On arrival in Cusco airport please proceed to the baggage hall. At the exit to the building your guide will be waiting for you with a sign at the barrier outside the arrivals gate. They will escort you to the hotel for the night. As in all Peruvian hotels, reception will need to take a copy of your passport and immigration card when you are checking in.

You will have an expert guide at your disposal to show you some of the highlights of this beautiful city. Tell him what you like and he can advise as to the best route for your tour.

You may choose to start with the Plaza de Armas and a visit to its impressive cathedral. Qoricancha temple, once home to life sized statues in solid gold is another very popular option.

If time permits, you could visit one of the bustling markets, full of tropical fruits fresh from the Amazon or even head up through the San Blas artisan district to San Cristobal church for a spectacular view over the red tiled rooftops of Cusco. At a convenient time your guide will arrange a full briefing for the days ahead.

Lunch today is in a beautifully converted colonial building just off the main square complete with an in house factory and museum dedicated to Peruvian Coffee production.

Overnight in Cusco: Hotel Quinta San Blas or similar
Meals Included: Lunch

DAY 2: Raft the Upper Urubamba

Today you challenge the Grade III-IV rapids of the Upper Urubamba river. Our expert guides will give you a thorough safety briefing and the best equipment in the country. Fully prepared you launch from the bank and off down the finest one day section of whitewater in Peru. Whether you are a beginner or expert you are sure to finish with a grin from ear to ear.

Once you have changed into dry clothes you can enjoy a delicious picnic lunch on the banks of the river before the short drive to Pisac. Here you can explore this famous handicraft market with the help of your guide. Perhaps you can try one of the tasty empanadas fresh from the old town oven. Finally you head to your hotel for the night.

Overnight in Pisac: Pisac Inn or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 3: Cycle the Sacred Valley

This ride is perfect for anyone who enjoys getting out on a bike: its versatility means it can be easily adapted to suit every level and age. It’s an incredibly scenic ride, combining Andean mountain passes, gentle descents and a lovely amble through the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

We begin with a visit to Pisac. At this small town based in the Sacred Valley of the Incas we can stop for a stroll around the lovely plaza and artisan market stalls.

Here we unload the bikes, kit up and begin the dirt track ride down into the Andean village of Taray and the start of the alternative Sacred Valley descent. This lovely dirt track undulates between local villages and haciendas, where we can see traditional farming methods still in use against the beautiful backdrop of glaciated mountains and Inca ruins.

We stop for a picnic lunch en-route. The support vehicle will be on hand for the final section, allowing us to carry on through the villages of Qoya, Lamay and Calca. If feeling strong we can then continue to Urubamba or even Ollantaytambo itself.

Overnight in Ollantaytambo: Hotel Pakaritampu or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4: Hike the Royal Inca Trail (km 104) to Machu Picchu

You start the day with an early transfer to catch the train towards Machu Picchu. Jumping off at km104 you pass through the control point and begin your Inca Trail trek.

First you visit the recently restored ruins of Chachabamba before gradually ascending through tropical cloud forest up towards the the base of Wiñay Wayna. Here you climb more steeply on old Inca stairways through these beautiful terraces, stopping to explore the various buildings and water features.

Here we can enjoy our packed lunch, with a great view. You then continue on perhaps the loveliest part of the whole Inca Trail. Lush vegetation flanks you on either side, the scent of wild orchids fills the air, and all around you brightly coloured tropical songbirds fill your ears with song.

Soon you will reach a final set of stairs to arrive at Inti Punku, the gateway of the Sun. As you step through the old stone gate-way, Machu Picchu appears laid out before your eyes. After plenty of photos you carry on past this wonder of the world to catch the bus down to the lively town of Machu Picchu Pueblo and a well-deserved hotel and shower.

Total hiking distance: 11 km / 7 mi. While walking all you need is your daypack, as your over-night luggage will be transferred to your hotel in Machu Picchu town to await your arrival.

Overnight in Aguas Calientes: El MaPi by Inkaterra or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5: Machu Picchu Ruins & Train 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.

Overnight in Cusco: Hotel Quinta San Blas or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 6: Free Morning in Cusco & Depart

Back once more in the old Inca capital you have time to enjoy all that this city has to offer, depending on your flight schedule. 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 maximize your time and get the most out of this holiday of a lifetime.

Meals Included: Breakfast