Classic South America and the Rio Carnival

We meet our Tour Manager and travelling group at London Heathrow before joining our overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro, arriving at the most popular time of the year - carnival time!

After touching down in Rio, we are transferred to our 5-star hotel overlooking Copacabana beach, our fabulous base for the next three nights. This coastal city has a buzzing but relaxed pace, and sways with intoxicating samba rhythms, gorgeous beaches, and a carefree culture.

The rest of today is free to familiarise yourselves with this exciting location and to soak up the carnival atmosphere that builds to a frenzy at this time of the year. From our hotel there is a walkway along the Copacabana beach, where there are many restaurants to choose from for lunch and dinner this evening.

Today's explorations start after breakfast with a guided tour of downtown, the developmental and financial hub of the city. Here, we're introduced to historic landmarks and places of cultural interest before one of the many highlights of our holiday - a journey by gondola lift up Sugarloaf Mountain. This distinctive landmark soars almost 1,300 feet into the air, a natural wonder, named for its resemblance to a loaf of refined sugar. From our spectacular vantage point, we enjoy breathtaking panoramic views across the harbour area and Guanabara Bay. After a break to enjoy lunch independently, our tour continues into the mid-afternoon.

There's time to relax and maybe enjoy the wonderful hotel facilities, which include a rooftop pool and spa, before our special evening ahead. We depart our hotel for dinner at a local restaurant before we're taken right to the beating heart of Rio's carnival celebrations. This evening, we have tickets to the Carnival Winner's Parade, and we take our seats in the grandstand of the Sambadrome - a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

At the end of this unforgettable evening and a kaleidoscope of colourful performances, we are transferred back to our hotel.

Your morning is free in Rio de Janeiro, and you could continue discovering this enticing city further. You might like to walk south beside Copacabana Beach to the tip of the peninsula where the historical Copacabana Fort stands; beyond which is the famous Ipanema beach. Along the route are restaurants, bars and beach cafés.

This afternoon we board the Corcovado Rack and Pinion Mountain Railway to ascend Corcovado Mountain, travelling upwards for two and a half miles to a viewing platform where the astonishing statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooks the city. Looking out over the city, this colossal Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ paints an enduring image of Brazil. On a clear day, the views across the sprawling city and the turquoise waters of the South Atlantic Ocean are breathtaking. The statue itself is equally remarkable, standing at 98 feet tall with an arm span of 92 feet.

On our way back to the city we visit some of Rio's wonderful beaches, then there are a couple of hours at leisure before dinner with our group this evening.

After a relaxed morning, we transfer to the airport for an internal flight to Iguazú Falls, which lies on the border between Brazil and Argentina. On arrival, we are met and transferred to our luxurious 5-Star hotel for the next two nights.

Our superb hotel is set among lush subtropical forest, with a spa, two swimming pools, including an adult-only infinity pool with wonderful views of the Iguazú River. There is time to make most of our idyllic accommodation before dinner is served in the hotel's restaurant this evening. The Naipi restaurant offers local gourmet cuisine and views across the forest.

The thundering Iguazú Falls form part of the border between Brazil and Argentina and are a sight to behold. One of the world's most extensive waterfall systems, this spectacular natural wonder is found at the heart of the Atlantic rainforest. This morning, we tour the Brazilian side of this epic waterfall system, and its main source, the powerful Iguazú River. Our route follows paths to cascades and catwalks which lead to fantastic panoramic views of the falls.

We return to our hotel where the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy our lovely surroundings and the hotel's luxurious facilities. This evening, we sit down to a three-course dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Today, after breakfast at our hotel, we are transferred by coach to the Argentine side of the falls for another spectacular tour. Setting out along elevated wooden walkways with our local guide, we experience sublime views over the falls and their bubbling pools of water below. We take the gas-propelled train to the Upper Falls circuit where we can walk above the amazing torrent known as the Devil's Throat, a spectacular U-shaped cascade once poetically described as 'an ocean plunging into an abyss'.

After our tour we take an internal flight to Buenos Aires where we are transferred to dinner at a local steakhouse restaurant. Later we are taken to our central hotel where we check in for two nights.

This morning, after a buffet breakfast, we take a guided tour that highlights the best of Buenos Aires. We are shown the elegant suburb of La Recoleta, known for its opulent Parisian-style townhouses and historic streets which create an ambience of the 1930s. Our tour continues to the Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada, the presidential palace. We visit the cosmopolitan district of Puerto Madero, on the Río de la Plata riverbank, and San Telmo - the city's oldest neighbourhood, characterised by cobbled streets and antique shops. We also see the imposing Metropolitan Cathedral with its spectacular dome.

With a free afternoon you could explore some of the sights further, or visit one of the city's museums or galleries. You could soak up the atmosphere in the historic streets around our hotel, or wander through the colourful neighbourhood of La Boca, first populated by Spanish and Italian immigrants in the mid-19th century. Here, the Caminito Street Museum is a vibrant pedestrian-friendly area, an open-air museum and art market since 1959.

Tonight is one of the highlights of our holiday - the evening starts with a tango lesson, a fabulous partner dance that originates from Buenos Aires. We then enjoy dinner with our group followed by an authentic and impassioned Argentine Tango show with professional performers.

After an early breakfast and airport transfer we fly to the alpine paradise of Bariloche, for a two-night stay. On arrival, we check into our hotel, in the foothills of the Andes, set beside a stunning glacial lake and surrounded by Swiss-inspired architecture. This afternoon, we're taken on a 4-hour scenic excursion of the region. We drive along the shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi to Playa Bonita, where we have great views of Huemul Island. At Campanario Hill we take a chairlift to the summit, where we can appreciate beautiful views over the Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, one of the jewels of Patagonia with spectacular lakes formed by centuries-old glaciers. Among other scenic landmarks, we see Lakes Nahuel Huapi and Perito Moreno, San Pedro Peninsula, Victoria Island, and the Catedral hills.

We continue to downtown Bariloche, which has a European ambience, with small shops selling souvenirs and chocolate. We see the San Eduardo Chapel, and Pañuelo Port, on Lake Nahuel Huapi. We cross the bridge over Lake Moreno then skirt lakes El Trébol and Nahuel Huapi before our tour ends. There's time to relax and enjoy the views before a three-course dinner at our hotel.

This morning we set out on a scenic drive with our local guide, travelling along Route 40 to El Bolson, at the foot of Piltriquitron Mountain. We continue to El Maitin where we have lunch together at a local restaurant.

After lunch, we enjoy one of the many highlights of our South American holiday - a journey on La Trochita, the narrow-gauge train made famous by Paul Theroux's 1978 book 'The Old Patagonian Express', which is still known by that nickname today. The steam-hauled locomotive retains much of its original character, and we enjoy a nostalgic journey through the high plains of Patagonia. Our journey from El Maitin takes us through a captivating landscape of pristine lakes, snow-capped Andes and glorious green forests, and ends in Esquel*.

We are then transferred back to our hotel with a free evening ahead to explore and dine independently. With its European heritage and South American culture, Bariloche offers a fantastic choice of places to eat, from traditional Argentine steakhouses and Latin American cafés, to upmarket French restaurants.

*Please note, the rail itinerary is subject to change according to the train operation details that day.

This morning, we say goodbye to the picturesque Patagonian mountains and fly to El Calafate, a small town on the shores of Lake Argentino, the largest body of fresh water in Argentina. Known as the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park and the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, El Calafate is located where Argentina's Santa Cruz plateau meets the Andes. The town is surrounded by dramatic mountains, glistening lakes, ancient glaciers, and unique local flora.

On arrival, we are transferred to our hotel, in Alto Calafate, overlooking the lake with panoramic views and excellent facilities where we spend the next two nights. With the rest of the day at leisure, you may choose to relax and enjoy our surroundings, or possibly use the shuttle service to explore the centre of El Calafate, ten minutes' drive away. Dinner is served at our hotel this evening.

Discovering more of Patagonia's dramatic scenery, this morning we take a guided tour of the breathtaking Perito Moreno Glacier, a vast and beautiful block of blue ice, which rises majestically, 80 kilometres away from El Calafate. One of the largest and the only advancing glacier in the world, this is the biggest attraction of Los Glaciares National Park, a protected area.

Travelling by coach with a local guide, we start by entering the Patagonian Andean forest, stopping at the 'Curva de los Suspiros', or Curve of Sighs, where we enjoy a first view of this astonishing natural wonder. We walk down to approach the Glacier, hearing blocks of ice crack and loosen to becoming beautiful ice floes in the deep waters of Lake Argentino. We then take a nautical boat safari from Bajo de las Sombra Bay port, across the icy waters to the southern side of this striking blue glacier, to the tip of Los Témpanos canal where we reach a viewpoint, 300 metres from this outstanding natural wonder. We are transferred back to our hotel and enjoy dinner there with our group this evening.

Following a free morning to make the most of our surroundings, we say goodbye to scenic Alto Calafate this afternoon, as we transfer to the airport for our internal flight to the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia.

On arrival, we are transferred by coach to our 5-Star hotel, in a scenic location overlooking the sea, with spa facilities including a sauna, hammam and Turkish baths, as well as an indoor pool. There is time at leisure to enjoy the excellent facilities, soak up the views, before dinner in the hotel restaurant which serves à la carte international dishes.

This morning is an excursion to the Tierra del Fuego National Park, including a trip on the heritage 'End of the World' train on Argentina's Southern Fuegian Railway, the most southerly railway in the world. The park has a variety of flora and fauna, including Andean foxes, beavers, rabbits, and dozens of bird species. We visit Ensenada, Acigami Lake, and Lapataia Bay. At Lake Roca, we take a short walk to see Condor Hill, beaver dams, and the bay itself, close to the Chilean border. We then board the historic 'End of the World Train' which was once used to transport prisoners. From panoramic carriages we take a 7 kilometre voyage into the beautiful Pipo River Valley of the Tierra del Fuego National Park.

After some free time, we sail across the Beagle Channel - a strait within the stunning Tierra del Fuego archipelago - with a local guide who helps us spot wildlife, including sea lions, penguins, and dolphins. We are also shown a small cormorant colony near the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, and we cross the channel towards Sea Lion Island where we can observe these fascinating creatures.

Day 15 begins with a morning at leisure in the world's southernmost city, before we are taken to the Ushuaia airport for an early evening flight back to Buenos Aires. On arrival, we are transferred to our hotel in the city by coach.

This morning we bid farewell to the colourful streets and vibrant ambience of Buenos Aires, as we are transferred to the airport for our flight back to London Heathrow. We arrive into London on the morning of Day 17.