During the Day
The Explora formula is all-inclusive - all food, drink, services and tours included. The tours are fantastic, led by knowledgeable, fluent, local guides who love their job and country. You're not bussed around in huge coaches as the maximum number on each tour is around 8. In such remote locations, you'll feel safe and secure and yet be able to discover a whole raft of experiences you can't find anywhere else in the world.

In Atacama's Hotel Larache, located in the oasis of San Pedro, you can hike, cycle, ride horses, or take minibuses around spectacular sandy plains and geological rock formations and up towering (6,000m) volcanoes. The Atacama is officially the driest desert in the world, but you'll see (so we're told by luckier travellers) how alive the place actually is, with animals and birds and plant life.

In Patagonia's Hotel Salto Chico, you're right slap bang in the Torres del Paine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most rightly famous natural parks in the world. It's full of lakes, so you can add boat-travel to the horses, bikes, trekking and van tours on offer. If it's raining (which, in Patagonia, it often does), take the afternoon off and have a massage or sit in an outdoor jacuzzi under the rain.

Into the Night
Romantics and geeks alike will love the Atacama hotel's new observatory, equipped with powerful telescopes and digital camera equipment. Evenings spent staring at the stars (so many shooting stars) in a sky undisturbed by light pollution is one of the most pleasurable evenings you'll have in a hotel anywhere. No hangover in the morning, but you might have a sore neck.

Another of Explora's boasting points is its emphasis on cuisine - both hotel restaurants employ experienced, creative, enthusiastic chefs eager to feed you up before and after (and during) excursions. They often fire up the barbecue, but don't expect the burnt-raw mix of frozen sausages your friends come up with - this is gourmet barbecue territory. Think fresh, local ingredients and meticulous preparation. Local wines from small-time producers and an open bar with a top-quality range of spirits for afters.

The best bit? No television. Bliss.

Stay in the Cubicle
You'll have to stay in your cubicle a little while longer to save up for the rates - the Larache in Atacama charges $1642 per person for a double room for three nights, and the cheapest room in Salto Chico in Patagonia is $2170 per person for a double room for four nights. Remember they're all-inclusive, including all food, drink, transfers and tours, so once you've paid that lump sum, you don't have to worry about spending extra money.

If you're itching to go and your pockets don't dig that deep, then check out the more down-to-earth but superb Patagonia Hotel Guide by our pet native in the area, Matt Chesterton.

[Photo of Atacama: Havenotdonethatyet]

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