| Cost From: | $4595 |
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| Length: | 10 days |
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| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Archaeology, Cultural Adventures |
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‘Perfect’ is the only way to describe my experience with your company. Our Trip Leader was a real gem, and the hotels, porters, tents, food—wow!—thanks for a great trip.B. Davis—Mission Viejo CA
By adding trips to your “Wish List” (above), you can easily make a side-by-side detailed comparison of as many trips as you like.
Indochine Photoshop Workshop with Ben Wilmore
This unique journey combines a Photoshop workshop featuring renowned Photoshop guru Ben Willmore with unforgettable cultural exploration and photography adventures in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, including magnificent Angkor Wat.
This is one of the greatest hikes in the world—and the only way to walk to fabled Machu Picchu, a glorious city of stone perched on a spur high above the Urubamba River. We’ve honed this journey to perfection with spectacular campsites, superb camp amenities, and a team of Trip Leaders and trail guides with a passion for creating an unforgettable journey on this famous route. If you’ve dreamed of hiking the Inca Trail, this is the way to do it! In addition to our unparalleled camping experience, our hotels are the very best: the landmark 5-star Hotel Monasterio in Cusco and the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, right at the ruins. Note: Sign up early—trail permits sell out far in advance!
$4595 (11-15 guests)
$4895 (7-10 guests)
$5095 (4-6 guests)
Single supplement: $1485
Internal airfare: $350 (subject to change)
Prices are for 2009 dates
Jul 16-25, 2009 Guillermo Cuellar
Sep 3-12, 2009 Miguel Pacsi
Oct 1-10, 2009 Peter Boehm
Oct 15-24, 2009 Peter Boehm
Nov 5-14, 2009
Nov 21-30, 2009
Dec 23, 2009-Jan 1, 2010
Dec 27, 2009-Jan 5, 2010
Apr 22-May 1, 2010
May 21-30, 2010
Jun 25-Jul 4, 2010
Jul 19-28, 2010
Aug 5-14, 2010
Sep 2-11, 2010
Sep 17-26, 2010
Oct 5-14, 2010
Oct 16-25, 2010
Nov 20-29, 2010
Dec 27, 2010-Jan 5, 2011
*June 14 and June 25 are Inti Raymi departures
IMPORTANT NOTE: New Peruvian park regulations strictly limit the number of hiking permits issued for the Inca Trail, and all permits are on a first-come first-serve basis! PLEASE PLAN AHEAD if you want to trek the Inca Trail, because trail permits are often reserved many months in advance (especially for summer high-season departures).
Reading list, click here.
In the Incas’ imperial city, we enjoy an introduction to the ceremonial heart of the Inca Empire as we explore the mighty fortress of Saqsayhuaman and other Inca sites. Overnight at the Hotel Monasterio, a 16th century monastery transformed into a luxurious hotel.
We head to the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas, a mountain-ringed valley of exquisite beauty. After we explore colonial Pisac and its central market filled with artisan stalls, we climb up to the majestic Inca fortress that rises above it. The towering Pisac ruin has some of the finest examples of Inca terracing in existence, still in use by local residents. Overnight at a lovely hacienda in the Urubamba Valley
After we explore the classic village of Ollantaytambo and the stunning Inca ruin above it, we head to a dramatically located camp below Mt. Veronica (20,275'). The next morning, we set off on the royal trail to Machu Picchu, following in the footsteps of the Incas. We cross two high passes (the highest is 13,650 feet) as we explore major Inca ruins accessible only to hikers and enjoy spectacular campsites with views across the dancing clouds and steep green peaks of the Vilcabamba. Runkuracay, a circular ruin with massive walls, has a magnificent view of the Pacamayo Valley, and Sayacmarca, a maze-like ruin perched atop a sheer cliff at about 11,600 feet, is reachable only by a long stone staircase. Puyupatamarca, aptly named “Town in the Clouds” by Hiram Bingham, has ingenious stone baths and incredible views of the Urubamba Valley. Our fantastic camp just above this ruin has panoramas of majestic Huamantay (19,239') and Salcantay (20,574'). Throughout our Inca Trail experience, we enjoy Wilderness Travel’s famous full-service camping amenities.
On our fifth and final day of hiking, we reach the ruins of Wiñay Wayna by mid-morning, then make our long-anticipated hike up to Intipunku, Gate of the Sun, where a magnificent view unfolds before us: Machu Picchu, straddling a green ridge high above the Urubamba River. We have plenty of time to enjoy it. Our overnight at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, set right at the ruins, allows us easy walking access to Machu Picchu. We return to Cusco by train the next afternoon.
After a half-day exploration of Cusco’s cultural and artistic riches, we have a free afternoon to explore, and a final night at the lovely Hotel Monasterio.
We fly to Lima and depart on evening flights, or join one of our Peru Extensions.
We offer travel extensions for all of our Peru journeys: the Amazon rainforest, mystical Lake Titicaca, the mysterious Nazca Lines, or Colca Canyon’s condors.
Please call us or download the Full Trip Brochure for more information about our extensions
