Contours Travel – the longest-running Latin American tour operator in Australia – has launched its first, hosted cruise tour to Patagonia and Antarctica, with two departures slated for next summer.
The new 29-day ‘Antarctica and Patagonia’ tour, escorted by Contours Travel, is the company’s third hosted group tour but the first including a cruise and the first to canvass the wilds of Patagonia at the southern tip of South America and the ice continent of Antarctica.
Contours’ two other group tours are ‘Treasures of South America’ and ‘Treasures of Mexico’. The trio of tours means Contours Travel, established in Australia in 1975 and dedicated to Latin America holidays, now has Latin America covered from Mexico all the way south to Cape Horn and beyond to Antarctica.
Appealing to nature lovers, the new Antarctica and Patagonia tour will depart Australia on October 28, 2018, and February 22, 2019.
The itinerary, including extensive sightseeing and tours, begins in Santiago, Chile, with a visit to a winery to taste Chile’s famous wine and moves south to Punta Arenas in Patagonia where guests will join a traditional barbecue at an estancia or cattle ranch. Four nights are spent at a deluxe lodge inside Torres del Paine National Park, renowned for its soaring peaks and huge glaciers. Guests can choose to walk, drive or ride through the area on horseback, spotting animals such as guanacos, pumas, foxes and condors.
Another highlight of the trip will be a full day tour to Patagonia’s Perito Moreno Glacier, a frozen river 37 km long, 5km wide and up to 60m high. In Ushuaia, the tour will take guests to the wildlife-rich Tiera del Fuego National Park.
Guests will then board the expedition ship, Akademik Ioffe, for a 12-night, round-trip voyage from Ushuaia to Antarctica. During the cruise, guests can take part in camping onshore, snowshoeing, trekking, zodiac cruising and whale watching.
Back in Ushuaia, guests will fly to Buenos Aires for two nights to enjoy a tango dinner show and explore the city before flying out to Iguazu Falls – one of the world’s largest waterfalls – for another two nights before flying home to Australia from Buenos Aires.
Including flights from Australia, the 29-day tour, departing Australia on October 28, 2018, is available from $28,400 per person, twin-share, from Sydney or Melbourne, with connections available from other cities. Fares also include flights in South America, accommodation, 64 meals, touring and sightseeing and the services of host and guides.
Call Contours Travel on 1300 135 391 or visit contourstravel.com.au
Direct link to tour: Antarctica, Patagonia & Beyond, 2018
Andrew Mevissen
Peak Media Relations
Suite 3, 14 Wingecarribee St
Bowral, Southern Highlands
NSW, 2576, Australia
Mobile: 0431 883 057 Phone: 02 4862 3771 E:andrew@peakmediarelations.com.au www.peakmediarelations.com.au
