When it comes to Bucket List adventures, Patagonia tops many lists, and if you dream of visiting this vast, diverse, and breathtakingly beautiful region shared by Argentina and Chile, one of the best ways to do so is on a small group escorted tour, and here’s why…

While easily accessible, Patagonia is not the easiest travel destination in the world to navigate, and unless you speak a good level of Spanish, you may find the public transport networks and border crossings somewhat stressful. Then there are the costs to consider. Patagonia is by no means a cheap holiday destination, and due to demand, hotel, restaurant and excursion prices are high.

By booking a fully-inclusive small group trip, you get to share some of those costs with your fellow travel buddies and don’t have to worry about going over budget during your trip. Once your trip is paid, the only things you have to budget for are food, drinks, and souvenirs – after-all, everyone needs a stuffed Alpaca!

If 2019 is going to be the year in which you visit South America, here’s what your Patagonia Small Group Escorted Tour could look like:

DAY 1:  Arrive Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel for an afternoon/evening at leisure. Overnight: Buenos Aires

DAY 2: After breakfast, set off on a 3-hour city tour of Buenos Aires with a local English speaking guide. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the ‘Paris of South America’. At 19:00 depart for your Dinner & Tango show, which includes a 3-course menu with water and local Argentinian wines. Overnight: Buenos Aires

DAY 3: FLIGHT BUENOS AIRES – USHUAIA 3h 35m: After breakfast and hotel check-out, transfer back to the airport for your onward flight to Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego. Here, you will be collected and transferred to your hotel on the banks of the Beagle Channel. The rest of the evening is at leisure. Overnight: Ushuaia

DAY 4: Explore the end of the world on a full day tour visiting Tierra Del Fuego National Park, where your local English speaking guide will show you the glaciers, lakes, mountains and abundant wildlife of the world’s southernmost national park. Next, take a 50-minute train ride on the ‘Train to the End of the World’ where a specialized guide will explain the different environments around you. After a quick visit to the Southernmost Post Office, where you can get your passports stamped, transfer back into town for afternoon navigation on the Beagle Channel, where you will visit fur seal, rock cormorant and penguin colonies on your way to the iconic lighthouse. Overnight: Ushuaia

DAY 5: Today you have at day at leisure to do as much or as little as you like. You could head into town to shop for souvenirs, take a boat trip or trekking tour, or simply relax on the banks of the Beagle Channel with a good book. Overnight: Ushuaia

DAY 6: FLIGHT USHUAIA – EL CALAFATE 1h 20m:  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight to El Calafate, where your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore this pretty town. Overnight: El Calafate

DAY 6: Depart El Calafate on a Full Day Tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier. Often described as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” this spectacular glacier sits on the banks of the third-largest freshwater reserve in the world, with the magnificent granite spires of Chile’s Torres Del Paine Mountains as its backdrop. Your day trip to Los Glaciares National Park includes a guided tour of the walkways surrounding the glacier, a 40-minute boat ride to the glacier wall and return transfers from El Calafate. Overnight: El Calafate

DAY 7: ARGENTINA TO CHILE /  BUS EL CALAFATE – PUERTO NATALES 5h 40m. Take a scenic ride on a local bus from El Calafate to Puerto Natales, crossing the border from Argentina to Chile on route. Upon arrival in Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, transfer to your hotel for an evening at leisure. Overnight: Puerto Natales

DAY 8: After breakfast, embark on a Full Day Tour of Torres Del Paine National Park where you will explore the Milndon Caves, the waterfalls of Nordenskjold Lake, and the famous Paine Towers with a local English speaking guide. Pass splintering glaciers, iridescent lagoons and snow-capped spires as you make your way to Lake Pekoe for a local lunch, before taking a short trek to Grey Glacier. After a long day in the wonderous wilderness of Patagonia, return to Puerto Natales for an evening at leisure. Overnight: Puerto Natales

DAY 9: Today you have a day at leisure to do exactly as you please. Various sightseeing tours are available to book onsite. Overnight: Puerto Natales.

DAY 10: FLIGHT PUNTA ARENAS TO PUERTO MONTT 1h 05m. Take a bus ride (approximately 3 hours) from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas, where you will catch a short onward flight to Puerto Montt. Upon arrival, transfer approximately 20 minutes to your hotel in Puerto Varas on the banks of Llanquihue Lake. The evening is at leisure to explore this lovely seaside town. Overnight: Puerto Varas

DAY 11: Embark on a Full Day Tour of Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno Volcano. Stop at local towns along the way, before making your way to the snow-capped peak of the active volcano. Overnight: Puerto Varas

DAY 12: FLIGHT PUERTO VARAS – SANTIAGO 1h 40m. Your final flight will take you to the cosmopolitan hub of Santiago. Here, your driving will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the city, before you set out to explore on foot. Overnight: Santiago

DAY 13: Set off on a Full Tour Wine Tasting Tour in Chile’s premium wine regions. Hosted by a local sommelier, you’ll visit several wineries for tastings (included), before stopping for lunch. Time permitting, visit one or two more wine estates in the afternoon before transferring back to Santiago for an evening at leisure. Overnight: Santiago

FRIDAY 14: DEPARTURE

Find out more about this November 2019 departure.