Day 1 – Departure from London on a day flight. Evening arrival in Quito, transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 – Morning spent discovering Quito's old town, where many of the buildings are unchanged from colonial times. Lunch at one of the city’s fine traditional restaurants, followed by an afternoon departure to Otavalo. Home for the next three nights will be a charming ranch-style hotel, Hacienda Pinsaqui. (B, D)

Day 3 – Weaving is the main activity in Otavalo and it has been since the Spanish colonised the small Indian communities five centuries ago. As Ecuador lacks the mineral wealth of Peru or Bolivia, the Spanish concentrated on Ecuador's human resources and their ability to work with textiles. Today's visits will focus on the communities of Peguche, Agato and Illuman, and the leather goods centre at the small town of Cotacachi. (B, D)

Day 4 – Further north and beyond Otavalo, the Chota Valley is a paradise of warm weather and beautiful scenery that is predominantly inhabited by a black population of which the elders still tell tales of their ancestors who fought against slavery on the plantations of Colombia. Climbing steeply from Chota, to the Province of Carchi and one of its best kept secrets - the Paramo de El Angel, and its many frailejones, a rare velvet-leaved trees that give the appearance of a human being standing in the fields. (B, D)

Day 5 – Depart Otavalo, southbound, to Cotopaxi National Park. Cotopaxi is Ecuador's second highest peak and one of the world's highest active volcanoes with a perfect snow-capped cone. Two choices of accommodation are offered; the Hacienda San Agustin de Callo, one of the oldest haciendas in the Andes, built on Inca ruins. The alternative is the Hacienda La Cienega, converted into a country inn some decades ago, and scene of many historical events.
(B, D)

Day 6 – Continuing south through the so-called ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’, and visit an Indian market at either Latacunga on Tuesdays or Saquisili on Thursdays. The tour continues to Banos, with its gentle and subtropical climate, waterfalls and orchids. After a brief tour, continue to Riobamba, at the foot of Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak. Overnight at Hosteria Abraspungo. (B, D)

Day 7 – After an early breakfast transfer to Riobamba to board the ‘Chiva Express’ for a spectacular ride across the high plateau of the Andes which reaches a thrilling climax as the train winds its way down to the Devil’s Nose along a narrow ridge between the mountains, returning to Alausi. Continue by coach to the largest and most impressive Inca ruins in Ecuador at Ingapirca ("Inca Stone Wall") that were built in the 15th century on the Royal Highway that ran from Quito to Cusco. Continue to Cuenca for overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 8 – A day to discover the beauty and charm of Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered to be Ecuador's most beautiful city. Cuenca means ‘river basin’ and the city is crossed by four rivers. The oldest part of the city has retained its colonial architecture and is a major handicraft centre, producing ceramics, Panama hats, baskets, gold and silver jewellery, shawls, ponchos and blankets. (B, L)

Day 9 – Drive through the Santa Ana Valley and high into the mountain landscape. Stops are made at small towns that produce a variety of handicrafts: San Bartolome for guitars; Chordeleg for gold and silver jewellery and Ikat for hand woven material.    Visit lovely gardens with over two thousand five hundred species of orchid. Lunch and then follow the road along the banks of the Santa Barbara River, lined with weeping willows, past the village of Gualaceo. Return to Cuenca for the flight back to Quito. (B, L)

Day 10 – Morning tour to the Equatorial Line and monument. Afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 11 – Transfer to the airport for the return flight home. (B)

Day 12 – Arrive in the UK.