Day 1. Airport pickup at Viru-Viru, Santa Cruz (alt. 400 m)                              We pick you up at the airport of Santa Cruz/ Bolivia from where we drive to the small town of Samaipata (120 km, 2,5 hours). There we check into a comfortable hotel and spend the rest of the day to relax and discover.                                     If your flight arrives late, you need to spend the night in Santa Cruz. In that case the following day is considered as Day 1.

Day 2. Samaipata (alt. 1.650 m)                                                                          We start with the briefing where we learn more about safety riding, our route, the local traffic rules and about each other. To get used to our bike, we go for a ride to the archeological site of “El Fuerte”. Classified World Heritage by UNESCO, it is an old Inca town build around the, much older, largest stone sculpture in the Americas. For some people, it is an ancient Alien landing field.

Day 3. To La Higuera (alt. 1.900 m), 175 km, 50% dirt-road                                Leaving early in the morning, we stop in Vallegrande to visit the hospital´s laundry building, where revolutionary hero Ernesto Ché Guevara´s lifeless body was first presented to the world in 1967.                                                            After lunch, we continue our ride towards the tiny mountain village of La Higuera, the place where the Ché was captured and executed. On the road it’s possible to observe condors, the world biggest bird.                                      Before arriving at the hotel in La Higuera we have the option to detour on a special ride to a fantastic view.                                                                                In the evening around the campfire in the courtyard of our hotel, we listen to Don Juan’s experiences from the time of the guerrilla war.

Day 4. To Villa Serrano (alt. 2.100 m), 120 km, 100% dirt-road                      After visiting the historic school building where Ché Guevara was executed and the related sites, we leave towards Villa Serrano. On the suspension bridge over the Rio Grande we have a snack stop and if the conditions are good and the water level is safe, we can go for a swim.                                                                In the afternoon we arrive in Villa Serrano, Bolivia’s capital of charango music.  It´s a kind of a small, double 5 strings guitar, very difficult to play.

Day 5. To Sucre (alt. 2.700 m), 190 km, 15% dirt-road                                        We leave Villa Serrano early in the morning so we can visit the Tarabuco Sunday market. This is the only place in Bolivia where we can take photos of traditionally dressed indigenous people without them turning away.                      After lunch we continue to Sucre the capital of Bolivia. The rest of the afternoon and evening is for exploring this beautiful colonial city. The entire city center is painted white and is classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

Day 6. To Potosí (alt. 4.100 m), 155 km, 0% dirt-road                                        We leave Sucre early in the morning. On smooth tarmac we start to climb towards the altiplano (highland planes). We stop and visit a strange monumental bridge. Then onwards to the mining city of Potosí which sits at 4.100 m altitude, making it the highest city in the world and also classified Word Heritage by UNESCO. During the ascent, the guides will give us instructions about to deal with altitude sickness.                                                                                              In the afternoon, we visit the miner’s market where we can buy anything, ranging from coca leaves and dynamite. Then we continue to the mines where we will get “geared up” and descend into the belly of “Pajcha Mama” (mother earth) to visit the 500 year old but still operational silver mine. This is not suitable for those who don’t like small spaces or suffer from claustrophobia.

Day 7. To Uyuni (alt. 3.700 m), 205 km, 5% dirt-road                                            Riding through incredible scenery we make a stop at a spectacular canyon. Along the road we look out for vicuñas (family of camelids), emus and thousands of lamas. We arrive at the small mining village of Pulacayo. Here we walk around the ancient railway station, past the mine entrance and we can climb the train wagons which are the very same ones the American outlaws Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid arrived in when they came to Bolivia 110 years ago.                                                                                                            Next break is Uyuni where we visit the train grave yard, a fantastic collection of discarded railway machinery dating back to the 19th century. This includes at least a dozen steam locomotives. Perfect for photo shooting.

Day 8. Salar de Uyuni daytrip (alt. 3.700m), 195 km, 90% dirt salt-road        The Salar de Uyuni is a dried up salt lake, with the size of a small country (11.000 km square). Since the largest salt lake of the world has, no references, what so ever and because there are only two colours in this world (blue sky and white salt), there is no perspective. Our brain will have a meltdown and we can take the weirdest crazy photos.
On our way, we visit the cactus island “Inca Huasi”, the flags monument, the first salt hotel and… the Dakar monument.

Day 9/10. The desert from and to Uyuni (alt. 3.700 – 5.010 m) ca. 650km, 100% dirt road
For the next 2 days we swap the bikes for a 4WD LandCruiser.                              Because of the high altitude and the extremely difficult and dangerous riding conditions, we choose 4×4 vehicles for transport. This way we can cover more ground in a short space of time, which means that you can see more and are more relaxed when arriving at the spectacular sites.                                        There are photo opportunities wherever we stop and the lagoons are home to hundreds or sometimes even thousands of flamingos. Furthermore, there are lamas, viscachas and vicuñas spotted regularly. Some of the highlights are the Laguna Colorada, Laguna Verde and Arbol de Piedra (stone tree).                    We will spend the night next to a hot spring where we can sit in steaming hot water, gazing at a zillion stars, which is supported by the isolated location, clear skies and high altitude.                                                                                            Only basic comfort available.                                                                                    End of Day 10, we will arrive back to Uyuni.