Spend two weeks taking in South America on a comprehensive tour with Bales Worldwide. The "Coast to Coast" trip starts off with a couple of days spent in Chile's capital, with stops at the Moneda Palace (the seat of the government), the famous pre-Columbian Art Museum and the Plaza de Armas. The next few days will be spent in the valleys of the Pacific coast, the coastal resort of Vina del Mar and the historic port city of Valparaiso, once a thriving city of the Spanish crown.
Next comes a journey by road through the Andes into Argentina for a short visit to the city of Mendoza. The trip also includes visits to Buenos Aires and Iguazu before crossing over to Brazil to spend a few days unwinding in Rio de Janeiro. The trip ends with a day excursion to the spectacular Iguazu Falls and a train-ride to Rio's Corcovado Mountain. The tour costs from £2,985 (Dh16,775) per person, based on two people sharing a double room. The price includes the services of experienced English-speaking guides at each location, private air-conditioned vehicles, all sightseeing and entrance fees, accommodation in luxury hotels with breakfast and taxes (flights not included). Additional optional excursions can be booked locally, such as a visit to the Pampas or to the Tigre Delta, or an evening of tango performances. Visit www.balesworldwide.com for more information.
The Adventure Company has put together an eight-day holiday in Croatia. The action-packed Active Dalmatia tour offers everything from canoeing down the Cetina River and exploring canyons to mountain-biking through the countryside and local villages and camping on the riverbank (and dining on freshly caught trout). The tour also includes an excursion to the historic town of Sinj, famous for its fortress and ancient Franciscan monastery. Prices start from £849 (Dh4,770) per person, including accommodation for seven nights (six nights in hotels and one night at a camp), all transport (minibus, canoe, mountain bike, kayak, raft) and taxes. Flights are not included. Visit www.adventurecompany.co.uk/summer-specials for more information.
Get up close and personal with two of Iceland's newest volcanic craters, as well as a lava field, on a three-day trekking tour with the Iceland Mountain Guides. Located in Fimmvörduháls, the craters have been christened Magni and Módi (after the sons of Thor, the Norse god of thunder). Beginning in Thórsmörk, hikers will pass by the Godahraun lava flow (still hot and steaming) to view the new craters before spending the night in a simple mountain hut between the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mrdalsjökull. The next day the trek will descend into Skógar along the spectacular gorges of the Skógaá River.
The trip costs £445 (Dh2,500) per person and includes a night each in Thorsmork and Fimmvörduháls, an experienced guide for all three days, transportation to and from Reykjavík Airport, all meals, cooking gear and luggage transfers (flights not included). Visit www.mountainguides.is for more information.
Stay seven nights and pay only for five at Sankhara Villas in Mauritius when you book with local tour operator Dnata. The summer promotion rates, per person per night in a private three-bedroom villa, are Dh900 for six guests, Dh1,152 for four guests and Dh1,613 for two guests. The price includes the services of a private butler, a chauffeur, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner and selected beverages. Children under the age of 12 stay for free. The resort also arranges shopping excursions and trips that include deep-sea fishing, dolphin watching, horseback riding and star gazing, as well as access to wildlife and nature parks. The offer is valid until September 30. Visit www.dnata.com for more information and to book.
ciyer@thenational.ae