The Guanaco tour - Pampas, Welsh Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego

Buenos Aires 2 nights, Puerto Madryn 2n, Ushuaia 2n, Calafate 3n, Bariloche 2n, Buenos Aires 1n.

Itinerary

Day 1 Overnight flight from the UK to Buenos Aires.
Days 2&3 At leisure. Tour of the capital.
Day 4 Fly to Trelew in the steppes of Patagonia and drive, via the Punta Tombo Penguin Sanctuary (Oct-Mar) to Puerto Madryn, focus of Welsh settlement in the 19th century.
Day 5 Full day excursion to The Valdés Peninsula, wildlife sanctuary for elephant seals and sea-lions (Oct-Mar). In season (Aug-Nov), in good weather, whale-watching by boat is possible (additional cost).
Day 6 Fly to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.
Day 7 Half-day tour of Lapataia National Park, followed (or preceded by) a cruise down the Beagle Channel by motor launch.
Day 8 Fly to El Calafate on the shores of Lago Argentino.
Day 9 Full day excursion to the spectacular Perito Moreno glacier, where you can get close up to the creaking ice walls, as they shed shards of ice the size of tower blocks. Day 10 Full day trip to Upsala Glacier, the longest glacier flowing from the icefield.
Day 11 Fly to Bariloche.
Day 12 At leisure in Bariloche.
Day 13 Fly to Buenos Aires.
Day 14 Depart for the UK, arriving day 15.

How about?

• Combining this itinerary with North to the Canyons.
• Horse riding in Huechahue from San Martin de los Andes.
• A day trip to Uruguay, across the River Plate Estuary from Buenos Aires.
• Riding on the Estancias in the Pampa from Buenos Aires.
• Visiting colonial Salta’s arid canyons from Buenos Aires.
• Relaxing at Yacutinga from Puerto Iguazú.

The above optional excursions may dovetail into the existing 12 night itinerary, or require extra nights.