The dream of waking up onboard an expedition cruise ship on the Patagonian coast and minutes later enjoying the high-adrenaline excitement of skiing down pristine snow-covered mountain slopes is a lot closer to becoming a reality than you think. Thanks to an exploratory effort currently underway by Andrés Ergas, President of Nomads of the Seas all of our guests will be able to enjoy the diverse and amazing natural assets of Patagonian mountains.Currently we are exploring different options availabe and ways to add backcountry skiing to the voyages. Our team is studying the best choices to suit the needs of our guests, and we are looking forward to incorporate skiing through ungroomed and unmarked pistes to our traditional adventures package.
Andrés is a ski fanatic and aboard Nomads' Atmosphere, he has always gazed up at Patagonia's snow-capped peaks with a mixture of curiosity and longing. This year, to determine the feasibility of incorporating heliskiing into the Nomads' array of adventure alternatives, he invited renowned expert skiers from France and Russia to explore various mountains to find a singular, safe and enticing circuit for his guests.
The reconnaissance ski team members spent a week in Chile, experiencing the thrill of being the first ever to carve some of Western Patagonia's spectacular slopes. Afterward, they returned to their countries loaded with hundreds of photographs, as well as potential heliski route and excursion maps, whose details will be made available soon by Nomads. Get ready for an unparalleled adventure!
This is Nomads' first season offering ocean and river kayaking, and guests who have already experienced an excursion can't say enough about the privileged, intimate look this activity provided them with coastal and watercourse wildlife. Part of the sport's broad appeal is due to the peaceful enchantment of an outing, and to the activity being more about technique, than physical strength.
"We have single kayaks as well as tandem models, so that a newcomer to the sport who may not want to do much rowing can go with one of our trained guides," says Osvaldo Andwanter, Nomad's Expeditions Manager.,
Nomads even offers heli-kayaking, in which guests are transported by helicopter to a remote mountain river where they board kayaks for a truly unique downstream excursion to drink in the ever-changing landscape on their way to the sea. Dense temperate rainforests, awe-inspiring vistas of snow-mantled volcanoes, secluded lagoons, and much more will make this one of the high points of your trip.
On the Atmosphere's top deck, a guide addresses a group of Nomads explorers. "Do you see that white peak way back among the mountains? That's a glacier and today we're going to have lunch next to that ancient ice mass!",
Soon the promise becomes reality. The ship's Bell 407 Helicopter ferries six guests up into the mountains to a small meadow offering a breathtaking view of a vast valley stretching all the way to the sea.
After admiring the majestic scenic beauty, the explorers, led by Nomads guides, hike along a medium-difficulty path to a safe area near the lower part of the glacier.
The trail is stunning! Glacial melt-off produces crystalline cascades and bubbling brooks. Vibrant-color flowers, pale-green nalcas (Gunnera tinctoria, a plant with enormous leaves) and somewhat hard to see lichens thrive amidst the gray volcanic rock.
After the hike, in another pleasant mountain pasture, the guides serve a white tablecloth lunch, complete with chilled white wine and gourmet salads. A refreshing breeze and a magnificent panoramic view invites relaxing conversation and meditation. In time, the muffled whir of a far-off helicopter is heard, signaling that soon it will be time for all to return to the Atmosphere, waiting patiently below in the azure sea.
The first part of this year in Patagonia has been blessed with exceptional weather, providing Nomads of the Seas' guests with a privileged adventure cruise experience. With temperatures of around 30°C (86° F), they have been able to leave their parkas stowed onboard the Atmosphere and to even enjoy swimming in the Pacific Ocean. Hikes, kayaking excursions, and expeditions to glaciers and volcanoes have all been made more spectacular by the clear, cloudless skies.
Fishing has become more challenging, but not due to fewer varieties or quantities. Thanks to their thorough knowledge of the area, Nomads' expert guides know the best spots to find the fish, no matter what the circumstances.
Already the meteorological conditions are changing, and Patagonia's more traditional "4-season days" are becoming more common. As a result, the outlook for fishing is extremely promising, and the eco-tourism expeditions can be expected to continue being as sublime as always.
