9-Day Ultimate Salkantay Trek

Today you stretch your legs with a delightful hike in the hills above Cusco. First stop is the impressive site of Sacsayhuaman. Huge stone ramparts surround a beautiful grass amphitheatre. Once the scene of fierce battles it now hosts the recreation of traditional Inca ceremonies such as Inti Raymi and Warachikuy.

Next is the Inca water temple of Tambo Machay lying at 3700m (12,000 feet) followed by a special picnic lunch. From here it is all downhill to Cusco, stopping at the Temple of the Moon and other historical sites along the way.

Included: breakfast, lunch, snacks, water, entrance fees, hotel

Leaving Cusco behind you start your journey to Machu Picchu. The hike starts at the fascinating circular ruins of Moray. While some think it was a landing pad for alien spaceships, more likely is that the Incas built this as an experimental agricultural centre. Concentric circular terraces allowed them to simulate different facing slopes and different growing temperatures to see what crops would grow where.

With another homemade picnic along the way you hike on down, past the spectacular salt pans of Maras to end in the Sacred Valley. Then you will be back in your hotel in Cusco to rest and recover energies for the next day.

Included: breakfast, lunch, snacks, water, entrance fees, hotel

You depart your hotel early for the spectacular drive  to the start of your trek. You cross the Anta plains,  descend towards the Apurimac valley then climb up to the small town of Mollepata before continuing on to Soraypampa. Here you meet have lunch and set up camp. This afternoon you can enjoy a lovely hike up to a small glacial lake, and perhaps watch the ice carving off the glacier.

Included: lunch, dinner, transport, entrance fees, camping equipment (except sleeping bag)

A beautiful but tough day’s hiking today. You climb out of the Mollepata valley on a steep winding trail that slowly ascends to the highest point of the trek at 4650m. Weather permitting you will have spectacular views of the snowy glaciers of Salcantay.

With frequent stops to allow time to acclimatize, you will hopefully cross the pass before the weather closes in and head on down to Huayracmachay – “The windy place”. You then continue further down the valley to Andenes and a slightly more sheltered campsite.

Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, camping equipment (except sleeping bag)

A largely downhill hike today as you descend along an ancient mule trail. The vegetation gets lusher with every footstep as you drop into the “eyebrow of the jungle” and through the cloud forest to the small community of Colcapata.

You can find all sorts of jungle produce along the way – this valley is one of the best coffee producing regions of Southern Peru as well as growing coca, papayas, oranges and other jungle fruits.

After crossing several small streams you finally arrive at Playa where you can grab a cold drink before the short hike along the road to Lucmabamba, where you will camp beside some original Inca terraces. Time permitting there may be a chance to catch a taxi down to the small town of Santa Teresa to visit the gorgeous hot-springs.

Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, camping equipment (except sleeping bag)

Your final day of hiking takes you through the lush vegetation of coffee and tropical fruit plantations and up into pristine cloud forest. You follow an ancient Inca Trail to Llactapata, an Inca site that has only recently been excavated. From here there are amazing views of Machu Picchu that few tourists have ever seen.

A steep descent follows to the hydroelectric plant from where a short, but spectacular train journey takes you to the bustling tourist town now known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. Alternatively those still with the energy could walk.

Here you can check into your hotel and enjoy a shower before heading out to sample one of the many restaurants and bars.

Included: breakfast, lunch, hotel

Today you explore the pinnacle of Inca engineering – Machu Picchu.

For years it was lost to the jungle. Rediscovered in 1911 by the Yale professor Hiram Bingham, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Machu Picchu exceeds all expectations.

This astounding site lies in an even more astonishing location. Perched high on an inaccessible hilltop it is protected by huge cliffs and the raging Urubamba river. Things are slightly easier now than in the time of the Incas and so you start your day with a twenty minute bus ride up to the site.

You will arrive early, allowing you to explore the ruins in the company of your guide, before they get too busy. The guided tour takes around two hours leaving you a few hours free to wander amongst the old Inca walls and just sit and take in the scale of the place on your own. For those who want to walk a bit more, you could take the hour long trail up to the Sun Gate, or a shorter trail to visit the Inca Bridge which once spanned a sheer cliff face.

Eventually the time comes to catch the bus down to Machu Picchu Pueblo and board your train back along the Urubamba River. The scenery is beautiful and the train jolts softly along, allowing you to sit, stare out the window and reflect on all you have seen.

Machu Picchu tour and return to Cusco : Today you explore the pinnacle of Inca engineering – Machu Picchu.

For years it was lost to the jungle. Rediscovered in 1911 by the Yale professor Hiram Bingham, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, Machu Picchu exceeds all expectations.

This astounding site lies in an even more astonishing location. Perched high on an inaccessible hilltop it is protected by huge cliffs and the raging Urubamba river. Things are slightly easier now than in the time of the Incas and so you start your day with a twenty minute bus ride up to the site.

You will arrive early, allowing you to explore the ruins in the company of your guide, before they get too busy. The guided tour takes around two hours leaving you a few hours free to wander amongst the old Inca walls and just sit and take in the scale of the place on your own. For those who want to walk a bit more, you could take the hour long trail up to the Sun Gate, or a shorter trail to visit the Inca Bridge which once spanned a sheer cliff face.

Eventually the time comes to catch the bus down to Machu Picchu Pueblo and board your train back along the Urubamba River. The scenery is beautiful and the train jolts softly along, allowing you to sit, stare out the window and reflect on a wonderful week.

Included: breakfast, bus ticket, Machu Picchu entrance, train ticket, transfer, hotel

Back once more in the old Inca capital you have time to enjoy all that this city has to offer. Museums, chocolate making classes, souvenir hunting or even just sitting in one of the many cafes and watching the world go by. The new late flights out of Cusco allow you to really maximise your time and get the most out of this holiday of a lifetime.

For those with more time we can offer you extensions to the Amazon rainforest, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon and Arequipa or even to the little visited northern Peru.

Included: breakfast, transfer