Aconcagua Summit

Days 1 to 3. Outbound

Fly London to Santiago and onwards to Mendoza (740 metres). Spend a day relaxing in this easy-going city with its backdrop of sprawling vineyards reaching to the foothills of the majestic Andes mountain range.

Days 4 to 8. Trek to Base Camp

Overnight at the ski resort of Penitentes (2500 metres) before continuing on to the Horcones Valley to see for the first time Aconcagua in the distance from the National Park HQ (3000 metres). A long day's walk through stunning barren scenery, past high alpine lakes, across swing bridges, leaping over glacial streams to Camp Confuencia (3200 metres) the halfway point for Base Camp. Take an acclimatisation trek to view the imposing South face of Aconcagua. Continue onto Base Camp (Plaza de Mulas) where the gaily fluttering flags and brightly coloured tents will be a welcome sight at 4200 metres! Have a much needed rest day, time to savour the mountain scenery, the eerily shaped snow formations, try some ice climbing perhaps and enjoy the village atmosphere of this multi-national site.

Days 9 to 14. Acclimatisation Walks

Climb Cerro Bonete as useful acclimatisation before starting a number of load carries to the various camps, which are surprisingly short in distance apart and on easy rocky scree. Camp 1 (Plaza Canada 4700 metres) and the plateau of Camp 2 (Nido de Condores 5400 metres) can even be seen from Base Camp. Your loads will be kept light but the journeys will be frequent to aid the process of acclimatisation. Generally camps will be reached for a picnic lunch, returning to Base Camp for the first few nights to sleep. You then commence the actual ascent of the mountain, sleeping higher each night, until eventually reaching Camp 3 (Camp Berlin, 5900 metres), from where you will make your summit attempt.

Days 15 to 18. Ascent of Aconcagua

A long day! Depending on fitness and acclimatisation levels it can take 6 to 9 hours. Up before dawn to climb the rocky path to the ruined Independencia Hut (6300 metres). According to snow coverage crampons and ice axes will be necessary to make the long traverse contouring across the slope where you can see all the way straight down to Base Camp. Eventually you will reach the base of the infamous 'Canelletta', a large gully at the top of which are breathtaking views of the dramatic South face of the mountain sweeping down to where you stood many days before! A final haul brings you to the last few rocky steps leading to the summit plateau. And there you are - on the highest mountain in the Western hemisphere affording a complete panorama of snowy peaks. Fantastic! Aconcagua is extremely fickle with its weather and high winds so two more days are allowed to reach the summit. Return to Base Camp to celebrate.

Day 19. A hotel bed!

A lengthy day's trek to exit the park and drive to Mendoza for that long awaited shower and bed! If the first summit attempt is successful there is the option of returning early to enjoy the delights of Mendoza for wine-tasting, some exhilarating white water rafting and convivial evenings of Latin American entertainment!

Days 20 and 21. Homeward

Fly to Santiago and connect with the international flight to the UK.