Day 1: UK Delhi
Today, your Phileas Fogg round the world trip begins and you’ll take an overnight flight from London to Delhi.
Day 2: Delhi
When you arrive in Delhi, you’ll be collected by your private driver and taken to your hotel. you’ll stay in a comfortable hotel in Central Delhi, an ideal base for exploring the spice markets of Chandi Chowk and the modern bars of Connaught Place.
Day 3: Delhi Jaipur
Today, you’ll be transferred to the Pink City of Jaipur by air-conditioned car. During your two nights here you can relax, acclimatise, and explore. Jaipur is a colourful mix of saris, saddhus, holy cows, spice markets, street vendors, camel carts, elephants, beggars, traffic, temples, forts and palaces. In Jaipur, you’ll stay in a friendly family-run hotel where the owners will always make you feel really welcome.
Day 4: Jaipur City Tour
Today, you’ll take a city tour of Jaipur, visiting the City Palace, the Observatory,the fairy-tale Palace of the Winds (Hawa Mahal) and the Amber Fort that lies just outside the city limits. From the battlements of the Amber Fort, you’ll have a wonderful view of the rocky hills and forts constructed by the Rajputs and the Mughals in the area.
Day 5: Jaipur Galta Bharatpur Fatehpur Sikri Agra
This morning, you’ll leave Jaipur and head east towards Galta. The Monkey Temple here is a pilgrimage site that attracts flocks of devotees. After Galta, you’ll drive for another three hours before arriving in the Bharatpur wetlands, a fascinating waterworld with hundreds of rare birds. Next, you’ll come to Fatehpur Sikri, an atmospheric ghost city full of green parrots and monkeys. Finally, you’ll drive on to Agra, where you’ll stay in a comfortable hotel near the town centre with a restaurant and swimming pool.
Day 6: Agra Taj Mahal
Today, you’ll be taken to the Taj Mahal by your driver and a guide, a real highlight of your round the world trip. After this, you’ll head for Agra Fort. From its majestic walls and through its arches, you can see the Taj Mahal. You’ll then return to your hotel and the rest of the afternoon is completely free.
Day 7: Agra Overnight train to Varanasi
Today, you can explore Agra at your own pace. Then, in the early evening, you’ll be transferred to the railway station for the overnight train to Varanasi a really eye-opening Indian experience. At every stop, station vendors will wander through the train shouting loudly as they sell samosas, pakoras, and sweet masala chai and coffee.
Day 8: Varanasi
After a night on the sleeper train you’ll arrive in the holy city of Varanasi on the River Ganges. you’ll be collected by your driver at the station and taken to your comfortable hotel in the leafy Cantonment area, just north of Varanasi’s railway station. The hotel has well furnished rooms with Indian art and a themed restaurant which serves good Indian, Chinese and Western food. There is also a subterranean bar.
Days 9 and 10: Varanasi
The next two days are completely free for you to explore Varanasi at your own pace. The Ganges is flanked by a series of ghats broad stone staircases leading down to the water. You can stroll along the traffic-free ghats and attend the evening or dawn prayer ceremony where thousands of flower candles are set afloat on the river. Equally, you can opt to take a city tour through the twisting alleyways of Varanasi, sneaking past the dozing cows, or take an excursion to Sarnath a holy place for Buddhists - 10km from Varanasi.
Day 11: Varanasi Overnight train to Delhi
Today your time is your own, but we can highly recommend a boat trip on the Ganges at dawn - an extremely special experience. you’ll float past pilgrims from all walks of life as they perform their ritual bathing before sunrise and religious chanting will drift to your ears over the water. At the end of the day, we will arrange a transfer to the station for the overnight train to Delhi.
Day 12: Delhi
you’ll arrive early in New Delhi in the morning (about 7.45am). You can use today to see some of the many sights of Delhi - the crowded, narrow lanes of the spice bazaar, the stately Humayan's Tomb, the greenery of Lodi Gardens, and the moving Gandhi Museum. you’ll stay in the well-maintained hotel in Central Delhi where you began your round the world trip, with comfortable rooms and modern facilities.
Day 13: Delhi - Bangkok
Today, you’ll begin the second phase of your round the world trip. you’ll make your way to Delhi international airport for a flight to tropical Thailand. When you arrive, you’ll be collected from the airport and whisked away to your atmospheric hotel in the heart of Bangkok, only a 10min walk from buzzing Khao San Road. The hotel is air-conditioned with a lovely swimming. Once you've had some time to freshen up and acclimatise, you can head out on the town.
Day 14: Bangkok
You can spend today getting to know Bangkok - the City of Angels. All of the most important places of interest are easily reached by taxi or express boat from your hotel. Perhaps start off at the golden Grand Palace before wandering through the narrow winding streets of Chinatown. There are also plenty of shopping opportunities in Bangkok. If you’re still a little stiff from the flight, you can drop in at the School of Massage, near Wat Po (the reclining Buddha).
Day 15: Bangkok River Kwai
After a bite of breakfast, you’ll be collected by air-conditioned minibus and head for the River Kwai with your English-speaking guide. On the way, you’ll stop for an hour at the famous floating market to watch the rowdy traders in action. After this, you’ll travel to the famous ’Bridge over the River Kwai’. Here, you’ll start your train journey over the remaining stretch of the infamous Burma Death Railway. Next, you’ll take a longtail boat along the River Kwai to your unique floating bamboo bungalow with its own swimming jetty and hammock.
Day 16: River Kwai - Kanchanaburi
Today, you’ll travel back along the river, reaching the fairytale Erawan Waterfalls an hour later (400 Baht, approx £8 entrance fee paid locally). The waterfall cascades over seven different levels, with a total height of 1500m. From the top of the falls, you’ll see sparkling waterpools in light blue basins against a backdrop of limestone rocks. The guide will then drop you off at your hotel in Kanchanburi, which has a swimming pool overlooking the river.
Day 17: Kanchanaburi Bangkok Overnight train to Chiang Mai
At the end of the morning you’ll catch a bus to Bangkok, which you can arrange locally on the spot. Once you arrive in Bangkok you’ll have plenty of time to stock up on snacks and drinks for the overnight train to Chiang Mai. you’ll travel in a comfortable second-class couchette and the train has a restaurant car if you fancy dining on the rails. you’ll be awoken an hour before arrival in Chiang Mai to continue your round the world adventure on Day Eighteen.
Day 18: Chiang Mai
After a night on the tracks, you’ll wake up in Chiang Mai, the gateway to northern Thailand. you’ll stay in a lovely hotel inside the city gates within walking distance of the buzzing night bazaar. Chiang Mai is a compact city, contained within a ring of walls, so it’s not difficult to find your way around. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this laidback city. In the evening, you can take a stroll to the wonderful night bazaar. If you’re thinking about having some clothes tailor-made in Thailand, this is the place to do it.
Day 19: Chiang Mai
On Day 19 of your round the world trip, you’ll spend the entire day in Chiang Mai. You can hire a bike and take a spin around the area to the umbrella village, the elephant orphanage and the craft workshops. You can also take a trip to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a Buddhist temple outside the city that sits on top of a mountain, with panoramic views over Chiang Mai. You can spend the rest of the day lazing by the pool and enjoying all the creature comforts while you can.
Day 20: Chiang Mai Jungle Trekking & Hill Tribe Stay
This morning you’ll need to pack your essentials for the next two days of the trek. A pick-up truck will take you to the forestry elephant training camp north of Chiang Mai. En route you’ll stop off at a local market. As the road continues through the mountains, you’ll reach a point where you can only continue on foot. This first part of the trek lasts around 3 hours and is reasonably steep as you hike to the village of the Palong. Here, your guide will prepare a delicious meal and you’ll spend the night as a guest at the home of one of the families in the village. you’ll sleep on a mat on a bamboo floor in a simple traditional wooden hut.
Day 21: Elephant Trekking & Bamboo Rafting Chiang Mai
After a truly local breakfast, you’ll set off on a elephant trek through the jungle, an unforgettable part of your round the world trip. Perched on elephant back, you’ll have an amazing view of the landscape. you’ll be taken to a riverside camp where bamboo rafts will be made for you. Once they're ready you’ll hop aboard a bamboo raft and meander downstream. On the way back to Chiang Mai you’ll stop at an orchid farm.
Day 22: Chiang Mai Overnight train to Ayutthaya
Today, you’ll have time to recover from your trek. We recommend taking a Thai cookery course. First, you’ll head out to the market to buy the necessary ingredients and then you’ll learn how to prepare an authentic Thai meal. Otherwise, you can just relax in town or by the pool. During late afternoon, you can make your way to the railway station for the overnight sleeper train to Ayutthaya.
Day 23: Ayutthaya
This morning, your train will pull into one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites - the imperial city of Ayutthaya, the next stop on your round the world trip. You can take a tuk-tuk to your accommodation - quaint stilted houses with private verandas in a lovely spacious garden. In the 12th century, Ayutthaya was one of the most important kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Today, you can visit some of the mystical Khmer temple complexes strewn around the city.
Day 24: Ayutthaya Bangkok Overnight train to Surat Thani
On Day 24 of your round the world trip, you’ll have a little more free time to explore the temples of Ayutthaya. At around 14:00, you’ll collect your luggage from the hotel and travel to Bangkok using the instructions our agent gave you. From Bangkok, we’ll arrange a comfortable second-class couchette aboard the air conditioned sleeper train down to Surat Thani, the gateway to the tropical islands of the south where you’ll catch a ferry to Ko Pha Ngan.
Day 25: Ko Pha Ngan
When you arrive in Surat Thani, you’ll make your way to the ferry port where you’ll take the 3 hour boat ride across to sunny Ko Pha Ngan, famous for its Full Moon parties. If you like, we can book your round the world trip to coincide with the legendary party. If this isn’t your cup of tea, we’ll arrange accommodation on a quiet palm-fringed bay named Thong Nai Pan. Getting there is part of the adventure! Most of the road leading to this area is unpaved and at times, very steep. you’ll stay in an atmospheric, air-conditioned bungalow set against a tropical rainforest backdrop a few steps away from ivory sands.
Day 26: Ko Pha Ngan
Day 26 of your round the world trip is all about relaxing. Take a dip in the clear blue sea, enjoy the sunshine or read in a hammock slung between two palm trees with the sound of the surf in the background.
Days 27 and 28: Ko Pha Ngan Ko Samui
After breakfast you’ll make your own way to Ko Pha Ngan pier and buy a ticket for the ferry to the tropical island of Ko Samui. The ferry ride will take about 1.5 hour. Ko Samui is a popular Thai island with excellent restaurants and bars. there’s also a colourful evening market at Chaweng Beach. you’ll stay at an atmospheric hotel surrounded by green hills and tropical gardens in a cosy bungalow next to a quiet beach. The hotel has its own swimming pool. If you would like to treat yourself to some luxury at this point on your round the world trip, just ask us about upgrade options.
Day 29: Ko Samui Bangkok
Today, you’ll leave Ko Samui and head back to Bangkok for the next stage of your round the world trip. we’ll arrange ferry tickets for your voyage back to the mainland in the afternoon. From here you’ll board the overnight sleeper train at the railway station. If you would prefer flying from Ko Samui to Bangkok, just let us know and we’ll give you more information about the surcharge.
Day 30: Bangkok - Hanoi
Your sleeper train will pull into Bangkok this morning and you’ll make your way to the airport for a flight to Vietnam, the next country on your round the world agenda. A driver will meet you at Hanoi airport and transfer you to your hotel in the centre of the Old Quarter - the beating heart of Hanoi - surrounded by food stalls and quirky restaurants. The Old Quarter is home to a fascinating market and a heady aroma of spices. After some retail therapy, visit peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake and munch on a typical Vietnamese spring roll.
Day 31: Hanoi
You can spend today as you wish. Amble through the narrow lanes of the Old Quarter, drop in on the bizarre preserved body of former President Ho Chi Minh and perhaps attend an evening performance at the Municipal Water Puppet Theatre. Puppetry is a national tradition in Vietnam, and the people are very proud of the art form.
Day 32: Hanoi Halong Bay
This morning, you’ll be taken to the coastal town of Halong, where your traditional junk boat awaits you. Once aboard, you’ll kick off your trip with a delicious buffet lunch. Afterwards the boat will begin its superb cruise through Halong Bay past small limestone islands, some thickly forested and some with secluded sandy beaches. you’ll visit one of the many hidden caves and dive into azure waters from one of the tropical beaches - a real highlight of your round the world trip. At sunset, you’ll enjoy a freshly prepared meal with a glass of Vietnamese wine.
Day 33: Halong Bay - Hanoi
This morning, you’ll be woken by the wafting scent of a delicious breakfast before continuing your Halong Bay cruise to various islands and rock formations. Next, you’ll board a small bamboo boat to explore the spooky Luong Cave. Lunch will be served aboard the junk during your return voyage to the mainland. At Halong, a transfer will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi where you can relax before your round the world trip continues tomorrow.
Day 34: Hanoi
Today will be your final day in Hanoi. If you’re feeling energetic, you can wake up early to visit Hoan Kiem Lake. Just after sunrise, hundreds of locals gather at the lake for their morning workout. There are men and women doing Tai Chi, playing badminton tournaments, walking, jogging, and stretching. The Temple of Literature is a real oasis of peace in the midst of the bustling city, and a great place for a picnic lunch. You can also take a cycle rickshaw tour of the major temples.
Day 35: Hanoi Hoi An
This morning, you’ll be woken by the wafting scent of a delicious breakfast before continuing your Halong Bay cruise to various islands and rock formations. Next, you’ll board a small bamboo boat to explore the spooky Luong Cave. Lunch will be served aboard the junk during your return voyage to the mainland. At Halong, a transfer will be waiting to take you back to Hanoi where you can relax before your round the world trip continues tomorrow.
Day 36: Hoi An
Day 36 of your round the world trip is completely free, so you can wander lazily through the tiny streets of Hoi An. If you’re feeling adventurous you can visit to the temples of My Son, an important religious and intellectual centre in Vietnam until the 13th century and a UNESCO World Heritage site, about 40km southwest of Hoi An in a wild, green valley. Hoi An is jam-packed with tailors and you can have a good made-to-measure suit made for a fraction of the price you would pay in the UK. The perfect opportunity to update your wardrobe!
Day 37: Hoi An Optional Cookery Lesson
Today is essentially a free day, so you can stay in the old town or head to the beach for some sun-kissed relaxation. However, we can also offer you the opportunity to whip up some authentic Vietnamese dishes in the kitchen. If you choose this option you’ll be collected from your hotel and taken directly to the cookery school. you’ll have a go at preparing your own dishes before eating them afterwards.
Day 38: Hoi An Ho Chi Minh City
Today you’ll leave Hoi An, probably with a whole new wardrobe! you’ll take a quick domestic flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City. We’ll book your flight, but you’ll organise your own taxis or rickshaws to and from the airports. Your hotel is just around the corner from Tham Street, the centre of the backpackers quarter in Saigon. The area is crammed with dozens of cosy local restaurants and souvenir shops. Once you've settled in at your comfortable hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, you can explore the city at your own pace.
Day 39: Cu Chi Tunnels
Today, your round the world trip will take you to the infamous Cu Chi tunnels. The Viet Cong dug the haunting network of the Cu Chi tunnels during the Vietnam War to hide from American forces and carry out covert attacks. The underground labyrinth covers an incredible 250km. You can climb into the tunnels and experience the eerie atmosphere first hand and your guide will explain the history and the precise uses of the tunnels. you’ll spend another night in the hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
Day 40: Mekong Delta
Today marks the halfway point of your 80 day round the world trip! The next two days of your itinerary are dedicated to the Mekong Delta. This morning, you’ll be transferred to Cai Be by minibus, where you’ll hop onto a boat and sail in a small group through the Mekong Delta. Drifting through the maze of canals, you’ll pass floating markets and visit Vinh Long Island. After a lunch of local specialities, you’ll sail to a simple but charming hotel in Can Tho on the banks of the Mekong. Here, you can relax in the evening with a cool drink and watch the delta sunset.
Day 41: Mekong Delta Ho Chi Minh City
Today, the local boat will take you to the floating market of Cai Rang, which is the largest and probably the noisiest floating market in the Mekong Delta. In order to get close to all of the excitement, you’ll transfer into a bamboo rowboat. Next, you’ll drop in on a factory where rice is 'puffed' into Vietnamese rice cakes. Eventually you’ll take the comfortable air-conditioned bus back to Ho Chi Minh City, where you’ll stay in the same central hotel as before your Mekong trip.
Day 42: Ho Chi Minh City Singapore
you’ll leave Vietnam today and head for the next destination on your round the world trip Singapore. you’ll fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore, and when you arrive you’ll be transferred to the Ibis Singapore Hotel on Bencoolen. This charming hotel offers cosy and comfortable rooms which are simply decorated with wood flooring and smart furniture. Each room has an en suite bathroom, flat-screen television and free Wi-Fi internet access for guests. The hotel restaurant and bar offers delicious local and Asian food along with light refreshments and beverages.
Days 43 and 44: Singapore
you’ll have two whole days to explore Singapore at your own pace before your round the world trip takes you down under. The Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen is a great base for sightseeing in Singapore, within walking distance to cultural attractions, eateries, shopping and Bugis MRT station. Several bus services are available in front of the hotel and there’s a taxi stand across the street. The hotel is one kilometre from Chijmes, a mall with a dining, shopping and entertainment centre. This hotel is also close to City Hall, a national monument in front of the historical Padang.
Day 45: Singapore Cairns
Today, you can continue to explore or relax at your hotel before making your own way to the airport for your overnight flight to Cairns, the next stop on your 80 day round the world trip.
Days 46 and 47: Cairns
When you arrive in Cairns, you’ll be transferred to Gilligan's Backpacker Hotel for 2 nights. Located in the city centre, Gilligan’s is the stepping off point to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. it’s a place that will change your idea of budget travel forever. All rooms have private bathrooms and air conditioning and there’s even a lagoon pool complete with sandy beach and 3 large bars. The hotel is just a few minutes walk to the waterfront lagoon, shopping centres, galleries, restaurants and nightclubs..
Day 48: Spaceship Pick Up
Today, you’ll pick up your quirky Spaceship Campervan from the depot in Cairns and begin your great Australia road trip an unforgettable part of this round the world itinerary. Your very own spaceship is easy to drive and will include a large double bed, gas cooker, fridge freezer, water tank, cooking utensils, an MP3/CD player and even a mounted screen for watching DVDs in bed!
Days 49 63: Cairns to Sydney Road Trip
The next two weeks are all about the open road. On your way to Sydney in your trusty Spaceship, you can snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, soak up the tropical atmosphere on Magnetic Island, go sailing in the stunning Whitsundays, explore Frasier Island, try surfing in Byron Bay, take a horseback ride through the forests and waterfalls of Mackay and even see a goat rodeo!
Days 63 and 64: Sydney
On Day 63, you’ll drop off your Spaceship at the Sydney depot and head to the Arts Hotel, in an unbeatable Paddington location. The rooms are medium-sized and comfortable with private bathrooms and the hotel has an enclosed garden with a swimming pool. Most importantly, is within walking distance of the City and Oxford Street’s vibrant nightlife. Buses run from the hotel every few minutes to Circular Quay, Central Station, Bondi Beach, Bronte Beach, Watsons Bay and Newtown. you’ll spend two nights in Sydney before your round the world trip continues.
Day 65: Sydney Santiago
The next stop on your round the trip is South America, and today you’ll make your way to the airport for your flight to Santiago in Chile. you’ll cross the international dateline during your flight, so you’ll actually land in Chile only three hours after you depart from Sydney, which effectively means that you get the chance to live Day 65 all over again!
Days 65 and 66: Santiago
you’ll arrive in Santiago on the morning of Day 65 (take two), and you’ll transferred to Hotel Orly, a boutique hotel in the commercial and entertainment heart of the Providencia district. The rooms are equipped with private bathrooms with shower, telephone, air conditioning, cable TV, minibar, safe and free Wi Fi. Santiago is ringed by Andean peaks with a great cafe culture and growing arts scene. During your stay, you can try trekking and horseback riding or take a local wine tour.
Day 67: Santiago Lima
Today, your round the world trip continues and you’ll fly from Santiago to Lima. Once you’ve reclaimed your bags, you’ll be met in arrivals and transferred to Miraflores, a green, cosmopolitan district on the coast with plenty of hotels, bars, restaurants and busy shopping streets. In Miraflores, you’ll stay in a traditional posada with a garden, veranda and breakfast room.
Day 68: Lima Arequipa
Today begins with a short one-hour flight from Lima to Arequipa, a friendly Peruvian city at an altitude of 2300m, surrounded by volcanoes with sunshine all year round. When you arrive, you’ll be transferred to your charming colonial posada with classic iron wrought gates and a courtyard filled with flowers. Arequipa is a lovely place to spend a couple of days adjusting to the altitude. The city is full of beautiful Spanish colonial buildings and churches, but the main attraction is the magical Santa Catalina monastery.
Day 69: Arequipa
You can ease into Day 69 of your round the world trip with a coffee on a cafe balcony overlooking the Plaza de Armas. From the Plaza de Armas, you can explore the historic centre and take a look inside one of the many churches and cathedrals, visit the Santuarios Museum to see the frozen mummy girl Juanita, or explore the hidden quarters of the city. it’s all up to you. In the evening, you’ll find lots of little restaurants that serve Peruvian and international dishes.
Day 70: Arequipa Chivay (Colca Canyon)
This morning, you’ll drive across the Altiplano to the Colca Canyon. Pack light for the next two days - you can leave the rest of your baggage at the hotel in Arequipa. Soon, the bus will start to twist its way into the mountains revealing immense vistas of the plains below, where llamas and alpacas graze. At the highest point, the bus will make a short stop so you can stretch your legs and breathe in the fresh (thin) air. Finally, you’ll arrive in the Colca Valley, a real highlight of your round the world trip. Later in the afternoon, you can visit the hot springs or head to a bar for a drop of local pisco.
Day 71: Chivay Cruz del Condor - Arequipa
Early in the morning, you’ll leave the hotel to visit the Cruz del Condor viewpoint. Cruz del Condor is the deepest point in the Canyon, at 3200m comparable to the Grand Canyon. The area is home to hundreds of Andes condors, making it the best place to see these giant birds soaring on the thermals that rise up from the canyon. Be patient, find a comfortable rock in the sun and keep your binoculars handy. If you’re lucky, they’ll swoop right over your head, a real highlight of your round the world trip. Then, you’ll stop for lunch in Chivay before boarding the bus for the drive back to Arequipa.
Day 72: Arequipa Puno
Today, you’ll make your own way to Terrapuerto bus station where you’ll board the 8.30am Royal Class bus to Puno. The comfortable double decker bus has soft leather seats, an on-board toilet and hot drinks and snacks are available. After a few hours, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Lake Titicaca, an unforgettable stop on your round the world trip. Puno is a lively high-altitude Peruvian university town with plenty of festivals, markets, restaurants and bars. Instead of cars, you’ll see mainly horse carts and rickshaws.
Day 73: Lake Titicaca
This morning, you’ll be transferred to the harbour for a boat trip on Lake Titicaca. you’ll stop on the floating reed islands of Uros, where the locals will tell you about their way of life. Next, you’ll sail to the island of Taquile where you’ll climb the steps up to the village square for a lunch of fresh fish from the lake. Your guide will show you around and explain the fascinating Taquilan customs. After this, you’ll begin the 3 hour boat trip back to Pun, where you can spend the evening in the lively bars and restaurants.
Day 74: Puno Cuzco
This morning, you’ll make your own way to the bus station to catch the express bus to Cuzco, arriving around 3pm. Your atmospheric posada is located in the heart of the artists district San Blas, just 5 minutes by taxi steeply uphill from the Plaza de Armas. The district is filled with bars and restaurants, shops and quaint little churches.
Day 75: Cuzco
You can spend Day 75 of your round the world trip exploring Cuzco. The Plaza de Armas is about 10 minutes walk from your hotel. The cathedral and the Compaρia church are exceptionally beautiful and along the Calle Loreto the houses are built on the original Inca walls. If you’re feeling more active, you can visit the Inca ruins of Sacsahuaman. The ruins are perched on a hilltop around 45 minutes’ walk from Cuzco, with fantastic views of the city. Sacsayhuaman is an ancient Inca fortress made of huge limestone boulders constructed in a unique impenetrable pattern.
Day 76: Cuzco Winay Wayna Machu Picchu
Today, you’ll begin your trek to Machu Picchu, the last great adventure of your round the world trip. you’ll be dropped off at Poroy station and soon as the train leaves you’ll climb up into the mountains. Three hours later, you’ll arrive at the starting point of your ‘Camino Real’ trail. you’ll visit ruins of Winay Wayna and then continue to ‘Sun Gate’ viewpoint, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. At the entrance of the ruins, the bus will be waiting to take you to Aguas Calientes, where you can crawl into bed in your small posada in the centre of town.
Day 77: Machu Picchu - Ollantayambo
you’ll pay an early morning visit to Machu Picchu in order to explore the stunning ruins in peace before the crowds arrive. At the end of the guided tour, there’s plenty of time to wander along the endless basalt walls independently before heading back to Aguas Calientes to board the train Ollantaytambo. From the station, it’s a 10 minute walk to the village, which lies in the beautiful Sacred Valley. Most tourists only stop here briefly, but the sleepy atmosphere of this town is what makes it so charming. you’ll stay in a basic but very charming posada with a lovely flower garden.
Day 78: Ollantayambo - Urumbamba
Early this morning, you can head up to the Inca fort for wonderful views across the mountains and the terraces and villages below. Later, you’ll make your way to Urubamba by collectivo. When you arrive, you’ll take a taxi to your accommodation, a converted 16th century Franciscan monastery just outside the village surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks, with several peaceful courtyards, a real clock tower and a cosy fireplace in the dining room. In the evening, try the Rocoto Relleno, a local dish of peppers filled with minced beef and vegetables.
Day 79: Urubamba - Cuzco
You’ll spend the morning of your final full day of your round the world trip in Urubamba, a good base for various trips in the Sacred Valley. You can take a taxi to the Maras salt pans and ruins at Moray, or catch a collectivo to Pisac, where there’s a busy craft market. The ruins at Pisac rival Machu Picchu, so they’re well worth a visit. In the afternoon, you’ll take a local bus back to Cuzco. When you arrive, you’ll take a taxi back to San Blas where you’ll stay at the same posada as before. In Cuzco, you can celebrate the last night of your round the world adventure with an authentic Peruvian meal and a few drinks.
Day 80: Cuzco Lima UK
That’s it! Your Phileas Fogg adventure is over. After travelling around the world for an amazing 80 days, you’ll begin your journey home. First, you’ll take a quick one hour flight to Lima, where you’ll connect with your international flight back to the UK.
|