Private and Independent expeditions
Andes are a small business run from Castle Douglas in Galloway (southwest Scotland). The business is owned and operated by John Biggar, an active climber and skier and mountaineering instructor belonging to the AMI. His sister Cathy, several mountain guides including Andy Owen and Rick Marchant and other experienced trekkers and climbers help run the trips. All of our guides and leaders are paid professional rates to deliver a professional service.
We have been operating specialist treks and climbing expeditions to South America for ten years now. In that time we have been to almost every famous peak or trek and have 'done' pretty much all the sightseeing. We have also done a large number of research trips and unusual itineraries to places no-one else runs trips to (yet). We have made first British ascents of three of the ten highest Andean peaks and first ever ascents of two 6000m peaks. We know the Andes better than almost anyone and can offer you impartial advice, whether you are trekking, climbing , skiing or just sightseeing. We don't care if you just want to travel to the Andes on your own either - we are still happy to offer advice and answer any brief questions.
Email us at john@andes.com
Success Many of our mountaineering expeditions offer those critical extra few days and higher guide ratios necessary for success on a big mountain.
We're good We are highly recommended by past customers.
Specialists We are about the only specialist operators of mountaineering skiing and trekking expeditions to South America in the world and now have seven years experience and many satisfied customers.
Small Groups We take smaller groups than any of our competitors. Smaller groups are more flexible and less intrusive in remote mountain areas.
Financial Security Your money is fully protected through our solicitors trust account scheme and through our travel agents ATOL.
When you book a holiday with us your money is fully protected as required by EC regulations. All payments to us are placed in a special trust account administered by our solicitors. We have no access to this money until you have returned from your holiday or given us written notification that you wish to cancel your holiday.
We have now incorporated our trek and expedition dossiers into this website. To read one go to the expedition or trek you are interested in and click on View Dossier. Sometimes these are quite large files and may take some time to download. If you would like a paper copy of the relevant dossier please request this by email john@andes.com Each dossier has eight pages of information, photos and maps about the trek or expedition you are interested in.
If you would like to book one of the holidays or expeditions you have seen on this site please contact us by phone or e-mail, or visit our booking procedure page. We now also have a printable booking form on the website
Our expeditions require different levels of previous experience. All are designed for fit and healthy people who are keen on the outdoor life, but the easier trips could be joined by fit and adventurous people with little previous experience. On some of our mountaineering expeditions members must have previous experience of winter hillwalking and on the most difficult we ask for experience of Alpine or winter climbing. To climb above 6000m needs a high standard of fitness, particularly heart/lung fitness. Further details of the sort of experience and fitness required can be found in our expedition dossiers. We attempt on this website to give a rough indication of the experience necessary for each of our expeditions but please phone or email for full details.
The prices we quote on the internet do not include flights to South America, but we can book these for you.
Our prices do include all transport and accommodation in South America, all food while in the mountains, services of a British leader throughout the expedition, use of all communal camping and climbing equipment and any fees or permits necessary.
They do not include, your insurance, airport taxes personal camping and climbing equipment, optional sightseeing tours and drinks and meals consumed in restaurants in towns.
Our quoted prices on the internet do not include flights, but we are very happy to organise flights for European customers through our travel agents Journey Latin America (ATOL 2828). We normally have a block of seats reserved so that we can fly out to South America and back home together. We make no charge for this service and most of our customers find this the most convenient way to book a flight. If you prefer you can arrange flights yourself, but in either case please note that flights to South America fill up early so please book promptly to avoid disappointment.
If you're joining us from elsewhere in the world it will be easiest for you to arrange your own flights locally.
Because we take small groups there is often room for some flexibility in departure dates and itineraries, particularly if we receive bookings early. Dates quoted are normally provisional until we receive the first bookings on an expedition. Please phone or email to discuss dates or an itinerary which would suit you if ours are not ideal.
Many of our expeditions offer an optional extension for those who can take longer holidays. Sometimes these are extra weeks of climbing or trekking and sometimes a cultural or sightseeing tour. Please look for details in our dossiers or write and ask us about possibilities.
We provide tents, stoves and climbing safety equipment. Expedition members are expected to have their own personal equipment though we can hire or loan selected small items. We send a full equipment list when you book; if you would like advice or information before then please phone or email us.
Equipment Hire
We can now hire a range of equipment to customers for a small fee, including ice-axes, crampons, helmets and harnesses. Please request our equipment hire form.
Our expeditions are usually led by an English speaking (usually Scottish!) leader who will speak good or fluent Spanish and have considerable experience of travel in South America. Mountaineering expeditions are led by competent and experienced mountaineers normally members of the British Mountain Guides (BMG) or Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI). There is normally full information about your leader in the relevant trip dossier and customers are always welcome to phone and ask to chat with their leader.
In cities we stay in mid range hotels which are clean, comfortable and secure. Breakfast is included with the accommodation. In remote villages accommodation can be a wee bit less luxurious and hot showers may not be possible. In the mountains we normally camp, using modern lightweight tents; occasionally we will use huts and sometimes we may choose to bivvy. In cities customers are free to eat where they please; there is usually a wide choice of restaurants - these meals are at individual expense. In the mountains we cook and eat a mixture of fresh locally bought food and dried food, the cost of which is part of the price you pay.
South America is much safer than many people think. With a few common sense precautions you can reduce the chances of anything happening; with a bit of stupidity it is easy to make yourself a target for thieves. We go for the first option and in many years of travel experience in South America we have only ever witnessed a few minor thefts. We're not careless but we've lost a lot more than we've ever had stolen.
The cost of sightseeing excursions on rest days are not included in our prices unless specifically mentioned in the dossier. This helps to keep the basic price of our holidays down and allows customers more flexibility to choose only the excursions which interest them.
If you have a group of friends and your own ideas about where you'd like to go or what you'd like to do why not let us know your requirements. We can organise, arrange and lead expeditions to any part of the Andes at competitive prices for groups as small as three with a British leader, for groups of just two with a South American leader. Biking, trekking, mountaineering, skiing or escorted journeys can all be catered for. Look at our trekking, climbing and skiing index pages for a trip that interests you. Also check out our speciality 'other trips'. If you're planning to travel to South America independently have a look in our information file or phone (00 44 1556 503929) or email (john@andes.com) us for a chat. We will be happy to discuss your plans and offer any advice we can.
