17-day holiday in Patagonia

Patagonia, in the southernmost part of the Americas, is a wild and not much visited land, famous for its wonderful nature and great scenic beauty.

Our tour will provide a range of experiences for you but we would not recommend it to anyone who does not have a keen interest in wildlife and fantastic scenery. In many of the places we go, there is little in the way of shopping or cultural activities.

We start our tour in Buenos Aires where the climate may be warm, so pack some summer clothes. But remember when we get to Patagonia and the south it will be near freezing. You should have warm underwear with you. If you feel the cold, a waterproof anorak and a warm jacket are advisable. Lightweight walking boots are also a good choice. But ... beware of the strong sun - take suncream with you.

During our October tour, two extra days will be added (making a 19-day holiday) in order to visit Peninsula Valdes. At this time of year there is a huge variety of wildlife to be seen there - seabirds, penguins and sea-elephants. Special viewing platforms have been made from which you can stand and watch these curious animals. And if we're lucky, whales, the most magnificent sea animals of all, may be seen just off the coast.

We go on to Ushuaia, the southernmost town in the world, and part of the Land of Fire (Tierra del Fuego). Stand on the coast and look out across the ocean - apart from a few small islands, there is nothing between you and the bottom of the world!

Our next stop is Calafate, in the foothills of the Andes. From there we visit Lake Argentino, a huge lake, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The Perito Moreno Glacier, which we also visit, is a river of ice that changes colours under the rays of the sun. Watch as large bits of the ice fall from a height of 100m into the waters of the lake.

The next part of our journey takes us from Argentina into Chile where we will spend some time in Torres del Paine National Park. The park is home to guanacos, the flightless rhea bird, flamingos and the bird that symbolises the Andean region more than any other - the condor. But you can do more than just watch -why not go horse riding or trekking in the park?

The cost of the 17-day tour is £3,650 which includes all transport, accommodation and meals. For the 19-day tour in October, add a further £200.

Julie MacAndrew

I've always been fascinated by history, so being an archaeologist I'm able to dig into the past and explore all the things I'm interested in, and get paid for it. I also love the fresh air which is great because even though there is some office work, most of the time I'm outside.
My interest started when I was about eight. There was something on TV about a farmer finding some gold coins in his field, and I thought that was magic. When I was at school I was hopeless at things like languages but good at subjects like science and history. I'm lucky because at that time some parts of an ancient Roman bathhouse were discovered near my town, and during my school holidays I went along to watch and help. So when I left school, university didn't attract me -1 wanted to work immediately. The man in charge offered me a job - for not much money but I learnt a lot from him. Not just practical things but also how to get the best out of the people you're working with. That's been a great help to me.
Now, I specialise in what's called Rescue Archaeology - if a company is going to build on some land, we get there first and make a record of what's in the ground before it disappears. I have the same group of people working with me on every job - we get on very well together and have some good laughs. We're friends outside work too - some of us are members of a women's football team. But often, if I've been outside in the cold and wet all day, all I want to do is stay at home and plan my next day. When I go to bed I sleep very well!

Maria Silvers: businesswoman of the year

Maria was born in (14) but left when she was 11 years old.
The subject she preferred at university was (15).
Her first job was as a (16).
In 1995, Maria and her (17) opened their first coffee bar.
The number of coffee bars that she has opened so far is (18).
Her business is now worth £ (19).