15th February 2026 - Doha, Qatar: A binational trekking expedition across the Andes has concluded as a legacy initiative of the Qatar Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture, bringing participants together for an eight-day crossing from Argentina into Chile along a historic mountain route as part of CultuHike, Years of Culture’s flagship people-to-people engagement programme.

The expedition followed the historic Cochamó Pass, a route long used by early travellers crossing the Andes between the Atlantic and Pacific regions of South America. The journey began in Bariloche, Argentina, before continuing through remote valleys, river crossings, alpine terrain, and ancient Alerce forests. The route concluded in Chile’s Cochamó Valley, offering participants an immersive experience shaped by the region’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage. Throughout the expedition, trekkers camped in remote locations, shared meals hosted by local communities, and navigated challenging terrain under the guidance of professional expedition leaders and local experts.

Designed to promote cultural understanding through shared physical experience, CultuHike encourages dialogue, reflection, and meaningful exchange in environments where connection happens organically. The programme forms part of the long-term legacy of the Qatar Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture, extending its focus on sustained people-to-people exchange beyond the official calendar year.

Speaking about the initiative, Ali bin Towar Al-Kuwari, Years of Culture Sports Lead and Creator of CultuHike and CultuRide, said, “CultuHike was created to bring people together through shared experience and exploration. When you step outside your comfort zone and move through a place together, conversations happen naturally and connections form in an honest way. The real legacy of Years of Culture is found in these lived moments like relationships built step by step, long after the official events have ended.”

Conceived as a long-term legacy project, the Andes expedition translates the values of the Qatar Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture into lived experience, reinforcing connections between communities in Qatar, Argentina, and Chile through collaboration, exploration, and sustained engagement.

The expedition joins a growing portfolio of legacy initiatives that continue to strengthen cultural ties between partner nations, demonstrating how experiential exchange contributes to the broader objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.