Cusco, Sacred Valley & the Inca Trail

An action-packed 10 day holiday to Peru taking in the highlights of Cusco and the Sacred Valley, before heading out on one of the world's most iconic treks in the footsteps of the ancient Incas in the majestic Andean mountains

Your holiday starts and finishes in Lima and includes a guided tour of Peru's capital before heading on to Cusco, the ancient capital. With an afternoon at leisure followed by a thrilling white water rafting excursion you will have the chance to get used to the altitude and acclimatise. You will head off on a private tour of the key sites of the Sacred Valley, including Ollantaytambo and Pisac, as well as visiting a local market. With a guide to yourself for the day, you will be able to spend as much time as you want discovering the sites and getting to grips with Incan history (as well as some time to fit in shopping at the market).

The second part of your trip involves a 4 or 5 day trek in the mountains. The majority of trekkers choose to reach Machu Picchu via the 4 Day Inca Trail, arriving at the Sun Gate on the final day of the trek to watch the sun rising above the citadel. However, with government regulation of the trail reducing the number of daily trekkers and porters to 500, availability is limited. If you miss out on a permit for the Inca trail, two alternatives are on offer; the Salkantay and Lares trails. Both of these offer fantastic hiking, with the added bonus that they are not as popular as the Inca Trail, meaning fewer people around. Both of these treks take you to Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu where you stay the night before arriving in Machu Picchu the next day by bus.

Whichever trek you decide on, you can't fail to be captivated by the ancient citadel, it's location, hidden deep within the mountains and air of mystery make it irresistible to all who visit. After a guided tour of the ruins, there is plenty of time to explore at your leisure before heading back to Cusco by train and bus and rewarding yourself with a nice hot shower to clean off the mountain dust! Your trip is rounded off with a final day in Cusco, with a guided tour of the city and then an afternoon at leisure, before heading back to Lima the next dat.

This holiday is aimed at those with an adventurous spirit looking for an active holiday. You do need to be in good shape to trek in the mountains is Peru and it is recommended that you do some regular exercise in the month before you depart. That said, you don’t have to be a fitness freak; children as young as 7 and adults of 68 have completed the trail. We strongly recommend that you allow at least 2 -3 days acclimatisation before you start your trek. This is to ensure your enjoyment and well-being. You will be hiking at altitude, so it is essential that you take it slowly and at your own pace.

The Peruvian government has now limited places on the Inca trail by issuing an allocation of 500 permits per day. This includes all porters, guides and cooks, so it fills up quickly. The high season on the trail is from May – September so you will need to book quite a way in advance if you want to trek this particular trail – we recommend at least 5 to 6 months in advance.

The Lares & Salkantay trails are alternative treks to the Inca Trail and as there are no permits required, are available all year round. Of these two treks, the Lares is the gentler option, offering more of a cultural experience. Salkantay is more strenuous.

The maximum group size for the trek is 16 people. The guide to walkers ration is 1 : 9. Don’t worry about being rushed along too fast, there will be plenty of time for comfort breaks and chances to admire the views along the way. The guide will always walk at the back with the last person in the group, so you really don’t need to be concerned about taking too long. This is a cultural journey, not a running race!

This trek is organized by a professional and licensed tour operator who has been operating in the region for the past 12 years. They know what they’re doing and treat their porters well, ensuring that they are well equipped and fairly paid.

The white water rafting trip is on Class 2 - 3 rapids and you don't need to have any experience to participate.