| Cost From: | $4095 |
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| Length: | 18 days |
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| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Archaeology, Cultural Adventures |
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| Difficulty: |
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This is one of the best WT trips I have been on, with a great combination of cultural and challenging trekking.C. Padilla—The Philippines
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Explore the heart of mystical Tibet on this culturally rewarding expedition. Visit the country’s most significant monasteries and cultural sites, cross the soaring Tibetan Plateau under intensely blue skies, and feast your eyes on Everest’s stupendous North Face—the thrill of a lifetime!
On this journey for explorers, we trek into the fascinating world of the Chachapoya—the Cloud People—creators of a little-known civilization that once held sway over a wide swath of the northern Andes of Peru. Our journey combines archaeology, mountain adventure, and a challenging trek that links the tombs and ruins of this intriguing ancient culture. The Chachapoya warrior-shaman culture reigned from 800 AD until their conquest by the Incas in 1470. Today Chachapoyas is a mystical region of lush cloud forests and a treasury of ruined citadels, ancient mummies, and mysterious cliff tombs. Travelers are a rarity here—we’re not likely to see another group on our trek—and we enjoy a sense of true exploration as we hike stone-paved Inca trails to mist-shrouded ruins.
Reading list, click here.
We fly to the coastal city of Chiclayo to see the treasures of the incredible Lord of Sipan tomb, the richest unlooted tomb ever excavated in the Western Hemisphere.
In the remote Chachapoyas region high in the Andes, we explore and hike among the dramatic sarcophagi of the Chachapoya, including Karajia, a spectacular funerary site in a cliff wall. One of our hikes follows a paved Inca trail above the Utcubamba River valley, with stunning views of the pre-Inca walled citadel of Kuelap. Another day’s hike brings us up to the cliff mausoleums of Revash, tucked into ledges of limestone cliffs and colorful with their red pictographs. Overnights are in simple lodges.
On our trek among the cliff tombs of the Chachapoya, we hike across high valleys and below massive cliff walls, at times following stone-paved Inca trails that ascend to remote ruins. The amazing chullpas (cliff tombs) of the Chachapoya are sometimes located 500 feet up the face of sheer rock walls, leaving us to ponder how the Chachapoya scaled these heights to first build the tombs and then worship their mummified ancestors. Among the sites we explore are the extensive ruins of Papamarca (11,580') and magnificent Vira Vira (13,173'), high above Lake Huayabamba. Vira Vira was lifted from obscurity by explorer Keith Muscutt in his book Warriors of the Clouds. Overnights are in camp, with Wilderness Travel’s full-service camping amenities.
Driving through beautiful farmlands, we head to the colonial city of Cajamarca. Our restful hotel is a spa with hot baths, a steam room, and lovely grounds. Depart via Lima on Day 18.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure
