Legendary Paths, Wild Places: Active Immersions Experiences

From invigorating hikes along legendary routes like Peru's Inca Trail and Spain’s Camino de Santiago pilgrimage path, to trekking excursions in the Patagonian wilderness, our new 8- to 12-day Immersions adventures are designed for those who like to stay on the move during their journeys. Plus, each trip features O.A.T.'s signature combination of intimate cultural connections, Trip Experience Leader expertise, and unbeatable value.

Discover the active highlights of a few of these journeys below and start planning your adventure. 

Immersion in Peru: The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley

Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: This ancient stone road network once spanned the Inca Empire, efficiently moving people, goods, and soldiers across the sprawling nation. We'll spend about 8 hours hiking the final 7.7-mile stretch of the trail, ascending uphill about 2,000 feet along the old stone road during the first half of our hike. Traverse a landscape of primeval cloud forest and dramatic mountain scenery as we walk in the footsteps of the Inca toward the sacred city of Machu Picchu. We’ll also encounter Inca ruins along the way, including the water temple of Chachabamba and the stone terraces of Wiñay Wayna—persevering testaments to the ingenuity of Inca engineering. 

Our journey concludes as we climb the steep stone stairs leading to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), where we’re rewarded with our first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu from above.

View Itinerary

Immersion in Argentina & Chile: Hiking Patagonia

Hike to Mirador de Los Condores: After flying to El Calafate, travel overland to El Chaltén, a mountain town at the edge of the Patagonian Ice Field and Argentina’s trekking hub. Depending on how our travel day unfolds, we should be able to set off on our first hike this afternoon to Mirador de Los Condores. This roundtrip loop of about 1.5 miles will provide us with scenic vistas overlooking El Chaltén, and the rugged Andes beyond—a nice preview of the epic hiking trails that await.  

Full-day hike in Los Glaciares National Park: Set off along one of the iconic trails that begin right in the town of El Chaltén for a full-day hike, including a boxed picnic lunch, to immerse ourselves in the dramatic scenery of Los Glaciares National Park. With many trails available at El Chaltén, our specific route will be decided by the Trip Experience Leader and trekking guide based on weather conditions and seasonality. Whichever route we take, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to pause at scenic overlooks to take in the sweeping views of the Patagonian steppe and the peaks and glaciers of the Fitz Roy massif. 

Hiking in Torres del Paine National Park: Set off with your Trip Experience Leader and a local guide for the first of two hikes (totaling 6-7 hours) in Torres del Paine, a half million acres of pristine wilderness at the ends of the earth. Torres del Paine (meaning Towers of Blue) is named for the trio of towering granite peaks that preside over an eastern spur of the Andes called the Paine Massif—and we’ll enjoy several views of these iconic peaks during our morning trek. We’ll also make several stops to take in scenic landscapes of craggy mountains, idyllic glacial lakes, and undulating grasslands—including one to enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park. And we’ll keep our eyes open for guanacos and pumas that roam the vast steppe—or the 12-foot wingspan of the fabled Andean condor soaring in the sky. 

In the afternoon, begin another hike to a different region of the park (our specific route will depend on weather conditions), taking in more of the scenic splendor created by glaciation of the last Ice Age. 

The following morning, set off for another visit to Torres del Paine, possibly to explore Lago Grey, that offers breathtaking views of the Paine Massif and Grey Glacier. We'll plan on hiking for approximately two hours over steep and rocky terrain (depending on weather conditions), with a stop to enjoy a picnic lunch.

View Itinerary

Immersion in Spain: Bilbao to Compostela on the Camino de Santiago

Hike the Camino de Santiago from Pobeña to Cobarón: Navigate a portion of the Camino del Norte, a quieter section of the trail that winds along the northern coast, offering breathtaking views of the sea as we hike up and down the hills that punctuate this section of northern Spain. Our approximately 1-hour hike will take us over a distance of about 2 miles as we make our way west to Cobarón.

Viveda to Santillana del Mar: Hike for about 2 hours, covering approximately 4.5 miles along a more popular section of the Camino del Norte today, offering more opportunity to get to know other travelers along the undulating trail, and to glimpse scenes of daily life in the country villages that line our path.

Llanes to Celorio: On our third (and longest) hike along the Camino de Santiago, enjoying more views of the sea as we set off on an approximately 6-mile, 1.5-hour long hike along the coast of the Camino del Norte toward the vibrant green hills of Asturias. Our destination is the tiny beach town of Celorio.

Oviedo to Lloriana: Spend about 2 hours traversing an approximately 4.5-mile portion of the Camino Primitivo, following the path of the original pilgrimage trail first blazed by King Alfonso II of Asturias in the 9th century, beginning a proud tradition that continues through the modern day. Like the Camino del Norte, the Camino Primitivo is quieter than some of the more popular paths, allowing our small group more opportunity to take in Asturias’ breathtaking scenery as we walk a trail flanked by ancient forests, lush green hills, and sleepy hamlets.

Monte do Gozo to Santiago de Compostela: Drive to Monte do Gozo, or “Mount Joy,” so named for the rapturous feeling so many pilgrims have felt when they arrived here, catching their first glimpse of Santiago de Compostela’s spires, knowing that the end of their long walk is finally in sight. The mountain sits at the junction of three trails—the Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo, and Camino Francés, one of the trail’s most popular routes—and we’ll likely have plenty of companions to share the final stretch of our journey with as we spend about an hour making the 2.5-mile walk into the holy city itself.

View Itinerary

Immersion in Sicily: Taormina, Cefalù & Undiscovered Madonie Villages

Hike up Cefalù’s La Rocca: Set off on a scenic hike in Madonie Natural Park to meet a shepherd who will show us the traditional method of collecting sheep’s milk and producing fresh ricotta and other cheeses in the Sicilian hinterland. Then, we’ll stop in the ancient clifftop village of Polizzi Generosa, where we’ll explore its medieval streets before experiencing the village’s renowned hospitality when we’re invited into some local homes for lunch. Polizzi, a true hidden gem nestled in the Madonie Mountains, is also the ancestral home of director Martin Scorsece’s family.

Cefalù is tucked under a towering rock formation called “La Rocca,” and we’ll regroup and more active travelers may wish to join our Trip Experience Leader on about a 1.5-mile uphill hike to reach the summit, where we’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of this picturesque coastal resort. 

Hiking and rafting excursion in Tiberio Gorge: Tiberius Gorge—named after the Roman emperor Tiberius—is a beautiful natural canyon carved by the Pollina River in Madonie Park. After about a half-hour moderate level hike down to the canyon floor, we’ll have a safety briefing, put on helmets, and set off on a scenic rafting journey along a narrow gorge lined with rocky outcroppings and high cliff walls. After our raft ride, a 4X4 vehicle will take us back up the canyon, where we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch together before returning to our hotel in Cefalù. 

View Itinerary

Hike the legendary Inca Trail during our new, 8-day Immersion in Peru: The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu adventure. View our full collection of Immersions itineraries here.