Ancient Peru: Cusco, Sacred Valley & the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Itinerary in brief:

• 1 night Lima
• 1 night Cusco
• 1 night Sacred Valley
• 3 nights camping on the Inca Trail
• 1 night Cusco

Day 1: Arrive Lima

On arrival in Lima you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the city.

Day 2: Lima to Cusco

After breakfast you will be collected and taken to the airport for your flight to Cusco. On arrival you will be greeted and taken to your hotel where you will check in for a 1 night stay.

This afternoon we have included a tour of Cusco to take you to the key sites of this historical city, you will visit the Santo Domingo Convent built over the Inca Qoricancha temple, one of the most important temples dedicated to the worship of the sun as well as the cathedral at Plaza de Armas which features an elaborate Renaissance-baroque complex.

Afterwards you will head to the hills above Cusco to visit the remains of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman and witness panoramic views over Cusco!

Day 3: Cusco to Sacred Valley

Following breakfast depart for the Urubamba River Valley, known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop off at the Awana Kancha where you will learn about llamas, alpacas and vicunas. Pisac is the next stop and a wander through the markets of this historic town before breaking for lunch at a local diner.

After lunch head to the Ollantaytambo fortress, which controlled access to the Sacred Valley. This site is a huge archaeological complex which was originally a tambo, a leisure city used by people travelling long distances.

Day 4: Sacred Valley to Inca Trail

You will be collected from your hotel this morning and taken to km82 of the Sacred Valley highway. After breakfast you will begin your trek along the Inca Trail! The Inca roads are part of a road network of around 60,000km which joined the Inca Empire, its hub was located in Cusco.

You will walk all day today, stopping at noon for lunch and continuing on until 5pm when you will stop and set up camp for the night. After your first day hiking at altitude you are bound to be tired so its dinner at camp and an early night tonight.

Day 5: Inca Trail

A very early start today, after breakfast at the camp its back on the road by 7am. The road changes slightly now with more ascents and descents and breath-taking views as you trek, the path today was part of the main route of the Inca roads and is one of the most spectacular in the world.

After a hard mornings hiking you will set up camp in Pacaymayo where lunch and dinner will be served.

Day 6: Inca Trail

This is the longest and most impressive day of the trek due to the quantity of archaeological complexes and the cloud forest you will find on the way. After a delicious lunch in Chaquicocha you will ascend to the Phuyupatamarca pass, walking through a cloud forest to reach the final camp at Winayhuayna.

Day 7: Arrive Machu Picchu

You will get up in the dark today and make your 2way along the final bit of the trail to Machu Picchu by torchlight with the help of your guide. On arrival you will get to sit and watch the sun rise over the ruins, you will make the final descent to the official entry and spend the morning touring the ancient site before descending to Agues Calientes.

From here you will make your way by train back to Cusco, on arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel.

Day 8: Depart Cusco

You will be collected from your hotel this morning and taken to the airport to connect with your onward flight.