Fly from London Heathrow by Air France via Paris to Caracas. On arrival, we will be met by our Venezuelan Tour Manager and transferred to the Embassy Suites Hotel.

Morning tour of Caracas and the colonial town of El Hatillo. In the afternoon, fly to Merida, located in a lush valley beneath the towering peaks of the Venezuelan Andes. Stay at the charming Hosteria & Spa La Sevillana, just outside the city

Morning ride on the world’s highest and longest cable car, which rises from Merida in four stages to over 4,500 metres where hopefully you will have breathtaking views of Venezuela’s highest mountain, Pico Bolivar. In the afternoon visit the picturesque village of Jaji and a coffee plantation

Today’s drive takes us through the Sierra Nevada to Lake Mucubaji. Continue to Santo Domingo and Hotel Los Frailes, a restored 17th century monastery.

A long road journey takes us down from the Andes into the vast plains of Los Llanos, for a stay at the Hato El Cedral Ranch. The vast untamed savannahs of Los Llanos offer a wealth of extraordinary wildlife – hundreds of capybara, the world’s largest rodent; Orinoco crocodiles, caimans and turtles, armadillos, racoons, monkeys, iguanas; and many birds - egrets, herons, ibis, spoonbills, storks, owls, hawks, osprey and countless more, including the strange hoatzin with its almost prehistoric appearance. Giant anacondas can be found in the shallow waters beside the raised causeways that criss-cross the plains, whilst the lagoons and rivers abound with piranha. We spend two full days exploring this fascinating area

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Drive to Barinas and fly via Caracas to Ciudad Bolivar, one of Venezuela’s most historically important cities and declared a National Historic Monument with many colonial buildings and elegant squares. Overnight at the Posada Casa Grande

Flying by light aircraft to Santa Elena takes us into the ‘Gran Sabana’, a remote tropical wilderness of distinctive flat-topped mountains (‘tepuys’), rivers and spectacular waterfalls, dotted with the villages of the indigenous Pemon indians. Stay at the simple Ya-Koo Lodge (or similar) near the town of Santa Elena. A full programme of sightseeing has been planned, largely off-road by 4-wheel drive vehicles. Highlights include the Urue Meru falls, the Arapena Meru falls and the delightful Quebrada de Jaspe, where the waters cascade over a red and yellow bed of pure jasper. A stop will also be made to swim in the refreshing waters of the natural pools.

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As aboveMorning flight from Santa Elena by light aircraft across the Gran Sabana to Canaima. Our stay is at the Waku Lodge on the shores of the Canaima lagoon

Free. You can relax in the beautiful gardens of the lodge and view the Canaima Lagoon Falls, or take an optional excursion by air to Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall, (subject to local weather conditions)

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Return by air to Caracas and transfer to the Ole Caribe Hotel.

At leisure. Early evening flight with Air France via Paris to London

Arrive London Heathrow in the morning.