South America: La Paz, Santiago & the Uyuni Salt Flats

This 10-night small group tour with G Adventures guides travellers through some of South America's distinctive landscapes and cities. The route opens in Bolivia's former capital, Sucre, where colonial streets and distant dinosaur footprints invite exploration at one's own pace.

The tour then ventures into the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, traversed by 4x4 over three days, an expansive white surface broken by occasional giant cacti and salt hotels. The journey continues into Chile's Atacama Desert, visiting the Valley of the Moon with its sculpted rock formations that look as if a giant brushed a landscape with a trowel. Time in cities such as Potosí and San Pedro de Atacama includes moments free for personal ventures and local culture. The tour balances guided excursions with opportunities for independent discovery, accompanied throughout by a Chief Experience Officer familiar with the region’s history and geography.

While some travel days involve flights or longer drives, the variety of modes ensures the itinerary unfolds at a reasonable pace allowing for both group activity and leisurely wandering. Meals are included selectively, mostly breakfasts, alongside local dining suggestions from the CEO. The pace and locations make this a thoughtful introduction to the high-altitude and desert environments of Bolivia and Chile.