Bolivia is known for having the world’s highest navigable lake (Lake Titicaca) and the highest seat of government (La Paz) and also boasts the world’s largest salt flats. Its high deserts and volcanoes that border the Atacama Desert are at contrast to its rainforest in the Amazonian basin. Illampu from the road to San Pedro Photo: Lindy Newnham 65 tel: 0845 330 8579 (local call rate, UK only) international tel: +44 1453 844 400 www.himalayankingdoms.com £2,695 £1,735 Dates: Sat 31 May – Mon 23 Jun land only Grade: Strenuous On Trek: 15 days European Leader: Stef Economides Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 5 Provincial Hotels: 2 Camping/Hostels/Huts: 14 Optional: Single Room £95 Single Tent £50 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 24 days 1–2 Fly to La Paz, at leisure 3–4 Visit to Tihuanaco, drive to Lake Titicaca 5–6 Walks on Isla del Sol 7–20 Drive to roadhead, on trek 21–24 Drive to La Paz, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of clients This itinerary is unique to Himalayan Kingdoms 4 Alpacas & Condors Wild Bolivia – The Cordillera Apolobamba The Cordillera Apolobamba lies in the far north of Bolivia and abuts the border with Peru. On this trek, we can, on occasion enjoy simultaneous views of glaciers on one side of the path and the Amazon jungle on the other. We descend into the cloud forest for a few days before climbing up to enjoy a sustained high altitude route with great views of the cordillera’s main peaks and glaciers. This is one of the wildest parts of the Andes – what sparse local population exists is primarily involved in subsistence farming, alpaca herding or gold mining. The wildlife is the best in Bolivia and condors are an almost daily sighting. £2,795 £1,835 Dates: Thu 19 Jun – Sat 12 Jul land only Grade: Moderate/Vigorous On Trek: 11 days European Leader: Ian Coxan Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 9 Camping: 8 Estancias/Haciendas: 4 Optional: Single Room £120 Single Tent £45 Insurance: £149 (Insurance Plus) Days Itinerary Duration: 24 days 1–6 Fly to Sucre, sightseeing, drive to Potosi –7 Drive to La Paz 8–11 Visit Tihuanaco, drive to Lake Titicaca, day trek Isla del Sol, drive back to La Paz 12–20 Trek from Pinaya to Irupana 21–24 Drive to La Paz, at leisure, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of4clients Gold, Silver and Coca – from the Andes towards the Amazon An exceptional trip, again unique to Himalayan Kingdoms, that combines visits to the best of colonial Bolivia and takes us around Bolivia’s second highest and most sacred mountain – Illimani (6,400m/21,000ft). Near the end, it descends into the lush cloud forest of the Amazon jungle. The first nine days are spent acclimatising by visiting the official capital Sucre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, characterised by its whitewashed colonial architecture. We drive to another World Heritage Site, Potosi, known historically for its vast silver deposits. After flying to La Paz we, visit lake Titicaca and the Inca sites on the Island of the Sun. Well-acclimatised, we begin our ten-day trek, skirting the west and south faces of Mount Illimani, below the high glaciers. We head east towards the Amazon basin, where we may encounter the odd outpost of gold miners. We cross two high passes, before descending into the cloud forest. The trek ends in the sub-tropical valleys of the Yungas – home to the cultivation of citrus fruit, coffee and coca leaves. £2,595 £1,570 Dates: Sat 17 May – Sun 08 Jun*, Fri 12 Sep – Sat 04 Oct † land only Grade: Strenuous On Trek: 15 days European Leader: Frank Hibbert*, Kim Mason † Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 5 Provincial Hotels: 4 Camping: 11 Optional: Single Room £85 Single Tent £50 Insurance: £99 (Standard Policy) Days Itinerary Duration: 23 days 1–2 Fly to La Paz, at leisure 3–6 Visit to Tihuanaco, drive to Lake Titicaca, walks Isla del Sol 7–8 Visit Isla de la Luna, drive to Sorata, trek to caves 9–19 Trek the Cordillera Real Traverse 20–23 End trek, drive to La Paz, sightseeing, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of4clients Cordillera Real Traverse This is the classic trek in Bolivia along the length of ‘Royal Range’ of the Andes, so named by the invading Conquistadors because of its beauty when seen from shores of Lake Titicaca. It has been documented several compendia of the world’s best treks but still remains infrequently travelled and remarkably deserted. A seven day acclimatisation programme includes time exploring La Paz, followed by Lake Titicaca and the Island the Sun (home to the Inca creation legend). This also gives chance to appreciate the simple life of the Aymara community, and the splendid views of the Cordillera Real. This challenging high-altitude 120 miles trek runs North South along the entire length of the main range. Starting from near the old rubber and quinine trading town of Sorata, will use mules or llamas as pack animals. Most trekking days include a steep pass crossing (two over 5,000m/16,405ft) and each day brings fresh views of new mountain groups. Bolivia

Upsala Glacier and the South Patagonian icefield Photo: Adam Parsons 66 Download detailed itineraries from www.himalayankingdoms.com e: info@himalayankingdoms.com Chile PATAGONIA Patagonia is a distinct geographical region that lies at the southernmost tip of the South American continent. The Patagonian Andes are mainly granite, and over twelve million years of glacial action has sculpted them into fjords, islands and U-shaped valleys. Most dramatic of all, though, are the megalithic, vertical rock towers, such as the world-famous Torres del Paine, Peak Cerro Torre, and Mount Fitz Roy. On the Chilean side of the range the Torres de Paine National Park is a World Biosphere Reserve, and in Argentina the Los Glaciares National Park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1981. The animal stars of these peaks include guanacos, ñandus, condors and even flamingos. Interesting Facts The Andes & Patagonia The Andes is the longest mountain chain in the world. There are 102 peaks in the Andes that exceed 6,000m/19,686ft. Highest Andean peak: Aconcagua, Argentina 6,959m/22,831ft First ascent: 1897 by M. Zurbriggen. Highest Patagonian peak: Mount San Valentín, 4,058m/13,313ft (first ascent 1952). The Central Tower of Paine, approx. 2,460m/8,070ft, was first climbed by Chris Bonington and Don Whillans in 1963. Mount Fitz Roy, 3,405m/11,171ft, first ascent 1952 by Lionel Terray and Guido Magnone. Cerro Torre, 3,128m/10,262ft first ascent controversially claimed by Cesare Maestri in 1959. Eric Shipton made two explorations in Patagonia 1958/59 and 1959/60. £3,195 £2,490 Sat 16 Feb – Sun 02 Mar Sat 01 Mar – Sun 16 Mar £3,295 £2,490 Sat 11 Oct – Sun 26 Oct Sat 15 Nov – Sun 30 Nov Price TBC: 2009 dates: Sat 14 Feb – Sun 01 Mar ’09 Sat 28 Feb – Sun 15 Mar ’09 land only land only Grade: Moderate Day Walks: 6 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 11 Camping: 2 Optional: Single Room and Tent £tbc Insurance: £145 (Insurance Plus) Days Itinerary Duration: 16 days 1–3 Fly to Santiago, at leisure –4 Fly Punta Arenas, drive to Puerto Natales –5 Boat trip to Torres del Paine National Park 6–12 Day treks including look out points for Torres del Paine and Cuernos of Paine –13 Transfer to Puerto Natales 14–16 Transfer to Punta Arenas, fly to Santiago, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of5clients Highlights of the Torres del Paine We have designed this itinerary to treat you to all the park’s gems, including a day walk to view the spectacular Towers of Paine, the Cuernos of Paine, the huge expanse of Glacier Grey, and a couple of nights beside the turquoise waters of Lake Pehoe. We begin the trip by flying into the vibrant capital of Santiago before flying south, and taking the awe-inspiring boat trip from Puerto Natales to enter the Torres del Paine National Park. The trip is a visual feast of mountains, fjords, ice caps, glaciers, stunning rock towers, and an abundance of wildlife. The trekking is moderate and involves day walks to the park’s highlights, returning in the evening to good food, comfortable hotel accommodation or fixed camping with good facilities. £2,995 £2,200 Sat 09 Feb – Mon 25 Feb £2,995 £2,275 Sat 15 Mar – Mon 31 Mar £3,095 £2,235 Sat 29 Nov – Mon 15 Dec Price TBC: 2009 dates: Sat 07 Feb – Mon 23 Feb ’09 Sat 14 Mar – Mon 30 Mar ’09 land only land only land only Grade: Vigorous On Trek: 8 days In-country Leader Nights’ Accommodation: Hotels: 5 Camping: 9 Optional: Single Room and Tent £tbc Insurance: £145 (Insurance Plus) Days Itinerary Duration: 17 days 1–3 Fly to Santiago, at leisure –4 Fly Punta Arenas, drive to Puerto Natales –5 Boat trip to Torres del Paine National Park 6–13 Trekking the Torres del Paine circuit –14 Catamaran to Lago Pehoe, drive to Puerto Natales 15–17 Drive to Punta Arenas, fly to Santiago, fly to London Guaranteed to run for a minimum of4clients Torres del Paine Circuit This truly is one of the greatest, most spectacular treks in the world. It combines dramatic, beautiful scenery and abundant, exotic wildlife (such as condors and penguins) with a challenging, classic trekking circuit. The trek begins with a day trip to a lookout point where we can gaze at the stunning Towers of Paine across the Ventisquero Torres. The circuit then begins in earnest, where we will be treated to daily sights of glaciers, rushing rios, granite towers, snow-clad summits and turquoise lakes as we walk through a mixture of daisy meadows, lenga forest and moraine. One of the many advantages of this trek is its low altitude (max height, John Garner Paso, at 1,180m/3,871ft) which helps those energy levels! The trek is fully guided and supported, although we will need to carry our own clothing, sleeping bag and toiletries.