Ushuaia, Capital of Tierra del Fuego, is the southernmost City in the world. From the "end of the world" train (Tierra del Fuego Line) visitors are rewarded with breathtaking views of snow covered mountains, rivers and lakes and a vast natural forest at the Andes ridge...

We flew down to Trelew, just south of the Peninsula Valdes, and then onto USHUAIA, the provincial capital of the island of Tiero del Fuego, separated from the mainland by the Magellen Straits and the Beagle Channel. One is made to think of it as the end of the world, but it is very much the beginning of all that is beyond. Told by many it was going to be cold and desolate. I could find little about the place in advance from the tourist board, and four lines in a tourist book do not really prepare you. The airport was bigger than imagined and I fell instantly for the place. On the mountain were lights and some hotels that have been built in prime locations. 7 kms from Ushuia is the Cumbres del Martial, which is a wonderful little boutique establishment. The rooms were well put together, spacious and warm, almost too warm, even if placed just below the Martial Glacier itself - the glacier is only 6 km from the centre of town. Each room has a private balcony overlooking the city of Ushuaia and the Beagle Bay. There is a cosy restaurant, La Cabana, which in the daytime doubles as a teahouse for the people using the ski lifts to the mountain. There are six double rooms, and four deluxe bungalows (which can accommodate four) with assistance on ski hire, excursions and transfers. They are soon to have a sauna and can offer set menu meals, and will even give you free use of sledges from reception in season. www.newage-hotels.com

Flying again, this time from Ushuaia to El Calafate, which is in the middle of a winter barren landscape. It is the glaciers that attract visitors here.

I stayed in the Hotel Posada Los Alamos, which is probably the only 4* hotel in town and certainly an acceptable level of accommodation. There are plenty of restaurants to try - the best is only a stroll from the main street, and booking advised. Plenty of operators offer the various trips from horse back riding to the essential visit to the glacier, together with shops, just a short stroll to the main street to pick up the essential souvenirs. Worth a two-night stay. All the other accommodation I saw seemed good value for less approx. $13 (£3) pppn!

I took an organised excursion to Perito Moreno Glacier, 80 kms/90 minute drive from Calefate. You have to pay the $20/£4 entrance fee to the park, plus $20/£4 if you decide to take the boat trip, which is an essential part of the experience. After the initial visit to the shop/restaurant/area, you then take the boat trip from the neighbouring pier to the face of the glacier. The boat trip lasts one hour, and weaves its way amongst the small icebergs that have fallen from the glacier's face, and from which even a gifted amateur will return with some stunning pictures. This was a glorious sunshine day, and one has to remember that this wonderful feature of geography is a result of an annual precipitation of 5 metres, usually falling as snow, to give us a feature not normally found at such low altitudes or latitude. When you appreciate that with this snout moving at 2 metres per day, and as such the fastest moving in the world, the likelihood of hearing a crack of the ice and watching huge chunks of ice falling from the glacier face into the Lake are regular occurrences. Truly awesome!

Andrew ends his epic journey with a short visit to Chile