Ballooning in Bhutan Visitors to Bhutan can now view the country's spectacular scenery from a whole new angle - in a hot-air balloon. The sunrise flights over the Gangte Valley, which are operated by licensed pilots from Britain, will send you drifting across this enchanting kingdom's high mountain pastures and traditional dzongs (forts), against the dramatic backdrop of distant Himalayan peaks. For more information visit www.balloonsoverbhutan.com . Take to the road For those inspired to create their own Latin American road trip in the vein of The Motorcycle Diaries, Rio-based luxury travel company Dehouche is offering a series of self-drive routes, including a five-day journey down the coast of Uruguay in a vintage sedan. The drive takes you along spectacular Atlantic beaches, through rural villages such as Jose Ignacio and La Pedera (where hip hotels and restaurants have already been pre-selected), before ending up in chic Punta del Este in the south. Call 55 2125 1238 95, or visit www.dehouche.com . Cold comfort The latest hotel to catch the attention of adventure-seeking globetrotters is the brand-new Indigo Patagonia in Chile's Puerto Natales, just south of Torres del Paine National Park. Designed by Santiago-based architect Sebastian Irarrazaval, the 29-room hotel is an imposing, stark structure made from steel, concrete and wood with trendy, Nordic-style interiors and stunning views of the region's dramatic landscape of glaciers and granite peaks. From US$155 a night. For more information visit www.indigopatagonia.com . Blaze a trail In 2003, a group of international kayakers led by Brett and Omar Melzer conducted the first-ever white-water descents on the headwaters of the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar. Since then, the couple have spent five painstaking years realising their vision of a luxurious adventure lodge in Northern Kachin, one of the most remote regions in upper Myanmar. Perched high above the Nam Lang River, with glorious views of snow-capped mountains and rice terraces, Malikha Lodge has been designed by the renowned architect Jean-Michel Gathy - of Amanresorts fame. Although the traditional-style bungalows come with blazing log fires and handcrafted teak baths, a stay at the lodge is very much an active affair. Activities range from tailor-made jungle treks and mountain biking to river diving and raft trips. Multi-day expeditions that combine rafting and trekking can also be organised. From US$1,600 a person for a four-night, all-inclusive stay. For more information visit www.malikhalodge.com .