TREKKING AND OVERLANDING

CORDILLERA BLANCA TREK

From Huaraz to Huaraz (8 Days)

Cordillera Blanca on the northern Peruvian Andes, is the world's largest concentration of glaciers within the tropical zone. Along its 180 km. length, twenty to thirty peaks rise above 6000 mts. Depending on the weather, such mountains as Pucahirca and Huandoy are counted as one or four. The other thirty are higher than the 5700 m Nevado Huascaran (6780 mts), making it the world's highest mountain in the tropical zone, and the second highest on the Andes. This magnificent mountain range has attracted climbers and backpackers for many years, and is now one of the most popular hiking regions in South America. The mountains are very accessible because the western side of the cordilleras is uninterrupted by fifteen glacial valleys, creating ideal routes which lead past the peaks west of the main crest and into the centre of the range.

OVERLANDING AND ADVENTURE

BOLIVIA/PERU COMBINATION

Culture/Wildlife Tour

FOUR WORLD'S OF THE ANDES

(Departures: Apr, Jun, Jul, Nov & Dec)

The classic adventure tour. Enjoy colourful Andean culture and magnificent archaeological monuments. Visit wildlife reserves on the Amazon and Pacific coast, and fly over the Nazca Lines. We emphasize active exploration. Top guides, superior hotels, one night in native homes.

Days 1-2 La Paz. Day 3 Tiawanaco/Copacabana. Days 4-5 Taquile Island/Puno. Day 6 Train to Cusco. Days 7-8 Amazon Lodge. Day 9 Cusco. Days 10-11 Machu Picchu. Days 12-13 Lima and home. Optional Coast Extension: Days 13-14 Paracas/Nazca Lines. Day 15 Ballestas Islands/Lima. Day 16 Home.

Cultural Tour

WEAVER'S WALK (JUL ONLY)

Led by an expert weaver, you meet weavers in highland villages where the tradition of backstrap weaving remains strong. Also visit private collections, museums, and shops. Emphasis on active day hikes.

Days 1-3 La Paz/Sucre. Day 4 Tarabuco. Days 5-8 Hacienda stay. Days 9-10 La Paz. Days 11-13 Royal Range village stay. Days 14-19 Charazani weaving village visits. Days 20-21 La Paz/home.

Trekking

ROYAL CORDILLERA LLAMA TREK

(JUN, JUL, SEP)

Bolivia's Royal Cordillera offers 21000 peaks, pristine lakes, spectacular views from high passes, and exhilarating scrambles to 18000 summits. You will also explore the exquisite Lake Titicaca islands and camp on Island of the Sun.

Strenuous, 8 nights camping, 3 star hotels.

Days 1-2 La Paz/Illimani. Days 3-6 Lake Titicaca/Island of the Sun. Days 7-13 Llama trek. Day 14 La Paz/home.

Trekking

INCA HIGHLANDS TREK

(MAY, JUL, DEC)

Explore La Paz and beautiful islands of Lake Titicaca. Add white water rafting, and Inca sites around Cusco. Then trek over a spectacular (4819 metre) pass, and join the famous Inca Trail to arrive at Machu Picchu from above. Fabuloso!.

Strenuous, 6 nights camping, 3 star hotels. Optional extension to Vilcanota Llama Trek available.

Days 1-2 La Paz. Days 3-4 Titicaca. Day 5 Train to Cusco. Days 6-7 Cusco/Sacred Valley/rafting. Days 8-14 Trek. Day 15 Machu Picchu. Days 16-17 Lima/home.

PERU

Trekking

INCAS & LLAMAS

(APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG)

Here are all essentials in a high quality trek you can easily customize. The 10 day version includes Cusco, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. Add a day of white water rafting on the Vilcanota River, and a challenging llama trek in the spectacular Vilcanota Range for a 17 day adventure you will never forget. Moderate (Inca Trail) to strenuous (Llama Trek), 4 or 9 nights camping, 3 star hotels.

Days 1-2 Lima/Cusco. Day 3 Market. Days 4-7 Inca Trail Trek. Day 8 Machu Picchu. Day 9 Rafting. Days 10-15 Vilcanota Llama Trek. Days 16-17 Lima/home.

Trekking

MACHU PICCHU HIGHLAND TREK

(MAY, JUL, AUG, OCT, DEC)

You won't find a more spectacular or exciting way to reach the Lost City of the Incas. Highlights include glacier romp, cloud forest exploration. Includes overnight in the Hotel Machu Picchu.

Strenuous 6 nights camping, superior hotels.

22 day version (16 day version begins with Day 7 arrival into Lima):

Days 1-2 La Paz. Days 3-5 Tiawanaco/Taquile Island. Day 6 Train to Cusco. Days 7-8 Cusco (optional Amazon). Day 9 Chinchero weaving. Days 10-11 White water rafting. Day 12 Inca ruins. Days 13-19 Trek. Day 20 Machu Picchu. Days 21-22 Lima/home.

Trekking

LLAMA TREK FOR WEAVERS

(JUN ONLY)

Close to Cusco, yet seldom entered by trekkers, the green valleys of the Urubamba Range shelter Quechua villages renowned for their weavers. In traditional Andean fashion, llamas haul your camp gear. The trip leaders include skilled weaver born in the Peruvian highlands. Moderate, 9 nights camping, 4 star hotels and simple rural inns.

Days 1-4 La Paz/Puno/Cusco. Days 5-6 Chinchero weaving. Day 7 Ollantaytambo. Days 8-9 Machu Picchu. Days 10-14 Trek to Ccachin. Day 15 Ccachin. Days 16-18 Cusco/Puno. Days 19-20 Taquile Island. Days 21-23 La Paz/home.

ARGENTINA

Mountaineering

ACONCAGUA EXPEDITION

(JAN ONLY)

Climb the highest peak in the Americas!. This is a challenging ascent via the Polish Glacier route for experienced mountaineers only.

Days 1-2 Mendoza. Days 3-6 Trek to base camp. Days 7-16 Polish Glacier ascent. Days 17-20 Reserve days (for weather delays and acclimation). Days 21-25 Return to Mendoza/home.

Trekking

SACRED VALLEY TREK

In the Andes of North West Argentina, you will discover a fascinating land of traditional villages, cactus forests, and water sculpted ravines. Enjoy spectacular views from the highest pass at 4518 metres. Moderate, 8 nights camping.

(Departures: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec)

Day 1 Depart Salta. Days 2-3 Puka Mayo gorges. Days 4-6 To La Mesada Plateau. Days 7-9 Inca Trail, return to Salta.

CHILE

Trekking/Rafting/Cruise

PATAGONIA EXPLORER

(NOV, DEC, JAN, FEB)

This is the most varied two week adventure you can find in Patagonia. Trek in spectacular Paine Towers National Park, raft down a river through remote wilderness rich in wildlife, and sail in fjords beneath the South Patagonian Icecap.

Moderate, 6 nights camping, 2 nights on boat, 4 and 3 star hotels.

Day 1 Santiago/Punta Arenas. Day 2 Penguin rookery/ranch. Days 3-7 Trek in Paine Towers Park. Days 8-10 Raft to the sea. Days 11-13 Cruise the fjords. Days 14-15 Punta Arenas/Santiago/home.

Backpacking

PAINE TOWERS CIRCUIT

(DEC, JAN, FEB, MAR)

You follow a challenging route of overwhelming grandeur through the heart of the Paine Towers massif. Horses carry the gear where possible, but for 2-3 days you must carry your loaded backpack over routes too rough for packhorses.

Strenuous, 10 nights camping, 3 star hotels.

Days 1-2 Punta Arenas/Paine Towers National Park. Day 3 Rio Ascencio. Days 4-5 To Lake Dickson. Days 6-8 Cerro Blanco/Lake Grey. Days 9-11 Pehoe/Rio Frances. Days 11-12 Pehoe/Punta Arenas.

ECUADOR

Trekking/wildlife

REAL AFFORDABLE AMAZON

(JAN, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC)

Trek beneath Ecuador's volcanic giants Cotopaxi (5783 metres) and El Altar (5271 metres). Then descend to the Amazon for four unique days at a remote rain forest camp. Sacred waterfalls, jungle hot springs. Moderate, 3 nights camping, 3 nights in superior hotel in Quito.

Days 1-2 Quito. Days 3-5 Cotopaxi/El Altar Trek. Day 6 Banos. Days 7-11 Amazon. Day 12 Quito/home.

Cultural Tour

ECUADOR INN - TO - INN

(FEB, APR, JUL, AUG, DEC)

The essential highlands. Hike in nature reserves, bike on country lanes to visit local artisans in their workshops, and shop until you drop at the famous Otavalo Market. Charming country inns, naturalist guide.

Day 1 Quito. Days 2-3 Biking to local artisans near Otavalo. Day 4 Cultural hike. Days 5-6 Paramo nature excursions. Day 7 Otavalo Market. Day 8 Quito/home.

Trekking

SNOWCAPPED VOLCANOES

(JAN, FEB, JUNE, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC)

Trek from South East of Quito towards Antisana, following a highland route to Cotopaxi National Park. Includes transfers and 3 star hotels in Quito.

For detailed information on above treks, please call Destination Holidays or your travel agent.

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