Depart London Heathrow in the morning by Iberia flight to Madrid (2 hours 20 minutes) and onwards by LAN to Lima (12 hours) arriving in the evening. Stay at the Melia Hotel (or similar).

You will have a half-day tour of Lima, the country´s capital. It was originally named “La Ciudad de los Reyes” (the City of Kings). The Plaza de Armas and now Plaza Mayor, used to be the city’s most popular meeting point and main market. Around the great Plaza Mayor stands the Palacio de Gobierno, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipalidad and the Club Unión. In the centre of the plaza is a fountain dating from 1650. Some blocks from the main square, stands the Santo Domingo and San Francisco churches and monasteries. Inside are valuable collections of paintings, dating from 16th century. Also visit the private Larco Herrera Museum, which houses a large collection of gold, jewellery, textiles, ceramics and much more.

Morning flight to Cusco (1 hour), and transfer to the Novotel. Afternoon city sightseeing including a visit to the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman which overlooks Cusco.

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the railway station where you depart on Peru Rail’s ‘Vistadome’ Train service to Machu Picchu. This service to the ancient ruins at Machu Picchu offers a spectacular journey in the Andes region. The journey begins with a series of switchbacks, out of Cuzco, before a stop at the village of Poroy. The train then descends from the highest point into the Sacred Valley and the foothills of the Andes. Before reaching Machu Picchu, the train travels along the Urubamba River, with awe-inspiring views of the dramatic canyon. The carriages have beautiful panoramic windows offering unsurpassed scenic views and photographic opportunities. With glass surrounding them on all sides, passengers feel as if they are part of Peru's remarkable landscape. Snacks and hot and cold refreshments are included on the 3½ hour journey. On arrival at Aguas Calientes, you will transfer by bus to the Machu Picchu ruins. Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, is one of the most famous examples of Inca architecture and is situated at 2,350 meters above sea level. The ruins are located in a lush jungle and are believed to have been built in the mid-15th century by Inca Pachacutec. Lost in history, the ruins were not discovered until 1911 by the American explorer, Hiram Bingham. You will have a tour of the ruins. Return by train to Cusco where you arrive in the early evening.

Free. An optional tour of the Sacred Valley can be arranged locally.

You will be transferred to the railway station. Depart at 8am for the spectacular ‘Andean Explorer’ rail journey across the altiplano to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The climb out of Cuzco is breathtaking, being dominated by the Andes Mountains which tower over the Huatanay River. Then travelling across the plateau, vicuna and alpaca can usually be seen. Views from the train are now greatly improved due to the recent addition of a glass-walled observation car. The train also has an oxygenisation system aboard. A three-course lunch is served during the journey. During the journey, a scenic stop is made at La Raya. On arrival in Puno at 6pm, you will be met and transferred to the Casa Andina Private Collection.

Cross into Bolivia and visit the shrine of the Dark Virgin at Copacabana. From there travel by hydrofoil on Lake Titicaca via Moon and Sun Island, and onto Huatajata, staying at the Inca Utama Hotel & Spa overlooking the lake (approximate travelling time with stops and lunch 10 hours).

Visits on Lake Titicaca to Parati and Kalauta Islands and a floating island.

Drive to La Paz (journey time 1 ½ hours). Stay at the Europa Hotel. Afternoon city tour.

Morning road journey to Oruro (3 hours) and afternoon train journey to Uyuni (7 hours). On arrival in the late evening, transfer to the Luna Salada Lodge.

Bales has allowed two days to experience the Salar de Uyuni, truly one of the most amazing natural wonders on earth and visible from space. Today you learn how the salt is extracted and processed, and hopefully see a magnificent sunset.

Travel across the salt flats and explore this most unique of natural features including a visit to the isolated Isla Pescado, a cactus strewn island that lies amidst a sea of salt some 60 kilometres from the nearest land. Continue to the remote town of San Pedro de Quemez (journey time around 6 to 8 hours with stops) staying overnight at the Tieyka de Piedra Hotel.

Today’s dawn to dusk journey to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile is arguably the most rewarding, but arduous day, as the 4-wheel drive vehicles negotiate bumpy terrains, at times close to 4,900 metres. The scenery is a visual feast: multi-coloured mountains, cone-shaped volcanoes, bizarre wind-sculpted stone formations, the bubbling fumaroles at Sol de Manana and lagoons large and small, including the colourful Laguna Colorado with its many flamingoes. Leaving the border at Bolivia, you descend some 2,000 metres to San Pedro de Atacama, and the Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa.

We have chosen this hotel in San Pedro so that you can relax after the previous day’s travelling. For this reason, we have not included any sightseeing in the San Pedro area, although optional sightseeing tours can be booked at the hotel.

Enjoy some free time to explore the area at your leisure.

Transfer by hotel transportation to Calama airport (1 hour). Fly to Santiago (2 hours) where you stay at the Hotel Atton El Bosque.

Fly from Santiago on LAN/Iberia codeshare flights via Madrid (13 hours) to London (2 hours 20 minutes).

Arrive at London Heathrow.