Classic Chile Highlights Holiday
15 Days from £4,318 pp
Our Classic Chile Highlights holiday is a 15-day tailor-made journey through Chile’s greatest contrasts: the colourful streets of Santiago and Valparaíso, the glaciers and granite peaks of Torres del Paine, and the salt flats and lagoons of the Atacama Desert. Prices start from £4,318 per person, including comfortable mid-range hotels, flights within Chile, transfers and a mix of private and small-group excursions with expert guides. Staying in good-quality, characterful hotels keeps the price down and leaves more for unforgettable experiences along the way.
Trip Highlights
- Float in the Cejar Lagoon and watch sunset over the Atacama salt flats
- Explore UNESCO-listed Valparaíso and ride its historic funiculars
- Sail through hidden fjords to the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers
- Stay inside Torres del Paine National Park, looking out over Grey Glacier
Our Expert Tip
”Visiting the Moon Valley at sunrise is a much less crowded way to experience one of the Atacama Desert’s most iconic landscapes”
Scarlett, Chile Expert
Chile Highlights Itinerary: Day by Day
Day 1-2: Santiago
Begin in Santiago, with two nights at Rugendas Hotel Boutique in the leafy Las Condes district. On your first full day, a private guide shows you the old heart of the city on foot, from the grand buildings of the former National Congress and the Pre-Columbian Art Museum to the Plaza de Armas and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Then the city is yours: browse the markets and try some of Santiago’s excellent restaurants.
Day 3-4: Puerto Natales
Fly south to the port town of Puerto Natales, where your Patagonia adventure begins, with two nights at Weskar Patagonian Lodge.
Next morning, head out on the water for a full day in the fjords of Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, where the Balmaceda Glacier spills down the mountainside and a short trail leads to the foot of the Serrano Glacier. On the way back, the boat stops at Estancia Perales for a hearty Patagonian lunch.
Day 5-7: Torres del Paine
A private guide takes you through Torres del Paine National Park for the day, stopping at viewpoints over Lake Sarmiento, Laguna Amarga (often with flamingos), the Salto Grande waterfall and Lake Pehoe, plus a visit to the Milodón Cave on the way.
Your home for two nights is Hotel Lago Grey, inside the park, looking out across the lake to Grey Glacier. With a free day, you might set off early for the famous granite towers, spend the morning on the water beneath the glacier, or simply walk the shoreline outside the hotel and watch the icebergs drift past. Looking for more time in Patagonia? See our Patagonia wilderness and wildlife holiday.
Day 8-9: Valparaiso
Valparaíso tumbles down a series of steep hills to the Pacific, and after a short flight back to Santiago and a drive to the coast, you’ll stay in the middle of it all at Ayca La Flora Hotel on Cerro Concepción. With your local guide, ride the century-old funiculars, wander lanes covered in street art, and look out over the bay from the hilltop terraces.
Neighbouring Viña del Mar, Chile’s “garden city”, is a short hop along the coast. If you have time, add a day in the Casablanca Valley vineyards on the way back to Santiago, as on our Luxury Journey through Chile.
Day 10-13: Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a small adobe oasis town surrounded by volcanoes, and your base for four nights at La Casa de Don Tomás, after a flight north to Calama. Join a small group to see the Moon Valley’s wind-carved ridges and visit a traditional ayllu community.
On another afternoon, head out to the salt flat: the Cejar Lagoon is so salty you float without trying, the twin pools of Ojos del Salar look like eyes staring up from the desert, and at Tebinquiche Lagoon, a protected nature sanctuary, you’ll toast the sunset with an aperitif. Leave a day free to hike or cycle, and look up after dark: the Atacama has some of the clearest night skies on Earth.
Day 14-15: Santiago
Your journey ends where it began, with a last night at Rugendas Hotel Boutique in Santiago. Spend the day relaxing, picking up a few bottles of Chilean wine to take home, or seeing more of the city. Ask our experts for their favourite restaurants and rooftop bars for an Andes sundowner.
When to Go
Best time for a Chile highlights holiday
The best time for this trip is October to April, when Patagonia is open and at its mildest, with the warmest weather from December to February. The Atacama Desert and Santiago can be visited all year. Some Patagonian lodges close in the southern winter, so this route isn’t available in May and June. Ask us which month suits you best.
Why Book With Travel Differently
Passionate and experienced
- Each member of the team has over a decade of experience in the industry
- Our 5* client reviews reflect our service & standards
- We are a fully independent & owner-run tour operator
- Our holidays include full financial protection & ATOL coverage
- We are destination experts, ensuring authentic & reliable advice
Committed and Responsible
Tailor-made and Personal
- No two trips are the same, our holidays are 100% bespoke
- We design personal, genuine cultural connections & experiences
- From planning to travel, you’ll have one dedicated point of contact
- Our support is available around the clock during your holiday
- We take care of the details, so you don’t have to
Need More Inspiration?
Want to combine multi-countries, take less flights, or include a hike in Patagonia? Thinking of a longer sabbatical holiday, or staying in some luxury yurts? It’s all possible; all our holidays are tailor-made with a focus on responsible travel. Take a look at more ideas below, and contact our experts.
