http://www.walksworldwide.com/ Want to climb a fiery volcano but draw the line at melting your boots? Walk Worldwide's 16-day tour of Ecuador's hot and high places includes the physically demanding climbs of four volcanoes - Mt Imbabura (4,630 metres), North Illiniza (5,100 metres), Cotopaxi (5,897 metres) and Chimborazo (6,310 metres). Tour departs London 6th November 08.

The climb starts in  Quito, the Equatorial Monument and the colourful market at Otavalo and hike around beautiful Lake Cuicocha.

The  first of four ascents is made  by taking the rocky route to the top of Mt. Imbabura.

There is a  drive through the ‘Avenue of Volcanoes', visiting the hot springs of Papallacta on the way, followed by an  ‘easy scramble' up North Illiniza, with great views of snowy Cotopaxi, ending the day in the luxurious surroundings of a restored hacienda.

After a final ‘glacier school', climbers  leave at the crack of dawn to summit Cotopaxi, a 6-10 hour climb on one of the world's highest active volcanoes. An even earlier start (before midnight) is necessary for the ascent of Chimborazo, the largest of the peaks on the tour, climbing through the night to reach the summit - the furthest point from the centre of the earth!