Travelling from Lima to Cuzco, you will have ascended from sea level to 11,500 feet, so the first day you will be free to relax and acclimatize to the altitude. If you're feeling up to it, the city center is pedestrian-friendly and makes for a great stroll. We’d love to recommend the city's best options for dining and shopping, depending on your preferences and interests.

During your tour of Cuzco, the capital of the Incan Empire, you'll visit Sacsayhuaman, an immense Incan complex with mind-bogglingly precise stonework, Koricancha, one of the most important Incan temples (the walls were once actually coated in gold!), and Cuzco's Cathedral where you'll learn about the Cuzco School of Art.

Today you will head out early from your Cuzco hotel, to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and continue another hour to the start of the trail at Km 82. Your Inca Trail adventure begins here. After trekking for about three hours, you will arrive at the terraced Llactapata ruins. Then, you’ll continue through a lush valley before arriving at the evening campsite of Wayllabamba.

Today is the most challenging portion of the trail, as you climb three hours to Warmiwañusca, known as Dead Woman's Pass, at 13,780 feet. From the top you'll be able to take in breakthaking views of the surrounding valleys and enjoy a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Descending, you’ll arrive at the campsite of Pacaymayo.

After ascending to the Runkurakay pass at 13,123 feet, you will receive a guided tour of the fascinating ruins at Runkurakay and Sayacmarca. Lunch will be served at Phuyupatamarca, another important archaeological site and where the camp will be set.

We will start early in the morning going down the trail hiking for 3 hours until reaching Wiñaywayna at 8,856 feet, the main archaeological site after Machu Picchu in the Inca Trail, we will visit the site, from where we can see the Urubamba valley and the river. The path goes down to WiñayWayna ruins, the most important ruins after Machu Picchu, heading then towards IntiPunku at 9042 feet, the Gate of the Sun, our last pass. A boxed lunch will be provided. From this place, Machu Picchu looks unreal and beautiful. You will have your first brief introduction to the citadel late afternoon, as you head down towards your hotel in Aguas Calientes town, to spend a relaxing night.

Rising early to make it for sunrise over Machu Picchu, you will hike for about an hour to reach the "Sun Gate," where you will get your first view of Machu Picchu. After descending into the ruins, you will enjoy a two-hour guided tour of the Lost City of the Incas. You’ll have the afternoon free to continue to explore the ruins at your leisure before heading back by scenic train ride to Cuzco.

You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the Cuzco airport for your flight to Lima. Depending on the time of your international flight out a private tour of Lima's key sites can be arranged.