Director Rosemary Sloggett confirmed the 14 October failure on the Surrey-based company’s website, "with the very deepest regret and sorrow".

"As you are all aware, we have been trying to find a way to operate our Patagonia Total Solar Eclipse Tour for December," she explained. 

"It was our hope that Argentina would avoid the devastation of Covid-19 by its very early lockdown. Sadly this has not proved to be correct. The Argentine border remains shut and inbound tourism is not possible. There is no indication that this will change and to complicate matters a mandatory 14 day entry quarantine period is mandatory.

"Against this depressing backdrop, like all companies who seek to operate a tour during a commercially sensitive time – such as an Eclipse, our contracts mandated very early pre-payment of hoteliers etc. These pre payments were made and are non-refundable.

"As a result of this, the company has no option but to cease trading and take the necessary steps to place The Independent Traveller into insolvent creditors voluntary liquidation. 

"Every possible avenue has been explored in order to attempt to avoid this, and it is with great regret and sadness that I write to you."

The company said it was in the process of instructing insolvency practitioners WSM MBI Coakley.

Sloggett said the insolvency practitioners would be contacting customers in due course with further information on the financial position of the company when it has been compiled and the next steps in the process.

"We realise that this is an upsetting time for all our deeply valued customers but you will understand that this has arisen as a result of circumstances beyond our control," she finished. 

The CAA said a specific claim form would be published "shortly".