Depart from London and fly to Lima, arriving in the evening. On arrival you will be met by your tour leader and transferred to your hotel.

After a brief stop in Lima it’s back to the airport for your flight to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore or relax at the hotel and acclimatise to the altitude (3300m).

You will spend the next two days in and around Cusco to allow your bodies to acclimatise to the rarefied atmosphere here at over 3300 metres. An incredible blend of Inca and Spanish colonial buildings, colourful markets, cathedrals and a clear atmosphere gives Cusco a unique feeling. In the morning you will be given a guided tour of the city and the afternoon will be free for your own exploration.

A full day excursion by minibus takes you to the ‘Sacred Valley’ and the impressive Inca site of Pisac where as well as exploring the ruins, there will be time to visit the colourful market and learn about some of the extraordinary Inca culture from your guide.

After visiting the ruins, you have the option either to walk down to Pisac town, or to take the bus down, for a late lunch, after which you will have time to shop in the amazing market. This is a great place to wander around and shop in a peaceful, friendly and colourful atmosphere. It’s a good idea to take snacks for the children today as lunch is later and little tummies will not want to wait too long for food!

Now that you have had some time to acclimatise you’re ready to start your mountain walk, which will take you through some delightful rural countryside between Cusco and the Vilcanota River. After breakfast you drive to Tambomachay (3750 metres), the start point of the trek, visiting the impressive Inca sites of Puca Pucara, Qénqo and Sacsayhuaman (the temple of the thunder) on the way.

The highpoint of the day here for the children (and most adults) is to enjoy a play on the Inca slides! A short hike through lowland hills takes you to your campsite near Coricancha, on the way enjoying beautiful views of Cusco’s main mountains, Ausangate, Veronica and Salkantay Apus, which are still worshipped by the Andean people. [2 hours walking]

Today’s walk continues through some delightful Andean villages on the way to Laguna Piuray, famous for its birds and with some more Inca ruins to visit on the way. From here you descend through the rough Andean landscape, passing remote Quechua communities, herders huts and small farms. Finally you reach the beautiful laguna, surrounded by green fields and with snowy mountains on the horizon. [6 hours walking]

A short vehicle transfer takes you to the fascinating experimental Inca agricultural terraces at Moray; huge recessed circles where crops are still tried and tested today. You will pass through some stunning scenery on the way to the salt mines of Maras where the locals dry the salt in hundreds of small ponds. It is possible to walk amongst the salt ponds on narrow paths between terraces, which have an amazingly crunchy feel underfoot!

After lunch you walk along the trail continuing down to Pichingoto (2750 m) where some of the local people still inhabit the centuries-old caves found nearby. This is the end of ‘the trek’ as such, but there are plenty of other walking possibilities in the days to follow. [2 hours walking].

Travelling by bus, you’ll enter the picturesque town of Urubamba, and continue to the fascinating traditional Andean village of Ollantaytambo. For many visitors this is one of the most thrilling places in Peru, and there will be plenty of time to visit the fort, temple and old town, which retains its Inca layout to this day.

Today you’ll travel by train to the compact little town of Aguas Calientes in the valley below the ‘lost city’ of Machu Picchu. The rest of the day will be free to enjoy a wallow in the hot springs, visit a Rescue Centre for the endangered ‘spectacled bear’ (the original Paddington!), or climb to the top of Putukusi for a sneak preview of the amazing ruins of Machu Picchu. This ascent involves a lot of ladder climbing so great care is needed. It is not suitable for children or those with a fear of heights! Please note that it may not be possible to visit the Rescue Centre (if the bears become distressed, the centre closes to the public).

An early start gets you up to the ruins before the Cusco train arrives and disgorges the tourist masses. You will be given a guided tour of the ruins, as well as being allowed free time for exploration and reflection in this extraordinary place. Please be aware that this is a great place for the children to explore, but you are advised to keep them in sight all of the time, as it would be easy to get lost!

You can walk back up the Inca trail to the sun gate, climb to the top of Huayna Picchu, if you have the energy, for unparalleled views of the famous ruins (numbers are limited on this climb so you will need to queue early), or attempt to balance your way across the Inca bridge on the south side of the ruins.

Once the exploration is over, you return to Aguas Calientes by minibus and travel back to Cusco by train and/or minibus (depending on current schedules, which change regularly!)

After an early breakfast a fascinating 380 km train ride (availability permitting) takes you across the high Altiplano to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, at an altitude of just under 4000 metres. Although nowadays this journey can be done faster by bus, adults and children alike will really enjoy the novelty and comfort of this world-famous train journey. Lunch on the train is included and is taken in a style reminiscent of the Orient Express! You will arrive in Puno late in the evening.

A four hour boat journey across the lake takes you to Taquile Island, where you will stay for the night. It is a place of distinctive costumes where the men can be seen doing the knitting while the women work in the fields! On the way out you will visit the famous floating islands, built out of local reeds, where the indigenous Indians will be delighted if you buy a few souvenirs from them.

On Taquile, you’ll stay with a local family in a traditional house and have your lunch, evening meal and breakfast with them the following day. This really is a wonderful experience, as you gain a genuine insight into family life on a remote island at 4000 metres. Being a traffic-free island, the peace and tranquillity here is unforgettable, and it is a most wonderful experience to walk to the top of the island to watch the sun go down over this incredibly extensive high altitude lake.

The following day you have a morning to explore the island and meet up for lunch in a restaurant near the main square. After lunch you re-board the launch, via 500 stone steps, for the return journey to Puno.

After a final, free morning in Puno, you transfer to Juliaca airport for the afternoon flight to Lima, connecting with the international flight to London

Your flight arrives in London early evening.

Day 13 Boat back to Puno; fly to Puerto Maldonado & Jungle lodge
This morning you will travel back across the lake to Puno in order to fly to Puerto Maldonado. On arrival at Puerto Maldonado you will take a transfer from the airport to the jetty where your boat will be waiting to take you through the rainforest to the Sandoval Lake Lodge – your base for the next three nights. The lodge is situated on the banks of a protected oxbow lake – not only a very attractive place but also brilliant for spotting wildlife and an excellent base for your jungle adventure. Accommodation is in fully screened rooms, complete with en-suite facilities and hot water showers, electricity and fans. As the sun goes down you will hear the rainforest come to life! Sandoval Lake Lodge (breakfast) – 3 nights
Days 14 & 15 Rainforest excursions
Using the Sandoval Lake Lodge as your base you set out to explore the jungle with lake excursions by day amidst the wealth of wildlife here, as you search for giant otters, monkeys and spectacularly coloured macaws. When night falls you can try to identify the many sounds, and if you are feeling brave you can venture out to spot caiman - as you shine a torch into the darkness you’ll see pairs of eyes blinking back at you!
Day 16 Fly to Lima
After breakfast you will travel again by boat from your lodge to the jetty in Puerto Maldonado and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima. You will then be transferred from Lima airport to your hotel. Hotel (breakfast)
Day 17 Fly home
The morning is free for you to use as you wish – with time for last-minute souvenir shopping. Later you will be driven to the airport for your overnight flight back to Europe.
Day 18 Arrive London