Itinerary

Discover how you will spend your time in Peru.

Day 1

You depart from London and arrive in Lima for an overnight stay.

Day 2

Early morning flight to Cusco where you will meet your trekking guides and will have the opportunity to enjoy a gentle orientation walk around the city or simply take it easy as you acclimatise to the high altitude.

Day 3

This is a second acclimatisation day and will offer the opportunity to explore Cusco and its nearby ruins.

Day 4

Today you will transfer to the Sacred Valley of Incas to completed a short trek to further acclimatise before the hitting the trail itself. The valley follows the course of the Urubamba River – one of the main tributaries of the Amazon - and you will also visit some of the enthralling citadels, fortresses and temple ruins found throughout the valley, including the site at Ollantaytambo.

Day 5

After an early start you will transfer to the start of the Inca Trail at Chilca for your first full day of trekking along the Royal Highway of the Incas, built more than 500 years ago. You will be following the Urubamba River until you reach camp at Llactapata set below an ancient Inca City.

Day 6

This is the hardest day on the trail but you will be rewarded by finishing up at the very beautiful camp at Llulluchapampa.

Day 7

This is a day of steep up and downs. You will be trekking to the Inca Trail's first and highest pass, Huarmihuanusca which is 4175m above sea level before descending to trek through the Pacamayo Valley past ruins at Runkuracay at Cochapata. Camp tonight is set above the ruins of Phuyupatamarca, aptly named the ‘City in the Clouds'.

Day 8

Your last day of trekking is along a well-preserved section of the trail set in high jungle. You'll explore the extensive ruins of Huinay Huayna before reaching Inti Punku, ‘The Gateway to the Sun'. Awe-inspiringly set above Machu Picchu – this is where you will get your first breathtaking view of the ‘Lost City'. You will have an opportunity to wander through the ruins before transferring down to Aguas Calientes for a visit to the Hot Springs, an overnight hotel stay and celebratory dinner.

Day 9

Today there is a trip back up to Machu Picchu for a day to further explore the superb buildings and terraces of this amazing site. Mid-afternoon we take the train back to Cusco.

Day 10

Return to Lima and there is an opportunity in the afternoon to explore the city before taking an overnight flight back to the UK.