Welcome to Santiago. Cropping up where the sky (the Andes) meets the sea (the Pacific), this thriving metropolis has a spectacular backdrop that seduces visitors from touchdown. After checking into your hotel, you’ll meet your fellow Flashpackers before finding your bearings with a sunset walking tour around the bohemian barrio of Lastarria. Dominated by the 19th-century Castillo Hidalgo fort, the neighbourhood’s tree-lined streets are brimming with boutique hotels, independent bars and stylish restaurants, giving way to epic views beyond. Spend a relaxed evening browsing the colourful stalls of street vendors between sampling local tapas dishes and (our favourite part) getting to mix a signature Flash Pack pisco sour at one of the area’s best local bars.

For adventure enthusiasts, Santiago is a haven of possibilities and following a restorative night’s sleep, it’s time to explore on two wheels. You’ll be heading out on a bike tour downtown, taking in the city’s most historic and picturesque highlights. Then, it’s on to the Casablanca hills, an area known for growing wine varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay as well as cool-climate reds like Pinot Noir and Syrah. Here it’s back onto a bicycle as you pedal among the vines before stopping for a bountiful picnic lunch packed with local specialities and accompanied by plenty of wine tasting. Appetites satiated and feeling revived, next up it’s a walk through the Valparaiso hills. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its kaleidoscopic houses, vertiginous stairway and abundance of street art. Enjoy sundowners with your new gang before an evening at your leisure.

We’re whisking you via luxury transfer to Santiago Airport for your flight to Puerto Montt. From there, it’s a short car ride to your next chic lodgings in Puerto Varas. Known as “the city of roses”, it sits on the southwest banks of glistening Lake Llanquihue, offering impressive vistas of snow-capped Osorno Volcano and Calbuco Volcano, both still active. The afternoon will be spent strolling through the picturesque streets characterised by traditional German-style architecture, a testament to the city’s colonial heritage. Your day will end with a southern-style “tea” (a tradition the Brits brought over in the 19th century) before retreating to your hotel.

Get ready to tackle the swirling class III and IV rapids of the Petrohue River on this adrenaline-filled white-water-rafting escapade. Promising an invigorating bonding experience, it’s a hair-raising ride as you navigate the roaring currents, relying on the camaraderie and encouragement of your new teammates to conquer the waters. Back on dry land and in fresh clothes, we’re laying on a well-deserved barbecue lunch. Think marinated anticucho skewers and shish kabobs galore in this asado-style feast, cooked on a traditional parilla grill – Chileans know what they’re doing when it comes to communal dining. 

Lace up those walking boots and fill those water bottles because today’s excursion is a full-day trek through Alerce Andino National Park, a beautiful temperate rainforest biosphere reserve that is the northern gateway to Chile’s epic Route of the Parks trail. Framed by framed fiery volcanoes and serene, icy-blue lakes, it has the largest area of native larch forests and foliage-strung paths hum with the sound of wildlife. The park is home to species such as the colocolo opossum, pudú deer, grey fox and the chingue (hog-nosed skunk). Birdwatching is also exceptional here – keep your eyes peeled for coscoroba swans, ochre-flanked tapaculos, black-throated huet-huet and flocks of migrating shorebirds. A free evening will provide ample time to relax and soothe weary limbs.

It’s a transfer back to Santiago for your flight and transfer to Punta Arenas, where you’ll check into your boutique accommodation. This port city on the Señoret Channel in Chile’s southern Patagonia is the launchpad for those exploring the Torres del Paine National Park and boats touring the otherworldly Patagonian fjords. A walking city tour will familiarise you with your new surroundings – a humble but pretty town that’s a melting pot for global nomads, with towering mountain peaks and crystalline glaciers, many spilling out from the vast Southern Ice Field. Culture fix and souvenirs in the bag, it’s off for a hearty dinner at one of the town’s much-loved trattorias.

One of our favourite days on your Chilean adventure, we’re taking you on a mystical boat ride on the Sofia Lake. Gliding across glassy waters between snowy peaks, this ethereal landscape couldn’t be further away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. Your destination? Pingo Salvaje ranch, where upon arrival, you’ll be mounting a horse to transport you through breathtaking Patagonian landscapes. Channel your inner cowboy/girl as you traverse the wild planes past waterfalls, towering rock formations and beech forests – this is one of life’s “pinch-me” moments. You’ll be guided by a knowledgeable local rancher throughout, who’ll give you insight into a hardy life of herding dogs and sheep sheering. Then, back at the ranch, you’ll enjoy a mate (traditional gaucho drink) masterclass before rounding off this spectacular day with a Patagonian barbecue. 

Ending on a high note, your last day will be spent hiking to the Las Torres Base Lookout. This is one of the most famous viewpoints in the region, and it’s not hard to see why it’s become an iconic landmark on the world hiking list. Your 10-hour trek will be punctuated by plenty of stops to gawp at majestic granite peaks and glittering cerulean lakes, snapping photos of the scenery as you climb. We’ll have packed you off with ample supplies too – a picnic box filled with delicious local treats to ensure you skip your way to the summit. Finally, it’s a traditional dinner toasting to mountains conquered.

Today we bid farewell to the wilderness and fly you back to Santiago for one last night in this beautiful city. Arriving at your cosy hotel, you’ll have the chance to unwind for a while before heading out to your farewell meal within walking distance of your lodgings. Expect lots of cocktails, lots of tapas, and hours of conversation with new friends as you look back on nine days of pure Chilean adventure.

After an early breakfast, it’s time to book your taxi to the airport. Say so long to your Flash Pack crew, after ten days of unforgettable adventure. From wine-tasting in the Casablanca hills to the tackling that mighty hike to the Base Las Torres viewpoint; it’s been one to remember. Hasta la próxima, Chile!