Discover the best of South America on this spectacular tour

After meeting at London Heathrow, we fly to Rio de Janeiro for three nights. This coastal city bursts with intoxicating samba rhythms, gorgeous beaches, and care-free culture.

Our explorations start with an excursion to the top of Rio's most recognisable landmark, Corcovado Mountain, where the astonishing statue of Christ the Redeemer is perched. Looking out over the city, this colossal Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ paints an enduring image of Brazil. We ascend via the Corcovado Rack and Pinion Mountain Railway, which takes us two and a half miles to a viewing platform, situated 7,641 feet above Rio. On a clear day, the views across the city and the Atlantic Ocean are sensational.

Each February, Rio is gripped by carnival fever as one of the world's biggest festivals erupts into the party of a lifetime. And this evening, we have tickets to the winner's parade, enjoying grandstand seats in the Sambadrome - a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We delve into the heart of Rio today on a guided tour of downtown, the developmental and financial hub of the city. Here, we're introduced to historic landmarks and places of cultural interest before a holiday highlight - a journey by cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain. A distinctive peak which soars almost 1,300 feet into the air, this natural wonder is said to resemble a concentrated refined loaf of sugar and, from our spectacular vantage point, we enjoy breathtaking panoramic views across the harbour area and Guanabara Bay. Later, we head to Fogo de Chao's to enjoy a delicious Churriscera barbecue dinner.

We take an internal flight to Iguazu Falls this morning, which lies on the border between Brazil and Argentina. We spend two nights here on the Argentine side. Part of the border between Brazil and Argentina, the thundering Iguazu Falls are a sight to behold. One of the most extensive waterfall systems in the world, this magnificent feat of nature is found at the heart of the Atlantic rainforest and we take a guided tour of both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides of the falls, walking the trails with a nature expert who's ready to point out the fascinating wildlife and flora that call this wild destination home.

We take in a much larger portion of the rapids today, exploring San Martin Island. Here we admire fantastic views of several waterfalls before travelling by ecological jungle train, a gas-propelled railway, to the massive torrent of water known as Devil's Throat. The tallest of the 275 falls here, this is a spectacular U-shaped cascade once poetically described as 'an ocean plunging into an abyss'. We also wander along elevated wooden walkways which snake through this national park and offer sublime views over the different offshoots of the falls and their bubbling pools of water below.

Today we fly to Buenos Aires, where there's time at leisure for you to explore this stylish city. This evening, we enjoy an exclusive Argentinian wine pairing with dinner at La Cava, led by a professional sommelier who tells us the story, flavours, and best pairings for each wine we try.

This morning we take a guided tour that highlights the best of Beunos Aires. We see Casa Rosada, the imposing Metropolitan Cathedral with its spectacular dome, and the mausoleum of General San Martin. Travelling to La Recoleta, an affluent area known for its Parisian-style townhouses, we visit the grave of Eva Duarte, known to the world as Eva Perón or Evita. Your afternoon is at leisure until dinner this evening which is followed by a fantastic Tango show.

A morning flight takes us to Bariloche in the Andes for a two-night stay. On arrival, a scenic excursion showcases the region around the Patagonian mountain range. We admire views over the Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi, one of the jewels of Patagonia with spectacular lakes formed by centuries-old glaciers. A chairlift transports us to the summit of Cerro Campanioro where we have time to grab a bite to eat and marvel at the scenery of Patagonia's lake district.

We enjoy a scenic drive with our guide along Route 40 to El Bolson, at the foot of Piltriquitron Mountain. We continue to El Maitin for lunch, followed by a journey on La Trochita, a train whose name translates to 'the little gauge'. This train was made famous by Paul Theroux's 1978 book 'The Old Patagonian Express', and is still known by that nickname today. The steam-hauled locomotive is now something of a living museum, having retained much of its original character, and we enjoy a nostalgic journey winding through the high plains of the Patagonian tundra.

We fly to El Calafate, a chic city situated on the shores of Lake Argentino. Known as the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, the city is surrounded by the stunning scenery of the park with outstanding views of dramatic mountains, glistening lakes, ancient glaciers, and unique local flora impressing at every turn.

Discovering more of the area's dramatic scenery, we enjoy a guided tour of the incredible Perito Moreno Glacier, a vast and beautiful ice formation covering 97 square miles. One of the largest freshwater glaciers in the world, the Perito Moreno forms an ice dam at the southern arm of Lake Argentino causing an unusual separation of water at Brazo Rico. Next, we join a nautical boat safari at Bajo Las Sombras Bay, which takes us across the icy waters close to the strikingly blue glacier for an up close and personal experience with nature.

After a relaxed morning, we transfer to the airport for our internal flight to the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. On arrival, we drive to our hotel, enjoying an orientation tour along the way. This afternoon, we sail across the Beagle Channel - a strait within the Tierra del Fuego archipelago - with a local guide who will help us spot some of the unique wildlife, including sea lions, penguins, and dolphins.

We enter Tierra del Fuego National Park following the route of the Lapataia River until we reach Condor Hill. Here, we board the historic Tren Fin del Mundo, or 'End of the World Train'. Travelling through a five-mile stretch of this stunning national park, this steam-hauled train offers incredible views of the dense forest landscapes. We pause en route at the Macarena Station Waterfall to admire the views across the breathtaking Pipo River Valley before continuing through the unforgettable 'tree cemetery', where almost half a century of logging is evident from the endless tree stumps. Our day ends with a flight back to Buenos Aires.

We transfer to the airport to board our overnight flight to London Heathrow.

Landing in London, our holiday comes to an end today.

Please note that while every departure of this tour features the same excursions, they may not necessarily be in the order listed above.

La Trochita, or the 'Old Patagonian Express', runs through Argentina's wild west. This nostalgic line was made famous in Theroux's 1978 book which described it as the railway almost at the end of the world.

The historic Tren Fin del Mundo, or 'End of the World Train', was re-opened after 40 years of disuse, and now serves as a heritage attraction. Travelling through a 4.3 mile (7 kilometre) stretch of the stunning Tierra del Fuego National Park, the steam-hauled train offers incredible views of the dense forest landscape through its large carriage windows. Along the way, the train pauses en-route at the Macarena Station Waterfall, for views across the breathtaking Pipo River Valley, before continuing through the unforgettable 'Tree Cemetery', where the tree stumps serve as a reminder of the wood convicts chopped each day over the prison's 50-year lifespan. On our tour, we enjoy an hour aboard the Tren Fin del Mundo, travelling through magnificent scenery on a truly iconic train.

Our hotel in Bariloche is the 5-Star Llao Llao hotel, situated on the shores of Moreno Lake amidst the beauty of the Cerro Lopez Mountains. The hotel boasts spectacular amenities, including an 18 hole golf course, a gym, and a spa, which offers a variety of massage treatments (payable locally). There is also a restaurant, a coffee shop, a club house, and a bar. All of the rooms offer a stunning view of the surroundings, and comes fully equipped with a minibar, an in room safe, a television, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Our base in Buenos Aries is the 5-Star Sofitel Buenos Aires Recoleta. Located in an affulent neighbourhood, amenities include an elegant restaurant, British-style bar, a tea lounge, indoor pool, fitness centre and sauna. Massage treatments are also available (payable locally). Each room comes with free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen television, and a mini bar.

The superb 4-Star Hotel Alto Calafate offers modern accommodation in the fantastic city of Calafate in Argentina. Set in the unique glacial landscape, this hotel prides itself on levels of comfort and opportunity to relax in sublime surroundings. Amenities include a gym, a sauna, a swimming pool, a restaurant and a bar. Rooms feature a television, a hairdryer and a safety box.

Inspired by the incredible nature that surrounds it, the Loi Suites Iguazú is a delight to stay at and is only a short distance from the magnificent Iguazú waterfalls. Built to fit in with the natural beauty of this part of the world, the Loi Suites are also equipped with modern amenities to make your stay more enjoyable. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a gym and a restaurant and bar. Rooms include a minibar, a television and complimentary WiFi.

Enjoying a superb location overlooking Copacabana Beach, the 5-Star Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Hotel is also ideally situated for exploring the attractions of Rio de Janeiro. Leisure facilities include two indoor swimming pools, including one on the 39th floor, and a choice of restaurants. The spacious rooms are equipped with typical amenities found in a hotel of this standard.

The 5-Star Los Cauquenes Resort and Spa in Ushuaia is set in a wooden lodge along the Beagle Channel. This luxury establishment boasts a restaurant with a view, a wine bar with a fireplace, a terrace area, and a spa with a sauna, gym, and an indoor and outdoor pool.

We appreciate that many of our customers travel from a variety of places in the UK to St Pancras International in London to join our tours. Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions.

At Rail Discoveries we can book special fares issued in conjunction with your tour. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

As our tours generally commence at St Pancras International during the morning of the first day (or at Heathrow Airport for holidays beginning with a flight), it is often more convenient to make your way to London the previous day, so you are fresh and rested before joining your tour.

Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home. Alternatively, you may simply wish to enjoy London's many attractions, activities and entertainment options... the theatres, the museums, the parks and the shops are all waiting to be explored!

Whatever your reasons, why not take a little time before or after your Rail Discoveries tour to see what the UK's capital city has to offer? We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or at Heathrow Airport for the night before or after your holiday. Please ask for prices and details.