THE HIGH INCA TRAIL

Day 1
The group flights from London leave this evening, arriving in Cuzco the following morning.

Day 2
Those on group flights will be met at the airport this morning and transferred to the hotel. In the afternoon we will have short walking tour of the Inca capital, including a visit to the Qoricancha Sun Temple.

Day 3
The hills above Cuzco city are dotted with some of the most interesting Inca ruins. We drive to the highest and return on foot to Cuzco via Tambomachay, 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 spectacular ruins. (Entrance fees to the cathedral, San Blas Church and the religious art museum are not included).

Day 4
Free day in Cuzco to relax and further acclimatise before starting the tour. If feeling energetic, rafting, cultural tours or a visit to the Rainbow Centre can be organised.

Day 5
A few hours drive via the interesting Inca remains of Tarhausi takes us high to the hill town Mollepata. We start by walking from Mollepata to our campsite near Marcocasa where we spend our first night under canvas. The total driving time is approx. 3 hours.

Day 6
Our trek today begins on the southwest facing slopes of the Andes where moderate precipitation generates coarse bushes and gnarly trees, small parrots can be heard, if not seen. We climb gradually northwards, heading through the farming hamlet of Soray, towards the broad snow peak of Humantay (5917m); soon the whole of the massive bulk of Salcantay (6271m) dominates our view. We camp at around 4200m in the high grassy meadow of Salcantay Pampa, below the south face and glaciers of the impressive peak.

Day 7
The high point of the trek and today's goal is the Inca Chiriasqa pass at 5000m. Climbing more steeply now we walk close to the spectacular glaciers and ice walls of Nevado Salcantay. Passing through Pampa Japonesa, base camp for a Japanese mountaineering expedition, we finally top the pass and gain some excellent 360° views. Inca Chirisaqa means 'the Inca fell ill from cold', and the exposed situation makes it easy to see why. We the drop down into the upper reaches of the Pampa Cahuna valley

Day 8
Further along the valley bottom Salcantay reappears in a new profile. We pass the huge ridge of terminal moraine, once the snout of the East Salcantay Glacier. A little further, and the river suddenly becomes dead straight, canalized by the Incas centuries ago. We camp at Paucarcancha (an Inca Fortress) or near Huayllabamba village. We normally have a free afternoon here to relax and buy a beer and prepare for the second half of the trek.

Day 9
Today we join the main Inca Trail, the classic trek to Machu Picchu. A long climb takes us first through an area of cloud forest to the meadows of Llulluchapampa, then over the Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman) pass at 4,234m. After quite a long, steep descent we camp in the scenic Pacasmayo valley (3600m).

Day 10
Another easier climb, past the ruins of Runquracay, takes us over the Runquracay Pass, and from now on the Inca Trail becomes a clearly defined path made of flat boulders. We pass the ruins of Sayajmarca and suddenly enter cloudforest; the Trail passes at one point through an Inca tunnel before crossing onto the Amazon side of the continental divide. We normally camp on the ridge above the Inca site of Phuyupatamarca (3700m) to benefit from the views of sunset and sunrise, and to avoid the crowded Wiñay Wayña campsite.

Day 11
From the ridge we embark on the infamous Inca steps: a two kilometre stone staircase taking us rapidly downhill amid a panorama of overwhelming immensity, the peaks of the Vilcabamba range above, and the river thousands of metres below. After visiting the attractive ruins of Wiñay Wayña, we have an undulating walk through cloud forest high above the river to Inti Punku, the Inca Gate of the Sun. From here we get our sudden first full sight of Machu Picchu itself. Descending to the city, we have an introduction to the site before descending to the river to relax in camp at Puente Ruinas, near Aguas Calientes, a busy village with thermal springs. It is usually possible to stay in a hotel for this night at the nearby village of Aguas Calientes for an extra fee (paid locally) - please speak to your guide at the start of the tour if you wish to arrange this.

Day 12
We return to Machu Picchu early for a guided tour having the site almost to ourselves until the trains from Cuzco start arriving around mid-morning. After lunch and free time to explore the ruins individually, we board the afternoon train to Chilca or Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, then transferring to our hotel.

Day 13
A day exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We visit the famous Inca fortress ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac which tower over the villages below them of the same name. Return by road to Cuzco for the night. (For those that would like to, we can also visit the Rainbow Centre in Urubamba. You will be shown round the school, meet the volunteers and children and get told more about the project. Please note that this is entirely optional. If you would like to bring anything for the children or donate to the project, this would naturally be very well received. For more details on the project, please see the Responsible Tourism section).

Day 14
Free time to relax in Cuzco after the trek or for shopping, sightseeing and other optional cultural activities are available.

Day 15
Those on group flights will be transferred to the airport in the afternoon for the return flight to London via Lima and Madrid.

Day 16
The group flights arrive in London this afternoon.