Paul McLaughlin took these spectacular photos on his trip to Venezuela and Trinidad.

Introduction.

An extraordinary adventure reaching deep territory virtually unknown to the outside world.

Outstanding highlights are Angel Falls and an ascent of the table-mountain of Roraima, inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World.

Paul at the summit of Roraima.

Tour information

Ascent of Mt Roraima
Leaving Caracas, we drive across the Orinoco, via Ciudad Bolivar and El Dorado to Peraitepui, the tiny Indian village from where we start our ascent of Roraima.

We'll ascend the massif's sandstone cliff and discover a 'Lost World' of eroded stone pillars and standing rocks where bromeliads, carnivorous plants and rare orchids abound.

High above the surrounding tropical forest and lush grasslands, Roraima's summit (2810m) affords breathtaking views which stretch into Guyana and Brazil.

Flying into the Indian settlement of Kamarata on the Rio Akanan, our next four days are spent travelling to Canaima by canoe, guided through the rapids by our skilled native boatmen.

Sleeping in hammocks in simple shelters on the river bank at night, we are enveloped by virgin forest and eerie silences broken only by shrieking jungle calls.

Beneath Angel Falls

The glistening waters of Angel Falls knife downwards in a single unbroken cascade, leaping some 975m off the vertical escarpment of Auyan Tepui ('Devil's Mountain', 2400m) - the tallest waterfall in the world.

When water levels allow, we'll make a day-hike to the base of the falls.

Finally, there's time to relax on the Caribbean shores at Chichirivichi de La Costa.

See details of our Lost World trip.