From the capital, travel north on a reclining bed-bus to the desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama (22½ hours, ). Nearby Valle de la Luna is accessible by bike but you will need to join a tour (arranged in town) to journey to the smoking and burping land of the El Tatio geysers or the flamingo-crested lakes of the salt flats. The night sky right here is spectacular and French astronomer Alain Maury provides star-gazing tours (£28, ). Hostal Rural is a sociable base for Atacama explorations (dorm beds from £15).

The island is tiny and quiet, but nevertheless manages to hide some very good beaches and worthwhile walks. To get to some of the a lot more isolated beaches, such as Malta, it is worth trying to hire a kaiki, or Greek fishing boat. As with all factors, the Lucas household ought to be able to help.

Of the far more well-liked islands, Milos is perhaps the least affected by tourism. Its oddly shaped rock formations and white sandy beaches are reminders of the island's volcanic past, as is its continuing reliance on mining. Never let this place you off: it is properly worth the check out, and this converted windmill, just above exactly where the popular Venus de Milo was unearthed, makes a great base.

Nearby clubbing aficionados continually bemoan the regulations that restrict Barcelona's after-hours scene. Most post-club parties now take the kind of small clandestine events, hard to uncover when you happen to be a small worse for put on at 6am. Row 14 gives a welcome option. Positioned outside the city, Row 14 unleashes its soundsystem to its complete prospective, starting at six.30am. With a huge indoor space and a retractable roof, two terraces and a separate bar, this is Barcelona's answer to an Ibiza superclub. El Row on Sunday mornings is the party to attend, with a consistent array of techno deities: recent highlights incorporated Richie Hawtin and Marco Carola A cost-free bus service runs to and from Plaça Catalunya.

But instead, we head to yet another Lisbon institution, Lux Branko checks the time: Yes, 4am - about the time folks from Lisbon get to a club." The 3-storey superclub manages to retain the outside vibe Lisbonites crave, boasting a enormous roof terrace with views more than the Tagus. The interior - which is frequently changed - is decked out with huge-screen visuals, giant hanging globes and huge armchairs for clubbers to slump (or sleep) in. In the basement area, techno throbs from the sound system and strip lighting, hanging chaotically from the ceiling, flashes in synchronised patterns.

If you strategy to keep at the beach itself, Hostal Mar Y Sal (+34 971 396584, , doubles from €60) has clean, basic rooms, a decent restaurant and a vibey late-night bar terrace just 20 methods from the sand. Away from the beaches, Chora itself is a fairly unspoilt version of a Cycladic settlement and effectively worth exploring. From right here different hiking trails can be followed across the small island.

Once Cha Cha closes at 6am, the diehard head towards Gotica (82-40 Carrera 14, Zona Rosa). It really is a two-room club with regional DJs playing a lot more mainstream house and techno, with soul, funk and disco in the mirror-lined upstairs bar till around 9am.

If beaches are not your bag, head inland for some exploration and adventure. For hot-air balloon views, minus the cost, head to the whitewashed village of Sant Josep de sa Talaia. Following the painted arrows just behind Bar Bernat Vinya, weave your way up out of the village and towards the top of Ibiza's highest hill, Sa Talaia. The walk is strenuous and hot - take a hat and water - but the views from the best are out of this globe, and on a clear day you can see both Mallorca and the mainland. Head down the other side and stroll back to the village (about three hours in total), stopping at Pizzeria Es Verge (+34 971 800041) on the way house for large, inexpensive pizzas and icy draught lager. Bliss.

If all this is also very good to leave, stay in vibey Es Pujols at the spotless Hostal Voramar (+34 971 328119, ). The inclusive buffet breakfast is a wonderful way to stock up just before the subsequent beach day. Alternatively, if you'd favor to stay on the sand, Las Dunas Playa (+34 971 328041, ) delivers beach bungalows, a pool bar and the least expensive shoreside pina colada I've identified.

For a hearty regional supper, head to nearby Comidas San Juan (Carrer Montgri 8, +34 971 311603), Bon Profit (Plaça des Parc 5, +34 971 313866) or Los Pasajeros (Calle Vicente Soler 6, +34 653 350961 - try to nab the romantic balcony table-for-two). These all provide excellent property-cooked meals (grilled meats, tapas, pasta) at rock-bottom rates.

Ask most people to believe of the Greek islands and the image that springs to thoughts possibly derives from the Cyclades (pronounced Kyklades in Greek, which does not have a soft c" sound). Most evocative of these photographs is of white-washed, cuboid homes on a hillside above an azure bay. The houses themselves are dashed with splashes of bright blue, probably mixed in with the odd windmill or domed church. This image becomes reality in many locations on this rough circle of islands, which provide the best venue for Try this island hopping Here's more on try this stop by the site. .