Chilean adventure: deserts to glaciers

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.

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.

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.