The most impressive trek in Bolivia . . .
The chief crossing of the Cordillera Real, an eleven-day mountain trek, skirting impressive mountain ranges, following large valleys or climbing passes higher than the highest mountain in Europe, in the company of our Aymara team of muleteers. They are Indian habitants of the communities we pass through, and thanks to them we will get an insight into village life and the treasures this countryside has to offer.
Note: this trek is accessible to all person in good physical condition. A good acclimatization is none-the-less necessary.

Airport pick up (flight number and arrival time to be confirmed) and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Departure from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. in our private vehicle to discover the most spectacular point of view 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 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 Cementary”, 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 9 a.m. with a private 4WD. We skirt Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real before descending towards Copacabana (3h30).
Visit of the most interesting sites of town: Horca del Inca, cathedral… We climb the Way of the Cross, ancient pilgrimage, for a beautiful sunset on the Lake (don’t forget your headlamp for the descent).
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel / lake view.

In the morning, a motorboat takes us to the Northern side of the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun), at the Inca site of Chincana. We begin the trek that follows the crests and takes us to the south side of the Island and to the village of Yumani (3 to 4-hour walk).
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging at María and Ismael’s house (basic comfort).
Note: During the 2 following days a boat will be at our disposal to transport the group as well as the backpacks during the walks.

Morning departure by motorboat towards the Isla de la Luna where we visit the temple of the ñustas, The Inca virgins. We then cross the whole Lake to Kalaki, on the Eastern shore (4 to 5-hour crossing depending on the weather conditions). There a vehicle awaits us to take us to take us to the village of Sorata, at the foot of the majestic Illampu (el. 6430 m.a.s.l.). 2 to 3-hour journey between Kalaki and Sorata.
In the afternoon, option to visit the cave of San Pedro (4 to 5 hours round trip).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel.

Difficulty: altitude-trek. Daily 6 to 9-hour walk. Excellent physical condition as well as experience with serious treks required.
In the morning we meet our team of muleteers on the outskirt of the village. From Sorata, we start heading up on the slopes of Illampu crossing various hamlets and cultures… we can observe the ancestral methods still in use there.
The scenery becomes increasingly dryer as we ascend and the views of Illampu more impressive.
After a 6 to 7-hour walk on steep llama trails we reach Laguna Chilata.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6/7h; Elevation gain: +1600m

We depart in the morning for the ascent to Laguna Glaciar owing its name to the glacier plunging into it on its West bank (4/5-hour). Views over Lake Titicaca, the Valley of Sorata and the Andes... The scenery is well worth the effort!
The ascent follows a steep train eventually reaching a breach at the top of a crest).
We then start an even steeper ascent in the middle of immense boulders to reach the laguna after 4 to 5 hours walk.
In the afternoon, descent to our base camp next to Laguna Chilata.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.

We start early in the morning to reach the base of Illampu.
We follow the mountainside until we reach a small pass. We then descend to the bottom of a steep valley, skirting Mina Susana. It takes about 4 to 5 hours to reach camp from there.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.

Morning departure from the Laguna San Fransisco. We follow the hillsides to climb to the Chotanlona Pass located at an altitude of 4850 meters above sea level, before descending to Laguna San Fransisco. The view over the glacier is magnificent.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 7/8h; Elevation gain: +750/-300m

We begin our ascent towards the pass located at an altitude of 4920 m.a.s.l. (2h30). Ancohuma comes into view and we find ourselves surrounded by majestic glaciers. We then descend in a first valley at an altitude of 4785 m.a.s.l. We climb again to 4980 m.a.s.l. (1½-hour climb). We then descend again to 4870 m.a.s.l. before ascending the last pass of the day at an altitude of 4980 m.a.s.l., which leads us to the valley of the Laguna kacha (1 hour climb). We slowly descend the valley until we reach two beautiful lakes at the base of Paso Calzada, the Laguna Carizal and the Laguna Chojna Quta, meaning Verde (green) in Aymara. There, we set up camp.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 7/8h; Elevation gain: +745m / -510m

We take advantage of this day to gain a little altitude on Paso Calzada to be able to admire the two beautiful lakes below.
We leave this valley in the direction of Laguna Kacha. We climb a pass at 5100 m.a.s.l. (2½-hour). We follow the crest before descending in the next valley to Laguna Jistaña Quta nestled at 4560 m.a.s.l., which we reach 1½-hour later.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 3 to 4h; Elevation gain: +350m / -515m

We start ascending on the mountain slopes until we reach a small lake seeming nestled in the crater of a volcano (1½-hour / el. 4700 m.a.s.l.). The trail the levels out and follow the hillside along the Altiplano and Lake Titicaca below. After an hour and a half of walking, we reach a pass at 4930 m.a.s.l.
We then cross a valley located at 4580 m.a.s.l. (1½-descent), to then climb back up to our first pass at 4985 m.a.s.l. (2-hour). 20 minutes on a level trail takes us to the steep ascent of our second pass at 5000 m.a.s.l.
Steep descent (30 minutes) to a small valley sheltering a lake and its inseparable Huallatas, Laguna Chiscacalliuani at 4820 m.a.s.l.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 7h; Elevation gain: +800m / -585m

After following the mountain slopes for 2 hours, we reach the beautiful Chacha Kumani Valley (el. 4430 m.a.s.l.). We cross to the other side of the valley and climb a pass at 5000 m.a.s.l. In an hour, this ascent takes us first to a plateau located at 4600 m.a.s.l., and then to a second plateau at 4750 m.a.s.l. (30 minutes) before reaching a steep scree at the base of the pass (4945 m.a.s.l.). A 3-hour climb total to reach this pass (5000 m.a.s.l.) from where we enjoy a beautiful view of the Chachakumani Glacier. We then descend in the Pura Purani Valley in less than an hour (el. 4750 m.a.s.l.).
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6/7h; Elevation gain: +625m / -680m

We climb the mountainside and clear 3 consecutive small passes (el. 4850 m.a.s.l.) separated by flat sections (2 hours). We then descend into the valley of Rio Jallawaya (el. 4480 m.a.s.l. / 30 minutes). We then follow the Wara Warani Valley upriver for an hour (el. 4620 m.a.s.l.). An hour later we reach the end of the valley (el. 4700 m.a.s.l.). From there, we climb the cliff retaining the splendid Wara Warani Lake nestled at 4930 m.a.s.l. (1-hour). The glacier literally falls into its turquoise waters, a delight!! Another 45 minutes and we reach the pass overlooking the Kunu Pampa glacier (el. 5050 m.a.s.l.). We reach the valley floor in less than an hour, at 4760 m.a.s.l. We camp at the foot of the glacier.
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 7/8h; Elevation gain: +850m / -820m

We ascend Paso Minchin located at 5000 m.a.s.l. (2-hour) before descending to Laguna Khotia (el. 4450 m.a.s.l., 1-hour descent).
After lunch, we clear Paso Contador (el. 4760 m.a.s.l. / 2-hour climb) before crossing a swampy area, near Laguna Surakhota (el. 4450 m.a.s.l.). After about 4/5-hour walk from Laguna Khotia, we reach Laguna Ajwani (“bird lagoon” / el. 4650 m.a.s.l.).
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 8/9h; Elevation gain: +870m / -960m
Note: Less strenuous option, sleep near Laguna Surakhota (1½-hour walk less).

We start by following the hillside, clear a first pass at an altitude of 4920 meters (Paso Milluni / 1h45), then we take our time to reach laguna Sistaña (el. 4660 m.a.s.l. / 45mn).
In the afternoon we ascend to a second pass (Paso Janchallani, el. 4900 m.a.s.l. / 1h30), before our last descent of the day towards Laguna Jurikhota (el. 4700 m.a.s.l. / 1h).
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 5/6h; Elevation gain: +665m / -560m

From Laguna Jurikhota we begin by ascending up a steep slope to reach, an hour and a half later, the Laguna Congelada, (two glaciers literally fall into its icy waters), a jewel nested at an altitude of 4900 meters at the foot of El Condoriri (el. 5650 m.a.s.l.).
From there we keep climbing to a second pass (Paso Austria, 5120 m.a.s.l. / one hour ascent) before descending on the other side towards El Condoriri and El Pequeño Alpamayo base camp, at the edge of Laguna Chiarkhota (el. 4670 m.a.s.l. / 1h30 descent).
Just before reaching the pass, we have the option to climb Pico Austria (el. 5300 m.a.s.l.) to admire the incredible views it offers over the Cordillera Real (45-minute climb, 20-minute descent)
Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac.
Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +645m / -670m

We leave the Condoriri behind us, pass at the base of the Black Needle and eventually reach the Jallayko Pass (el. 5025 m.a.s.l.). We then drop into the very beautiful and steep Jistaña Valley, before ascending the Tillipata Pass (el. 5000 m.a.s.l.). The spectacular scenery over the myriad of lagunas down below is ample reward for our efforts. Then another downhill to Laguna Wichu Khota, where we set up our camp, at the foot of María Lloco (el. 5522 m.a.s.l.). Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac Hiking time: 7h; Elevation gain: +845m / -935m

We progress amongst the lagunas, until the ancient camp for mine Santa Fe. A short detour to a small nearby summit dominating the camp allows us to get a nice view over all the lagunas. We then climb up to our camp, surrounded by the summits of Imilla Apachita, Maria Lloco and Huayna Potosi (el. 6088 m.a.s.l.). The view is superb (4/5-walk). The most courageous will be able to hike over to Laguna Glacial del Huayna Potosi. The trail, an ancient dried out stone canal on the hillside, offers wonderful scenery (2-hour round trip). Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac Hiking time: 6h; Elevation gain: +320m / -200m

Rest day. Option to climb to the foot of the Huyana Potosi glacier to see the Laguna Glaciar. Cold lunch. All included. Bivouac

After loading the gear on our llamas, we head for the Milluni pass that we reach in the middle of the morning (el. 5000 m.a.s.l). From there, we overlook the Milluni Valley. We keep on going towards our shelter by passing Huayna Potosi on our left. At this point the Andes abruptly drop into the Yungas, a green and tropical area. This is the end of our trek. Hiking time: 4h; Elevation gain: +200m / -300m

Day open. Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Departure at 2 a.m. for a tentative ascent of the summit. Later on, we descend to the shelter (approximately 10h total). Return to La Paz with private vehicle.
Lunch included. Dinner open. Hotel.
Ascent time: 10h; Elevation gain: +1000m / -1400m

Day open. Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

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

La Paz and its surroundings offer a large variety of climates and scenery. To contemplate this panorama from the sky will, surely, be one of your most incredible traveling experiences. 1-hour suggested trip: In the morning, a private vehicle picks you up at the hotel to takes you to the airport, where the pilot and the twin engine at your disposal await you. The flight begins by a soar over the city of La Paz and its valley, tucked between the cordillera and the Altiplano, before plunging between the summits of llimani and Huayna Potosi. All of a sudden, it is as if the mountains were tumbling under our wings: we are above the region of the Yungas, where the Andes abruptly disappear in the Amazon Basin. We head northwest and follow the Cordillera Real. As summits pass us by on the left, the immensity of the green Amazon rushes on our right. Above the village of Sorata, we circle Illampu and start our return to La Paz, flying over the Altiplano and Lake Titicaca. Lunch and dinner open. 3-star hotel. Note: the schedule and itinerary will be dependent on the weather condition of the day. Cost: 680 € / flight hour (6 person maximum).

IMPORTANT
LIMIT THE WEIGHT OF YOUR PERSONAL EFFECTS TO 30 lb / PERSON FOR THE TREK