CHILE, ATACAMA DESERT
14 - 21 September 2025
In a nutshell
Group
only 6 people
Duration
8 days
Price
from €3400
Fitness
Low
Intro
Welcome to our exclusive 8-day astrophotography tour in the breathtaking Atacama Desert, Chile! Embark on a journey to capture the pristine night skies of one of the world’s most renowned stargazing destinations. From the rugged landscapes of Valle de la Luna to the awe-inspiring altiplano lagoons, this tour is crafted for passionate photographers, adventurers, and stargazers seeking to photograph the treasures of the Southern skies. The Milky Way, constellations, and celestial phenomena like never before. Guided by two internationally acclaimed astrophotographers, you'll receive expert guidance to frame the perfect shot under some of the clearest skies on Earth.
Important notes
Start: 14/9/25 at Santiago de Chile
End: 21/9/25 evening at Calama airport
Flight tickets from Santiago to Calama and back are not included in the tour package. This is because booking them requires sensitive personal information. We will provide you with the exact flight details to book.
Please note that the schedule and time frames are flexible and may change based on weather conditions to ensure the best possible experience for you. Below, you'll find the core outline of the itinerary.
Having travel insurance that covers medical expenses, trip cancellations, and unforeseen situations is highly recommended (and sometimes required). Better safe than sorry!
Visa Requirements: Verify whether you need a visa to enter Chile. Many nationalities can enter visa-free for short stays, but it's essential to confirm this for your specific passport.
Passport Validity: Your passport should generally be valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry into Chile. Check with your local authorities for specific requirements.
Customs and Permitted Items: Be aware of restrictions regarding items you can bring into the country, especially food, plants, and other agricultural goods, to avoid penalties.
Itinerary
Meeting with group
To make the trip easier for you, we arranged a nice four-stars hotel accommodation for you near to the airport. A good rest and beating jet lag are much needed after all this travel.
From Santiago to Valle de la Luna
Start the trip with a morning flight from Santiago to Calama, then grab the 4x4 SUV pick-up cars and head to San Pedro de Atacama. In the evening, explore the surreal landscapes of Valle de la Luna with a walk and a stunning sunset view over the valley. Wrap up with some shopping before settling into our accommodation place for the first night.
Rainbow Valley, Hot Springs, and a Night Imaging
Get an early start with a visit to the Geysers del Tatio to experience their magical sunrise display. After lunch in San Pedro, take a break before heading to the Baltinache Salt Lagoons for a refreshing swim. The day wraps up with Milky Way shots at the hidden valley under the clear desert skies.
The view from our accommodation in VR
Atacama desert by day
Lagoons, Red Rocks, and night imaging
Take it slow in the morning and enjoy a delicious lunch at Adobe restaurant in San Pedro, even if it has nothing in common with the post process 😛. In the afternoon, head to the stunning Miscanti and Miniques lagoons, then on to the striking Piedras Rojas. Stay late to catch the sunset and zodiacal light shots before returning to the million stars desert hotel close to midnight.
Tatio Sunrise and Baltinache Swimming
Get an early start with a visit to the Geysers del Tatio to experience their magical sunrise display. After lunch in San Pedro, take a break before heading to the Baltinache Salt Lagoons for a refreshing swim. The day wraps up with Milky Way shots at the hidden valley under the clear desert skies.
Monjes de la Pacana and Market Stroll
Spend the morning exploring the incredible Monjes de la Pacana with plenty of scenic stops along the way. Return to San Pedro for lunch and a visit to the local market on Caracoles Street. Use the afternoon and evening to relax and recharge at Mauri’s place.
Monjes de la Pacana and BBQ Fun
Head out at night for a special trip back to Monjes de la Pacana to capture Milky Way shots and sunrise in this stunning location. After returning to San Pedro for some rest, the trip ends on a high note with a BBQ at Mauri’s place, complete with telescope sky exploration.
From San Pedro to Santiago
Pack up and head out in the morning to Calama to drop off the cars and catch the flight back to Santiago, closing the chapter on an unforgettable desert adventure.
Valle De La Luna in VR
Equipment to bring
Photography
Tripod
Any DSLR/mirrorless camera
Wide-angle light lens f/2.8 and faster ( - we recommend focal lengths such as 14mm, 24mm to 35mm, best with f/1.4 if possible)
2x spare battery, memory SD card
Intervalometer for time-lapses (if your camera hasn’t an internal one
Star tracker - just optional - not suitable for aurora photography (but in case you want to try, we’ll provide a few)
Dew heater and power bank
Headlamp – ideally with white and red colours. At night, we ONLY use the red light while taking photos. It is important (we will explain why) and at the same time, you’re respectful to the other members of the tour.
Clothing & gear
Temperature can drop up to 0°C in the very high altitudes of Atacama desert. We highly recommend not to underestimate your clothing choices. Also if there is wind, the feeling temperature can drop even lower. Luckily, average temperatures are higher, but we need to be ready for this, especially while standing for a longer time for a night shooting. Having the warmest clothing and be cosy is highly advisable.
Our recommendations are:
Puffy down jacket
Warm winter trousers
Winter hiking shoes or warm winter boots in general
Winter hat
Two pairs of gloves (base layer and warm layer)
Scarf or balaclava
Laptop
Powerbank for your phone or camera
Book Your Ticket
Upon booking, you’ll be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit. You’ll have to pay the remaining amount by 31/07/2025.
Past participants will have 200€ off their ticket price (valid until 31/03/2025)
Please read the cancellation terms below, before booking.
VAT 24% is included.
If you need a B2B invoice contact us before booking.
Basic
€3400
- 8-night accommodation in San Pedro de Atacame (shared double rooms with common bathrooms)
- Cars (with insurance), fuel, and parking fees
- Photography tour by Tomas and Constantine
Master Class
€3500
- Everything included in Basic
- 7-hour editing webinar valued at 300€, priced at 100€
- Send an email after paying the deposit and state that you want the Master Class.
and pay in 3 interest-free instalments
Join the waiting list.
Sometimes we have cancellations. Why not grab the next available seat?
What’s not included
Travel/Health/Accident insurance
Your plane tickets to/from Chile.
Your plane tickets to/from Santiago/Calama.
Tickets to any parks.
As said before we can have a nice BBQ at Mauri’s place.
Private rooms. If you don’t agree to stay in shared rooms you have to take care of your personal accommodation. Some operational fees will be withheld. Contact us before booking to let you know the final price.
Personal expenses, gifts, tickets to museums, etc., and anything that is not mentioned in the “What’s included” list.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
The participant must be at least 18 years old.
Deposit is non-refundable.
The participant must bring with him all the mandatory equipment listed on the tour page.
The participants should pay the rest of their ticket by the 31st of July 2025. If not, the hosts have the right to remove the participant and return the deposit.
The participant has the full responsibility to judge whether he/she can participate in the tour without compromising his/her health, as well as to ensure that he/she will not endanger his/her physical integrity or that of the other participants. For this reason, the hosts are not responsible for the cancellation of the trip or change of planning for this reason. Also in case, the participant is in danger of either injury, loss of body part, or life itself, the responsibility of the organizer is limited to the correct preparation and correct decision/choice/change of design, and the provision of instructions to ensure as much as possible physical integrity and mental and spiritual health of the participants.
The participant is responsible and accountable for the honest statement of his health status, acknowledges and accepts that the hosts are not responsible for injuries or health problems that existed before, as well as for any burden that may be suffered by his/her health condition, from his/her participation in the activity. In case the participant due to a false or insufficient declaration of health status or unavailability (due to his/her fault) of the equipment required so that he/she can not cope with the planning of the trip/activity, the hosts have the right to remove the participant from the activity, with the sole obligation to ensure a safe return and to call for rescue assistance, if and when needed. The cost of the rescue is paid solely by the participant. In case he/she puts the whole team or another member at risk due to false or inadequate health status or problems, he/she has the sole responsibility for any financial claim or any legal decision taken by the other members.
The organizers reserve the right to modify the program unilaterally.
The invoice/receipt will be issued after the end of the tour.
CANCELLATIONS
Deposit is non-refundable.
Any change/update by the hosts will be done at info@starlight-adventures.com or the group chat.
Cancellations must be required formally via email only. You should expect to get a validation email from us to consider your cancellation complete. Any refunds or charges will be applied after that.
UNTIL 1st OF JULY 23:59 EET: . You get back 100% of the remaining, if paid.
FROM 2nd OF JULY 00:00 EET AND ON: no refund if we can’t replace your spot. If your spot is replaced 50% of the remaining amount will be returned.
The tour will take place only if the minimum number of people (6) is met. If that criteria is not met, the full amount will be refunded.
In case of cancellation due to extenuating circumstances within the last 48 hours, the right to withhold reasonable expenses (fees that cannot be refunded) is reserved. In any case, an attempt will be made to postpone the trip to a later date.
In case of cancellation by the participant, the invoice will be sent after the tour for the amount that may have been withheld.
FAQs
I don’t want to stay in shared rooms. Can you arrange something to fit my needs?
As we stated, we are not a travel company, if sharing a room is too difficult for you, you can arrange a different accommodation. A part of your accommodation expenses will be held as administrative fees.
I want to bring a friend/relative with me, but he/she isn’t a photographer. Should he pay?
Your friend would eventually be a part of our group, so yes, the full ticket must be paid.
Can I participate in only a part of the trip?
This is not possible due to logistics, booking accommodations and cars. Subsequently, the full ticket must be paid.
Is there a difference between a workshop and a tour?
Yes, workshops are designed for people who also want to learn some fundamental and expand their knowledge in astrophotography. Tours are suitable for people who have already a good grasp on astro and just want to visit beautiful places to photograph. For that reason, workshops tend to be more expensive.
Are we alone in the universe?
We sincerely hope not.
