Internationally known landscape photographer Linde Waidhofer first saw Patagonia in autumn, and found it to be one of the most exciting photo-taking destinations of a lifetime.

So she is returning to lead two back-to-back autumn Photo Safaris in Patagonia. (Southern Hemisphere autumn, that is.) Photographers can participate in either part, or, hopefully, both.

We will begin in central Patagonia, a region of turquoise lakes, tumbling crystalline rivers, and magnificent forests of native beech. A region we call "Unknown Patagonia" because this central zone of Chilean Patagonia bears little resemblance to the harsh and stereotypical Patagonian landscape of desolate wind swept pampas and ice-shrouded spires that has come to represent the far south in many international publications,

Part two of this autumn Photo Safari begins further south in Punta Arenas, to visit the spectacular and world-famous mountainscapes of Torres del Paine National Park.

Although Patagonia is wild, pristine and dramatic, we won't be roughing it. Wonderful local food and Chilean wine, the best local accommodations, and four-wheel drive transportation are all included.

This trip demands a certain commitment, spending more than two weeks photographing is always intense, and flying to the ends of the earth makes it even a bigger commitment. But, as the portfolios of Patagonia images on this web site demonstrate, Patagonia is one of the most exciting destinations on the planet for landscape photography. We hope you can join us.

Day 1: (April 13):
Arrive at Coyhaique's airport, Balmaceda, by air from Santiago. Transfer to Coyhaique, the capital of Chilean Patagonia, and our hotel. Evening orientation.

Day 2: (April 14):
A warm-up day, in the form of a day-trip photo excursion from Coyhaique to one of several remarkable nearby locations. The choice depending in large measure on the intensity of the region's fall colors.

Day 3: (April 15):
Early morning departure for Cerro Castillo and Rio Tranquilo. Cerro Castillo (or Castle Mountain) is one of the most photogenic and spectacular peaks in all of Patagonia. We continue along an impressive river valley, past reminders of a volcanic eruption, and over a mountain pass surrounded by glacier-clad peaks. In the afternoon we drive along the western shore of Lago General Carrera, the second largest lake in South America, and then turn south to reach the Heart of the Andes lodge.

Day 4: (April 16):
From our lakeside lodge, we visit and explore the area around Puerto Tranquilo. Depending on weather conditions, we can visit the Cavernas de Mármol (or Marble Caves) and explore up the Rio Tranquilo to the Rio Exploradores Valley, or photograph the glaciers above the delta of the Rio Leones beneath Patagoina's highest summit, Cerro San Valentin. After a full day we spend a second night at the Heart of the Andes Lodge.

Day 5: (April 17):
Today we photograph along the Rio Baker as we drive slowly toward the town of Cochrane. The Baker river is known to anglers for its world-class trout fishing, but is irresistible to photographers for its otherworldly blue color. We visit the spectacular confluence of the Baker and Nef rivers. Lodging in Cochrane.

Day 6: (April 18):
From Cochrane, we spend the day exploring to the west, visiting a variety of lakes, including Lago Esmeralda, and Lago Chacabuco, photographing cascades, and magical river valleys beneath rims of glacier-hung peaks and unnamed towers. We spend a second night in the village of Cochrane.

Day 7: (April 19):
This morning we head east from Cochrane into the Chacabuco valley. This valley, part of the lst great private ranch or estancia in Patagonia, has recently been purchased by the Patagonia Land Trust and is the core area of a large conservation/park project. The landscape changes dramatically into a series of pampas, grasslands and wetland ponds or mallines. Here we almost always encounter herds of wild guanaco. In the evening we return to Lago General Carrera, and check into Terra Luna, a lovely lakeside lodge near the little town of Puerto Guadal..

Day 8: (April 20):
After pre-dawn and dawn photography of the high icefield peaks across the lake, we head off to explore the southern shoreline of Lago Carrera: plunging cliffs, transparent turquoise water, enchanting fundos (farms) tributary rivers and deep red autumn trees provide constantly varying photographic stimulation. Lodging at Terra Luna.

Day 9: (April 21):
Return by road to Coyhaique, photographing the Rio Murta valley, the beautiful Rio Cajon or Box River, a valley of dead trees smothered by ash and lava from Volcán Hudson, and final evening photo opportunities around Cerro Castillo before reaching Coyhaique for a gala farewell dinner.

Day 10 (April 22):
Transportation and arrival day. Some participants may be heading home, Those joining us for both parts of this autumn adventure will fly on south, to Punta Arenas, the capital of Chile's 12th region, right next to the Straits of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego. And those photographers who are only participating in this segment, will join us in the evening in Punta Arenas.

Day 13 (April 25):
Another day devoted to the spectacular peaks and lakes near Lago Pehoe. In the evening we drive to a new location, the Hosteria Grey on the shores of Lago Grey.

Day 14 (April 26):
We focus on the floating icebergs or "témpanos" in Lago Grey; a boat excursion to the face of the giant glacier feeding this lake takes us right beneath the blue cliffs of thousand-year-old ice. We spend a second night at the Hosteria Grey.

Day 15 (April 27):
Today, we once more change our base of operations, moving to the other side of the park, an area well known for its wildlife, especially guanacos and foxes that often seem to want to pose just beneath the most dramatic peaks. We spend the night at the Hosteria Los Torres.

Day 16 (April 28):
After a final dawn shoot, we pack up and head for Punta Arenas, an all day trip with more opportunities to photograph on the shores of Bitter Lake (Lago Amargo) as well as abundant wildlife, birds and dramatic beech forests en route to Punta Arenas

Day 17 (April 29):
Departure by air from Punta Arenas.

Note: This special tour requires a minimum of four passengers and is limited to a maximum of six passengers.

• Part I: Unknown Patagonia April 13, 2009
• Part II: World Famous Patagonia April 22, 2009

Please email us for more information on availability and pricing.