You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel where you are free to rest in the hotel or just wander around Miraflores, the area of Lima where our hotel is located. Some of Lima's best galleries and shops and restaurants are found in this area. Founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima is the oldest capital in South America, with a superb combination of Spanish Colonial and 19th century European architecture. If you have time to visit a museum we would recommend the Museo de La Nacion or the Larco Herrera Museum.

Early morning wake-up call (in some cases very early as most flights leave for Cusco early morning!) for breakfast and short drive to the airport for spectacular 55-minute flight across the Andes to Cusco set at 11,200' (3,400m). If possible try and get a seat on the left side of the aircraft as some of the best views of the Andes can be seen during the last 20 minutes of the flight. You'll be met by your guide and transferred from Cusco airport to our hotel for a short initial briefing and then a few hours of rest, essential to initiate successful acclimatisation. In the evening you'll have a longer briefing to discuss aspects of the itinerary and in particular the trek.

Every alleyway we enter or corner we turn brings another surprise or enigma in the form of the superbly constructed Inca walls or the more architecturally extravagant colonial churches and palaces. The city, once capital of the extensive Inca Empire, has seen many changes since Francisco Pizarro's men took the city with such apparent ease in November 1533. We also take a short drive to visit the monolithic walls of Sacsayhuaman, spectacularly set above the city. In the afternoon you may have time to explore some of the central parts of the city and a chance to look at some of the great varieties of local craft work on sale in open air stalls and shop.

We leave Cusco and head to the Chinchero Plateau from where we get impressive views of three mountain ranges. We then walk down through the remarkable Inca Salt Pans below Maras. We end up in the Sacred Valley near a good restaurant where we can savour dishes made with locally grown produce. After a leisurely lunch we head for our hotel in the valley. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy beauty of this famous valley.

Another day in this beautiful place. The valley actually follows the course of the famous Urubamba River, one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River. During our time here we visit some of the enthralling citadels, fortresses and temple ruins that are found along the valley including the site at Ollantaytambo. The village itself is a fascinating mixture of Inca and Colonial architecture. If the weather is good and we have time we can enjoy some short walks in the valley - a good way to prepare for the trek ahead. The evening is spent preparing for the trek at our hotel.

Today you will be collected from your Sacred Valley hotel for the drive (approx 5 hours) to the town of Cachora (2600mts) above the Apurimac River. On the way we stop in the famous Sayhuite carved rock for a picnic lunch. Arriving at Cachora we walk for about 30 minutes to our first campsite, right outside town.

On this our first full day of trekking we descend in places very steeply to the spectacular Apurimac river canyon. At first the descent is quite gentle, then it gets steeper and hotter as we go deeper in to the canyon to Playa Rosalina (1550m) where we have lunch. We then cross the river before starting a steep ascent to our next campsite near the hamlets of Santa Rosa (2100m). If we are lucky we could see some condors and spectacle bears. Walking time 8 hours approx.

An early departure this morning as we continue the hot ascent for most of the day. After a few hours walk we reach Marampata (2850m) for lunch, a place with incredible views of the whole Apurimac canyon. In the afternoon we walk all the way to Choquequirau (3050m), where we camp. Walking time 8 hours approx.

This morning after breakfast we spend some time simply wandering around this marvellous site, which actually is larger than Machu Picchu! There are many similarities with Machu Picchu, this enigmatic monumental site was also built during the mid to late 15th century, it became lost for many centuries as the high jungle in this area soon covered the ruins and it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in the early 20th Century. We then walk down, through some beautiful terraces and thick, lush vegetation, all the way to the Yuracmayu (Rio Blanco) at 1860m, where we camp for the night. This is a hot, dusty spot, but we can refresh and wash in this beautiful stream. Walking time 6 hours approx.

Today we ascend through some beautiful cloud forest all the way to Maizal (3085m) for lunch. We then keep ascending a few more hours to our campsite at Pajonal (3785m). Today is very spectacular for bird watching as well as for the varieties of flowers along the trail, especially the orchids. Walking time 8 to 9 hours approx.

This morning we climb a couple of hours to the San Juan pass (3900m), then drop down into the Yanama Valley with great views of Panta and Pumasillo snowed peaks. After lunch in Yanama village (3530m), we walk for 2 more hours to the breathtaking camp at Batea Paquisha (4000m). Walking time 7 hours approx. Camp.

Today we climb from our campsite to the top of Yanama Pass (4665m) where we have amazing views of Veronica, Salcantay and Humantay peaks to the south. Then we drop down to Totora (3425m), and continue on to Collpapampa (2880m), our next campsite where we can enjoy the hot springs. Walking time 8 to 9 hours approx.

Today we continue our descent through very lush cloud forest, full of begonias, orchids and crops like coffee and passion fruit, to Playa (2091m). From here we continue another hour or so to our campsite at Lucmabamba (2450m). Today we can try and spot Torrent Ducks and the elusive Cock of the Rocks, Peru’s national bird. Walking time 7 hours approx.

Today we ascend from Lucmabamba to Paltallacta (2655m), where we have lunch with incredible, and very rarely seen, views of the back of Machu Picchu. After lunch we descend to the mighty Urubamba River - the main source of the Amazon (1900m) to catch the afternoon train to Aguas Calientes (200m) where we check in to our hotel. This evening we will be free to enjoy the town and the hot shower! Walking time 5 hours approx.

After a professionally led tour of the site we're free to explore the rest of the amazing sights. Mid-afternoon we depart from Machu Picchu for the extremely pretty train ride back to Ollantaytambo where we transfer to our vehicle for the drive back to Cusco. Here we transfer to our hotel for one night.

After checking out of your hotel you will be transferred (if requested) to the airport for your flight to Lima airport where services end.