Patagonia Holidays and Tours

November to March is the best time to visit Patagonia, with the warmest weather and long hours of daylight. December to February is peak season, ideal for hiking, wildlife and reaching remote areas. For fewer crowds, travel in spring (October and November) or autumn (March and April), when the landscapes turn green or golden. In winter (May to September) days are short and cold, and many lodges and roads close. Whatever the season, Patagonia’s weather is famously changeable, so pack layers.

Spanning Argentina and Chile, Patagonia is a region at the southern tip of South America.

December, January and February are the best months for warm weather and the most activities. If you’d prefer fewer people, November and March are excellent alternatives. Avoid June to August, when travel is difficult and much accommodation is closed.

We recommend at least ten to fourteen days to see Patagonia’s main highlights without feeling rushed. Patagonia is further to reach than most of South America, and its highlights are spread out, so our advice at Travel Differently is always to spend longer and travel slower. Our Patagonia Highlights Holiday covers the essentials in 16 days, while our self-drive holiday explores more widely over 24.

Hiking in Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks, visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier, exploring Ushuaia and spotting wildlife like pumas, penguins and guanacos are the top things to do in Patagonia. A self-drive Patagonia holiday is a fantastic way to explore further and take each leg at your own pace. There are hiking trails to suit every fitness level, alongside hidden waterfalls, dramatic fjords, glistening lakes, ice-trekking, remote lodges and alpine forests.

Chile is best for dramatic mountain scenery and hiking in Torres del Paine, while Argentina offers vast steppes, the Fitz Roy range and stunning glaciers such as Perito Moreno. Most of our guests visit both, and our experts can design a Patagonia holiday covering either or both countries. For entry requirements, see the UK government’s travel advice for Chile and Argentina.

There are no direct flights from the UK, so most guests connect via Santiago or Buenos Aires, then fly to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales in Chile, or El Calafate or Ushuaia in Argentina. From there, you continue by road with a private driver, or by hire car on a self-drive holiday.

Yes, and it’s one of the best ways to see the region. Main routes are well signposted, though sections of the Carretera Austral and some park roads are gravel, so we choose suitable vehicles and plan driving days that leave plenty of time for stops. Crossing between Chile and Argentina by car needs special paperwork, which we arrange. The best season for driving is October to April. Our 24-day Patagonia self-drive holiday includes pre-booked accommodation, route notes and support throughout.

Absolutely. Many of our Patagonia guests are in their sixties and seventies. Private guides set the pace for you, walks range from gentle strolls to full-day treks, and comfortable lodges and estancias make every day relaxing. A fjord cruise or a self-drive holiday with short driving days are also great options. Tell us what you’d like to do, and we’ll design the right trip.

Our tailor-made Patagonia holidays start from £4,185 per person for 16 days on our Highlights Holiday, £5,589 for 24 days on our self-drive holiday, £6,056 for 20 days on our Active Adventure, and from £10,930 for 15 days on our luxury Patagonia holiday. Read more in our guide to how much a South America holiday costs.