Internationale groepsreis Sacred Valley & One-Day Inca Trail Trek

In the altiplano hills, Cuzco, the imperial city of the Incas, was the geographic, cultural and political centre of a vast empire which, at its peak, stretched from present-day Quito in Ecuador to Santiago, Chile. After Spanish conquistadors invaded the city, they built on top of Inca structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of the Spanish colonial and Inca styles. There is a noticeboard in the hotel reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be held. Remember to take it easy on arrival in Cuzco (and drink plenty of water) to help your body adjust to the altitude (11,155ft/3,400m). Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)

The hills above Cuzco are dotted with spectacular Inca ruins. We drive to the highest, Tambomachay, and return on foot to Cuzco via Puca Pucara, Qenco and Sacsayhuaman: an easy acclimatisation walk to get used to the altitude. An open-air picnic lunch is included during the hike near the ruins. Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)

Today has been left free for exploring Cuzco. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people watching and Qorikancha (the Sun Temple) in the Santo Domingo church and monastery are worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs, such as alpaca jumpers and scarves. If you would like something more active, there is an array of other optional activities available from Cuzco, including paddleboarding on a lake, mountain biking, or a combination of via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley. Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)

We drive from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo (approximately two hours’ drive) and then onto Pumamarca (approximately 30 minutes), the remains of a hillside fortress on a steep slope overlooking the Sacred Valley. These ruins are less visited than others in the area so our time here should be relatively uninterrupted. After we finish exploring, we walk back through the valley to Ollantaytambo, with views of the terraced countryside along the way. The walk should take about three hours. Accommodation: Tunupa Lodge (or similar)

We wake early for a scenic train journey through the Urubamba River valley (approximately 1hr 20min) to Km104 where we disembark, cross the river, and start our full-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Our uphill efforts are rewarded with spectacular views and access to the attractive ruins of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), where we enjoy our box lunch. From here, a relatively flat trail takes us past wild orchids to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), where we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu, one of the New Wonders of the World. Our afternoon arrival usually yields great photo opportunities as we descend into the ruins complex. With our full tour tomorrow, we exit the site and board the bus to Aguas Calientes to enjoy a well-earned meal, shower and a comfortable bed for the night in preparation for our early return to Machu Picchu. Accommodation: Inti Punku Machu Picchu (or similar)

We start early to beat the day-trippers from Cuzco and reach the ruins as early as possible; buses return us up the winding road to the Machu Picchu entrance. During high season (May to October), there may be a bit of a wait. Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is the staggering mountain backdrop. The Spaniards never found it, the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained an enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. The guided tour highlights the history, culture, architecture and mysteries that Machu Picchu holds to this day. This afternoon, we catch the train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min) and continue by private bus to Cuzco (1hr 30min). Accommodation: MamaSara Hotel (or similar)

Begin your return journey home after breakfast. But if you’re not ready for the adventure to end, you can always book onto our Lake Titicaca extension, where you explore the sky-high waters by boat, visit an indigenous community and explore the pre‐Incan site of Sillustani. Alternatively, journey into the wilds on our Amazon Rainforest extension and explore lakes, rivers and jungle trails in search of the abundant wildlife that lives there.