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Introduction

There are plenty of people who want to climb the world’s highest mountain, so separate yourself out from the crowd and aim for the world’s highest volcanoes instead.

The magnificent peak of is the highest in the world and one of the iconic Volcanic – highest on seven continents. This one-off adventure holiday offers the opportunity to stand not only on Ojos Del Salado (6893m) but also on (6723m) the world’s second highest active volcano. In true KE style this adventure holiday is not only about climbing peaks, it’s also about the amazing mountaineering journey through spectacular Chilean scenery. Home to star filled dark skies and breath-taking views, the Nevado de Tres Cruces National Park is where we will spot flamingos on the of Negro Francisco and Maricunga. We start in Copiapo, with its leafy plaza and historic buildings. Nestled in a narrow valley, and close to the airport, the town of Copiapo is a great location to kick-start the holiday.

Is this holiday for you?

On this superb Pioneer climbing holiday in Chile you will encounter a great variety of trekking conditions from easy acclimatisation trails to lush lagoons to challenging terrain across and volcanic fields to reach our two objectives; Ojos del Salado and Llullaillaco the world’s two highest volcanic peaks. For much of our trekking we are supported by 4WD however, our final stages of ascent to both Ojos del Salado and Llullaillaco require us to carry our equipment and work as a team to reach our goal so a high level of fitness is essential. The guiding ratio throughout this trip is 1:3. As part of a careful programme of acclimatisation, we will benefit from a fantastic 7 day trek from Valle Chico through Laguna Santa Rosa and the and ascend over 6000m on either San Francisco or Vicunas to view across the border to neighbouring .

Our summit days will be long and strenuous with a section of climbing to reach our goal making this an ambitious mountaineering programme which requires a high level of fitness and previous mountaineering experience, including experience in winter conditions are a pre-request for us to complete our objective. If you have limited winter mountaineering experience, we would recommend joining one of our introductory level mountaineering holidays first.

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1: Meet at Copiapo Airport in the mining town lies 56km inland from the Pacific Coast and, despite its dramatically arid landscape, has been successfully farmed since the pre-Inca period. Thanks to the areas' rich mineral content the town attracted much investment in the 19th century to became the home of South America's first railway, completed in 1852. As well as the railway, Copiapo was home to Chile's first telephone lines and gasworks. Today Copiapo is a bustling city, with a central park lined by 100 old pepper trees and flower-filled avenues. The town remains in touch with its traditional mining roots but is also a hub for mountaineering enthusiasts hoping to conquer Chile's highest peak and travellers looking to experience the unique landscapes of the Atacama and the National Park. In the evening there will be a briefing from the leader on the adventure ahead. It's also a great opportunity to head out with the leader and your fellow travellers for dinner.

*Food for thought: Rica rica is a wild growing herb and the true star of the Atacama Desert. You'll find it in teas and ice cream, and added to the most famous drink of the desert too: Rica Rica Pisco Sour. A pisco sour (or two) is a must try and South America's most famous cocktail. However only in the Atacama Desert will you find a Rica Rica

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Pisco Sour. For meat eaters the traditional Andean feast of patasca is a wonderfully rich stew made with corn, beef, onions and potatoes. In the Atacama Desert and the Altiplano you'll find the purple potato and once you've got your head around the idea of purple potatoes, why not try purple potato gnocchi or roasted purple potatoes? Quinoa is incredibly popular in the north of Chile and as a high-protein delicious alternative to rice, this is where to taste the best quinoa dishes. Quinoa salad and quinoa risotto are perfect dishes for vegetarians.

ACCOMMODATION  HOTEL

Day 2: Transfer to Valle Chico in the Nevado tres Cruces National Park.

This morning after breakfast there will be time to pack, have a final stroll around the town and pick up some lunch supplies for the journey to Valle Chico. We'll leave Copiapo late morning and take a transfer (2.5hrs) towards the Nevado tres Cruces National Park where we'll establish Camp I. Our journey by 4WD takes us away from towns and villages and onwards through the magnificent Atacama Desert, the driest nonpolar desert on Earth. Officially the oldest desert on the planet, the Atacama is over 150 million old and covers 130,000 square km. Nestled at the foot of the Mountains, the Atacama is littered with incredible rock formations, salt lakes brimming with flamingos and a wonderful kaleidoscope of desert colours. The area is also one of the best places on the planet for a dark skies experience and during the adventure we should be treated to plenty of star-filled nights. After arriving at Camp I (3070m) we'll enjoy a late lunch and settle into camp. We spend tonight only 45km away from Laguna Santa Rosa which is the location of our walk tomorrow and where we set up Camp II. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 3: Day of hiking around the salt of Laguna Santa Rosa

Today we move a short distance to Camp II (3700m) where we spend the next two nights. This is where we officially start our acclimatisation process nestled in the heart of the Nevado Tres Cruces National Park. Named after the impressive volcanic massif of Nevado Tres Cruces, which dominates the park, this beautiful landscape is surrounded by the Andes Mountains and gained national park status in 1994. Today's walk takes us around Laguna Santa Rosa (3762m), a wetland of great importance protected under the Ramsar Convention. On our hike around the lakeside we'll take in the magnificent surroundings and enjoy the dramatic scenery as our bodies start getting used to the climate and altitude. The salt lake is known for its large population of flamingos, but we'll keep our eyes open for native guanacos and vicunas too. Standing up to 1.2m guanacos are one of the largest wild mammals in South America and known as the wild version of an alpaca. Vicunas are their shy, small and delicate relatives with light brown fur and less comical faces. On our walk we'll see an abundance of local tundra which provides shelter and food for the local fauna. After the walk we return back to Camp II for dinner and to spend the night. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 4: Acclimatisation trek up the Seven Hermanas (4700m)

Today is a fantastic trekking day as we make an ascent of the Seven Hermanas (4700m). Dominating the horizon from Laguna Santa Rosa today's peak is actually a group of seven volcanic cones which together form a single summit. As the Atacama is dry and windy, there are no glaciers on the mountain but we may see some small snowfields that last almost all year round. Today isn't a technical ascent but the wind and sun can be strong. Today's total ascent is 1000m and after we've enjoyed some time up high, we'll head back down to camp a perfect way for us to continue to acclimatise to the altitude - climb high, sleep low.

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ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 5: Transfer from Laguna Santa Rosa to Laguna Verde

This morning we pack up camp and leave Nevado tres Cruces National Park and head along Route 31 towards Laguna Verde (4340m) where we set up Base Camp for the next 3 nights. After arriving at camp we'll settle in and rest for the afternoon. Laguna Verde is a beautiful turquoise coloured lake surrounded by a number of volcanic peaks including El Muerto (5921m), Vicunas (6067m), and San Francisco (6018m). We'll acclimatise on two of the peaks over the next few days. It's good to remember that resting is just as important as heading up high to see how the body reacts to altitude. Staying hydrated whilst resting at camp is also a vital part of the acclimatisation process. We'll also have great views of Ojos del Salado towering on the horizon. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 6: Trekking on Mulas Muertas

After breakfast we set off today towards the peak of Mulas Muertas where we start to put our bodies to the high altitude test. The aim is to head up over 5,600 meters before making our way back down to spend a further night at Base Camp. Mulas Muertas (5910m) lies very close to the Argentinian border and comes with an unfortunate name meaning Dead Mules. Today is the first proper test of how we're feeling at high altitude and as we slowly ascend we'll be surrounded by magnificent scenery. After reaching our target of over 5600m we head back down to Base Camp and rest in preparation for tomorrow's plan to head over 6000m. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 7: Climb over 6000m on either San Francisco or Vicunas

Today is a second acclimatisation day and the plan is to climb over 6000m. The guide will chose either the peak of San Francisco on the border with Argentina or the peak of Vicunas. , or Cerro San Francisco is a volcano located southeast of the famed ; a high altitude road over the Andes Mountains connecting Argentina and Chile. This impressive road reaches 4726m at its highest point. Alternatively today we will climb San Francisco's neighbouring peak of Vicunas. Both peaks tower above 6000m and will offer us the opportunity to push our bodies that little bit further before we return back down for a final night at Base Camp. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 8: Transfer to the Atacama Refuge and prepare our kit for our trek

Today is the last day we will have the support of our 4WD vehicle as the track becomes too difficult for the vehicle. Our driver will take us to the Refuge Atacama the basecamp for our ascent of the mighty Nevado Ojos Del Salado. This simple refuge allows a real insight into our challenge ahead as we organise our equipment with only a few likeminded mountaineers and snow dusted peaks for company. This is what real adventure is all about. Once we have checked our equipment and ensured we are prepared for our trek we can enjoy a hearty meal in camp and perhaps share a story or two between trekkers. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 9: Acclimatisation Walk to Refuge Tejos

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Today is all about acclimatisation and preparation for the ascent of Ojos del Salado as we make our way to our high camp at Refuge Tejos. Located at a heady 5837m Refuge Tejos is commonly regarded as the highest mountain hut in the world and is a small L-shaped hut named after a helicopter pilot who came to an unfortunate end after trying to land on Ojos del Salado. The hut's remote location means that as a team we will each be responsible for carrying a piece of equipment for our camp in preparation for our stay tomorrow. We will take it at a steady pace today as we continue to acclimatise and ascend, all the time surrounded by fantastic views of this rugged terrain. On arrival we will leave our group equipment and return to spend another evening at base camp to really allow our bodies time to adjust to the altitude and make our final ascent feel that little bit easier. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 10: Ascend to high camp and acclimatise ahead of our big day

This morning we say goodbye to our support vehicle put on our backpacks and set off. From this point onwards we are on our own and our real adventure begins as we make our way to our next goal; high camp at Refuge Tejos. Carrying our remaining equipment with us, we retrace our steps to high camp. Having completed most of the hard work yesterday, today we will be able to save a lot of necessary energy for tomorrow and enjoy a few more stops along the way to soak up our amazing moonlike landscape. Arriving at Refuge Tejos we will set up camp with time to rest and recuperate in preparation for our big day tomorrow. The day you stand on top of the world's highest volcano! ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 11: Ojos del Salado Summit Day

Waking bright and early we will set off straight after breakfast to allow ourselves as much time as possible to reach Ojos del Salado (6893m). Today is a long, challenging day filled with excitement as we reach ever closer to our main objective of the week. With each step you will feel the benefits of all our acclimatisation over the past 10 days. Our route will take us across a before reaching the highest crater lake in the world and a short section of rock climbing to take us to the summit. This day is certainly the most challenging of our trip as we as we ascend over 1000m to reach our summit and our big reward; views across the Atacama and the surrounding peaks of Tres Cruces and Pissis along with the knowledge that you are stood on top of Chile having reached the top of the world's highest volcano.

Once we have taken our obligatory summit photo and finished soaking up the atmosphere and sense of pride we will retrace our steps to Tejos. Our decent will be much speedier than our ascent as with every step, our breathing becomes easier and the air feels thicker. On reaching Tejos we will collect our additional equipment and continue to descend to Refugio Atacama where we will spend the evening. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 12: Additional Ojos del Salado Summit Day or Rest Day

With spectacular mountains comes unpredictable weather and unexpected challenges. This additional day has been scheduled to allow us a second opportunity to ascend the mighty Ojos del Salado should we not be successful the day before. If the weather gods have been on our side and we managed to successfully summit yesterday then instead today will be used for a well-earned rest. We can relax around camp, enjoy a good book, swap stories with fellow campmates and help with camp duties such as making dinner.

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ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 13: Return to Copiapo to enjoy a celebratory dinner

We will spend our final morning in the Parque Nevado de Tres Cruces packing up our camp and taking in our impressive surroundings, the isolation, the stark beauty and the buzz of achievement which is evident in camp. We will climb into our 4WD and say farewell to the sleeping giant of Ojos del Salado and its equally powerful neighbouring peaks. We will make our way back to Copiapo where you can enjoy one of the greatest showers of your life (the first shower after returning from a trek is always a great feeling) and enjoy dinner out at one of the local restaurants.

ACCOMMODATION  HOTEL

Day 14: Free day to explore Copiapo

Today is yours to spend as you wish, whether you would like to rest and recuperate at your hotel, enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the towns many inviting restaurants, or take the opportunity to do a little sightseeing. We recommend taking a stroll to the Plaza de Armas of Copiapo, also called Plaza Prat which was described in the 18th Century as the most beautiful plaza in Chile. It's a great place to observe local life and one of the main highlights is a neoclassical fountain, carved in Carrara marble which arrived from France in 1863. Opposite the square lies the Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral which is the largest church in the city. A 15min walk from the plaza and worth a visit, is the red and white striped candy cane church of San Francisco. On first sight the church looks as if it's constructed from cement, but it is actually constructed from Oregon pine. Just around the corner from the Church of San Francisco you'll find the Regional Museum of Atacama. The small museum is housed in a neoclassical property called the Matta Brothers House, which is built from Oregon pine. You'll find furnishings, portraits, pottery and weaponry on display. Although mostly in Spanish, the Miner's Room has a display related to Loss 33 - the 33 miners who were successfully rescued after being trapped underground for 69 days in 2010. In the courtyard you'll find the original pod used to rescue the men. It is a moving tribute to the hope and determination of the men and their families. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS B  HOTEL

Day 15: Transfer to Antofagasta

After breakfast we will begin our journey north along the coast to Antofagasta, the second largest city in Chile. The city is built around a key port for the Atacama's mining industry and it is from here the minerals are shipped around the world. Our journey will take approximately 5-6 hours so we will be sure to stop off for lunch and stretch our legs along the way. If time allows we may take a small diversion inland on our approach to Antofagasta to take in the Mano de Desierto. Designed by Chilean sculptor and artist Mario Irarrazabal it is an unusual artistic expression of a 36 foot hand which looks to be appearing out of the desert.

On arrival at Antofagasto we will be checked into our hotel for the evening and perhaps have the opportunity to take a stroll to the Plaza Colon and Arturo Prat before dinner. This beautiful plaza is brought to life with street musicians and squares where you can sit and enjoy the play as the world passes by. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS B  HOTEL

Day 16: Transfer to the Llullaillaco national Park

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This morning we transfer to the CONAF refuge within the Llullaillaco National Park, named after and home to, our next goal the second highest volcano in the world, Llullaillaco, at 6739m. The area of almost 269 thousand hectares includes part of the Andes mountain range as well as the Domeyko mountain range and was declared a national park in 1995. The park is home to 91 species of flora and 44 species of wildlife including vicuna, guanaco, vizcacha and puma.

Upon arrival at the refuge we will set up our camp and organise our equipment for the next few days of trekking. Your guide will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the challenge ahead and we will once again enjoy dinner under the stars. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  MOUNTAIN HUT / REFUGE

Day 17: Trek to high camp in preparation for our accent of the world's second highest volcano

Today we will take a short 4WD to camp 1, from here the rest of our journey is on foot. Similarly to our ascent of Ojos del Salado we must work as a team to transport our equipment to high camp. Our route to reach high camp is straightforward and, after our time at altitude over the course of our trip, we shouldn't feel too many of its affects, however, we must remember we have our equipment to carry and so we will take it at a steady pace and conserve our energy for tomorrow, when we conquer Llullaillaco. We should arrive with plenty of time to set up our camp before nightfall and delight in a hearty meal together. This part of Chile is known for its fantastic dark skies too so we may even be able to amuse ourselves with a spot of stargazing. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  CAMPING

Day 18: Summit Llullaillaco (6739m) and return to CONAF refuge

We start our day nice and early allowing us plenty of time to reach the summit and relish in our achievements later in the day. Today's route is a challenging one as we once again climb almost 1000m to reach our summit, but all our hard work over the past 17 days, all those challenging acclimatisation walks and the carrying of equipment make it much more achievable. We just have to ask the weather gods to be on our side too.

This is the day we stand on top of Llullaillaco, the world's second highest volcano. The summits' first recorded ascent was less than 70 years ago in 1950, but later ascents have since found that this dormant giant has been conquered much earlier than this. In 1999, three mummified children known as the Children of Llullaillaco were found at the summit. It is presumed that they met their end as part of an Inka ritual and became human sacrifices. The find not only provides an insight into an unexpected history of the volcano and place within the Chilean culture but also makes it the world's highest archaeological site. After time on the summit to relish in our achievements we return to high camp and continue down to the CONAF refuge where we will spend our last evening camping with the company of the awe-inspiring peaks which surround us. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BLD  MOUNTAIN HUT / REFUGE

Day 19: Return to Antofagasta

Waking to the peace of the mountains and the rumblings of the camp coming alive we will enjoy a relaxed breakfast before dismantling our camp and taking the journey back to Antofagasta to spend our final evening in the Atacama desert. Depending on our time of arrival back in Antofagasta you will have time to sort your kit, enjoy

www.keadventure.com UK: +44(0) 17687 73966 US (toll-free): 1-888-630-4415 PAGE 8 VOLCANIC SUMMITS OF CHILE a shower and perhaps explore the city a little further. In the evening you have a choice of restaurants to choose from in the city where you can feast on a celebratory meal and toast to a great trek. ACCOMMODATION  MEALS BL  HOTEL

Day 20: Departure Day

KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. A single timed transfer to Antofagasta Airport is provided. To extend your holiday in Chile, why not contact our office for the costs of additional nights accommodation.  MEALS B

Holiday Information

What's Included

• An experienced English-speaking local leader • Additional licenced mountain guides (1:3 guide/clients) • Single timed airport transfers • All accommodation as described • Meals as outlined in the Meal Plan • Once on trek a full service including food and all equipment (excluding personal equipment) • All land transport involved in the itinerary

What's Not Included

• Travel insurance • Tips for trek staff • Visa fees if necessary • Airport transfers (other than group transfers) • Departure tax (if applicable) • Some meals as detailed in the Meal Plan • Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc

Meal Plan

All breakfasts, 15 lunches and 13 dinners are included in the holiday price. In Copaipo and Antofagasata there is a wide range of dining options, to suit all budgets, and we have therefore not included the cost of meals in the holiday price (other than breakfasts) while staying in these towns, preferring to leave the choice to you. We suggest you budget between $7 and $20 for each of these non-included meals.

Food & Water

In Copiapo and Antofagasta there is a wide range of restaurants and bars serving a mix of local and international cuisine for us to choose from. On trek, varied packed lunches will be supplied. Evening meals will be plentiful and will be a delicious mixture of local and international-style, from ingredients purchased in Chile and cooked for us by our guiding team.

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Many places on this holiday have drinkable water from the tap to fill your personal water bottles. Please check with the leader at the various locations. Please take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) for days when drinking water out of the tap is not available. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

Special Diets

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot provide special diets. Due to the nature of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your diet with food/snacks from home. If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice. Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

Group Leader & Support Staff

The group will be accompanied throughout the trip by an experienced, English-speaking local leader. The guide-to- client ratio for this trip is 1:3. In addition to the guides, you will also be supported by assistant guides and a range of support staff including 4WD and minibus drivers.

Spending Money

We estimate that $400 will cover all of your expenditures whilst in Chile, including non included meals, soft drinks, tips for local staff and any airport taxes. If you intend to purchase expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly. Credit cards can be useful here. The Chilean unit of currency is the Peso. We recommend that you carry your money in the form of US dollars currency as it will not be possible to exchange traveller's cheques. There a number of ATMs in Copiapo but we would recommend that you obtain cash using your credit/debit card at the cash machine in the airports at Copaipo. Visa credit cards are widely accepted in Chile.

Guidance On Tipping

Tips are the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ to your local guides and crew. They do not form part of their wages. KE always pays local crews the best rates of pay, no matter what country they are in and any tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from group members. For our part, we advise local teams that tips are not a duty or a prerequisite but are a bonus and entirely dependent on the service that was given. For your trek crews we recommend that you give a tip if you feel that their services have met your satisfaction. As a rough guide we suggest you allow a total of $100-$150 for tipping your crew.

Baggage Allowance

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage, which should be a soft bag such as the KE kit bag and a daypack (approx 40l). Your bag on trek will be transported by 4WD and should not weigh more than 15kg. On the final two days of ascent of both Ojos del Salado and Llullaillaco you will need to carry your equipment with you. It is possible to leave extra baggage in the 4WD. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.

Group Size & Holiday Status

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status

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Recommended Outdoor Retailers

Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers. >> Find out more

Travel Insurance

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct. Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

General Information

Passport & Visas

A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit.

Visa Chile

UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa for short stays. USA passport holders will be issued with a tourist card on arrival.

Health & Vaccinations

Severe Allergies

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

VACCINATIONS

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you specific require any vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella), along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A certificate of yellow

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Currency

The unit of currency in Chile is the Peso.

Electricity Supply & Plug

We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/

Preparing For Your Holiday

Getting some additional exercise before coming on an active holiday makes a lot of sense. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. You should be aerobically fit and comfortable with walking 8 to 9 hours for consecutive days, and possibly for 12hrs or more on a summit day. Hill walking, with a good amount of ascent and descent, is the best training, and we would suggest that you try to fit in a number of long weekend walks before you depart. Running, cycling and swimming are also good for developing cardio vascular fitness and stamina. There is little you can do to prepare for the altitude but if you have an excellent level of fitness this can help.

For this trip you will need to be competent in the use of an ice axe and crampons. You should also ensure that your basic 'alpine' or winter walking skills are reasonably current and if not, consider taking a weekend course or joining one of our more straightforward Alpine mountaineering trips prior to departure.

Climate

The Atacama has a climate characterised by blue skies and mild temperatures throughout the year. At average altitudes of around 2500 metres, temperatures range from 28°C / 82°F during the day to 0°C / 32°F at night. Higher, on the altiplano, at altitudes above 4000 metres, average daytime temperatures range from 10°C / 50°F down to minus 10°C / plus 14°F. We can expect little, if anything, in the way of precipitation. Ojos del Salado and Llullaillaco are the high desert area and its temperatures change abruptly from daytime to night-time, reaching temperatures as low as -20°C.

Travel Aware

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

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Single Use Plastic

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use. We have pledged to AITO’s Project Protect that 70% of our agents stop using single use plastic bottles.

Books

• Chile & Easter Island - Lonely Planet. • The Rough Guide to Chile. • Chile & Easter Island - DK Eyewitness Travel Guide. • Travels in a Thin Country - Sarah Wheeler. • Dark Skies – Lonely Planet.

Flight Information

Flight Inclusive Or Land Only?

On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays.

Flight Inclusive Notes

The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London to Copiapo (return from Antofagasta) with LATAM. Outbound flights will depart the UK in the evening, arriving the following afternoon (day 1 of the itinerary). Return flights will usually depart Antofagasta airport in the morning of the last day of the itinerary, arriving in the UK in the morning of the following day. Regional departures and/or alternative carriers are available on request.

Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please note that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of your final holiday balance. Note that if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection.

Land Only Notes

The dates shown are for the LAND ONLY itinerary, joining in Copiapo (returning from Antofagasta). For clients making their own flight arrangements, Copiapo airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to the 'Joining arrangements & transfers' for further details.

Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'.

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Why Choose KE Adventure Travel?

Why Choose KE Adventure Travel?

Operating since 1984, KE Adventure Travel has some of the most experienced staff in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Everyone has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience.

KE can guarantee the very best in trip support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and other accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE.

Group Tour Leaders

All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, mule-herders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience.

Sustainable Tourism

Since we ran our first trip in 1984, we have been committed keeping the world's most beautiful places pristine by minimising our environmental impact. Recognising the fragility of the world's wilderness environments, we keep our groups small and operate according to a ‘Mountain Code’, which is provided to all groups, trek leaders, agents and staff. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment of the places we visit and take every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. Our philosophy of 'leaving nothing but footprints' has been integral to KE's approach right from the start over 30 years ago. In recognition of our efforts we are proud to have achieved the highest award of 5 Stars for Sustainable Tourism by AITO.

We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at www.keadventure.com, and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: www.junipertrust.co.uk. KE's Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too!

Booking Your Holiday

The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally £200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form.

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Adventure Travel Insurance

It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form.

CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition ‘Campbell Irvine Direct’ cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard.

TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m.

We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions.

Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

Please note: This document was downloaded on 14 Nov 2019, and the trip is subject to change.

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