Trip details

Just south of Santiago, Chile's pretty, sun-kissed Wine Valleys begin, with vineyards of every size and shape, from the high-tech to the traditional - and a handful of fabulous lodges too. Taste your way through them all, enjoying the crisp whites of Casablanca before heading to Maipo, where Chile's signature grape is grown. Along the way, partake in expert wine tastings, learn about the entire process from vine to vino, and enjoy walks, horseback rides and cycles amid the vines.

Valparaíso is one of those cities where you could spend hours wandering. Get lost in the streets lined with colourful Victorian houses, hop from one cerro (hill) to the next via ancient furniculars and wooden staircases, and get to know the history of the town in the museums and architecture of the UNESCO-recognised quarters. In fact, Valparaíso is like an open-air art gallery, where painters and poets have displayed their work in amazing murals. You can even visit Pablo Neruda's home-turned-museum! After sunset, make sure to head to the harbour for a delicious dinner of seafood ceviche overlooking the lights from the tiny, bobbing boats.

Chile's Lake District is as picturesque as they come and the spread of mirror-smooth lakes, swathes of ancient forest, and volcanoes that rise in the distance is utterly magical. Pucon is a hub of activity, whether you're after watersports, hiking, biking, or horseback riding - or a soak in the thermal springs - but there's plenty of that across the district too. For an adrenaline boost, go white water rafting on a glacial river and if you're an avid skiier, the Lake District has fabulous volcanic slopes. In the case of Volcan Villarrica, you could even trek to its bubbling crater and toboggan back down! Not to be missed is a taste of the area's Mapuche history on a boat ride to Chiloe Island, where jewel-bright stilted houses line the shore.

The king of Chilean Patagonia, the sky-scraping peaks of Torres del Paine are almost unbelievable when seen with the naked eye. But true they are, and you'll be able to explore all the hidden corners on epic hikes, cycles, horseback rides and drives in the national park itself. There are plenty of trails to explore with a seasoned guide, and you'll walk across rugged terrain and golden pampas, spotting guanacos, pumas and condors catching the thermal winds. Then, there are the icy lakes and lagoons, perfect for a kayaking adventure, as well as treks across the imposing Grey Glacier itself.

The driest sand desert on Earth, the Atacama is a surreal landscape sandwiched between the Andes and the ocean. Once you're there, exploring is all you'll want to do... Options include scenic drives, hikes, fat biking, sand boarding and and horseback rides, and the sights you'll see? Well, how do geysers erupting in columns of steam, rainbow-coloured mountains and crackling salt flats sound? Amongst this seemingly unsurvivable environment, you can also spot flocks of pink flamingos, llamas and the bunny-like viscacha. When you need to cool off, enjoy a weightless dip in the salty Cejar Lagoon then, after sunset (best enjoyed in the aptly-named Moon Valley), join an astronomer for a journey through the stars.

Built directly opposite the Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, the Holiday Inn has the goods to make your stopover before jetting in or out of Santiago a comfortable one. The interiors are slick and stylish with high ceilings and well-appointed amenities. If you have a little time to spare, Chile's capital city is certainly worth exploring. Take a stroll up the historic Cerro Santa Lucia (with views of the Andes spread out beyond the city), visit the museums and beautiful gardens along the Parque Forestal, or grab a coffee in one of the artsy neighbourhoods.

Santiago is a city surrounded natural beauty and filled with the history of Spanish rule. Begin your wanderings in the Plaza de Armas, branching out to visit Santiago's many museums, ornate churches, and the bustling Mercado Central. The city also has a thriving arts scene to discover and the bohemian neighbourhoods are full of fantastical street theatre performances and quirky galleries. For the best views of the city, ride the cable car to the top of San Cristobal Hill, or climb the historic Cerros Santa Lucia. Then there's the food, which ranges from fabulous fine dining to hole-in-the-wall gems, and the skiing, which, if you time it right, is some of the best in the Southern Hemisphere.

Over 3,700 kilometres off the coast of Chile, Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is a place of ancient culture and enchanting beauty. First up, a visit to Ranu Raraku is a must, the site where most of the iconic moai statues were carved and some of the most famous still stand. Afterwards, delve deeper into the history and learn all about the island's ancestors at the Orongo ceremonial village, and share in a traditional dance show. There are also myriad hiking, biking and horseback riding trails to see the resting places of the moai, as well as some of the most incredible viewpoints where you can even see the curvature of the Earth! And then it's down to the coast for under water cave explorations, snorkelling amongst sunken moai, surf lessons, and watching sunsets from the pink-sand beaches.