Day 1
Fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive at Buenos Aires and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy some sightseeing in this magnificent city. Stay overnight in Buenos Aires.
Day 2
Buenos Aires – Bariloche and Cerro Catedral Ski Resort
From Buenos Aires it is a 2hr 20 minute flight to Bariloche, gateway to one of the biggest ski areas in Argentina and transfer to the ski resort of Cerro Catedral. We’ll arrive by early afternoon and transfer across to Cerro Catedral, 20kms away. Check in to the hotel and meet up with our local Argentinian guides who’ll be looking after us for the rest of the trip.
Day 3
Cerro Catedral Ski Resort – Villa La Angostura
A full days off-piste skiing is planned at Cerro Catedral. Lots of great terrain to enjoy.
Cerro Catedral is one of the most modern ski resorts in South America, with excellent facilities, telecabines, fast chair-lifts and more than fifty slopes for all levels. From the summit there are stunning views of Nahuel Huapi Lake and Cerro Tronador. After skiing we’ll leave Bariloche and drive for two hours to the village of Villa La Angostura where we’ll have dinner and stay overnight in Hosteria Dos Bahias, a wonderful hotel perched on the side of a magnificent lake.
Day 4
Villa La Angostura/Cerro Bayo Ski Centre
Today we’ll ski Cerro Bayo, a small ski resort located in the Bayo Hills and surrounded by native forests. The local tourist website tells us:

“The magic dwarfs of the forest will lead you through pleasure towards a reality that will satisfy all your expectations. In Villa La Angostura you will discover the blessing of life and the clear transparency of sharing happiness. Illusion is waiting for you and reality offers all its enchantment for you to satisfy your wishes”.

Hmmm sounds good, particularly like the sound of skiing with dwarfs (hic)!
Great backcountry skiing is accessible with short hiking from the summit. In the afternoon we’ll return to Cerro Catedral and prepare for our ski tour which starts tomorrow.
Day 5
Villa La Angostura – Frey Hut
Today we leave the resort behind and head for the Frey Hut. We start by taking the ski lift to the ridge of Cerro Catedral before skiing down to the Van Titter valley and the skin up to the hut. The ascent is quite steep and challenging, but the reward will be a nice Swiss style fondue with wine waiting for us in the hut! We spend the night at the hut.
Day 6
Day touring from Frey Hut
We undertake a day tour from the hut. Lots of options to choose from depending on the conditions. Spend a second night in Frey hut
Day 7
Frey Hut – Jakob Hut
We wake up very early in the morning and after a wonderful breakfast we start our trip to Jakob´s hut which will take about 7 hours. We will go over Cerro Catedral ridge followed by an excellent 700m descent and traverse before skinning up gradually to the top of Brecha Negra. Stay overnight in Jakob hut.
Day 8
Day touring from Jakob Hut
If the conditions are good we will ski Cuernos del Diablo (Devil´s Horn), which is the highlight of the area. Otherwise we ski Cerro Cella or other nearby mountains. Spend a second night in Jakob hut.
Day 9
Day touring from Jakob Hut
Contingency day. Further options for day tours from the Jakob hut.
Day 10
Jakob Hut – Cerro Catedral
Ski or hike out the mountain. Depending on the conditions the hike-out can take up to 7 hours. Return to Cerro Catedral.
Day 11
Cerro Catedral
A relaxing last day – option for some unguided skiing around the resort
Day 12
Fly out of Bariloche to Buenos Aires for connecting flights home
Day 13
Arrive back in the UK

A typical day in the Patagonian backcountry!
We wake up between 0730 and 0800, have breakfast in the hut for 40 min, pack our gear and head out into the backcountry - we'll traverse to different valleys, perhaps a loop of 3 valleys before having lunch at mid day in one of them. If the snow is really good, we ski 3-4 chutes or bowls of 400 meters vertical. At about 4pm then go back to the hut. Once in the hut we have a nice snack, drink a beer, read a book, chat and have dinner around 8 pm, go to bed and start next day..

Price
The price includes all guide fees and expenses (UIAGM mountain guides), all local transport, all meals in the mountains, all accommodation, lift passes, safety equipment hire (transceiver, shovel, probe)
The price does not include travel to Bariloche, accommodation in Buenos Aires, lunches and evening meals whilst in the towns, drinks, personal insurance and optional extras

Your Guides
For this trip we are teaming up with acclaimed Mountain Guide Jorge Kozujl who runs Andescross, a well-established adventure sports & travel company in Argentina. For more information click on www.andescross.com

Accommodation and meals
You will stay in comfortable hotels in Bariloche and Villa La Angostura and in mountain huts whilst on the tour.
Huts have limited facilities - dormitory rooms, kitchen with stoves, pots and firewood. dining room, bathroom
There is a guardian in the Frey hut but not in the Jakob hut. The local guides do most of the cooking. The group needs to carry in their own food.
Typical food in the huts:
Breakfast - oatmeal, cereal, bed and jam, coffee or tea
Lunch - sandwiches, salami, cheese, chocolate and biscuits.
Dinner - pasta with sauce or fondue or pizza

Equipment
Our recommended kit list will be sent to you at the time of booking.
Alpine touring kit is required for this trip.
Sleeping bags are also essential for use in the huts.
It's hard to get good touring equipment in Argentina so we strongly recommend that you bring all your gear with you.

Getting there
We will meet at London Heathrow and fly with scheduled flights to Buenos Aires from where we catch a connecting flight to Bariloche. Return via the same route.

Visa Requirements
Citizens of most European countries do not require a visa to enter Argentina as a tourist. On presentation of a valid passport you will be granted a 90-day stay in the country.

Temperatures
Average temperatures in August and September range between +10 and -10°C.

Other useful information
Language: Spanish
Local money is the Peso Argentino (1 peso = 1us dollar).
The US dollar is accepted all over the country.
Credit Cards - Visa, Mastercard – are accepted in most hotels and shops.