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This 10 day tour is as adventurous as it can get! It will challenge not only your riding skills but also your acceptance for loneliness, remoteness and altitude.
You'll get everything: Riding over salt flats, barely visible tracks, nearly 5000m high passes, steep gravel passes, sand dunes, twisty tarmac mountain roads, beautiful and spectacular landscapes and remote desert villages.
 Total distance about 2500 km, 70% gravel and sand roads.
The trip can be done in the 4 x 4 off road support vehicle, too!
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Day 1
We leave Salta southwards through the fertile Lerma Valley, which narrows into the canyon of the Quebrada de Cafayate. This beautiful canyon is striking for its red sandstone formations, weathered by wind and water to bizarre shapes.
Through the sandy planes of the Calchaqui Valley we ride through Cafayte to the Quilmes Ruins.
Overnight stay in Santa Maria.
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Day 2
We carry on to the Rodochrosite Mines Santa Rita and have lunch in the remote Hosteria before snaking down a twisty pass with spectacular views to the Village of Andalgala.
Overnight stay in Belen.
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Day 3
Bordering the Belen River we ride north deeper into the desert of Catamarca, through the Rondolfo Canyon to the nature reserve of Laguna Blanca. Riding through the open spaces of the Pumice Planes and the Carachi Pampa we finally reach the town of Antofagasta.
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Day 4
Heading deep into the lonely mountains of the Puna desert we ride through the Calalaste Valley to Las Quinuas and carry on along the saltpan to Antofalla. Accommodation and dinner in a simple local place.
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Day 5
The track leads us through the Archibara Mountains passing the Laguna de los Patos to the Mine La Casualidad and the old train station of Caipe.
Crossing the Arizaro saltpan we get to the friendly town of Tolar Grande.
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Day 6
Riding through bizarre desert landscapes, we follow the railway lines of the legendary "Train to the Clouds" before taking a ride through the Pastos Grandes mountain range. After crossing underneath the Viaduct La Polvorilla we border the Volcano Quehuar to get to a hidden volcanic valley.
Overnight stay close to the village of Susques.
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Day 7
Following the Susques River we reach the more fertile areas of the Puna desert and will pass several small villages where self sufficient agriculture and lama herding is still the only way of surviving since hundreds of years on our way to the town of Abra Pampa.
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Day 8
After a pleasant ride on tarmac the gravel road then turns of the main road and winds over the 4000m high pass Abra del Condor to the remote mountain town of Iruya, lying in a narrow part of a deep valley, surrounded by colourful mountains and bizarrely eroded rock walls.
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Day 9
Crossing the Abra del Condor again, we reach the picturesque Quebrada de Humahuaca canyon, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
We visit the church of Uquia, the Tropic of Capricorn Monument, the Pucara de Tilcara Ruins and the 7 Color Mountain. Overnight stay in the lovely village of Purmamarca.
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Day 10
Climbing up the black toped Lipan Pass through 99 corners we get to the Salinas Grandes, and reach the mining town of San Antonio de los Cobres after having lunch in a traditional family house.
We leave the plains of the Puna and descend into the colourful valley Quebrada del Toro to reach Salta.
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TOURS
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