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

Day 2 - Morning at leisure. Afternoon guided tour to Quito's old town where many of the buildings are unchanged from colonial times. (B)

Day 3 - Early departure towards Calderón, a small village that keeps the tradition of making colourful dough figurines. Continue on the Panamerican Highway through dramatic mountain scenery to the textile market of Otavalo, South America’s most famous, with the opportunity to visit stalls full of ponchos, scarves, blankets, wall hangings, handbags and much more. Visit Peguche, an Indian village where weaving is a true cottage industry. Lunch is at one of the charming country inns or haciendas in the area. (B, L)

Day 4 – Start of a fascinating tour along the ‘Avenue of Volcanoes’. Parts of the journey will be on the ‘Chiva Express’, a bus adapted to run on rail tracks. The ‘Chiva Express’ will stop at a hacienda for a snack and then 'ride the roof' up and down the slopes of Cotopaxi volcano, for spectacular views, visiting the fertile valley of Latacunga with its rose and vegetable plantations. Continue by coach to Riobamba, located at the foot of the Chimborazo volcano. Visit a handicraft workshop. Dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 5 – Transfer to board the ‘Chiva Express’ for a spectacular ride across the Andes, reaching a thrilling climax as the train winds down to the Devil’s Nose along a narrow ridge between the mountains. Return to Alausi to continue by coach to the largest and most impressive Inca ruins at Ingapirca. Continue to Cuenca for overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 6 – A day to discover the beauty and charm of Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ecuador's most beautiful city. The old area has retained its colonial architecture and is a major handicraft centre, producing ceramics, Panama hats, baskets, jewellery, shawls, ponchos and blankets.
(B, L, D)

Day 7 – 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 8 - Transfer to the airport for return flight to the UK. (B)

Day 9 - Arrive in the UK

Includes: All international and domestic flights in economy class, including pre-payable departure taxes, 7 nights accommodation with breakfast, meals as stated, guided excursions and transfers on a private basis (except days 3 to 7, when shared). English-speaking guide.

B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner