- Entry fee of £299
- Travel insurance
- Recommended vaccinations
- Tips/gratuities
- Local overseas departure taxes
- Connections to and from London
- Spending money
- Your own personal kit
How will I be supported? Beforehand: we will send you a comprehensive guide once you have registered, together with a fundraising pack with great tips on how to meet your sponsorship target. We will also put you in contact with your local Marie Curie Cancer Care fundraiser, and invite you to a trek briefing. During your trip: the group will be accompanied by a full crew including an English-speaking professional trek leader and doctor. You will also be accompanied by a Marie Curie Cancer Care representative. The trek has been structured to allow for acclimatisation and the trek leader will, at all times, monitor the group’s progress. Where will I stay and what will I eat? Your accommodation will comprise of tourist class hotels in Lima and Cusco which are clean, comfortable and well-located. While trekking you will stay in basic, but clean, camps complete with two-person tents and a mess tent. Please let us know if you are taking part in the event with someone you would like to share with. You won’t go hungry. Whilst camping, a hearty breakfast will include cereal, porridge and muesli or on some days bacon and eggs, and toast, jam, coffee, hot milk and tea. Lunch will include salads, salamis, cheese, peanut butter, bread, crackers, tinned meats and fish, topped off by freshly brewed tea and cakes or biscuits. In the evening there will be a hot meal, normally three courses, comprising soup or fresh salad, a main course of stews, spaghetti or rice dishes (all prepared with fresh meat and vegetables) followed by dessert, tea and coffee. Do I need specialist equipment? Once you are registered, a comprehensive kit list will be sent to you. However, much of the equipment you will need is provided (eg tents, sleeping bags and mats). The most essential kit is a good pair of walking boots, well worn in. What will the trekking be like? The terrain on the trek is varied. There are steep sections, along a mixture of rough track and stones laid by the Incas. There are also lots of steps up and down. These steps are not uniform in size and can be hard going. Your trekking day will start around 6.30am with a wake up call and cup of tea brought to your tent. The morning’s walk usually lasts from about 8am to 12.30pm, and allows for numerous rest and photo stops. After a post lunch siesta we set off for the afternoon’s hike - usually two to three hours to the camp. Will I have to carry my own kit? No, all main luggage will be carried by porters to the next evening camp. You will not be able to access your main luggage during the day whilst trekking so you will need a daypack to carry items such as camera, suntan lotion, water, waterproofs, etc. What happens in the evenings? This is time to rest and get to know your fellow trekkers. At the end of the trek there will be a celebratory dinner to toast your achievements. How am I likely to cope with altitude? The highest pass on the trek is at 4,198m. It is not unusual to experience mild symptoms from the altitude (breathlessness, tiredness, loss of appetite, headaches) at some stage in the trip. However, the trip has been designed to allow you adequate time to acclimatise. Your leaders will be well versed in the symptoms and treatment of the effects of altitude and by following simple rules, such as drinking at least four litres of water per day, resting and communicating any symptoms to your leader/doctor, you can expect to have an enjoyable and safe time in the mountains. What about water? You should not drink tap water in Peru. Fresh drinking water is available for US$1 per day at the hotels we use, and all monies raised go to local charities. Alternatively you could buy bottled water, but by using the refillable water dispensers at the hotels you will reduce wastage of plastic water bottles. Whilst trekking, water is boiled and treated with iodine (if you have an allergy to iodine please indicate this on your medical form and tell your guide). We strongly recommend that you bring your own isotonic sports drinks in a powder or tablet form with you (ie a fluid replacing salt and sugar supplement). What will the weather be like? The weather should be warm with good mountain views and the possibility of some rain. During the day temperatures can vary from 10-25°C and can fall below freezing at night. The temperature in Lima is likely to be marginally warmer during the day (20-25ºC) and cool at night. Can I extend my stay? Yes, anyone wanting to extend their stay in Peru can arrange to do so through World Expeditions at an additional cost. Who is responsible for the trip arrangements? All travel and tour arrangements are organised by World Expeditions (ATOL number 4491), specialists in trekking events of this nature. Their address is: World Expeditions
81 Craven Gardens
Wimbledon
London SW19 8LU
Telephone 020 8545 9030 Do overseas challenges damage the environment in the area visited? Marie Curie Cancer Care is committed to responsible tourism. This challenge is organised by our tour operator, World Expeditions, which employs local staff and suppliers, creates minimal environmental impact and positively contributes to conservation, working with local environmental groups. What sponsorship deadlines are there? Trips costs have to be paid well in advance, so we insist that 80 per cent of the total sponsorship target including registration fee (£2,640) is paid 11 weeks before departure. If you are not able to submit £2,640 by this point, you will forfeit your place and your deposit, which is non-refundable. You can of course make up the difference yourself. The remaining 20 per cent must be submitted within four weeks of your return. At this point £3,000 will seem like a lot of money to raise. However, please don’t worry unnecessarily about your fundraising. It is a very achievable target and your local Marie Curie Cancer Care fundraiser will be on hand to help you. How much does this event cost? An event of this nature incurs costs of travel, accommodation, meals, equipment and general organisation. The costs of the Inca Trail Trek are approximately £1,845 per person (partially covered by your registration fee); therefore £1,454 of your sponsorship money will come directly to Marie Curie Cancer Care, as will any amount raised over and above the minimum sponsorship. | 
