Trek the Inca Trail itinerary
From London to Peru and then onto Cusco and Machu Picchu, see how our trek will unfold.
Day 1: On our way to Peru
We meet in London to fly to Lima, the capital of Peru. We'll then transfer to a hotel for a good nights rest before beginning the challenge.
Day 2: Travel to Cusco
We wake up early for a morning flight to Cusco where we will transfer to a downtown hotel. After a trip briefing you'll be free for the afternoon to gently explore the sights of the ancient city of Cusco, and watch the world go by in one of the cafes on the Plaza de Armas. Today is intended to adjust to the altitude, which will reach 4200 metres on the trek.
Day 3: Circling around Cusco
Today we'll enjoy an acclimatisation walk from Tambo Machay, an ancient ruin high in the Cusco valley, past some of the amazing Inca sites in the countryside around the city. Walking downhill to Sacsayhuaman we'll see the huge and impressive Inca ruin on the outskirts of Cusco, before returning to the town and hotel.
Walk time approximately 5 hours
Day 4: Beginning the Inca trail
After a second night at altitude we should all be feeling ready for action. We have a three hour drive 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 takes us to our 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 5000m.
Walk time approximately 6 hours
Day 5: Dead Woman's Pass
Today we have the big climb from 2700m to Dead Woman’s Pass at 4200m. This is a relentless and steep climb on narrow trails through grassland and then cloud forest. Eventually it opens out onto pasture where we will have lunch with snow-capped mountains behind us. The final stretch to the top of the pass is well maintained with steps. We descend 500m on steps to our evening's campsite at Pacamayo below the ruins of Runkurakay.
Trekking time approximately 8-12 hours
Day 6: A day of steps
On the Inca Trail proper the path is mostly steep steps with ruins every mile or so along the way. This morning we have our second high pass at 4000m. The descent takes around an hour to Sayacmarca ruin, which is perched above more steps. From here the trail is wide and very pretty with interesting fragments of cloud forest en route. The third pass is reached after walking through an Inca tunnel in the rock and a gentle climb. We continue on to the ruins of Puyupatamarca and then descend steep steps to our camp - site at Winay Wayna.
Trekking time approximately 8-10 hours
Day 7: Exploring Machu Picchu
We start early and have 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 Urubamba river. We arrive at Machu Picchu at around 10 am before the crowds arrive from Cusco. Once we have explored the ruins thoroughly we will take a bus down to the train station at Aguas Calientes for the spectacular train journey back to Ollantaytambo and onward bus to Cusco.
Trekking time approximately 3 hours
Day 8: Free day
Today is a free day in Cusco to relax and recover, explore the city further, or just sit and enjoy the atmosphere and many places to eat and drink.
Day 9: Back to Lima
We take a morning flight back from Cusco to Lima, linking up with the evening flight back to London. There is the option for a city tour in Lima.
Day 10: Arrive in London
After flying through the night and day, we arrive in London in the early evening.
