The ultimate pilgrimage to Peru: Inca Trail Trek and Machu Picchu Exploration 9-day tour reference

Fly to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital at an altitude of 3,500 meters, and pick up by special car. Today is dominated by easy adaptation to high altitude. The ancient city of Cusco preserves ancient architecture and vivid culture, and residents dressed in traditional costumes and lovely alpacas can be seen everywhere. Accompanied by the guide, we will visit the local food market to taste special snacks, stroll through the streets full of colonial customs, and feel the blending of history and modernity.

Dining: Please take care of yourself

Accommodation: W Select Design Hotel or equivalent

Hike to the tranquil mountain village of Molepata, visiting the Inca ruins of Quilarumi on the way. Enjoy an authentic “farm-to-table” lunch at noon at a mountain village farmhouse. In the afternoon, combine a bus ride with a hike, follow the winding valley trail to Chalakancha, and stay at an eco-lodge at an altitude of 3,900 meters.

◎ Hike duration: about 3 hours | Difficulty: Easy

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hotel: W Select Eco-Lodge (3900 meters above sea level)

It takes about 1.5 hours to climb over a mountain pass, enjoy turquoise glacial lakes and hanging glaciers at the top of the mountain, and enjoy a picnic here. Then, under the guidance of a guide, participate in an ancient and sacred Inca blessing ceremony, and pray for peace and abundance to Pachamama (Mother Earth). After returning to the hotel for lunch, you can enjoy the open-air hot tub facing the snow-capped mountains and wait for the magnificent sunset of Salkantay Peak.

◎ Hiking duration: about 4 hours | Difficulty: Medium

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hotel: W Select Eco-Lodge （ 3900 m above sea level)

Climbing the Humanti Peak along the mountain road, the landform gradually transforms into an open plateau meadow, and then challenges the highest point of the trip-the pass at an altitude of 4,650 meters. Down the mountain through the canyon and enjoy a picnic on the way. After lunch, hike through ancient villages that have existed since the Inca period to arrive at tonight’s hotel.

◎ Hiking duration: approximately 6 hours | Difficulty: Medium

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hotel: W Select Eco-Lodge (3900 meters above sea level)

Walking through the cloud-shrouded forest on both sides of the Salkantay River, butterflies and orchids are often accompanied in the early morning fog. Along the way, you have the opportunity to meet the aborigines in the mountains, passing their stone houses and walls.

At noon, arrive at the eco-hotel at an altitude of 2,870 meters and taste an authentic lunch made by traditional underground hot stone cooking method. In the afternoon, relax completely in the open-air hot tub surrounded by green hills.

◎ Hiking duration: about 6 hours | Difficulty: Medium to high

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hotel: W Select Eco-Lodge (2870 meters above sea level)

Take a stroll along the Santa Teresa River Valley Trail and enjoy a picnic by the gurgling stream at noon. After continuing the hike for about 1 hour, transfer to the bus to the eco-lodge at 2140 meters above sea level. On the way, you will visit an organic coffee bean plantation and learn the story of Peruvian coffee.

◎ Hiking duration: about 6 hours | Difficulty: Medium to high

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hotel: W Select Eco-Lodge (2140 meters above sea level)

Climb along the last Inca Trail for about 3 hours, cross the cloud forest, and reach the Lakatapata Pass at an altitude of 2,800 meters, where you overlook the defensive fortress of the Inca period and enjoy a farewell picnic at the top of the mountain. In the afternoon, follow the zigzag path downhill to the Urubamba River, passing through dense bamboo forests, orchards and coffee gardens. Finally, catch the landscape train to the town of hot water (Aguascalientes) at the foot of Machu Picchu.

◎ Hiking duration: about 5 hours | Difficulty: Medium to high

Dining: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hotel: Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel or similar

Accompanied by a professional guide, visit Machu Picchu in depth, and listen to the archaeological discoveries and unsolved mysteries about this “lost city”: construction purpose, discovery process, ancient construction techniques, etc.

Then, you can choose to challenge to the summit of Warner Picchu (additional tickets are required and places are limited). Standing at the ruins of the ancient temple at the top of the mountain, you will get a shocking perspective overlooking the whole picture of Machu Picchu and Urubamba Valley. After lunch at Hot Water Town, drive back to Cusco.

Dining: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: W Select Design Hotel or equivalent

After breakfast, a special bus will be transported to Cusco Airport to end this unforgettable Andean walking pilgrimage. If you have enough time, you can seamlessly connect with other destinations in Peru or other countries in South America. Please consult separately for details.

Dining: Breakfast

Accommodation: End of trip, excluding accommodation