Alternative Inca trail trek, Andean High Adventure
| country: | Peru |
| location: | Inca Trail, Machu Picchu |
| trip type: | High altitude, very challenging trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 30 Jul, 13 Aug, 27 Aug, 10 Sep, 24 Sep 2009: 22 Apr, 6 May, 20 May, 3 Jun, 17 Jun |
| price: | From £1082 (13 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary. Offset your carbon emissions for an additional £6. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Our Andean High Adventure trek lets you enjoy a challenging trek via magnificent Salcantay before joining the traditional Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba rise to form a ragged mountain chain between two great rivers, the Apurimac and the Urubamba. This area offers a challenging alternative to the conventional Inca Trail trek.
The high, narrow trail leads past mountain scenery with views of Salcantay (6271m) and Huamantay (5917m). Accompanied by pack mules, the trek reaches its highest point at the Incachiriaska Pass (4950m) and then descends to join the conventional Inca Trail at the ruins of Sayacmarca (3850m). From here the trail leads to the famous Inca Sun Gate and the great ruins of Machu Picchu. There’s also time at the start and finish of our trek to explore the wonderful Inca city of Cusco.
Our adventure includes tour leaders, local guides, arrival transfer, porterage on Salcantay Trek, portable altitude chamber, camping equipment, trek pack (sleeping bag, sleeping sheet, warm jacket, wet weather jacket, form mattress, kit bag), accommodation (6 nights comfortable hotel and 6 nights camping), some meals (12 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners), sightseeing, entrance fees and park fees as indicated.
For nearly 30 years we have led the field in adventure travel because of our: level of destination expertise; locally born and raised tour leaders; small groups of no more than 16 on land tours; innovative itineraries that include both the iconic sights and off-the-beaten-track highlights; and responsible tourism practices. Your adventure begins here!
The high, narrow trail leads past mountain scenery with views of Salcantay (6271m) and Huamantay (5917m). Accompanied by pack mules, the trek reaches its highest point at the Incachiriaska Pass (4950m) and then descends to join the conventional Inca Trail at the ruins of Sayacmarca (3850m). From here the trail leads to the famous Inca Sun Gate and the great ruins of Machu Picchu. There’s also time at the start and finish of our trek to explore the wonderful Inca city of Cusco.
Our adventure includes tour leaders, local guides, arrival transfer, porterage on Salcantay Trek, portable altitude chamber, camping equipment, trek pack (sleeping bag, sleeping sheet, warm jacket, wet weather jacket, form mattress, kit bag), accommodation (6 nights comfortable hotel and 6 nights camping), some meals (12 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners), sightseeing, entrance fees and park fees as indicated.
For nearly 30 years we have led the field in adventure travel because of our: level of destination expertise; locally born and raised tour leaders; small groups of no more than 16 on land tours; innovative itineraries that include both the iconic sights and off-the-beaten-track highlights; and responsible tourism practices. Your adventure begins here!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | (Wed) Arrive in Lima and transfer to hotel. Tour of colonial centre. |
| Day 3-4: | Morning flight to Cusco. Walking tour of Cusco. Full day excursion to Sacred Valley. |
| Day 5-10: | Trek the Salcantay and Inca Trail reaching a maximum height of 4950 metres. |
| Day 11: | Early start to Machu Picchu. Explore the ruins and descend to Aguas Calientes. Late afternoon train to Cusco. |
| Day 12: | Free day in Cusco with time for optional activities |
| Day 13: | Fly to Lima where trip ends on arrival (Mon). |
avoid disappointment - book your Inca Trail holiday in time
In the last few years, the Peruvian government has imposed increasing restrictions on tourism on the Inca Trail in order to protect it from overuse. The aim is to minimise ecological impact and erosion, mainly by having limited access and improving the quality of the operators. There are now only a very limited number of trekking permits available - 500 per day (around 200 for travellers and the rest for staff) - and they are being issued on a first-come-first-served basis. In order to avoid disappointment we recommend booking well in advance (up to a minimum of 3 months in peak season), unless you are extremely flexible over your travel dates.small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Enjoy a challenging trek in Peru with the help of locals, as our Peruvian tour leader and crew gives you a first-hand insight into the exotic and colourful tapestry that make up their homeland. A team of local Quechuan Indians transport your gear and help provide all your meals. Supplies are carried on pack mules and all rubbish is brought back out. You trek via Mount Salcantay (6271m) before joining the traditional Inca Trail that leads to one of South America's most famous sites, Machu Picchu.
Wandering around historic colonial towns and cities, discovering magnificent archaeological sites, exploring valleys and mountains and uncovering secluded villages impart to travellers an awareness of these valuable natural and historical gems and the importance of them being preserved and protected, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations. The people living in the various regions also have rich and enduring cultures, which are unveiled on this trip. Equally important, your local tour leader will help you to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’. To support tour programs in Peru this operator is training tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. They prefer to give their patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as they feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |