This itinerary offers the "un avoidable" of Bolivia in 15 days. A smart tour for those loving Andean cultures as well as wide open spaces, without forgetting the important historical and cultural sites of this surprising country.
At the menu, Lake Titicaca, cradle of the Andean civilizations and rich in legends and mysteries, Lipez Desert and the Salar of Uyuni, with their astonishing scenery, and finally the imperial cities of Potosi and Sucre, witness of the decadent past of the colonial era.

Pick up at the airport (flight number and arrival time to be confirmed) and transfer to hotel.
At 2 p.m. we meet at the reception of the hotel for a guided tour of La Paz, city located at almost 4000 m.a.s.l.: Sagárnaga Street and its local handicraft market (one of the most famous of South America), the witches’ street, San Pedro's food market, the historical center and the colonial neighborhood.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Departure from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. in our private vehicle, to discover the most spectacular viewpoint over the city, unbelievably located in the “pit” of the Choqueyapu river canyon, with the Royal Mountain Range “Giants” as the background: Huayna Potosi, Mururata and Illimani.
This tour, particularly designed for photo lovers, first takes us to the K´Illi K´Illi Mirador and to the Laykakota Park, on the Northwestern side of the city. Afterwards, we cross the Americas Bridge to go to the “Plaza de España” Mirador, in the colonial neighborhood of Sopocachi. From there, an abrupt descent leads us to the “South Zone”, passing through Llojeta and the “Garden Cemetery”, and finally to the Valley of the Moon, a place where we will be able to walk between psychedelic looking sandstone formations.
Return downtown in the afternoon.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Departure from the hotel at 9 a.m. with a private 4WD. We skirt Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real before descending towards Copacabana (3 ½ hours).
Visit of the most interesting sites of town: Horca del Inca, cathedral… We climb the Way of the Cross, ancient pilgrimage, for a beautiful sunset on the Lake (don’t forget your headlamp for the descent).
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ** / lake view.

In the morning, a motorboat takes us to the Northern extremity of the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) (2 to 3 hours depending on weather conditions). Visit of the Inca site of Chincana and of the Sacred Rock of the Incas, from where God Viracocha gave birth to his son Manco Capac, the first Inca. Short hike on the island to the village of Challapampa, where is located the museum of Marka Pampa. Return by boat to Copacabana in the afternoon, where our private vehicle awaits to take us back to La Paz (about 3h30).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel ***.

Long traverse North to South of the altiplano to Uyuni, small town on the edge of the Salar (12 to 14 trip). We meet at the hotel one tour before the bus departure, for a transfer to the bus station of La Paz.
- Tuesdays and Fridays, departure of the bus for Oruro at 10 a.m. Arrival in Oruro at around 2 p.m., then departure of the train Expreso del Sur for Uyuni at 3:30 p.m. Arrival in Uyuni at 10:20 p.m. Arrival in Tupiza the next day at 4 a.m. Pick up by our team upon arrival.
- Wednesdays and Sundays, departure of the bus for Oruro at 2 p.m. Arrival in Oruro around 6 p.m., then departure of the train Wara-Wara for Uyuni at 7 p.m. Arrival in Uyuni at 2:20 a.m. the next day. Pick up by our team upon arrival.
- Other days, departure on the bus for Oruro at 3:30 p.m. Arrival in Oruro at 7 p.m. Bus change. Departure at 8 p.m. Arrival in Uyuni at around 5 a.m. Hotel available in Uyuni until the departure of the expedition.
Lunch and dinner open (bar-restaurant La Loco recommended). Hotel ***.
Note 1: for your comfort, we advise you to do this trip on the train
Note 2: for those who will travel by train, there is a food available on board

4WD expedition from Uyuni to Uyuni..
9:30 a.m. departure to visit the train cemetery on the outskirt of town. We then head south. On the way, we visit numerous villages, including the modern urbanization of Culpina K. Lunch break in San Cristobal where we can visit the beautiful colonial church if it is open. We then traverse Rio Grande, area hosting a lot of vicuñas and ñandus (of the ostrich family) and arrive in Villamar at the end of the day.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host in Villamar (basic comfort).

We head south for Laguna Colorada. . This laguna owes its intense red-brick color to the presence in its water of millions of shellfish Artemia, well-studied by scientists for their incredible adaptability in saline areas. We keep heading south for an excursion to the Sol de Mañana Geysers (el. 4850 m.a.s.l.) a volcanic crater from which escapes sulfuric fumes and heavy water. We then stop for breakfast in Polques before skirting Laguna Salada and crossing the Dali Desert (named after the scenery reminiscent of one of his paintings). We reach the lagunas Blanca and Verde, at the foot of volcanoes Juriques and Licancabur (el. 5960 m.a.s.l.) at the end of the afternoon. Curious phenomenon: when the wind picks up, the waters of Laguna Verde change to a spectacular emerald color.
Return to Laguna Colorada at the end of the afternoon.
Cold lunch. All included. Night in shelter (basic comfort).

We head north through the magnificent landscapes of the Siloli desert and its famous “Arbol de Piedra” (Stone Tree) where we may be able to spot some viscachas. We then skirt the Chilean border following the “Route of the Jewels”: lagoons Ramaditas, Honda, Ch’arkota, Hedionda and Cañapa, a sanctuary to 3 different types of flamingoes. We stop at the viewpoint of volcano Ollague.  This active volcano hosts the world’s highest sulfur mine.
The track then drops from around 4200 meters above sea level to 3600. We cross the small Salar de Chiguana at the foot of volcano Tomasamil (el. 5900 m.a.s.l.) before arriving in the village of San Juan where are located the spectacular mummies of the “Lipez Lords” (1200 B.C.).
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

In the morning, departure for the world’s largest salt desert: the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.).
The atmosphere is special: the horizon seems to not have any limits and the immensity is overwhelming. We head north to the island of Incahuasi. This island of volcanic origin is covered with stromatolites (fossilized bacteria representing the first traces of life on earth) and giant cactuses. In the afternoon, we head east towards Uyuni. On the way we visit the Salt Hotels (Closed since November 2001) and ultimately, the salt exploitation of Colchani.
Cold lunch. Dinner open (bar-restaurant La Loco recommended). Hotel ***.

Departure towards 10 a.m. with the bus (option private 4WD). We cross the Cordillera Frailes on a dirt track (6 hours) before reaching the imperial town in the afternoon. End of day open(visit of the Santa Teresa convent recommended).
Lunch included. Dinner open. Hotel **.

We dedicate this day to the discovery of Potosi, nominated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
At 9 a.m., we meet in the hotel lobby to visit the mines of Cerro Rico where we can meet miners in their environment. In the afternoon, we visit the Casa de la Moneda (closed Sunday afternoons and Mondays), where the Spanish minted the coins for the crown until the 19th century.
At 4 p.m., we leave for Sucre in our private vehicle. We leave the high plateau to descend in the valleys of Chuquisaca. We pass the Río Pilcomayo by the Sucre Bridge, and its interesting architecture (further South, this río separates Argentina from Paraguay) before arriving in Sucre, at the end of the day (3-hour trip on a paved road).
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Rendez-vous dans le hall de l’hôtel à 09:00 pour une visite guidée (en français) de la ville coloniale, inscrite par l’Unesco au patrimoine de l’humanité. Couvent de la Recoleta, musée ethnographique du textile (ASUR), Casa de la Libertad (fermée le lundi et le dimanche après-midi), monastère San Felipe Nery…
Déjeuner et dîner libres. Hôtel España ***.

Private transfer from the hotel to the airport 2 hours before take off. Flight Sucre – La Paz (50 minutes flight, see time table). Pick up at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Departure from the hotel at 8 a.m., in a private vehicle, for Chacaltaya, which used to be the highest ski resort in the world (el. 5400 m.a.s.l.). In fact, it is more a curiosity than a ski resort, the way we understand it in our countries. One and only slope and a ski lift dating from the turn of the last century, this is what you will find
From this altitude, the view over La Paz and the Altiplano with majestic Huyana Potosi as a backdrop reaching more than 6000 meters is mesmerizing. Short hike possible for those who feel strong enough. Return in La Paz early afternoon. End of day open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Pick up at our hotel in a private vehicle, 3 hours prior to flight departure time, for transfer to airport / international flight number and time to be confirmed.