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Atacama Desert

The driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert is a largely desolate landscape freckled with lagoons, hot springs, geysers and salt plains that stretches some 600 miles across northern Chile.

The charming oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama resides at the edge of the dazzling Salar de Atacama, close to the Bolivian border. The narrow sandy streets lines with adobe-style buildings are a gateway into the depths of Atacama Desert.

Choose between one of many possible excursions into the desert, either on foot, by jeep, horseback or mountain bike. Visit the world’s highest geysers at El Tatio, Chuquicamata, the world’s largest open-cast copper mine, climb a volcano or visit interesting archaeological sites, petroglyphs and abandoned ghost towns. For those not so active, unwind in a hotel spa ow swimming pool in a property beautifully perched beside the desert and overlooking the towering Andes.

Experiences

What do you really love doing? We’ll tailor your itinerary to suit you.

Salt flats, Los Flamencos National Reserve, Atacama Desert, Chile

Photography in the Salt Flats

Travel overland to the shimmering Salar de Atacama salt flats to photograph the flocks of pink flamingos that feed in this otherworldly landscape.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Hike the Atacama Desert

Explore the dramatic red landscape of the Atacama Desert, the highest and driest desert in the world, on foot.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Atacama Desert Horseback Riding

Saddle up and ride across the endless open desert under the watchful eye of the Licancabur Volcano.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Stargaze in the Desert

Visit one of the Atacama Desert’s world-class telescope projects to learn about the cosmos or simply gaze at the spectacularly clear star-filled night sky,

Suggested Holiday Idea

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Suggested Itinerary

Highlights of Chile

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

11 days

from £6,995 pp

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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

Chile

Explora Atacama

Wilderness
£££££

Designed to blend seamlessly with the colours and materials of the desert, Explora Atacama combines contemporary architecture with old stable yard-style accommodation blocks. Its 50 rooms, each accessed by crossing an original stone courtyard, are all…

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Chile

Casa Atacama

£££££

Hotel Casa Atacama is a boutique hotel with just 25 rooms, conveniently located within walking distance to the centre of the pretty abode town of San Pedro. The hotel has a spa offering a choice of…

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Chile

Awasi Atacama

Wilderness
£££££

An intimate and authentic property that offers unexpected opulence within the arid Atacama Desert, Awasi Atacama is tucked behind an impressive ancient adobe wall that disguises the sumptuous accommodations within. Its 12 thatched-roof suite cottages, each…

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Chile

Tierra Atacama Resort & Spa

Wilderness
£££££

Set within an Altiplanic region ruled by moon-like valleys, spectacular night skies and high-altitude lagoons, Tierra Atacama offers a home-from-home experience that balances relaxation with adventure travel. Its 32 exquisitely designed rooms each boast al fresco…

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Chile

Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa

Wilderness
£££££

Blending seamlessly with the burnt red rock face that forms its backdrop, Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa is burrowed at the foot of the ruins of Pukara de Quitor and appears to melt into the…

Exterior of Hotel, Rock Formation, Alto Atacama Desert Lodge and Spa, Pukara de Quitor, Chile

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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.

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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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01285 880 980

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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

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

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

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.

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Atacama Desert