On Day 1, you will depart the UK on your international flight to Santiago, Chile. Upon arrival, you will spend your first two nights in Chile's compelling capital, a city beautifully flanked by the Andes mountains. Whilst your first day is at leisure, a guided tour is included on your second day to discover the cultural significance of the capital’s divergent neighbourhoods.  

Fly to Calama to begin a three-day exploration of the Atacama Desert, staying in the town of San Pedro de Atacama. The highest, driest desert in the world, Atacama is a wonderland of mesmerising valleys, archaeological wonders and geological marvels and your time here is unrushed to immerse yourself in the rugged lunar-like landscapes.

Observe the sunset majestically over the Moon Valley, hike amongst the multi-hued topography of the aptly named Rainbow Valley and explore the enigmatic archaeological site of Yerbas Buenas. On your third day, you will be heading north to observe the El Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field fringed by both the Andes and the Chilean Coast Range.

Cross the border into Bolivia by vehicle into the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. Here you will see the Green Lake with the view of the Licancabur Volcano, the sulphur vapours of geysers and enjoy an open-air dip in the thermal ponds of Polques.

You’ll stop by Laguna Colorada, known as the Red Lagoon for its unusual red colouring and a nesting centre for thousands of flamingos.  You will also visit the Stone Tree, a unique rock formation caused by wind erosion, and Dali Desert, so called because of its surreal and barren landscape.

This morning you will visit Lakes Cañapa, Hedionda and Chaircota, home to various pink flamingos and bird species. You’ll have views of Ollague Volcano and visit and Lake Turkiri and the Train Cemetery en route to Uyuni.

In the evening, you can take full advantage of almost zero light pollution with a stargazing experience in the salt flats. With clear weather, you’ll see thousands of stars, various constellations, and the Milly Way, all beautifully reflected on the Salar.

One of the continent’s most spectacular sights, Uyuni has the largest salt flats in the world, and they are both eerie and evocative, as the sky and horizon seemingly fuse over an expansive sheet of white barren terrain. Marvel at the glistening wonderland on your full day tour including Inca Huasi Island with its giant cacti, a rustic salt factory visit, see the towering Tunupa Volcano and the Mummies of Coquesa and the Chantani Museum. 

Early morning flight to La Paz, where upon arrival you will embark on a guided tour of this wonderfully chaotic city. Begin at the main plaza where the current government palace and the National Congress sit and the nearby San Francisco Church before heading to the south of the city. La Paz’s south contrasts greatly with the rest of the city and it is here you will find the fascinating geological wonder of the ‘Moon Valley’.

You will also enjoy a cable car ride to the highest point within the city limits - it goes without saying that the views are incredible. Finally, explore La Paz’s incredible market scene before heading to your central hotel for the night.

Straddling both the Bolivian and Peruvian borders and immeasurably sacred as the birthplace of the Andean civilization, Lake Titicaca is an incredible destination. Reaching it will require a 4-hour drive to the lakeside town of Copacabana, where upon arrival and after settling into your hotel, you will immediately embark on a private boat excursion to the lake’s iconic Sun Island. Here, enjoy a delicious traditional lunch and a gentle hike to some of the island’s remaining Inca-era ruins. Watch the sunset over the lake before retreating to Copacabana for an evening at leisure. 

There is no major rush today to reach Puno, your gateway to Peru, also lakeside to Titicaca and just 140km from Copacabana. Enjoy a leisurely morning in the town with options to visit the Basilica shrine of El Calvario or to explore Copacabana’s colourful morning market. 

Take the morning tourist bus from Puno to Cusco, a journey of approximately 390km. Whilst the drive is long, the scenery is beautiful, taking you into the heart of the Inca Empire via a wealth of rural villages, archaeological sites (stops included) and sacred churches.

The next day is more leisurely, with the morning completely free to wander through the cobbled streets of Cusco at your own pace. In the afternoon, a gently paced guided tour will bring you to some of the most esteemed sites in the city.

Today, embark on a journey to see one of South America’s most iconic landmarks – Machu Picchu. It will need no introduction, but your guided tour will help convey some of the hidden secrets of the citadel.

A scenic Expedition train ride beginning in Ollantaytambo is required to reach the majestic site and is a wonderful excursion in its own right, as you climb through Andean valleys, passing many tiny hamlets and sloping hillsides on the way.

Enjoy a second visit to Machu Picchu, this time unguided allowing you to go at your own pace. Climb Huayna Picchu to visit the Temple of the Moon and/or see the incredible architecture of the Intipunku (Sun Gate) and the Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, return to Ollantaytambo by train before transferring the short distance to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

On your second day, explore the peaceful sacred corner of the Andes on a full-day tour visiting rural towns and discovering many of the secrets of ancient civilizations. Visit Chinchero, where the locals preserve the culture of the Incas then make a short trip to the Living Museum of Yucay where Andean traditions are perfectly demonstrated through elaborate textile, pottery and silverware work, before reaching the Ollantaytambo fortress, the site of one of the last Inca strongholds against the Spanish conquistadors.

Private transfer to Cusco airport for a flight to Lima. On arrival in Peru’s capital, you will be transferred to your hotel and the rest of your time today is at leisure. 

Transfer to Lima airport where you will take your onward flight, arriving back in the UK on Day 20