Crystal Ski has become the first mass market tour operator to offer skiing in South America. Crystal (0870 160 6040) has packages to Chile as part of its summer 2004 programme.

The company will sell week-long trips to the Andean resorts of Portillo and Valle Navado from the beginning of June to the end of September.

A Crystal spokesperson said: 'We wanted to venture out to a new place for summer skiing, and Chile seemed to be the most fantastic choice.'

Valle Navado has the largest skiing area in the south hemisphere. You can be sure of snow there as it has a snow range from 2,500 to 3,600 metres.

Many national ski teams, including the Austrians, practise there. The resort is linked into two other large ski areas, El Colorado and La Parva.

Holidaymakers will be able to combine skiing with a city break in the capital, Santiago, 37 miles away.

Portillo has been a ski resort for more than 55 years. It has 45 kilometres of runs and ideal conditions for beginners and intermediate skiers. The Hotel Portillo overlooks the Inca valley, so skiers will be able to spend time at the old Inca town and lake.

A spokesperson for the Ski Club of Great Britain said: 'Skiers and boarders are becoming more adventurous, and are looking for more off-the-beaten track places year on year, so this is a great opportunity for them to get to places that have previously been complicated and expensive to reach.

'It will be interesting to see if Crystal attracts the volume of UK skiers to drive the price down.'

Prices for seven nights' full board at the four-star Hotel Pres Puntas, Valle Navado, start at £1,087, including flights, transfers, a lift pass and free group skiing lessons.