Our varied itinerary leads us to the discovery of Bolivia and its contrasts, from the intermediary valleys and their Mediterranean climate to the stark deserts of the Altiplano, by way of the tropical forests of the Yungas and the highest volcanoes of the Western Cordillera.
After a short acclimatization trek on Lake Titicaca, a place laden with history and myth, we head towards the orchards of Cochabamba and the sunny hills of Sucre.
We then have to climb up the slopes of the Cordillera to discover Potosi a city with a rich history and registered as a World Heritage City by UNESCO. Arriving in Uyuni, entryway to the Deserts of Lipez and their amazing lagunas and to the world’s largest salt flat, the Salar de Tunupa (also called Salar de Uyuni).
More to the East, we travel to the Yungas an intermediate region where the Cordillera drops into the Amazon Basin. We enter denser tropical vegetation, contrasting with the harsh climate of the high plateau. A few kilometers away, the Giants of the Cordillera await our return.

Pick up at the airport (flight number and arrival time to be confirmed) and transfer to hotel.
At 2 p.m. we meet at the reception of the hotel for a guided tour of La Paz, city located at almost 4000 m.a.s.l.: Sagárnaga street and its local handicraft market (one of the most famous of South America), the witches’ street, San Pedro's food market, the historical center and the colonial neighborhood.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Departure from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. in our private vehicle, to discover the most spectacular viewpoint over the city, unbelievably located in the “pit” of the Choqueyapu river canyon, with the Royal Mountain Range “Giants” as the background: Huayna Potosi, Mururata and Illimani.
This tour, particularly designed for photo lovers, first takes us to the K´Illi K´Illi Mirador and to the Laykakota Park, on the Northwestern side of the city. Afterwards, we cross the Americas Bridge to go to the “Plaza de España” Mirador, in the colonial neighborhood of Sopocachi. From there, an abrupt descent leads us to the “South Zone”, passing through Llojeta and the “Garden Cemetery”, and finally to the Valley of the Moon, a place where we will be able to walk between psychedelic looking sandstone formations.
Return downtown in the afternoon.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Departure from the hotel at 7:30 a.m. with a private 4WD. We skirt Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real before descending towards Copacabana (around 3 ½ hours). From there a motorboat takes us to the Northern extremity of the Isla del Sol (island of the Sun), a 3-hour trip.
From the ruins, we start the trek following the crest of the island until we reach the village of Yumani in the South (a 3 to 4-hour hike).
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Maria and Ismaël’s house (Basic comfort).
Note: During the following 2 days a boat will be at our disposal to transport the group as well as the backpacks during the walks.
Hiking time: 4h; Elevation gain: +200m / -100m

In the morning, we climb to the ruins of Chincana (“the labyrinth” in Aymara) and the sacred rock of the Puma, from where God Viracocha created his son Manco Capac, the first Inca. A very nice hike following the crest takes us to the village of Yumani at the Southern point of the island. We then go down the 500 steps of a stone staircase to the pier of the “Fuente del Inca”. A short hop by boat takes us to temple Pilkokaina, built by the Inca Tupac Yupanqui for his pilgrimages on the Isla del Sol. Our boat then takes us back to Copacabana (1-hour crossing), where our vehicle awaits us to take us back to La Paz.
Cold lunch. Dinner open. Hotel.
Hiking time 3-4h; Elevation gain: +450m / -450m

4WD expedition from La Paz to Paz (Altiplano and Yungas)
8 a.m. departure from the hotel, with a private 4WD, for Cochabamba (about a 6-hour trip on a paved road). We head South before turning towards the East following a valley at moderate altitude.
End of day open in Cochabamba, culinary capital of Bolivia.
Lunch on the way (included). Dinner open. Hotel.

9 a.m. departure by private 4WD for the village of Chataquila (el. 3726 m.a.s.l.) and its charming chapel sheltering the Virgin of the same name (1-hour drive). Then descent on foot by the beautiful Inca trail to Chaunaca (6 km / about 1 ½-hour hike – no guide). We return to our vehicle to reach the heart of Maragua crater.  We take our lunch in a cave near a waterfall. On the way back to Sucre an unforgettable bath awaits us in the middle of the cordillera, followed by a stop at the Mirador de Maragua from where we can contemplate the crater in full and at the Mirador de Sucre from where we view the whole city. Arrival in Sucre towards 5 p.m.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel.

We meet in the hotel hall at 9 a.m. for a guided visit of the colonial city registered as a World Heritage city by UNESCO. Amongst others: ethnographic textile museum (ASUR), Casa de la Libertad (closed on Sunday afternoons and Mondays), Recoleta convent, cathedral and San Felipe Nery monastery…
Departure from the hotel at 4 p.m. with our private vehicle. We cross the peculiar Río Pilcomayo Bridge (further south, this river separates Argentina and Paraguay). We then leave the Chuquisaca Valleys for the high plateau of Potosí (el. 4100 m.a.s.l.) where we arrive at the end of the day (3-hour; paved road).
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

We dedicate this day to the discovery of Potosi, nominated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
At 9 a.m., we meet in the hotel lobby to visit the mines of Cerro Rico where we can meet miners in their environment. In the afternoon, we visit the Casa de la Moneda (closed Sunday afternoons and Mondays), where the Spanish minted the coins for the crown until the 19th century.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Departure from the hotel at 9 a.m. in a private 4WD. We cross the Frailes Mountain range to reach the village of Uyuni, a small town lost on the shores of the Salar (5 to 6-hour drive on a dirt track). On the way, we stop in Pulacayo, small town that was the second largest silver mine of the continent, during the 19th century. Today, it is practically a ghost town, where we can nonetheless visit a museum telling of its glorious past. Arrival in Uyuni at the end of the day.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open (bar-restaurant La Loco recommended). Hotel.

4WD expedition from Uyuni to Uyuni.
We depart at 9:30 a.m. to visit the train cemetery on the outskirt of town. We then head south. On the way, we visit various villages, including the modern urbanization of Culpina K. We have lunch in San Cristobal where we can visit the beautiful colonial church if it is open. We then cross Rio Grande, area home to numerous vicuñas and ñandus (of the ostrich family) and arrive in Villamar at the end of the day.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host in Villamar (basic comfort).

We head south for Laguna Colorada. . This laguna owes its intense red-brick color to the presence in its water of millions of shellfish Artemia, well studied by scientists for their incredible adaptability in saline areas. We keep heading south for an excursion to the Sol de Mañana Geysers (el. 4850 m.a.s.l.) a volcanic crater from which escape sulfuric fumes and heavy water. We then stop for breakfast in Polques before skirting Laguna Salada and crossing the Dali Desert (named after the scenery reminiscent of one of his paintings). We reach the lagunas Blanca and Verde, at the foot of volcanoes Juriques and Licancabur (el. 5960 m.a.s.l.) at the end of the afternoon. Curious phenomenon: when the wind picks up, the waters of Laguna Verde change to a spectacular emerald color.
Return to Laguna Colorada at the end of the afternoon.
Cold lunch. All included. Night in shelter (basic comfort).

We head north through the magnificent landscapes of the Siloli desert and its famous “Arbol de Piedra” (Stone Tree) where we may be able to spot some viscachas. We then skirt the Chilean border following the “Route of the Jewels”: lagoons Ramaditas, Honda, Ch’arkota, Hedionda and Cañapa, a sanctuary to 3 different types of flamingoes. We stop at the viewpoint of volcano Ollague.  This active volcano hosts the world’s highest sulfur mine.
The track then drops from around 4200 meters above sea level to 3600. We cross the small Salar de Chiguana at the foot of volcano Tomasamil (el. 5900 m.a.s.l.) before arriving in the village of San Juan where are located the spectacular mummies of the “Lipez Lords” (1200 A.D.).
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

A 2-hour trip from San Juan will take us to the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.), the largest salt desert in the world. The atmosphere is special: the horizon seems to not have any limits and the immensity is overwhelming. We head north to the Island of Incahuasi. This Island is of volcanic origin and covered with stromatolites (fossilized bacteria representing the first traces of life on earth) and giant cactuses.
In the afternoon we cross the Salar to reach its Northern extremity, at the foot of volcano Tunupa. We stop in Coquesa, a small village on the shores of the salar, known for its Chipaya mummies, before arriving at Jirira.
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Doña Lupe and Don Carlos in the Aymara village of Jirira (basic comfort).

Early departure for our long crossing of the Altiplano (8 to 10-hour journey). On the way we stop at the enormous meteorite crater of Tambo Tambillo. At around noon, we arrive in the village of Challapata, where the dirt road ends and the pavement starts. We follow this road to Oruro. On the way, we skirt the shores of lakes Poopo and Uru-Uru.
At around noon, we arrive in the village of Challapata, where the dirt road ends and the pavement starts.
Lunch on the way (included). Dinner open. Hotel.

We depart at 9 a.m. from our hotel in a private 4WD, direction la Cordillera Real. After passing the Cumbre a pass at 4750 meters above sea level, the Andes, abruptly seem to drop below our feet. A few hundred kilometers lower as the crow flies and we are the Amazon Basin! Welcome to this incredible intermediate region called the Yungas, named after an ancient pre-Incan tribe that used to live on its steep slopes.
We enter in the Unduavi Valley, by a winding and exposed dirt road. As we drive down the twisting road, the scenery becomes more lush, the air more humid and the wind yet warmer...
All of a sudden, perched on a promontory, appears the shadow of a medieval castle. Paraguayans prisoners erected this peculiar building during the Chaco war (1932), to satisfy the whim of the Bolivian president. Lunch at the castle. Recommended hike to the river below.
We get back on the road at the beginning of the afternoon, and follow the river until we reach the village of Puente Villa. We set up camp away from the village, in a green tropical paradise, at only 1200 meters above sea level.
End of the afternoon open. Option to bathe in the river or in the swimming pool or to go for a stroll.
Lunch on the way. All included. Hotel / swimming pool.

At 9:30 a.m., we continue our trip to Chulumani the capital of the province of the South Yungas, a charming village surrounded by coca plantations. We pass the village and head to the Apa Apa Eco Lodge.
After lunch, a local guide will take us for a 3-hour walk to discover the marvels of nature specific to this area. At our return to the lodge, fresh fruit juices and homemade tropical ice cream await us.
All included. Night at the Eco Lodge Apa Apa.

Departure at 10 a.m. We are in a practically unknown part of the Yungas in a region of rolling hills. Coca fields, coffee plantations and orchards alternate along our way to Irupana (2-hours of dirt road).
We take possession of our cabañas, located in the middle of a lemon and tangerine plantation.
After we take our lunch by the pool, a local guide takes us to the discovery of the secrets of the surrounding nature.
Lunch included. Dinner open. Hotel / spectacular views / swimming pool.

From Irupana, our track first leads us to the remote village of La Pazuela (el. 1000 m.a.s.l.), a paradise for mango lovers. We then slowly ascent to a pass at 4500 elevation, between the Mururata and Illimani “nevados”, two of the Giants of the Cordillera Real (Royal Mountain Range). After 6 h of dirt road, we arrive at the village of Tres Ríos, nested at the bottom of a valley at the foot of the Bolsa Negra mine.
Cold lunch. All included. Camping or Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

Early morning departure from tres Ríos. We descend the valley towards Tututal Pampa, next village on the road just a few minutes away by car. From there we start a very beautiful and little known trek. We walk from one laguna to the next until we reach the base of the  Mururata Glacier (el. 5870 m.a.s.l.). We descend to Tutural pampa (6-h walk), before returning to La Paz in the late afternoon (3h).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open.

Day open to rest, stroll one last time in the colorful city market and shop.
Lunch open. Dinner in a Peña (included). Hotel

Pick up at our hotel in a private vehicle, 3 hours prior to flight departure time, for transfer to airport / international flight number and time to be confirmed.