Seek time and space in Chile

chile, latin-america

Seek time and space in Chile

Have you ever wondered what it might feel like to find yourself on some strange other planet? If so, Chile’s Atacama Desert – the driest place on Earth – is about the closest we can get you (at least for the time being). Where red skies hang above and jagged rocks lie underfoot, there’s a deep otherworldliness to it; so far from the everyday that you may as well be on Mars. And to us? This is what freedom feels like.

On this trip, you’ll spend six days exploring the barren and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes of the Atacama – by way of lunar valleys, searing blue lagoons, and hot-air balloons. And with some of the clearest skies in the world, there's nowhere better to gaze up at the spiralled stars of the Milky Way (don’t worry, we’ll sort the telescope). It’s pretty out of this world.

When

All year round

Price

From £12,800pp excl. flights

(based on 2 ppl sharing)

How long

5 nights

Ideal length

Days 1-6

San Pedro de Atacama

You’ll spend the next five nights in Chile’s Atacama Desert – the thin strip of coastal desert that lies between the western Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. A place travel writer Paul Theroux felt was “near enough to the end of the earth”, in some stretches, it’s arid and moon-like; in others, it’s dotted with oases where it springs suddenly into life. And from your base just outside the small town of San Pedro de Atacama, you’ll venture to them all alongside your expert local guides.

Days 1-6

Day 1

Of luncheons and llamas

Flying into the city of Calama, your journey begins when you arrive at Nayara Alto: a tranquil eco-friendly hideaway surrounded by cactus gardens and views of the Andes. After fueling up at lunch, you’ll join local llama shepherdess Sandra and her flock for a gentle hike along the scenic trails of Chalarquiche. Out in the crisp, fresh air, you’ll chat about local legends and culture as you walk – ending at a beautiful viewpoint to watch your first desert sunset.

Day 2

Sleep beneath the stars

Today, you’ll venture out to Chaxa Lagoon – a grey-blue salt lake where you can spot three types of flamingos: James, Andean, and Chilean. Later, your evening will look a little different as you arrive at your luxurious private camp – set up just for you in a remote corner of the Moon Valley. After a few good yarns around the bonfire, drink in hand, as live Andean music floats in the background, you’ll sleep beneath a dazzling canopy of stars. Talk about a night to remember.

Day 3

Up, up, and away

This morning, you’ll rise early (quite literally); beginning the day with a hot-air balloon flight over the Atacama, watching the red sun slowly rise from behind the dark silhouette of the Andes. A champagne breakfast in the desert will be waiting for you when you land, before you return to Nayara Alto, which will now be your base for the rest of the trip. And to end the day as magnificently as you started it, we’ll arrange a delicious seven-course dinner with wine pairings at Ephedra. It’s one of our very favorite restaurants.

Day 4

Salt flats and faraway galaxies

Sitting between volcanoes and mountains 4,000 meters above sea level, the staggeringly blue Altiplanic Lagoons are today’s first stop, before you head for the landscapes of Piedras Rojas. Here, the burnt orange of the rocks contrasts the turquoise-tinted surface of the Aguas Calientes salt flat. The views are electrifying. Continuing this theme, we’ll arrange an evening of astronomy at a nearby observatory, where their telescopes will reveal a fresh perspective on the star-spangled skies above.

Day 5

To the Tatio Geysers

You’ll begin this morning with at the Tatio Geysers – the largest geothermal field in South America. With vents of steam bursting into the air at heights of up to 50 meters, this immense natural spectacle is not to be missed. In the afternoon, you’ll unwind with a traditional Temazcal experience: an ancient stress-relieving ritual held in a steam tipi. Guided by a shaman, called the “Temazcalero”, you’ll find a moment of deep relaxation and reflection to round off the day.

Day 6

Adiós, Atacama

After a final breakfast, you’ll make your way to the airport and bid Chile a fond farewell. Holding onto a sense of freedom and connection with the natural world; with the memory of crisp, cool air and jagged landscapes etched in your mind. It’s time to head home. For now.