Alternative Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu
| country: | Peru |
| location: | Inca Trail, Machu Picchu |
| trip type: | Strenuous trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 7 Apr, 21 Apr, 5 May, 19 May, 2 Jun, 23 Jun, 7 Jul, 21 Jul, 4 Aug, 25 Aug, 1 Sep, 22 Sep |
| price: | From £1620 (15 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary. We can arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The Alternative Inca Trail
The soaring peaks of the Andes and the cultural legacies of the Incas are two of Peru’s most compelling attractions. We discover both. In Cusco we savour the delights of this former Inca capital and appreciate the famous Inca ruins in the nearby Sacred Valley.
On our trek the pace changes as we venture beyond the Inca Trail establishing a series of spectacular campsites beneath a dramatic backdrop of peaks including the impressive Salcantay (6271m). We join the final stage of the Inca Trail to the former ‘Inca city’ of Machu Picchu – its commanding position a fitting reminder of how the Inca culture flourished until the 16th century.
The soaring peaks of the Andes and the cultural legacies of the Incas are two of Peru’s most compelling attractions. We discover both. In Cusco we savour the delights of this former Inca capital and appreciate the famous Inca ruins in the nearby Sacred Valley.
On our trek the pace changes as we venture beyond the Inca Trail establishing a series of spectacular campsites beneath a dramatic backdrop of peaks including the impressive Salcantay (6271m). We join the final stage of the Inca Trail to the former ‘Inca city’ of Machu Picchu – its commanding position a fitting reminder of how the Inca culture flourished until the 16th century.
what's included on our Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu
14 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 6 dinners, internal flights in Peru valued at US$238, airport transfers, expert bilingual guide, group medical kit, comfortable and central hotels, private internal transportation, gear pack including sleeping bag, fibre filled jacket and sleeping mat, group camping equipment, porters to carry personal gear, sightseeing and site entrance fees as listed (including Machu Picchu entrance fee).day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Join Lima |
| Day 2: | Fly to Cusco |
| Day 3: | In Cusco, city and walking tour |
| Day 4: | Drive to Sacred Valley of the Incas |
| Day 5: | Day walks in Sacred Valley |
| Day 6: | Drive to Mollepata and commence trek |
| Day 7-11: | Commence trek towards Chilca, views of Andean peaks |
| Day 12: | Train to KM104 trek classic Inca Trail to arrive at Machu Picchu |
| Day 13: | At Machu Picchu, afternoon train to Ollantaytambo, drive to Cusco |
| Day 14: | Day at leisure in Cusco |
| Day 15: | Fly to Lima where trip concludes |
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 2006 First Choice 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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Our operational base in Cusco has been instrumental in raising the standards of porter conditions and welfare in the Andes. We are founding members of the Peruvian Association of Adventure Tourism Workers (ATTAP) and the Peruvian Adventure Tourism Association (APTAE). Our management team based in Peru have been instrumental in the recently introduced legislation to ensure that the numbers on the legendary Inca Trail are environmentally sustainable.
All human waste is carried off the trails by the use of PETT toilets which use 100% biodegradable bags and chemical-free cleaning agents. You will contribute to our pioneering scheme to reduce the vast numbers of plastic water bottles that are put into the waste dumps and land fills since there are no plastic recycling plants in the South Eastern Andes of Peru. We have made arrangements with all the hotels that we use to allow us to provide you with large containers of spring water and fill your bottles as necessary and avoid the need to buy water only available in plastic bottles. In 2003 alone this project has prevented more than 15,000 plastic bottles entering the environment. A proportion of the cost of this trip will pay for a team of doctors and health workers to visit the villages of the porters every year. They also take this opportunity to attend to any villagers who need immediate attention. This is a very costly procedure but makes a very big difference to the general health and well being of the villagers. All travellers are provided with our award-winning 20 page Responsible Travel Booklet which outlines our environmental guidelines and practices and will provide you will clear details on how you can play a vital part in reducing your impact on the fragile environments and cultures around the world. |
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. |