Skiing and desert

12 nights from £2,698

Skiing in the Andes might not be the first thing that springs to mind for your Summer holiday. But those in the know head for Chile, where the pistes are normally at their whitest during July and August. This is a holiday with a difference: explore sun-drenched canyons and gaze at star-studded skies in the Atacama desert before a whole week’s skiing on the Andean slopes of the country’s premier ski resort, Valle Nevado.

Suggested Holiday Itinerary

Day 1: Fly from the UK.

Day 2: Arrive in Santiago with rest of the day at leisure. Stay at Hotel Atton El Bosque, located in a smart residential area of the capital.

Days 3-6: Fly north to Calama (2hrs) and continue by road (shared vehicle) to San Pedro de Atacama. Spend four nights at the small adobe Hotel Kimal, a couple of blocks from the main square. Enjoy the varied scenery of the Atacama: lunar landscapes, shimmering salt flats, snow-capped volcanoes and geysers.

Days 7-13: Fly to Santiago and transfer overland to Valle Nevado (1½ hrs), considered the finest ski resort in Chile with modern facilities. It has 25 runs accessed by 8 lifts, and is suitable for intermediate level skiers as well as beginners. Spend a week at the Hotel Puerta del Sol on half board with unlimited ski access.

Day 14: Fly back to Santiago for you connecting flight back to the UK, arriving day 15.