local restaurants. Four lunches are included; 3 boxed and 1 in a local restaurant.
Hotel Changes
The hotel(s) listed within this document are examples of standard only. Whilst we strive to deliver the hotel(s) listed within this Holiday Information Sheet, there will be times throughout the year when they change. If this occurs, we will advise you as such. From time to time hotels will change near to departure and you will not be advised until after arriving into the destination. We always aim to provide a replacement of similar standard and location, although we cannot guarantee similar facilities such as pool or bar.
Footwear & Kit List
Footwear
Lightweight waterproof walking boots with a good moulded sole (such as Vibram or similar) and a deep tread and which provide ankle support are strongly recommended and may be essential for some walks.
General Kit List
Outdoor activities are always safer and more enjoyable if you are prepared.
If you have not travelled with us before the following list might be of use:
Waterproof jacket (Goretex or similar) and trousers
Lightweight quick-drying trousers
Walking T-shirt/shirts
Walking socks
Fleece or jumper
Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and sun block
Warm hat and gloves (if appropriate)
Swimwear (if appropriate)
Day sack (this should be able to carry all you would need for the day's activity)
Day sack liner
Water bottle - at least 1 litre capacity (more than 1 bottle may be required)
Basic first aid kit
Lunchbox
Walking poles (should you find them useful)
Sit mat
This list is not exhaustive and every walker is different and may have their own preference.
Country Specific Kit
Wildlife and scenery viewing experiences are always improved with binoculars. For seeing a bird in the treetops or picking out some detail on the horizon they are invaluable. If you have a pair, please bring them with you on your holiday. On some holidays it will be appropriate to have them with you all the time. Sometimes you might prefer to avoid carrying the extra weight. Your tour leader will always be happy to advise which days it will be particularly useful to take them.
Travel Documents Checklist
Documents and Information to take with you:
Passport (make sure it's yours and valid)
Your travel tickets or e-ticket itinerary
Any visa or electronic travel authorisation (if required)
Holiday money
Credit or debit cards (and separate details of who to call if lost)
Car parking ticket and car park directions (if prebooked)
Coach or rail travel tickets (if prebooked)
Your holiday Booking Confirmation document
Your travel insurance details
Alternative form of identification (such as a driving licence)
Photocopy of the personal details pages of your passport
A valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if relevant
Details of any medical condition or allergy your holiday leader should know about
An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is
filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter
such as a Water-to-go bottle available from
www.watertogo.eu.
Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles.
We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go
for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website
at www.watertogo.eu and
enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the
discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us
to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays.
Maps, Guidebooks & Other Information
Maps, Guidebooks & More
Some book suggestions are:
The Voyage of the Beagle - Charles Darwin
In Patagonia - Bruce Chatwin
Travels in a Thin Country – Sarah Wheeler
Between Extremes - John McCarthy, Brian Keenan
The “Bradt” guide to Argentina provides very well-researched and interesting background reading for this holiday. Ramblers Worldwide Holidays have negotiated a 25% discount on all Bradt guides for you as a thank you for your custom – so please go to the Bradt Guide website www.bradtguides.com and enter the code RWH25 when ordering to claim your discount.
Further information can be found on the following websites: Argentina Tourist Information www.turismo.gov.ar / Chile National Tourist Board: www.sernatur.cl
The Map Shop
Maps and guidebooks relating to the areas you will be walking in may be bought before your holiday from The Map Shop at www.themapshop.co.uk
Weather
Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination:
Health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility
to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on,
and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure.
Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP.
Health Advice for Chile
No compulsory immunisations are required for visits to Chile.
You should be up to date with the usual immunisations recommended in the UK.
Hepatitis A immunisation is recommended.
You might also like to consider immunisations against Tetanus, Diphtheria and Hepatitis B.
Dengue fever also exist in Chile; please take normal precautions against mosquito bites. Please seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic.
Health Advice for Argentina
No compulsory immunisations are required for visits to Argentina. You should be up to date with the usual immunisations recommended in the UK. Tetanus & Hepatitis A immunisation is recommended. You might also like to consider immunisation against Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Yellow Fever. Dengue fever and Zika virus also exist; please take normal precautions against mosquito bites. Seek pre-travel Zika virus advice from your health care provider 6-8 weeks in advance of travel, particularly important if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy.
Further Travel Advice
For further advice please visit:
The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) travel health website at www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands.
Travel Insurance
You must be adequately insured to join our holidays. You will be unable to participate in our local walking and other activity programmes without being able to demonstrate that you have valid travel insurance.
Please ensure that as a minimum your travel insurance policy covers you for travel to your holiday destinations (country and geographical region) and for medical expenses, mountain rescue (including helicopter rescue) and emergency repatriation to your home country in the event of illness or injury. Your policy should also provide adequate cover for the activities, included and optional, you are likely to participate in during your holiday.
Whoever you insure with, please ensure that you take full details, and ideally the policy itself, with you on holiday and provide our tour leader with your insurer's name, the policy number and emergency assistance contact numbers.
Please note that it is very difficult to obtain travel insurance once your holiday arrangements have started.
Personal Safety
The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up to date information
on security and local laws for travellers, together with current
passport and visa information, at www.gov.uk/travelaware.
Please take a few minutes to look at the current advice on your
planned destination.
Please be aware of what's going on around you, take sensible
precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays
of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches.
Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day,
and we recommend that a money belt is used.
Cultural Awareness
Responsible Travel
We're committed to ethical tourism in all our destinations.
Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence
of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups
not only gives you an up close and personal experience of
your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate
environment. We feel that the most important starting point
to protect the environment is to be out in it.
For more details visit our website.
The Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust
Unlike many tour operators we have our own trust through which RWH Travel’s profits are channelled back into a variety of outdoor, walking-related or environmental conservation projects in the UK. The focus of the Trust’s financial support is Britain’s leading walking charity, The Ramblers, and their role in promoting the benefits and importance of walking to the British public. In addition the Trust welcomes applications for small grants from local organisations in the UK who need support for walking-orientated activities. This includes the establishment of footpaths and bridleways, funding for rebuilding bridges and renovating huts, as well as bursary funding for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for children who could not otherwise afford to do it. Please visit the ‘About Us’ section of our website and click on the Charitable Trust link for more details.
Heart and Sole
We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able
to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives.
Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose
aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries
we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long
term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less
developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way.
See our website for more information and details of some of the
projects we support.
Staying In Touch
Mobile Phones
Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements.
Do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements.
As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals.
Feedback
We welcome all comments about our holidays and value ideas for the future. If you have provided us with an email address we will invite you to complete an online questionnaire or to add feedback to our page on the independent review site 'Feefo'.
Important Information
Please note that this Holiday Information sheet may be periodically updated and reissued.
In most cases the revisions will be minor and the overall nature
of the holiday will remain unchanged. Should we make a major change
to your holiday arrangements between you booking your holiday and
your date of travel we will notify you to specifically draw your
attention to any significant change.
You may wish to review the latest version of this Holiday Information Sheet online prior to travel.
Please note that any advertised offers, benefits or initiatives may be discontinued at any time.