Inca Trail

The route to Cuzco may involve a connection, depending on your flight schedule.

Night: in flight.

It will be a morning arrival in Cuzco (3,400m) and a transfer to the group’s downtown hotel. After a trip briefing, the afternoon will be free to explore the sites of this historic city, or simply adjust to the altitude by watching the world go by in one of the numerous cafés on the Plaza de Armas.

Night: hotel.

The first day’s trek will take you and your group from Tambo Machay, an ancient ruin high in the hills above Cuzco. With your group and Discover Adventure guides, you will pass some of the amazing Inca sites in the surrounding countryside on the walk downhill to Sacsayhuaman, the huge and impressive Inca ruin on the outskirts of Cuzco.

As well as beautiful scenery and fascinating ruins, the day’s trekking offers excellent acclimatisation to the altitude.

Night: hotel.

Trek approx 5 hours

A second night at altitude should help you and your group feel ready for action!

Leaving Cuzco behind, you will head out along the Sacred Valley via Ollantaytambo to the Trail’s starting-point at Km82. The first half-day walk is fairly easy and on an undulating path which follows the Urubamba River for much of the way.

After lunch a gentle climb will take you to the camp at Wayllabamba. There are a couple of steep drops and climbs into gullies along the way, with great views of Mt Veronica standing at 5,000m. The route will pass a couple of small places to buy cokes! The path is dusty but firm and there are no steps.

Night camp: (3,000m).

Drive approx 3 hours; trek approx 5-6 hours

Today is the big climb – rising from camp all the way to Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,200m. This will be a relentless and steep climb on narrow trails, first through grassland, then cloud forest (where some people start to feel the altitude), where the path is steeper and can be muddy. Eventually it will open out onto pasture where you and your group will have lunch, with snow-capped mountains behind you and a distant view up to the top of the pass, which will be several hours ahead.

The final stretch to the top of the pass is well maintained with steps but the pace will be slow because of the altitude. From the top, you will descend on steps to the evening’s campsite at Pacamayo, below the ruins of Runkurakay.

Night camp: (3,500m).

Trek approx 8-12 hours

The day will see you step onto the Inca Trail. The path is mostly steps ,which are steep in places, and there are ruins every mile or so along the way.

The second high pass will be at 4,000m, again with steps leading up to the top and down the other side. The descent takes around an hour to Sayacmarca ruin (3,600m), which is perched above more steps. From here the trail is very pretty, wide and easy-going with interesting fragments of cloud forest en route. The third pass will be reached easily after passing through an Inca tunnel in the rock and a gentle climb. You and your group will continue on to the ruins of Puyupatamarca and then descend steep steps to the campsite at Winay Wayna.

Night camp (2,640m).

Trek approx 8-10 hours

Day seven will have an early start and a three hour walk to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, along a beautiful stretch of trail, scattered with ruins and some steep flights of steps with a few large drops down the side to the Urubamba River. The group should arrive at Machu Picchu before the crowds arrive from Cuzco. You will enjoy a guided tour around this extraordinary site, before meeting up in Aguas Calientes for lunch.

In the afternoon you and the group will take the train back to Ollantaytambo and return to Cuzco by bus arriving in the evening.

Night: hotel.

Trek approx 3 hours; train/bus travel approx 3 hours

(Dinner not included)

After a good night’s sleep and a relaxing lie-in you will have the remainder of the day free to explore Cuzco or do any last-minute shopping. Those looking for an adrenaline fix may wish to pre-book on to a White Water Rafting Activity (see below for extension options). Later in the evening you and your group can all meet up for dinner to celebrate your achievements.

Night: hotel.

(Lunch not included)

After some free time this morning, you will board the afternoon flight, which may involve a connection to your onward flight back to London.

(Lunch not included)

Further flight information will be provided upon booking.