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  • Amy Waters snow biking Our Team

    Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.

  • William Dalrymple Our Tour Experts

    We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.

  • Liz Bonnin Heroes and Heroines

    The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.

View of Osorno Volcano, Lake District, Chile

Chilean Lake District

The Chilean Lake District is a land of beautiful glacial lakes, snow-capped volcanoes, hot springs and national parks stretching from Temuco in the north to Chaiten in the south.

This region has so much to offer, with exploration made easy by a good road network allowing visitors to spend days in their own hire car travelling from north to south or even cross the Andes to the Argentine Lake District.

Find pretty Pucon to the north with its idyllic setting on the edge of Lake Villarrica beneath snow-capped Villarrica Volcano. Visit hot springs and waterfalls, walk through the Huerquehue National Park, raft and fly-fish the Trancura River (October to April) or horse ride.

Flamingos, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Flamingos, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Highlights of Chile

Explore the length of this filament of a country, full of vast and varied landscapes, from the lunar-like Atacama Desert in the north to the finger-like granite peaks of the Torres del Paine National Park in the south, with time spent amongst the snow-capped volcanoes and hot springs of the Chilean Lake District.

10 days

from £4,545 pp

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Carretera Austral, Cerro Castillo, Patagonia, Chile
Carretera Austral, Cerro Castillo, Patagonia, Chile

Drive the Carretera Austral

Embark on a self-drive adventure in Chile on the iconic Carretera Austral, a remote road that cuts through the stunning mountainous scenery of the Aysen region of northern Patagonia, making detours to see traditional coastal villages, visit iconic cave systems and stay within Patagonia Park.

12 days

from £3,795 pp

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Osorno Volcano, Lake District, Chile
Osorno Volcano, Lake District, Chile

A Little More About the Chilean Lake District

Puerto Varas to the south, on the corner of stunning Lago Llanquihue, is a popular destination and base. Overlooked by the impressive snow-capped cone of Osorno Volcano, this pretty resort town is a good starting point for a wide variety of excursions in the surrounding area. These include walking amongst 4000-year-old alerce trees in Alerce Andino National Park, and exploring the lush, green and cultural Chiloe Island with its tight-knit farming and fishing communities. Heading east from Puerto Varas by road and boat, travellers can traverse the Andes via a series of lakes en route to Bariloche in Argentina, or head south through the magnificent glaciers, isles and fjords of remote Patagonia all the way down to Cape Horn.

Experiences

What do you really love doing? We curate your itinerary especially for you.

Houses and Harbour, Chiloe Island, Chile

Journey to Chiloe Island

Discover this island of huge cultural and historical interest, keeping a keen lookout for the resident whales and penguin colonies that thrive off its shoreline.

Suggested property

Osorno Volcano, Lake District, Chile

Self Drive the Lake District

Explore this majestic region by car, experiencing the freedom that comes with having road access to remote lakes, verdant forests, and other off-the-beaten-track locations.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Pouring Red Wine

Taste Chilean Cuisine

Sip wines from local vineyards and sample fresh local dishes from market stalls.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Where to Stay

Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.

More luxury accommodation

Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

Paul Bird

Combining the arid Atacama Desert and iconic Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonia, the dramatic contrasts of its landscapes make Chile one of Paul’s most treasured travel destinations.

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I would especially mention the positive and really helpful advice of James, who even met with me to chat face to face before putting together a bespoke trip that really met all of our expectations. As a result, our time in Chile was a lifetime experience that will never be forgotten.

Destination: Chile
Travel Expert: James

James put together what proved to be a fabulous itinerary in Chile. We were slightly concerned that with 11 flights in 3 weeks we might be overdoing it, but the experiences in each location more than justified the travel, and James's first-hand experience proved invaluable.

Destination: Chile
Travel Expert: James

Paul created an itinerary that perfectly suited our interests, and we were particularly impressed with the properties that he selected for us. Thank you for recommending we visit the Atacama Desert, which we hadn’t even thought of visiting, but which turned out to be the highlight.

Destination: Chile
Travel Expert: Paul

What a fantastic trip to Argentina, Chile and Brazil superbly organised by James.

Destination: Argentina, Chile & Brazil
Travel Expert: James

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to you and your team for looking after us so well! Who could have foreseen electric storms and the civil unrest in Chile. You couldn’t have looked after us better if you had been on the spot! We had an AWESOME adventure – your advice and suggestions were bang on the nail every time. Each hotel was better than the next and the cruise was FANTASTIC.

Destination: Argentina & Chile
Travel Expert: Paul

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.

Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?


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