DAY 1: Arrive in Cusco & Local’s Tour of Cusco

On arrival in Cusco airport (flight not included) 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 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.

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

DAY 2: Hike Cusco Outlying Ruins

This lovely walking (or vehicle) tour is a superb introduction into the Inca heritage of Peru.

First we visit 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) and the Red fort of Puca Pucara followed by a picnic lunch nearby. From here, an optional hike following an ancient Inca trail takes us downhill to Cusco (or vehicle transfer), stopping at the Temple of the Moon and other historical sites along the way.

Hiking distance: 8km / 5mi
Hiking time: A full day includes time to explore
Hiking Elevation: 3750 to 3300m / 12,303ft to 10,827ft

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

DAY 3: Moray to Maras Salt Pans Hike

We head towards Chinchero plain before taking a dirt road to the incredible ruins of Moray. These rarely visited circular ruins are thought to have been agricultural experimental stations in the times of the Incas.

After visiting the ruins we follow an ancient mule trail with spectacular views of the snow capped Cordillera Vilcanota. We will also see examples of the finest Andean farming on our way. We head back across the plains to the interesting town of Maras for lunch.

In the afternoon we descend from Maras to the amazing Salinas, a series of salt pans that have been worked since Inca times. We explore this amazing site then descend to the Urubamba river and our awaiting vehicle, which returns us to your hotel for the night.

Your support vehicle is on hand most of the day, should anyone prefer to take a ride rather than walk at any point.

Hiking distance: 11km / 7mi
Hiking time: 6 hours includes time to explore
Hiking Elevation: 3532 m to 4050m / 11,588ft to 13,288ft

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

DAY 4: Begin Salkantay Trek

Departing your hotel early we enjoy a spectacular drive across the Anta plains and down towards the Apurimac valley, before climbing up to the small town of Mollepata and continue on to Soraypampa. We then meet our muleteers and start is a great acclimatisation hike to a beautiful mountain lake and a chance to stretch our legs before we head to our campsite on the large Soraypampa plain.

Overnight: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Salkantay Trek

A beautiful but tough day’s hiking, as we 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 we will have spectacular views of the snowy glaciers of Salcantay.

With frequent stops to allow time to acclimatize, we hope to cross the pass before the weather closes in and start our climb back down to Huayracmachay – “The windy place”. We continue further down the valley to Andenes and a slightly more sheltered campsite.

Overnight: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Salkantay Trek

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

We 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. Further down we meet our first signs of “civilization” in the form of the odd coca-cola and beer stall.

We cross several small streams and finally arrive at Playa. This is our chance to grab a cold drink before the short hike along the road to Lucmabamba, where we 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, which boasts gorgeous hot-springs.

Overnight: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: End Salkantay Trek

Our final day of hiking takes us through the lush vegetation of coffee and tropical fruit plantations and up into pristine cloud forest. We follow an ancient Inca trail to Llactapata, an Inca site that has only recently been excavated. We will also have a truly amazing view of Machu Picchu that few tourists get to see, in our unique location from behind.

We descend to the Urubamba valley to the hydroelectric plant from where a short, but spectacular train journey brings us to the bustling tourist town now known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. Here we check into our hotel and enjoy a shower before heading out to sample one of the many restaurants and bars.

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

DAY 8: Machu Picchu Ruins & 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.

Please discus with your guide exactly what time you wish to arrive at Machu Picchu. 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.

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

DAY 9: Free Morning & Depart Cusco

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 maximize your time and get the most out of this holiday of a lifetime (flights not included).

Meals included: Breakfast