Patagonia is one of the wildest and rawest places on earth. Nestled at the southern cone of South America, and straddling both Chile and Argentina, it offers those lucky few who visit, a glimpse at some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet. The vast wilderness is nearly endless. With a backdrop of jagged mountains that skewer the clouds and volcanoes crowned with snow, you could easily spend a lifetime traversing its rolling pampas, blue glaciers and swathes of untouched forest — and never see it all.
It's hard to portray the grandeur of Patagonia’s cinematic visuals. Picture tall craggy cliffs bordering turquoise lakes, massive bright blue glaciers, pearl-hued ice sheets that carry for miles, towering volcanoes, sweeping verdant plains known as pampas, rainforest and remote green fjords and channels. With a mythical past of giants and megafauna, Patagonia is a wildlife paradise. Imagine Andalusian horses running wild, whales piercing the ocean’s surface, Andean condors swooping low, thousands of guanacos running over the pampas, and about 1 million pairs of Magellanic penguins wading their young into the southern sea. If you’re lucky you may spot the world’s smallest deer, puma, Patagonian mara, Fur seal, dolphin, pink flamingo, jaguar, south American ostrich and endangered wild cat — just to name a few.
Before you go to Patagonia, it’s essential to know the highlights, understand how the ecosystem changes depending on where you are, and carefully consider what you want to do. You’ll also want to choose an adventure that meets your fitness level. Argentina's portion of Patagonia is larger and more geographically diverse than Chile's portion; while Chile's portion is smaller, more rugged and less touristy. The south of Patagonia is wind-lashed and extreme: where the frostbitten Andes crumble into the sea. Meanwhile, the north is more temperate with lush volcanoes and a rich labyrinth of rainforest.
So where does one begin? At A&K, we take you to the most extraordinary parts of Patagonia, taking care of all the logistics and putting you up in the most luxurious stays — famed for panoramic beauty — so you can sit back and enjoy the ride. You’ll experience the north and the south, and traverse both Argentina and Chile, so you know you’re not missing out on any of the highlights.
We’ll take you on a cruise through the sapphire waters of the famed Tierra del Fuego, an archipelago of islands, fjords and channels, overrun by seal, sea lion and penguin. You’ll sail to the far-flung Gable Island, the largest and most beautiful uninhabited island in the channel, surrounded by sea, silence, and stunning birdlife. You cannot miss the otherworldly landscapes of the Torres del Paine, renowned for its rugged horn-shaped peaks, ragging waterfalls, granite spires and pristine sandy lowlands. Here you can discover a range of stunning hikes into the untouched wilderness. Go kayaking through the gun-boat grey Beagal channel, walk among the native Magellanic penguins on Isla Martillo, and explore the myths and legends of the indigenous Yamana people.
The holy grail of Patagonia is undoubtedly the Perito Moreno Glacier, where we’ll take you to experience a once-in-a-lifetime walk along the ice. If you only plan on visiting one glacier in your life, this is the one. With A&K, you’ll drive across the steppe, admiring black-necked swan, flamingo, steamer duck, coot and Magellan goose to the National Park access gate, where expert guides will help you to put on a pair of crampons and explain how to use them. Then step onto the glacier itself for a hike through the fascinating landscape of streams, small lagoons, gullies, crevasses and ice formations. Afterwards, watch building-sized icebergs calve from the face in a dramatic audible crash, as you traverse steel catwalks (almost 4000 m long).
Raw, thrilling and extraordinary: a journey through the wilds of Patagonia is unparalleled.
To learn more about how you can take your own journey through the Patagonian wilderness, click on one of the journeys below, get in touch with our Journey Designers on +61 (0)3 9536 1800 or click here to craft the adventure of a lifetime.
Chile & Argentina: Patagonian Wilderness
Private, Tailor-Made Journey
Patagonia: The Last Wilderness
A Luxury Small Group Journey (2024)
Averaging just 13 guests
Multiple departures
