Embark on one of the world’s most magnificent and visually stunning off-road adventure holidays as you explore Bolivia’s high Andes in style. Explore immense salt pans, volcanoes, multi-coloured flamingo-filled lakes and remote desert communities as you cross from the Atacama of northern Chile to La Paz. Topped and tailed by Chile’s greatest wine lodge and the gastronomic riches of Lima, it’s also an adventure that tastes as good as it looks.
Days are usually comfortable and dry, but night time temperatures can dip significantly below freezing, so wearing layers is a good idea. Come in April and you may be treated to the Salar de Uyuni being in flood following the rainy season, creating the world’s largest mirror.
Price depends on the experiences and accommodation included, and your time of travel. It is based on two adults travelling for 13 nights and does not include international flights.
2 nights in the Millahue Valley, 3 nights in San Pedro de Atacama, 2 nights in Sur Lipez, 2 nights on the Salar de Uyuni, 2 nights in La Paz, 2 nights in Lima
What makes your Bolivia adventure journey special?
- Feel small amid the extraordinary high desert landscapes of the Atacama and Bolivian altiplano
- Experience it all in considerable comfort and style, staying at the finest lodges and hotels
- Top and tail your adventure with fabulous gastronomic experiences including Chile’s finest vineyard treat and the culinary riches of Lima
- Private expert-led activities each day from hikes and climbs to mountain biking and star-gazing
Your Bolivia holiday itinerary
The Andes in a glass
MILLAHUE VALLEY
Begin your South American adventure in Chile’s gloriously bucolic wine country south of Santiago. Vik Chile is a wonderful place to shake out after a long flight, offering the perfect blend of refined adventures and sensory indulgence. Take horseback rides or cycle through the undulating vineyards, hike secluded trails, relax in the infinity pool or explore the property’s striking art and architecture, each space a statement in contemporary design. Wine is central here, though, with private tastings in the gravity-fed winery revealing vintages of great depth and complexity. Farm-to-table dining elevates Chilean flavours with seasonal precision, best savoured on the terrace as you take in the phenomenal views over the Millahue Valley.
Salt flats to starlight
SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Fly to northern Chile and immerse yourself in the world’s driest desert as you acclimatise to the higher altitudes ahead with a stay in San Pedro at Explora Atacama. With your dedicated private guide, enjoy a tremendous range of adventures to suit all levels and preferences. Take a sunrise walk through Valle de la Luna’s sculpted dunes, ride horseback along ancient llama caravan routes, cycle across open plains or visit adobe villages steeped in history. At night, gaze at a sky so clear you can trace the Milky Way in dazzling detail, best appreciated through the lodge’s observatory. If the high Andes call, venture to mirror-like salt flats where flamingos wade beneath snowcapped peaks. Every journey is tailored to your pace and curiosity, and evenings invite you back to the lodge, Chilean wine in hand, as the desert’s peace surrounds you.
A land at the edge of imagination
SUR LIPEZ
Leaving San Pedro at first light, cross into Bolivia where your high-altitude desert adventure really begins. Over the next three days, travelling in a private 4×4 vehicle, discover a land of awe-inspiring proportions and surreal beauty. By day, explore geyser fields, volcanoes, jade and scarlet-coloured lagoons, cactus forests and otherworldly rock formations. Amazingly, in this desolate land, there are remote settlements where you can meet community members and learn how they manage to eke a living in one of the planet’s toughest climates. By night, you’ll be comfortably ensconced in Explora’s mountain lodges with great food and a warm bed to curl up in.
The limitless white expanse
SALAR DE UYUNI
As you continue north, you’ll suddenly be greeted by the astonishing sight of 10,000 square kilometres of glistening white: the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt pan in the world. If you’re here in April, you may be lucky enough to experience the salar under a couple of inches of water in the aftermath of the rainy season, when it turns into an immense mirror. Crossing the salar, you’ll arrive at Explora’s magnificent Uyuni Lodge, perched above the salt in the shadow of Tunupa Volcano. The views are simply mesmeric, but if you can be tempted away, there are hikes, 4×4 trips and bike rides all available, which you can discuss with your private guide before choosing. If you’re after a real challenge, then climb Tunupa for a breathtaking panorama of the Andes from nearly 5,500 metres.
The city that touches the sky
LA PAZ
A short flight from Uyuni will bring you to Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, the world’s highest. In recent years La Paz has become a dynamic city, and has a few surprises in store. In this canyon city of terracotta rooftops beneath the snow-capped peak of Illimani, you’ll find the world’s highest urban cable car and what is — on the surface of it — the strangest outpost of Copenhagen’s Noma project, a great place to experiment with contemporary high-altitude Andean gastronomy. Take time to unveil the layers of La Paz’s history as you explore its colonial plazas and colourful Aymara markets with your private guide, or discover the otherworldly spires and pinnacles of nearby Moon Valley. Back at your boutique hotel, floor-to-ceiling windows frame a canyon of glittering lights. Glass of Bolivian wine in hand, you realize La Paz isn’t just a stop on your itinerary — it’s an experience that shifts your perspective.
Where every flavour tells a story
LIMA
As a cultural hub and the epicentre of Latin American gastronomy, Lima makes a fitting finale to your South America adventure. With your expert local guide, stroll along the oceanfront Malecon before diving into the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods. Explore pre-Columbian ruins tucked between modern boulevards. Wander through colonial plazas, contemporary galleries and hidden courtyards scented with jasmine. At the heart of your experience is gastronomy, where Peruvian flavours meet world-leading techniques, from delicate ceviche to artful Amazonian dishes. At day’s end, sip pisco sours on a rooftop terrace and watch the sun sink into the ocean. In Lima, every moment invites you to savour its layers—past and present, land and sea—woven seamlessly into your journey.
Where you'll stay
Great journeys need great places to lay your head. These are our tried and tested suggestions.
Vina Vik
Perched above Chile’s Millahue Valley, Vina Vik is a striking fusion of avant-garde architecture and rolling vineyards. The titanium-clad retreat crowns a hilltop, where sleek, art-filled suites overlook rolling vines and distant Andean peaks. Days begin with horseback and cycle rides through the estate and end with tasting Vik’s bold blends in the glass-walled tasting room. A cantilevered infinity pool invites lingering between gourmet meals and wine tastings. Equal parts design statement and rural escape, Vina Vik is a place where oenophile indulgence meets high-concept luxury in the heart of wine country.
Explora Atacama
Located in the desert town of San Pedro, Explora Atacama offers a refined escape into the heart of Chile’s Atacama, one of the planet’s remotest and most otherworldly landscapes. Designed for discerning travellers, the lodge blends low-key luxury with curated explorations—led by expert guides—to salt flats, lunar valleys, geysers and high-altitude lagoons. Thoughtfully appointed rooms reflect the surrounding silence and vastness, while the lodge’s observatory and spa deepen the connection to this surreal environment. Each detail is designed to immerse guests in meaningful, place-driven travel rooted in authenticity and quiet discovery.
Explora Ramaditas Mountain Lodge
Set at over 4,000 metres amidst shimmering, multi-coloured lagoons and the silence of the Andes in Bolivia’s Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, Explora’s Mountain Lodge in Ramaditas is a modular, steel-framed structure designed to minimize environmental impact and be disassembled for reuse elsewhere. There are four rooms with interiors crafted from locally sourced mani wood, and cosy common areas for relaxing and dining. Explore geysers, salt flats, lagoons, rock formations, ancient trade routes and vast Andean valleys. The experience is truly breathtaking.
Explora Chituca Mountain Lodge
Once a shepherds’ lookout, Explora’s Mountain Lodge in Chituca sits at around 3,700 metres between the Salar de Uyuni and the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve. Designed by Max Nuñez, the lodge has just four rooms and a living/dining area with picture windows that frame the vast horizons. The surrounding area is rich with ancient settlements, cultural relics, vibrant quinoa fields, and local villages full of stories waiting to be shared.
Explora Uyuni Lodge
Located at the northern edge of Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, Explora Uyuni Lodge is perched eyrie-like above the world’s largest salt pan, offering spectacular views and a real sense of natural drama. Its geometric, earth-toned structures echo the surrounding landscape, while floor-to-ceiling windows pull the ever-shifting light inside. Thoughtfully designed rooms balance minimalism with warmth, inviting you to slow down and absorb one of the planet’s most otherworldly settings. Meals are a real highlight, with multi-course menus rooted in local Andean tradition, and elevated with modern techniques.
Met Hotel
Located in La Paz’s quiet Calacoto district, in the lowest part of the city, Met Hotel blends contemporary design with indigenous artistry for a refined, quietly luxurious stay. Airy interiors, awash in Andean light, showcase Bolivian art, desert cacti and polished marble. The 76 rooms and suites—each with mountain views—are complemented by a spa, indoor swimming pool and gym. A rooftop terrace invites lingering over panoramic vistas, while attentive service and its prime spot near the city’s cable-car system make this an elegant, well-placed base for exploring Bolivia’s high-altitude capital.
Villa Barranco
In Lima’s vibrant Barranco district, Villa Barranco blends understated elegance with historic charm. This restored 1920s Republican mansion feels like a stylish private home, with airy rooms adorned in eclectic art and vintage details. Balconies overlook the Pacific, while leafy patios invite lingering over breakfast or pisco sours. The intimate scale fosters a warm, personal atmosphere, perfect after exploring Barranco’s galleries and cafés. Just steps from the coastal cliffs, it offers a refined yet relaxed base that captures Lima’s creative spirit with quiet sophistication and a sense of timeless romance.
Customise your journey
All of our journeys are fully bespoke, and can be customised to meet your needs, interests and preferences. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
Dive deeper into Bolivia’s rich Amazonian cultures and wildlife at an incredible rainforest lodge
Explore the Peruvian highlands with a stay at Titilaka on Lake Titicaca and then continue via Cusco to Machu Picchu
Add a side trip to Easter Island to discover its giant stone statues and amazing surf beaches
Add a couple of extra days to your stay at Explora Uyuni and visit the Salar de Coipasa, only a little smaller but far less visited than the Salar de Uyuni.
Looking for more inspiration?
We have a huge range of inspiring private experiences and accommodation options available. Get in touch with our Latin America specialists.
ENQUIRELearn more about our luxury holidays, or call our expert Latin America team on +44 1367 850566 / 1-855-216-5040 (toll free) to discuss how we can turn your dreams into something truly magical.
“Jeesh, all Bolivia can’t look like this”