Challenge yourself in Chile

Flashpackers, welcome to Chile. From rolling Casablanca vineyards to the hazy Andean mountains and the rust-red terrain of the Atacama Desert, this country has it all. We kick off in the cosmopolitan capital. A Flash Pack representative will meet you at Santiago airport, where you’ll be whisked to your hotel by private transfer (it’s just the way we roll at Flash Pack). Then it’s onwards to a welcome dinner in the bohemian neighbourhood of Bellavista, bursting with hip cafés, restaurants and theatres.

Today we’re wandering around the UNESCO city of Valparaiso, Chile’s oldest port. Explore the historic city centre to uncover effusive street art, alongside fine 19th Century architecture. To appreciate Valparaiso in all its glory, we’ll hop aboard a funicular elevator that connects the upper and lower sections of the city. Take in the multi-coloured panorama of painted houses filling every nook and cranny across the hilly horizon. We’ll also stop by the parliamentary building and Plaza Sotomayor’s memorial. One lunch later and we’ll arrive at a family-run winery in the Casablanca hills, known for maturing wine in “Tinajas”clay barrels, for a particularly pure taste. Explore the vineyards by bike, before sampling a selection of their finest wines (the best bit of any wine tour, let’s face it!) Savour the rich, fruity vino drawn straight from the barrel, with a few appetisers thrown in to make the flavours sing.

We’ll board a two-hour flight to Calama today, ready to embrace the rich colours of the Atacama Desert. We’ll check into our hotel in San Pedro de Atacama, before continuing our adventure in the otherworldly landscape of Valle de la Luna, aka Moon Valley. This surreal region was once the training ground for NASA’s Lunar Rover, so we won’t judge you if you start acting like you’re in the latest Hollywood space blockbuster. It’s also the driest place on earth other than the poles, and the terrain is quite mind-blowing. As the sun turns the Martian-style tapestry a reddish gold, drink in the panorama over a sundowner or three. Then, prepare to get starry-eyed: the Atacama is one of the best places on earth to stargaze thanks to its vast, unpolluted skies.

This morning will see you venture into the haunting plains of Death Valley. With red jagged peaks rising from the Atacama Desert in spine-like formations, this is a truly spectacular landscape – and perfect for a morning of sandboarding. The afternoon is then free to do as you please. We recommend hiring a bike from the hotel and cruising along to the shimmering Tebinquinche Lagoon. You could also check out the traditional village of Machuca, inhabited by ancestral llama shepherds, for Andean handicraft and delicious empanadas. If you’re feeling particularly active (and plan ahead), you could even go sand-boarding in Valle de la Muerte.

Better than your phone’s morning alarm call, try one of the world’s largest geothermal fields for size! Make a pre-dawn start to witness the legendary Tatio Geysers erupt as the sun creeps over the horizon. The rays reflect a prism of colours as they mingle with the 40m-high jets of boiling water and steam. Wrap up warm as the clear, high-altitude air can get chilly: even if it does provide a super-crisp backdrop to your photos. After a morning of marvels, we’ll pop by a local hot springs, for an alfresco bathe amid the desert shrubbery and rust-coloured cliffs. It’s a great way to wind down after the early start, high altitudes and low temperatures you so boldly conquered. Later, hit the hotel pool or take some time to soak in the dazzling Atacama scenery.

Today we’ll step-change again, exchanging the dry and dusty plains of the Atacama Desert for the lush and fertile Chilean Lake District. This scenic region is strewn with glistening glacier-fed lakes and fiery active volcanoes that loom up out of the horizon. You’ll be chauffeured to Calama airport for your four-hour flight to Puerto Montt, in the heart of the Lakes. Here you’ll be whisked off to the charming Puerto Varas, known as “the City of Roses”. We’ll reach the hotel in the evening, where you’ll want to rest up ahead of the adventure to follow.

Adventure junkies, look alive: it’s time to navigate a river wild. If you’ve never been white-water rafting before, fear not: our friendly local guides will help you along. We’ll drive to the Ko’Kayak headquarters in Ensenada, where a team of river experts will introduce you to the flowing turquoise waters of the Petrohue River. After a safety briefing, we’ll suit up and squeeze some heart-pounding exhilaration from the class II and IV rapids. Go flying through the water, as you use the powers of team work to tackle a series of thrilling crests, against the backdrop of the snow-capped Osorno volcano. If you’re feeling brave, you can even leap off small cliffs into the water; it’s warmer than you may think, thanks to a bed of volcanic rock. After two-hours of intense river whooshing, we’ll stop for an al fresco riverbank lunch before heading to our next hotel.

Serene lakes, age-old forests and snow-capped peaks await today, in our trek-tastic foray along the Solitario pathway. We begin at Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, where we’ll hike through lush rainforest at the foot of Osorno volcano. Along the way, we’ll pass through Laguna Verde, a secluded inlet of Lake Llanquihue. After around an hour, we’ll reach an area where snowmelt from the fiery volcano brings down a layer of volcanic sediment every year, to transform the terrain into a lunar landscape. Your guide will give you safety tips on how to cross the contours of this stunning province, allowing you to re-enter the rainforest on the other side. Recharge with a picnic, before continuing to wander amid the ancient trees. If the spectacular scenery you’ve seen so far isn’t enough, we’ll round things off with a waterfall. Admire the mighty rapids of Petrohue Falls before heading back to your lodge for a chilled Pisco Sour.

We’re hopping over to southern Patagonia today. From Puerto Montt airport, we’ll take a two-hour flight to Punta Arenas and catch a private transfer to the port city of Puerto Natales, on the edge of Torres del Paine National Park. This chilled lakeside hub is the gateway to the Great Outdoors, sitting within a canvas of glaciers and fjords. Wallow in the dramatic natural landscape, sizing up the scenery you’ll tackle tomorrow…

Today we’ll hit the waves, to get up close and personal with a series of breathtaking glaciers on a half-day kayaking adventure. Prepare to stir your soul and send your spirit soaring in a dazzling panorama of snow-capped mountains, sparkling waterfalls and thick swathes of forestland. After an action-packed day on the waters, we’ll check into our lodge, where a Patagonian barbeque is served for those who want it.

Have those hiking boots handy, because today we’re trekking for 8 to 10 hours through the stunning scenery of Torres del Paine National Park. This is one of the most epic hikes on our Flash Pack adventures, so rev up for a hearty burst of stamina. But trust us, the views are worth it. We’ll spend the first few hours ascending into the beautiful Asencio Valley, stopping to admire breathtaking snapshots of Lake Nordenskjöld and Almirante Nieto mountain. After a pit stop at Refugio el Chieno, we’ll carry on through ancient forests and across plunging streams. There’s a steep climb once you cross the glacial moraine of Campamento Torres, but after an hour, you’ll reach the panorama at Base Las Torres. Gaze up at three immense Andean rock towers rising jaggedly into the sky, with a bright turquoise lake shimmering beneath. All the photos in the world can’t do justice to the spellbinding reality.

After all the action-packed adventure of the past few days, it’s time to put your Flashpacking feet up and relax. Today, we’ll take the scenic route to Punta Arenas airport, for a three-hour flight back to the vibrant capital of Santiago, where a driver will whisk us to our hotel. It’s been a long day of travelling, so if you’re waning slightly, we suggest hitting a nearby cosy bar. Toast a life-changing adventure with your new adventuring friends.

After an early breakfast, it’s time to book your taxi to the airport. Say so long to your Flash Pack crew, after 12 days of unforgettable adventure together. From wine-tasting in the Casablanca hills to sundowners in the Atacama Desert, you’ve fuelled up on some truly epic experiences. You’ve drunk in the creative vibes of Santiago and Valparaiso, and immersed yourself in the wild, otherworldly landscape of Quebrada de Kari and Valle de la Luna. You’ve marvelled at shimmering salt flats, clambered through Devil’s Canyon and seen erupting geysers at sunrise. And you’ve kayaked amid the glaciers of Patagonia, before tackling a mighty hike to the Base Las Torres viewpoint. From volcanic spring bathing to white-water rafting and rambling around the mirror-still craters of the Chilean Lake District, it’s been one rollercoaster ride. Before you jet off into the horizon, be sure to look back and say hasta la próxima Chile!