Classic Inca Trail

Today brings Cusco’s history into focus as you explore its key sites with a guided tour. Beginning at Coricancha and the Cathedral, the layers of Inca and colonial influence become clear. Moving beyond the city, the impressive stonework of Sacsayhuaman rises above Cusco, offering views across the surrounding valley. Nearby ceremonial sites reveal how the Incas shaped both the land and their spiritual world. Returning to the city, there is time to wander markets and streets at your own pace. Accommodation: Hotel Abbitare or similar

Meals: Nil

Enjoy a guided tour of Cusco and its surrounding Inca sites, beginning at Coricancha and the Cathedral. Continue to Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo and Puka Pukara, learning how the Incas shaped this dramatic landscape. Return to the city in the afternoon with time to browse local markets. Accommodation: Hotel Abittare or similar

Meals: B

Leaving Cusco, you descend into the Sacred Valley, where the landscape softens into agricultural terraces and river valleys. At Pisac, the ruins sit high above the valley floor, offering wide views across the surrounding mountains. Walking through these ancient terraces, the scale of Inca engineering becomes clear before descending into the village. Here, the market brings together local communities, with stalls of textiles, produce and handmade goods. Continuing onward, you arrive in Ollantaytambo, where Inca streets and water channels remain part of daily life. Accommodation: Sol Ollantay Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

Today offers a deeper connection to the people and traditions of the Sacred Valley. Visiting archaeological sites and the Inkariy Museum provides insight into Peru’s ancient civilisations and their legacy. Time spent within a local community adds another layer to the experience, where traditional farming, food preparation and daily routines continue much as they have for generations. It is a quieter day, allowing space to prepare for the Inca Trail trek ahead. Accommodation: Sol Ollantay Hotel or similar

Meals: B

Travel north to Huarocondo before beginning the trek near the Urubamba River. Ascend steadily to Watuq’asa Pass, known as the Viewpoint of Cusco, with wide-ranging mountain views. Descend into a quiet valley to camp near the remote community of Chilipahua. Accommodation: Campsite

Meals: B,L,D

Climb through high Andean terrain toward the Chi Chusqasa Pass, the highest point of the alternative trek. Cross the pass before descending into the rugged Silque River valley. Camp at Ancascocha beneath the Huayanay Glacier. Accommodation: Campsite

Meals: B,L,D

Follow the Silque River through lush terrain rich in orchids and birdlife. Cross a series of footbridges as the trail descends toward the Sacred Valley. Camp near the community of Camicancha with views of Huacayhuilque Peak. Accommodation: Campsite

Meals: B,L,D

After breakfast, meet private transport and travel to Ollantaytambo before boarding the train to Km 104. Cross a suspension bridge and visit the archaeological site of Chachabamba, believed to have been a ceremonial centre dedicated to water deities. Begin a steady uphill trek to the beautifully preserved ruins of Wiñay Wayna, dramatically set into the mountainside on the approach to the Sun Gate. Continue along the ridge to Inti Punku for your first unforgettable view of Machu Picchu, before descending to the village below for the night. Accommodation: Hotel El Mapi or similar Please note: If no KM 104 Inca Trail permits are available the below will be substituted: After breakfast, meet private transport and travel to Pallata, where today’s trek begins. Ascend through lush highland scenery, passing local villages before reaching the ancient Inca site of Pumamarca, dramatically positioned above the Patacancha Valley at the meeting point of two rivers. Explore its finely crafted stone terraces, ceremonial spaces and storage structures, a striking example of Inca engineering. Continue through the terraced fields of Musqa Pukyo before descending into the historic village of Ollantaytambo. At Ollantaytambo we will catch the afternoon train across to Aguas Calientes. Walking: 7.6 km / 4.7 mi, 4.5 hours, max elevation 4,228 m / 13,871 ft Overnight: El Mapi or similar

Meals: B,L

Return early to Machu Picchu for a guided visit, allowing a deeper appreciation of the citadel’s layout and history. Explore additional areas not seen the previous day, with time to absorb the atmosphere at a gentler pace. Travel by scenic train back to Cusco in the afternoon or evening. Accommodation: Hotel Abittare or similar NB - depending on train schedules, we may arrive into Cusco very late at night. *Important: To ensure the protection and conservation of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and enhance the visitor experience, several restrictions and regulations are in place. Visitors are limited to a maximum of four hours within the site to reduce congestion and preserve the ruins, and admission is not permitted after 4pm. Additionally, all visitors must be accompanied by a guide. OPTIONAL HUAYNA PICCHU CLIMB OR MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN CLIMB - For the adventurous, you can purchase a permit for either the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb (please enquire for costs). Choosing this option means forgoing the guided tour of Machu Picchu, which is non-refundable and non-transferable. Huayna Picchu, with its narrow trails, reaches an elevation of 2,963m, while Machu Picchu Mountain, with a wider path, peaks at 3,082m. Both climbs are steep, slippery, exposed, and involve vertiginous drops, requiring a minimum of 3 hours return. Note that these climbs are not guided. Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable, and a waiver form must be signed before purchase. Both permits are limited and sell out quickly, so please contact us if interested.

Meals: B,L

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport where your trip concludes.

Meals: B

You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel where you are free to rest in the hotel or wander into town to walk around Miraflores. Some of Lima’s best galleries and shops and restaurants are located in this area. Founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima is the oldest capital in South America, with a superb combination of Spanish Colonial and 19th century European architecture. If you have time to visit a museum we would recommend the brilliant Larco Herrera Museum which also has an excellent onsite restaurant or the Museo de La Nacion. Overnight: Dazzler Hotel Miraflores or similar.

Meals: Nil

You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel where you are free to rest in the hotel or wander into town. Cusco, set at 3,400m / 11,155ft in the Peruvian Andes, was once the capital of the Inca Empire and remains one of South America’s most captivating historic cities. Its cobbled streets weave between impressive Inca stone walls and ornate Spanish colonial buildings, reflecting a rich blend of Indigenous and European heritage. The city’s lively plazas, colourful markets and traditional Quechua culture create a vibrant atmosphere. Overnight: Hotel Abbitare or similar

Meals: B

Today brings Cusco’s history into focus as you explore its key sites with a guided tour. Beginning at Coricancha and the Cathedral, the layers of Inca and colonial influence become clear. Moving beyond the city, the impressive stonework of Sacsayhuaman rises above Cusco, offering views across the surrounding valley. Nearby ceremonial sites reveal how the Incas shaped both the land and their spiritual world. Returning to the city, there is time to wander markets and streets at your own pace. Accommodation: Hotel Abbitare or similar

Meals: B

Leaving Cusco, you descend into the Sacred Valley, where the landscape softens into agricultural terraces and river valleys. At Pisac, the ruins sit high above the valley floor, offering wide views across the surrounding mountains. Walking through these ancient terraces, the scale of Inca engineering becomes clear before descending into the village. Here, the market brings together local communities, with stalls of textiles, produce and handmade goods. Continuing onward, you arrive in Ollantaytambo, where Inca streets and water channels remain part of daily life. Accommodation: Sol Ollantay Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L

Today offers a deeper connection to the people and traditions of the Sacred Valley. Visiting archaeological sites and the Inkariy Museum provides insight into Peru’s ancient civilisations and their legacy. Time spent within a local community adds another layer to the experience, where traditional farming, food preparation and daily routines continue much as they have for generations. It is a quieter day, allowing space to prepare for the Inca Trail trek ahead. Accommodation: Sol Ollantay Hotel or similar

Meals: B

The journey on the Inca Trail begins at the quieter Km 88 trailhead, away from the main crowds. The path follows a gentle route through open countryside, offering an introduction to the landscapes of the Andes. Along the way, lesser-visited archaeological remains emerge, hinting at the history woven through the trail. By evening, you arrive at Chamana campsite, where the mountains begin to close in and the rhythm of trekking settles in. Accommodation: Campsite *Important: Please be aware that, because of the Peruvian authorities' rules on the Inca Trail, there may be changes in the actual trek itinerary and the campsites we use.

Meals: B,L,D

The trail climbs steadily through the Cusichaca Valley, passing small settlements and cultivated land before entering more rugged terrain. As altitude increases, the landscape becomes more expansive, with views stretching back across the valleys below. Entering cloud forest, the air cools and vegetation thickens. Camp at Llulluchapampa sits beneath the first major pass, surrounded by high peaks and the quiet of the mountains. Accommodation: Campsite

Meals: B,L,D

Today is the most demanding stage of the Inca Trail trek. The ascent to Dead Woman’s Pass brings a steady climb to the highest point, where the scale of the Andes becomes fully apparent. Descending into the Pacaymayo Valley, the trail rises again, linking a series of Inca sites along original stone pathways. By the time you reach Phuyupatamarca, the campsite sits high above the valleys, often surrounded by drifting cloud, giving a sense of the trail’s elevation and remoteness. Accommodation: Campsite

Meals: B,L,D

The trail continues through cloud forest, passing the well-preserved site of Wiñay Wayna, where terraces cling to the mountainside. Following the original stone path, you approach Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. Here, your first view of Machu Picchu appears, set among steep ridgelines above the Urubamba River. Descending toward the site, the journey transitions from trail to village as you continue to Aguas Calientes for the night. Accommodation: Hotel El Mapi or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Return early to Machu Picchu for a guided visit allowing a deeper appreciation of the citadel’s layout and history. Explore additional areas not seen the previous day, with time to absorb the atmosphere at a gentler pace. Travel by scenic train back to Cusco in the afternoon or evening. Accommodation: Hotel Abittare or similar NB - depending on train schedules, we may arrive into Cusco very late at night. *Important: To ensure the protection and conservation of the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and enhance the visitor experience, several restrictions and regulations are in place. Visitors are limited to a maximum of four hours within the site to reduce congestion and preserve the ruins, and admission is not permitted after 4pm. Additionally, all visitors must be accompanied by a guide. OPTIONAL HUAYNA PICCHU CLIMB OR MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN CLIMB - For the adventurous, you can purchase a permit for either the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb (please enquire for costs). Choosing this option means forgoing the guided tour of Machu Picchu, which is non-refundable and non-transferable. Huayna Picchu, with its narrow trails, reaches an elevation of 2,963m, while Machu Picchu Mountain, with a wider path, peaks at 3,082m. Both climbs are steep, slippery, exposed, and involve vertiginous drops, requiring a minimum of 3 hours return. Note that these climbs are not guided. Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable, and a waiver form must be signed before purchase. Both permits are limited and sell out quickly, so please contact us if interested.

Meals: B,L

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport where your trip concludes.

Meals: B