Essential Inca Trail
Essential Inca Trail
Essential Inca Trail
7 Days Starting and ending in Cuzco
Visiting: Peru
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TPE
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Pressed for time? This express version of our eight-day Inca Trail trip cuts through the same amazing Andean landscapes, but with some challenging longer trekking days and pre-dawn starts. Our goal is the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the New Wonders of the World, and we’ll wake early on our visiting day to beat the day trippers from Cuzco. Better yet, we’ll be led by some of the most experienced guides on the trail, who will help unravel the mysteries of the Incas.
Please note: A permit is required to walk the Inca Trail. These are strictly limited and highly sought after; therefore, we strongly recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Cuzco; Free Time To Explore The Inca Capital
High in the altiplano hills, Cuzco was the geographic, cultural and political centre of a vast Inca empire, which stretched from present-day Quito, Ecuador, to Santiago, Chile, at its peak. After Spanish conquistadors invaded, they built on top of Inca structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of Spanish and Inca styles. Remember to take it easy on arrival in Cuzco (and drink plenty of water) to help your body adjust to the altitude (11,155ft/3,400m).
There is a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this afternoon/evening.
Accommodation: Royal Inka 1 Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 : Free Day To Help Acclimatisation; Optional Sacred Valley Excursion
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is free, allowing you time to acclimatise and explore Cuzco, one of the most beautiful cities in South America. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people-watching, and Qorikancha (the Sun Temple) in the Santo Domingo Church and monastery is worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs such as alpaca jumpers and scarves.
Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, where the Inca armies made their last stand against the conquistadors. Cuzco is also the gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas; if you wish to visit, your leader can help organise an excursion, including Pisac Market (optional).
If you fancy something more active, there is an array of other optional activities available from Cuzco, including paddleboarding on a lake, mountain biking, or a combination of via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley.
In the evening, you need to pack and weigh your kitbag ready for the Inca Trail tomorrow – remember to keep your passport somewhere accessible for the Inca Trail checkpoint. For advice on what to pack, speak to your tour leader or refer to the Essential Equipment section of the Trip Notes.
Accommodation: Royal Inka 1 Hotel (or similar)
Day 3 : Start Inca Trail Trek From Km82; Walk Along Urubamba River, Climb To Huayllabamba
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Early this morning, we transfer (1hr 30min) from Cuzco into the Sacred Valley. Reaching the town of Ollantaytambo, we drive for one hour along the final stretch of road to the start of the Inca Trail at Piscacucho, recognised among adventurers as Km82. After greeting our trekking crew, we show our passports at the checkpoint and begin the fabled Inca Trail trek. Our route today runs alongside the Urubamba River, beneath the snow-capped peak of Nevado Veronica, passing through cactus gardens and settlements, until we reach the terraced Inca ruins of Llactapata, where we continue up the Cusichaca Valley to camp near the village of Huayllabamba (9,186ft/2,800m).
Accommodation: Huayllabamba Camp (full-service camping)
Day 4 : Cross Dead Woman's Pass, Then Descend To Pacaymayu
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The morning begins, as all do on our Inca Trail trek, with a hot drink delivered to your tent. Today’s journey is both challenging and rewarding, marking the most demanding and best-known stretch of the trail. A slow and steady climb takes us through a cloud forest to the meadows of Llulluchapampa, then we summit Dead Woman’s (Warmihuañusca) Pass, the highest point on the trek at 13,829ft (4,215m).
After a well-deserved round of high fives and photos at the summit, we begin our steep descent on original Inca steps to reach our campsite in the scenic valley of the Pacaymayu River (11,811ft/3,600m). Warm up in the dining tent with a hot, fresh meal followed by a well-deserved sleep under the Andean night sky.
Accommodation: Pacaymayu Camp (full-service camping)
Day 5 : Over Runquracay Pass To The Ruins Of Sayacmarca And Phuyupatamarca; Onto Wiñay Wayna
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a hearty breakfast, we start the day with a climb, which takes us past the ruins of Runquracay and over the Runquracay Pass (12,894ft/3,930m), our second and final pass. From here, the Inca Trail becomes a clearly defined rolling path of flat boulders, providing access to sites only available to those on foot. One of the standout archeological sites we visit is Sayacmarca (11,893/3,625m), perched high above the green cloud forest.
At one point, the trail passes through an Inca tunnel on the way past the ruins of Phuyupatamarca and ultimately descends to our final campsite at Wiñay Wayna.
Accommodation: Wiñay Wayna (full-service camping)
Day 6 : Tour Machu Picchu Via The Sun Gate; Back To Cuzco
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our final trek starts at 5.30am with torches (flashlights) in hand – or on heads – to reach the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) by 7.30am for our first glimpse of Machu Picchu. Please note, the ruins can be shrouded in mist in the early morning as the sun warms the cloud forest.
We then descend into Machu Picchu, an architectural and engineering marvel with a staggering mountain backdrop. The Spaniards never found it, the Incas left no records of it, so Machu Picchu remained an enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham.
Our Machu Picchu visit is an immersive, educational experience, with our expert guide showing us classic photo opportunities and incredible ruins, while unravelling the mysteries of the Incas.
After the tour, we take the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min) and continue by private bus to Cuzco (1hr 30min).
Accommodation: Royal Inka 1 Hotel (or similar)
Day 7 : End Cuzco
Meals Included: Breakfast
The trip ends today and we begin our return journeys home after breakfast. However, if you’re not ready for the adventure to end, speak to your sales representative to extend your stay in Cuzco.
What's Included
-
Meals
6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners.
What's Not Included
-
Travel insurance
-
Visas or vaccinations
-
Single accommodation (available on request)
-
Sleeping bag (hire locally from US$20)
Food
All breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners are included.
Peruvian cuisine is loved for its flavors and originality; it’s well worth digging into the local delicacies. Among these are ceviche (seafood or fish marinated in lime juice), lomo saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry), and various hearty soups including the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy (guinea pig) and alpaca steak. To drink, there’s pisco sour, the national beverage.
Drinking water is included throughout the holiday as the tap water in Peru is not safe to drink; boiled and filtered drinking water is provided on the trek; elsewhere your leader will buy large water containers from which you can refill your bottle.
Hotel breakfasts are normally simple buffet-style affairs, usually including bread/toast, preserves, cereal, sometimes eggs or cooked dishes, sometimes fruit, tea/coffee and fruit juice. Regrettably, we cannot guarantee that wheat-free or gluten-free products will be available for breakfast in all locations – if you have an intolerance you may wish to bring your own breakfast food.
Where lunch and dinner are not included in Cuzco, we’ll visit a variety of cafes and restaurants.
During the Inca Trail, hearty breakfasts are served and good-quality cooked lunches and dinners are provided. They usually consist of soup to start, a main course with meat/fish and some carbohydrates; followed by a dessert. Some snacks between meals are also provided. Tea/coffee is brought to your tent each morning and juice or hot drinks are provided with all meals during the trek.
Accommodation
Our Essential Inca Trail trip starts and ends in Cuzco, where we enjoy the comfort of our three-star hotel. Our Inca Trail is offered on a full-service camping basis with full porterage, meaning our camp staff put up and take down the tents for you, cook, and do all the camp chores. You need only carry your backpack for the day and enjoy your time on trek.
Cuzco: Royal Inka 1 Hotel (nights 1, 2 and 6)
The three-star Royal Inka 1 is conveniently located on Plaza Regocijo, two blocks from Cuzco’s central plaza, providing easy access to shops, cafes and restaurants. The 300-year-old Spanish-style hotel has an open courtyard, plus a restaurant and bar in which to dine and relax.
Inca Trail: Full-service camping (nights 3-5)
We sleep and dine in good-quality four-season tents. We also have a toilet tent set up both in camp and during lunch stops. Boiled and filtered drinking water is provided in the mornings, at lunch and dinner times so we can refill our water bottles. A bowl of warm water for washing is provided each morning and evening. We stay in official campsites where additional bathroom facilities are available.
Worth knowing
Single accommodation (including tents) can be arranged, subject to availability. Please request this at the time of booking.
Check out our Q&As
-
Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
-
Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
-
Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
-
Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
-
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
-
Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
-
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
-
Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Saturday
Aug 03, 2025 - Aug 09, 2025Book with Confidence
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.