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Roads That Shape a Life
Travelling is not just about reaching a destination, it’s also about the journey itself. Whether it’s sailing through shades of blue, flying over mysterious archipelagos or strolling through the streets of an iconic capital, everyone will find a way to transform the experience and open up new perspectives.
‘Those who lose their ability to dream are lost’. (Aboriginal proverb).
The call of the wild in Western Australia, a unique, exceptional journey, often reserved for those with time on their hands or for a second trip to the ‘land down under’. This exhilarating region reveals powerful landscapes, unique wildlife and memorable encounters at every turn.
Perth, gateway to the untamed West.
The discovery begins here, in this dynamic city with a youthful spirit where art and nature mingle. There’s nothing like a ‘street tour’ in the footsteps of a guide to get a feel for the place and discover the many murals and frescoes that colour the neighbourhoods. For travellers in search of exclusive addresses, two hotels stand out: the Adnate, with its artistic soul, and the Como Treasury, a spectacular boutique hotel with an immaculate design for modern hedonists.
A stone’s throw from Perth, the small town of Fremantle is also worth discovering, with its historic buildings welcoming visitors in a singular atmosphere.
Further up the coast, Ningaloo Reef, an exceptional marine paradise, is accessible from Exmouth.
Halfway there, the Cheela Plains resort offers a welcome stopover, an out-of-this-world bubble that impresses with its tranquillity and sense of isolation.
But one thing is certain: you’ll have to spend a long time on the ochre tracks to reach Karijini and experience the Outback in its purest form. It’s best to be well-prepared and to load up your vehicle for the journey through this National Park sculpted by time and rivers.
The adventure then intensifies, revealing Australia as we’ve always dreamed of it, with its striking red roads lined with desert of shimmering colours, where even the stones have a spirit.
Karijini National Park is one of the country’s geological wonders, set in an arid landscape of raw beauty. Its majestic canyons, where the crystal-clear waters of the natural pools invite you to take a dip, give you a feeling of communion with nature. A minimum of two days is needed to soak up the atmosphere, recharge your batteries in the hidden pools and feel the power of the starry sky, far from any light pollution. The Karijini Eco Retreat offers accommodation in comfortable safari tents in the heart of the park.
The final stop is Broome, on the edge of the astonishing Kimberley region, one of the last wild frontiers on the planet. Push your van all the way and you’ll be rewarded with a parade of rock formations two billion years old, abundant wildlife, majestic canyons and freshwater basins… all for a final plunge into the Australian immensity. And for the more adventurous, one of the country’s most epic roads, the Gibb River Road, is 660 kilometres of impressive scenery. Only accessible by 4×4 in the dry season, with limited refuelling stops, meticulous planning and an extra supply of fuel, here’s what you need to know, but the promise of a total and spectacular change of scenery is not in vain.
Contact us to explore far-flung and unique horizons. It’s a real odyssey into little-known lands that will leave an indelible mark on your heart and mind.
Best period: April to October – when temperatures are pleasant and conditions ideal for wildlife watching and outdoor activities. The opening of a direct route between Paris and Perth makes the destination more accessible… a flight of around 16 hours.
‘Here, even the wind seems to carry the stories of the past. You don't walk through South Africa, you listen to it, you feel it, you discover it hill by hill’, Nelson Mandela might have said....
South Africa is a road trip in itself, an itinerary of powerful contrasts and subtle elegance. Your first port of call is Cape Town, where urban energy meets natural surroundings. The activities on offer immediately immerse you in the local ambience, with hiking at Lion’s Head, designer markets, lively rooftops and sunsets from Signal Hill.
An arty-chic favourite, hidden away in the top five floors of a former grain silo near the Waterfront, the Silo welcomes you above the Zeitz-Mooca Zeitz – Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, the largest on the continent.
In a picturesque neighbourhood, you will enjoy the charm of Cape Cadogan, an ideal base for exploring Cape Town. A relaxed haven in a peaceful oasis, just a stone’s throw from Kloof Street, where you can enjoy the vitality of the city.
You leave the city with its varied architecture, ranging from 300-year-old Dutch farmhouses and Victorian streets to brightly painted Bo-Kaap houses, skirting the shanty towns of the Cape Flats…. on your way to the great outdoors!
Then it’s time for more muted pleasures: a glass of chilled chenin in a colonial house in Stellenbosch, a refined lunch under the vines, a blend of contemporary design and African traditions.
Imagine gliding along the famous Garden Route and its trendy seaside resorts alongside magnificent lagoons and foam-beaten beaches. Make no mistake, here you’ll be visiting the great white shark rather than swimming among the small fish.
Every year, between June and November, the ballet of southern right whales, great white sharks, dolphins and seals can be seen off the coast of the Garden Route, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
Cocoon: Lairds Lodge in Plettenbergbay, an exclusive retreat, a charming country house set in magnificent landscaped grounds.
The ‘Rainbow Nation’ also knows how to be confidential, with hotels lost in private reserves, end-of-day excursions that set the savannah ablaze, and swimming breaks in infinity pools facing the infinite.
Further afield, a gazelle jump takes you over the emblematic reliefs of the Blyde River Canyon, for a mineral and vertiginous interlude, suspended in the dusty bush air.
Summerfields Rose Retreat fits perfectly into this itinerary, a true haven of tranquillity, surrounded by nature and situated on the banks of the Sabie River.
Each stage is a discreet luxury, a praise of slowness, of having time. Because here, true chic is not about appearances, but about the intensity of the landscapes, the sincerity of the encounters and the freedom of the journey.
Contact us to add depth and variety to your fabulous holiday itinerary. We have a multitude of alternatives to suit the angle you wish to tackle on the farthest reaches of the southern continent.
Best period for a road trip in South Africa :
May to September – austral winter – ideal for wildlife and safaris. Temperatures are cool but days are generally sunny and dry. Good conditions for driving, and it’s not as hot. The climate is drier and more pleasant, especially in the Kruger Park and the Western Cape.
March and April – autumn – are a good compromise: temperatures are moderate, with a mild climate, and there is less rain than in summer, which is cooler and more pleasant, with fewer people on the roads and in the national parks.
‘La Ruta 40 is not a road: it's a thread stretched between sky and dust, between dream and silence’. Jorge Luis Borges or Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara?
Set course for Latin America, along the mythical route that crosses Argentina from north to south. This route, linked to the country’s identity, geography and imagination, runs from the Bolivian border to Patagonia. By invoking the spirit of travel, it responds to nomadic souls and encourages introspection, for an escape in perfect harmony with the environment.
To cover its 5,200 km, you’d need at least a month to take your time… We’ll give you a few broad outlines here to get you off to an appetising start, which you can develop with our expertise according to your preferences and possibilities.
To the very north, some will cross the Andes via a pass to immerse themselves in the Atacama region of Chile and its Grand Salar, to be discovered from San Pedro, a compulsory passage along the Cordillera de Sel. You’ll be struck by the sharp ridges and canyons characteristic of the Valley of Death, shaped by wind and water over thousands of years, devoid of flora and almost devoid of fauna. A lunar morphology, which we leave behind to return to the route and head eastwards to the extraordinary Quebrada de Humahuaca.
This valley, a former trade route and World Heritage Site, boasts strikingly colourful mountains, pre-Columbian remains and charming colonial houses.
Slightly off the beaten track, the Salta region is renowned for its remarkable landscapes and rich culture. In a setting combining colourful valleys, proud mountains and typical villages, every street corner reveals a new facet of this unique territory.
To relax: enjoy an open-air tea time in the authentic Maison des Jasmins. Savour home cooking in a warm atmosphere with a naturally slow pace. The rooms envelop you in a warm atmosphere, where every detail invites you to relax after a walk or horse ride, with the Andes on the horizon.
The ruta 40 takes in the incredible Los Cardones national park at high altitude, accessed via the Cuesta del Obispo, a spectacular zigzag pass rising to over 3,000 metres.
Along the way, you won’t be able to resist a bite to eat at one of the twenty bodegas in Cafayate, a small town perched in the Calchaquíes valley, where the vines grow alongside the cacti and the highest vineyard in the world is hidden away.
Heading south leads to London in the province of Catamarca, and the ruins of the Shincal de Quimivil, a site considered to be one of the most important administrative centres of the Inca empire in Argentina.
For epicureans, the vineyards of Mendoza as far as the eye can see, at the foot of the Andes, promise a rich exchange with the local winemakers, on a par with the reputation of the wines. Cavas Wine Lodge, a charming colonial-inspired boutique hotel devoted entirely to the pleasures of wine, welcomes guests in a serene, designer atmosphere.
Further down the road, the La Payunia reserve takes you back to a volcanic environment with immense lava flows, basaltic rocks and moon-like cones.
Some will end their journey in the east of the country, in Buenos Aires, and take the Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world. The city tour takes in the bohemian quarter, La Boca, where the streets bear witness to Italian immigration, San Telmo, emblematic and eclectic, and Puerto Madero, a former port that has been completely renovated and is a must-see. A tango dinner will round off the day in a picturesque cabaret, with divine dishes and deep, delicate wines. The Faena is the ideal place to relax in the futuristic vision of designers Alain Faena and Philippe Starck. Housed in a former granary, with soaring ceilings and a breathtaking view over the city, it pays artistic homage to Argentina.
The most daring will bring this crazy project to a close in all simplicity at Estancia El Cóndor, seductive in its isolation and inaccessibility. A real Patagonian estancia in an exclusive setting where the stories of the pioneers lull the evenings to sleep.
If you’re a die-hard enthusiast, you’ll want to head for km 0, the southernmost point of the country, to Cabo Vírgenes, in Patagonia, on the edge of the Strait. This national highway is a rutted track where sheep and rheas, a species of small ostrich, trot along, and where the omnipresent wind howls. The reward? The colony of Magellanic penguins, who come here to nest from December to February.
Don’t look for charming hotels here, you’ll still have to drive to El Calafate, the main access point to Glacier National Park, and find the Posada Los Alamos offering a delightful mix of comfort and activities. Even closer to Glacier National Park is the elegant Estancia Cristina, with its exclusive access to the most imposing view of the Upsala Glacier.
Dreamers will be free to hang up Tierra del Fuego and embark on a new journey. Talk to us about a personalised trip to the end of the world, guided by stories and legends.
The best time to travel Route 40 in Argentina depends on the section you wish to explore, but the entire route is best travelled between November and March (spring and austral summer).
North to south: September to November: dry weather in the north until the climate improves in Patagonia.
From south to north: from March to May, when the weather is still acceptable in Patagonia before the last rains stop in the north.
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A once-in-a-lifetime experience – continued
Charly’s Team recently shared with you our dream journeys, we share with you a selection of surprising destinations.
Whose (crazy) idea was this ?
Charly’s Team can help you plan expeditions that may seem impossible. Discover a hidden world that is only very rarely mentioned, which will intrigue and captivate you.