Inca Discovery
| country: | Peru |
| location: | Inca Trail, Machu Picchu |
| trip type: | Strenuous trekking holidays |
| departures: | Departs once a day throughout the year |
| price: | From £359 (8 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $200 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Spend a week retracing the steps of the Inca, one of the most fascinating civilizations in the Americas. Travel from Lima into the heart of the Andes and the charming colonial town of Cuzco. You will have the opportunity to explore Cuzco and its nearby ruins on your own or with a guide, then join one of our expert local guides and porters to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Lima. |
| Day 2: | Cuzco. Early morning transfer to the airport for flight to Cuzco (as early as 4am). In Cuzco you will be met by your guide and transferred to the hotel. Relax or explore the spiritual sites of Sacsayhuaman and Tambo Machay. |
| Day 3: | Sacred Valley / Ollantaytambo. Travel with our local guide through the Sacred Valley, including the picturesque town and Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo. |
| Day 4-7: | Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (3B,3L,3D). A morning trip to km 82 begins a once in a lifetime journey on the ancient trail of the Incas. Local porters and guides ensure that the trip is worry-free. Fascinating ruins and spectacular mountain scenery fill every day of the hike. On the final day, climb the steps to Intipunku, the 'Sun Gate', to watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu before our tour of the famous Inca ruin. We return to Cuzco for the night. |
| Day 8: | Depart Cuzco. |
travellers' tales
The most exciting part of my holiday was hiking through the Peruvian jungle and feeling like you were discovering the Incan ruins yourself. (more)
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. how this holiday makes a difference
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Through our commitment to responsible tourism, we ensure minimal social and environmental impact in the places we visit by travelling in small groups, using local transportation and staying in locally-owned hotels. We also work with experienced local guides who are knowledgeable of local culture, history, flora and fauna.
In Peru we work closely with the Inca Porter Project (IPP) a non-profit organization that works to improve the lives and working conditions of porters on the Inca Trail. Together with IPP we have provided porter communities first-aid and job training workshops and ensure fair working conditions to all of our porters. On this tour we visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the city of Cuzco and the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu. |
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. |