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The day has finally arrived for your adventure to begin. As you take off for your long-haul flight you may feel about of nerves but hopefully mostly excitement; all the hard work you've already put into training and fundraising will finally be put to the test.
You will arrive in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, and be met by your local representative. You will have a few hours in the capital before transferring back to the domestic airport for a flight to Calafate. Here you will stay overnight a local hotel. (B, L, D)
Today, you can stretch your legs and explore the town of Calafate, your base for the challenge when not on the trek itself. You will receive a welcome briefing from your local leader, who will talk you through the exciting days ahead. Dinner at the hotel. (B,D). Overnight in hotel in Calafate.
This morning you depart El Calafate from the hotel and journey toward the Glacier National Park for your first introduction to glacier trekking. Arriving at the port, Bahia Bajo las Sombras (Bay of Shadows), you board a boat for a short crossing of the Rico arm of Lake Argentino, taking in the views.
After disembarking, you walk through a small, dense forest of native Lenga trees to arrive at the edge of the ice. Here, you will attach crampons and receive a briefing for the day ahead. The walk on the glacier is fascinating, and a very up-close-and-personal experience. You will be hiking across old ice formations, with its cracks, isolated small lagoons and crevasses of magical deep blue. Watching your step as you cross the glacier, the circular walk provides you with excellent views of the lake before returning to the start point. After lunch, you will return across the lake by boat, to the boardwalk on the east wall of the glacier. Here you will go toe-to-toe with this impressive and magnificent river of ice, before heading back to your hotel. (B,L,D)
Overnight hotel in Calafate.
* Note: trekking on this day will require a strong level of fitness and confident trekking abilities. Due to insurance purposes in Argentina, our ground team can only take people aged 65 and under on the glacier. If you are over this age or don’t want to go on the glacier, we can spit the group and you can visit the glacier in the more conventional way which is visiting the trails, catwalks and lookouts that face the spectacular glacier. There will also be a boat excursion with a chance to observe the gigantic mass of ice from the water, which provides a completely different perspective to the impressive glacier.
After breakfast, you depart the city of El Calafate and transfer to the fascinating La Leona Petrified Forest. On the journey, take in the various spectacular panoramic views of the Andes and Mount Fitz Roy. Trek for 3 hours spotting the petrified fossil tree trunks and possibly fossils of different species of dinosaurs, in this semi-desert environment. The sediment formations provide an insight into the geological history of the region, which was vastly different to today’s times. After trekking, transfer to Chalten (B,L,D).
Overnight hotel in Chalten.
Early this morning, you leave El Chalten and travel towards Laguna Toro. After an hour of ascent, crossing small streams through native woodland, you emerge to a picture postcard view of Mount Fitz Roy, Torre and Huemul. Continuing across the Pampa de las Carretas, and up through the woodlands accompanied by birdsong, you will come to the beautiful alpine meadows. The weather is changeable, and you may experience the biting Patagonian wind and possibly even snow (even in the summer)! Keep your eyes open as it's quite possible to find the remains of 100-million-year-old marine fossils along the route.
The highlight of the day is finally arriving at the viewpoint - nearly 1500m - offering a breathtaking view of the Torre and Fitz Roy massifs. After enjoying lunch with this incredible backdrop, you will return to El Chalten for dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Overnight hotel in Chalten.
After breakfast, you begin trekking towards Laguna Torre through a spellbinding valley, loved by the geologists and photographers alike for its perfect formation. At the end of the valley, you will find Laguna Torre, its glacier and the famous Mount Torre - considered one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb. After lunch, you will continue walking past the lagoons (including Madre, Hija and Nieta). After a couple of hours, you will arrive at Poincenot base camp. (B,L,D)
Overnight camping at Poincenot.
* Please note, your main luggage will be left at the hotel in Chalten this morning and you will pick this up again on the evening of day 10 of the itinerary. For 4 days of trekking from days 7, 8, 9 and 10, porters will carry your clothes and personal items for 3 nights (8-10kg maximum). A sleeping bag and sleeping mat will be provided for you and be carried by the support team.
You may want to get up early today to enjoy a golden sunrise, the closest you can get to Mt Fitz Roy. After breakfast, you follow the trail that ascends steeply to Laguna de los Tres and your efforts will be rewarded at the top with captivating views of Mt Fitz Roy's summit. There may be some time to rest your legs and explore, before you descend down to the Rio Blanco valley through lush forest on an easy trail, finally joining the Electrico Valley and your base for the night - the Piedra del Fraile Refuge. (B,L,D)
Overnight camping.
After waking in the foothills of the mountains, you continue along the valley towards the Pollone Glacier, appreciating raw nature at its best. Along the way, you will admire a different angle of Mount Fitz Roy; its northern face. On the trek you will discover hidden lagoons at the base of the mountain, before heading back to Piedra del Fraile. After lunch, you follow the Rio de las Vueltas valley eventually arriving at the private reserve of Los Huemules. You will cross a hanging bridge to enter the Diablo valley, walking along the valley basin before arriving in Puesto Cagliero which will be your home for the night. From here, you can see expansive views of the Cagliero glacier and its lagoon (right in front of the refuge). (B,L,D)
Overnight camp beds at the refuge.
Today's trek will climb up to Loma del Diablo with a long and steady hike. Today's terrain includes a mix of open land and pathways and forest trails sculpted by the Patagonian winds. Continuing the trek, you take in Laguna Verde and Azul (where you will stop for lunch). You will then return via the same route towards the road to transfer back to El Chalten for a well-deserved hot shower, and your celebratory meal. (B,L,D)
Overnight hotel in Chalten.
After breakfast, you will transfer to Calafate and have the remainder of the day free to explore Calafate and will stay overnight in a local hotel. (B,D).
You will have most of the day to relax and enjoy the city before transfering late afternoon to the airport for your domestic flight back to Buenos Aires. (B) Overnight hotel.
It's time to say 'adios' to Argentina as you embark on your journey home. This is the perfect opportunity to reflect on everything you have achieved before getting home and sharing the incredible experience with all your supportive friends and family. (B)
You will arrive back into London, before completing the final part of your journey back home.
BELIEVE >> ACHIEVE >> INSPIRE
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