Your Journey

Day 1 Cusco

Arrive in Cusco, the archaeological capital of the Americas and home to the ancient Inca empire. A transfer will be provided to your hotel.

Day 2 Cusco

Today discover the highlights of Cusco on a walking tour including the Cathedral, the ruins of Sacsayhauman and the Temple of the Sun.

Day 3 Cusco to Sacred Valley

Leaving Cusco behind you start your journey to Machu Picchu. The hike starts at the fascinating circular ruins of Moray, thought to have built by the Incas as an experimental agricultural centre. Concentric circular terraces allowed them to simulate different facing slopes and different growing temperatures to see which crops would grow where. After exploring Moray you take a mainly downhill trail through the fields. Along the way enjoy views across to the snow capped Viilcanota Mountains. At the salt pans of Maras. watch local families extract the salt by hand, much as they have done for centuries. Reach the Sacred Valley, where once llamas, then horses carried out the salt to be sent across the empire.
Overnight in the Sacred Valley.

Day 4 Ollantaytambo & The Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu

Visit the old Inca town of Ollantaytambo for a look around the extensive hill-top ruins. Drive to the trailhead at Piscacucho (km 82) to meet the porters and cooks who will support your journey to Machu Picchu. With the crowds now long gone, you hike an undulating trail above the Urubamba River to camp beside the spectacular ruins of Llactapata (2,788m / 9,146ft).

Day 5 Inca Trail Trek To Machu Picchu - Llactapata to Llulluchapampa

Climb gently up the Cusichaca Valley to the small hamlet of Huayllabamba. This is the last inhabited place on the trail.
A little steeper now, you head up the beautiful Inca path, past hummingbirds and stunted cloud forest to your camp at Llulluchapampa (3,680m / 12,073ft).

Day 6 Inca Trail Trek To Machu Picchu - Llulluchapampa to Phuyupatamarca

Today is the most challenging day but also the most exhilarating.
Climb to Dead Woman’s Pass (4,212m / 13,819ft), the high point of the trail before dropping into the Pacasmayo valley. Climbing once more you pass the Inca control post of Runkuracay to the second pass of the day (3,998m/13,117ft). On a clear day there are spectacular views towards Pumahuanca Mountain in the Vilcabamba range.
Continue on well preserved Inca trail to Sayacmarca, then on to your stunning campsite for the night, Phuyupatamarca, or ‘the place above the clouds’ (3,650m / 11,975ft).

Day 7 Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

This is the day you finally reach Machu Picchu. As you step out of your tent the views are stunning. Perhaps you will see the sun rising over the snow-capped mountains of Salkantay (6,200m/20,341ft) and Veronica (5,800m / 19,029ft). Or perhaps you will have a cloud inversion, with the clouds filling the valleys beneath your feet. Descend through the cloud forest on beautiful Inca stairways, to Wiñay Wayna. Finally you contour the hillside to arrive at Inti Punku, the gateway of the Sun. As you step through the old stone gate-way, Machu Picchu appears laid out before your eyes. Catch the bus down to the lively town of Machu Picchu Pueblo.

Day 8 Machu Picchu Tour & Return to Cusco

Today you explore the pinnacle of Inca engineering - Machu Picchu.
Perched high on an inaccessible hilltop it is protected by huge cliffs and the raging Urubamba River. Reach the ruins by a twenty minute bus ride up to the site with your guide, before they get too busy. The guided tour takes around two hours leaving you a few hours free. Return by bus to Machu Picchu Pueblo and board your train back along the Urubamba River. The scenery is beautiful and the Vista train jolts softly along...

Day 9 Depart

Free day in Cusco and departure.