Private Inca Heritage Tour

A fantastic private 7 day guided tour taking you to some of the most well-known Incan sites in Peru, such as Pisac, Ollantaytambo and, of course, the Unesco World Heritage site of Machu Picchu. You will also be taken off the beaten track in the Sacred Valley to visit some of the less visited sites, as well as having time to explore the vibrant ancient Incan capital, Cusco.

Deep in the Andes, hidden for centuries by clouds and mountain rainforest, lies one of Perus' greatest mysteries. Discovered in 1911 by accident, Machu Picchu has been a draw for historians and travellers ever since. The well-preserved ruins perched within the most majestic of settings can never disappoint. And even though you have to share the Unesco World Heritage site with many other tourists, it still somehow manages to retain its mystical charm and allure. Added to the charm is the fact that the lack of a written Incan language means that to this day historians and archaeologists are still undecided as to its purpose. They are, all, however united in believing the site has and had a vast cultural significance.

In order to get to grips with the Inca culture and to form your own interpretation of Machu Pichhu, you need to spend some time in the ancient capital of Cusco, as well as visit the archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley. Piecing together the fragments of this hard-working and resilient culture, will help not just to put the Incan history together, but will also give an intriguing insight into modern day Peruvian life and how the Incan and Spanish heritage have evolved together.

This private guided tour takes you to the best-know sites of Cusco and its surrounds, as well as some of the hidden gems. Starting and ending in Lima, the country's vibrant capital, you will have the opportunity to see the highlights of modern and colonial Peru, before heading to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incan empire. Your private guide will take you off to explore the main sites of the Sacred Valley including Pisac, Ollantaytambo and a fascinating visit to a weaving village. You then travel by train to the gateway town of Aguas Calientes to visit the highlight of the tour, Machu Picchu. After a guided tour of the citadel and time to explore at your leisure, you travel back to the pretty Andean town of Ollantaytambo for the night. From here, you have another day in the Sacred Valley, this time taking in some of the lesser known sights, including Moray and Salineras. You end your tour back in Cusco where you will have a guided tour of the city's highlights and then a chance to explore at your leisure.

The beauty of this trip is that you have a private guide at your disposal, meaning that you can dictate the pace of the trip and ask as many questions as you want. Private tours also have the advantage that if you want to spend longer visiting somewhere, you can do so, without having to be jostled along with other tourists.

This itinerary has been put together for those who are interested in South American history and culture. You will be visiting a range of Incan sites, so by the end of your tour, you should have a real insight into Incan culture and way of living.

The sites visited are accessible to able-bodied visitors and whilst some walking and climbing stairs is necessary, it is not too physically challenging.

If you would like to extend this tour into a tailor-made holiday to Peru, please contact our Peru expert by emailing help@tourdust.com