Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu

Day 1 - Fly London to Cuzco

Depart London on your overnight flight to Cuzco.

Overnight: In flight

Day 2 - Arrive Cuzco, 3,400m/11,200ft. Transfer to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley, 2,871m/9,419ft - 50km, 2 hours.

You will be met on arrival in Cuzco and transferred down to the Sacred Valley where you will check into your hotel in Urubamba. This is set at a lower altitude then Cuzco which will help with your initial acclimatisation. You will have the rest of the day to relax after your long flight and perhaps explore a little of the area near your hotel, which has good views of the valley and the snow-capped mountains. Your guide will organise a welcome briefing for the group in the evening to let you know about the arrangements for the next few days.

The Sacred Valley, or Vilcamayo to the Incas, is a beautiful, fertile valley carved by the Urubamba River which flows from the high Andes all the way to the Amazon Jungle. High above the valley, snow peaks glisten in the sun while in the fertile fields below local people harvest crops such as maize, quinoa and many kinds of potato - this valley was the breadbasket of the famous Inca Empire. Everywhere there is evidence of earlier Inca settlement with a host of terraces, walls, temples and burial towers in varying states of repair. And marking the opposite ends of the Sacred Valley stand the two remarkable Inca citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo.

Overnight: Hotel Augustos Or Similar, Urabamba

Day 3 - Full day sightseeing in the Inca Valley. Visit Pisac, Potato Park, the Chawaytire Community and the Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo.

This morning you head along the Sacred valley to the town of Pisac, which lies at the eastern end of the Valley. Here, situated above the town, is an extensive and impressive Inca complex clinging to the mountain top. The citadel at Pisac was originally positioned on a major Inca route into the Sacred Valley and controlled access to the eastern jungle. The ruins are set high above the valley floor and have tremendous views. Terraces, water ducts and steps are cut out of solid rock, and in the upper sector of the ruins, the main Inthihuatana (a ritual stone associated with the astronomical clock or calendar) is equal to anything at Machu Picchu. Pisca town itself dates back to colonial times and has an interesting artisan market where you can check out the local handicrafts and test your bartering skills.

You will then visit nearby 'Potato Park' where you can learn about this quintessentially Peruvian product. Peru has 4,000 types of potatoes and Potato Park is a great place to learn about them and traditional Inca agricultural practices. Here, people from local communities, such as the Qachum Waqchi and the Papa Arariwa, are working to preserve their native strains of potatoes and traditional cultivation techniques, and are proud to share this knowledge with visitors. From the Park you will travel on to visit the Chawaytire community. This is a community of small farms where they grow potatoes, beans and quinoa. They are also weavers and keep sheep, llamas and alpacas whose wool is used in the creation of the beautiful fabrics that can be found throughout the area. The Chawaytire will be your hosts for a tasty lunch made from local products including, of course, different types of potato which you will have seen earlier.

After lunch you travel to Ollantaytambo, an attractive little town located at the western end of the Sacred Valley. The town is built on top of original Inca foundations and is probably the best surviving example of Inca town planning. It is located at the foot of the spectacular ruins of an Inca fortess which protected the way to the lower Urubamba Valley. Here in 1536 Manco Inca managed to stem the tide of Spanish expansion. This victory was short-lived however when the Spanish returned with four times their previous force. Manco Inca retreated to his jungle stronghold in Vilcambamba and Ollantaytambo fell to the Spanish. The complex was still under construction at the time of the conquest and was never completed. The fortress and town represent some of the best of Inca architecture and construction, with fine examples of beautifully carved polygonal stones and monumental rocks.

Overnight: Hotel Augustos Or Similar, Urabamba

Day 4 - Visit Moray earthworks, Maras salt pans and Chinchero Village.

After breakfast you drive above the Sacred valley for further sightseeing. Firstly you visit the extraordinary Inca earthworks of Moray. There is no other site quite like Moray - three crater like depressions are lined with a series of concentric ciruclar terraces disappearing down into the earth. Some think that this may have been the site of sophisticated Inca agricultural experiments with each terrace representing an altitude zone. It is thought that the terraces containing walls were filled with fertile earth and watered by complex irrigations systems which enabled the Incas to grow more than 250 plant species.

You then travel the short distance to the ancient town of Maras with its vast church and distinctive colonial Spanish door arches. Maras was formerly renowned for its spies due to its strategic location above the Sacred Valley which enabled the local inhabitants to keep track of the movement of all travellers in and out of the valley. The town is now famous for its salt pans, where salt has been harvested since pre-Inca times. The hundreds of salt pans cover a whole hillside, and in sunny weather you will be dazzled by the white of the pools.

You will then visit Chincheros, a picturesque village which was an important Inca centre and is known for the traditional Andean weaving skills of its craftsmen. You will have the opportunity to see their wares in the main square where the people often gather to exhibit their merchandise.

Overnight: Hotel Augustos Or Similar, Urabamba

Day 5 - Start Inca Trail at Piscacucho, 2,680m/8,790ft. Trek to Ayapata, 3,000m/9,842ft - 6-7 hours.

After breakfast you drive twenty minutes to the trailhead at Piscacucho (Km 82). Here you meet the porters and cooks who will support your journey to Machu Picchu. For the trek your luggage will be carried by these porters, your tents are put up for you and you will have a cook team to prepare your food.

From Piscacucho you set off on an undulating trail above the Vilcanota River until you reach the spectacular ruins of Llactapata, 2,788m/9,146ft. You then climb in cloud forest, with good mountain views, including of the summit of W'akay Willca (Mount Veronica). You continue up the Cusichaca Valley passing archaeological excavations to reach the small hamlet of Huallyabamba, 3,000m/9,840ft, the last inhabited place on the trail. You will continue to camp at Ayapata, a beautiful quiet campsite.

Overnight: Camp

Day 6 - Cross Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass), 4,200m/13,780ft, continue to Chaquicocha, 3,600m/11,811ft, to camp – 7-8 hours.

Today is the toughest day of the Inca Trail! You begin by climbing through amazing stunted cloud forest to Llulluchupampa, where there are more spectacular views down the valley. You then start up to the highest point of the trek to arrive at the impressive Abra de Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman's Pass). You can rest here for a while to savour your achievement! You then descend into the small and perfectly formed Pacasmayo ('Hidden River') Valley, 3,650m/11,975ft, where you will have lunch. This is beautiful walking with humming birds and other birds and an incredible variety of native plants and trees such as 'Polylepsis' which only grows in cloud forest at this altitude. After lunch you climb for a further 2 hours passing the dramatic circular Inca site of Runcu Raccay to reach the pass at almost 4,000m and continue to camp at Chaquicocha. This beautiful and quiet campsite offers great sunset views if the weather is clear.

Overnight: Camp

Day 7 - Trek to Winay Wayna, 2,600m/8,528ft – 4-5 hours.

Today you will find the walking easier, as well as being treated to incredible landscapes, lush and verdant cloud forest, unique Andean flora and a host of exotic, colourful birds. Continuing along a staggeringly engineered Inca stone path you pass Sayacmarca ruins, just one example of the fine Inca aesthetic seen in so many of their buildings, where a site is deliberately chosen for its dramatic views or beautiful situation. You continue along the ridge, passing through several Inca tunnels, corkscrewing backward and forwards over a ridge with fantastic views, until a slight ascent brings you to a pass at 3,658m/12,000ft, and then you descend slightly to Phuyupatamarca ruins - the 'place above the clouds'.

Now, as you walk along, you will enjoy fine views over to the Salcantay and Pumasillo ranges, with the Machu Picchu ridge below and the Urubamba River descending towards the Amazon. Your trail finally brings you through cloud forest to Wiñay Wayña, another interesting ruin of steep Inca terraces which is often full of orchids and swallows. Wiñay Wayña, means 'forever young' and this Inca site was only discovered in 1941. Your camp for tonight is nearby and you should arrive here by lunchtime or early afternoon. Once you have settled into your tents, you will have time for an extended tour of the ruins.

Overnight: Camp

Day 8 - Trek to Inti Punka (Sun Gate), 2,745m/9,006ft – 2 hourrs. Descend to Machu Picchu ruins, 2,429m/7,972ft. Option to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu

Full of anticipation of the treats to come you will have an early breakfast today before you head off on the final stage of the Inca Trail. You will reach the Inti Punku, the 'Gateway of the Sun', for your first mesmerising glimpse of Machu Picchu in the dawn light - one of the most magical and iconic views on the planet. Machu Picchu is a place that really lives up to all expectations. The setting is breathtaking and the ruins themselves are sensational.

You will descend to the UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can explore a little and have the opportunity for an optional ascent of Huayna Picchu. This is a climb of some 3,53m/1,158ft, taking about 1 hour to ascend and 45 minutes for the descent. It involves some steep sections of stone steps and you need a good head for heights. If you prefer you could instead climb to the summit of Machu Picchu Peak - this is also a fantastic climb if a little longer, with great views from the summit, but the way is slightly less precipitous than the Huayna Picchu ascent. If you wish to do either of these optional climbs please contact the Mountain Kingdoms office as soon as possible, and we will advise the cost. We need to know in advance because only a limited amount of people are allowed to climb the peaks each day.

Later you will catch a bus down to the colourful town of Machu Picchu Pueblo (also known as Aguas Calientes) and celebrate your return to civilisation. Later you might make a visit to relax in the hot springs.

Overnight: Casa Andina Or Similar, Machu Picchu Pueblo

Day 9 - Morning at leisure. Afternoon train to Poroy and short bus ride to Cuzco.

You have a free morning today to explore Machu Picchu Pueblo before boarding a train for very a scenic ride along the Urabamba Valley towards Cuzco. Your journey ends at Poroy where a bus will speed you to Cuzco and your hotel.

Overnight: Casa Andina Cuzco Plaza Or Similar, Cuzco

Day 10 - Time at leisure in Cuzco. Group transfer to airport. Depart for London.

You will have the morning free for some exploration of Cuzco before you are transferred to the airport for your overnight flight back to London.

If you wish to have more time in Cuzco after your trek please speak to our office about arranging extra nights.

Overnight: In flight

Day 11 - Arrive London.