Get to know Cusco with your knowledgeable private guide, visiting the historical highlights of this fascinating city. Visit Sacsahuaman, the massive Incan fortress on the hills above the city, where you can enjoy views out over Cusco and the entire surrounding area.

This afternoon you will meet your fellow hikers and have a brief orientation to prepare for your trek.

Start your voyage with a scenic drive into the Vilcabamba mountain range. As Cusco disappears behind you, the road takes you through small towns dotting the roadside on your way to Soraypampa.

Make a visit to the little-known Inca ruins of Tarawasi before switching to a dirt road that lead to the first lodge. You have the opportunity to hike the last few miles to the lodge (about 4 hours) or continue by vehicle right up to the door.

Enjoy the day at leisure as you acclimatize to the altitude. One good option is a half day hike up to a small glacial lake, which serves as a good initiation into hiking at this altitude. For the brave there is the possibility of taking a dip in these chilly waters! There is also the option of relaxing in the Jacuzzi back at the lodge, with the peaks of Humantay and Salkantay in the background.

Hike up the Rio Blanco Valley toward Mount Salkantay. After a few hours the trail starts up a series of switchbacks offering great views down the valley to the lodge you left behind. You will soon find yourself passing the highest point of the trek, just over 15,000 feet, with the south face of Salkantay towering over you. Start down to your second lodge, Wayra, passing by an ancient Inca road and rural settlements.

Trek down the valley, following the flow of the Salkantay River. Leaving the rocky and shrub-filled highlands, the vegetation grows increasingly dense as you drop in elevation into the cloud forest. Colpa Lodge is situated on a bluff overlooking the confluence of three rivers and has excellent views of the surrounding mountains.

Take a short climb up the hill opposite Colpa Lodge before heading down the Santa Teresa River Valley. Pass by coffee plantations and passion fruit trees, following the river. The trail ends at a dirt road, where you will be transferred by private vehicle to the Llactapata Inca Trail, finishing with a 30 minute hike up to Lucma Lodge.

Ascend along the ridge line toward the Llactapata Pass. After tackling the final summit of your trek, you will begin your descent to Machu Picchu. This trail offers spectacular views of Machu Picchu from vantage points seldom seen by tourists. Pass by the Llactapata Ruins, then cross the Aobamba River and make your way to the train station. From here you will board the train to Aguas Calientes and transfer to your hotel for the night.

Visit Machu Picchu with your guide and trekking group in the early morning to explore the ruins. This is a great way to experience the site when there are fewer people around. You’ll also have the chance to hike to the top of Huayna Picchu, the mountain that towers above Machu Picchu (about 2 hours round trip).

After visiting the ruins, catch the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo, where your local guide will transfer you into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a long, fertile river valley surrounded by snowcapped peaks that lies between Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Spend the day exploring the Sacred Valley, seeing less-visited sites that will deepen your understanding of the local culture.

Discover the unique Incan site of Moray and the nearby town and ancient salt pans of Maras. After a scenic picnic lunch, visit Ollantaytambo, one of the few towns to survive in its current layout from Incan times.

Head to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.