From high remote mountain trails to the first
sight of Machu Picchu, the legendary Lost
City of the Incas, this is a challenging trek
on steep trails climbing to 4,200m in fantastic
and diverse mountainous country.
There is plenty of time built in to acclimatise
to the altitude - enjoy exploring ancient
Cusco, capital of the Inca Empire, and the
surrounding Sacred Valley. The trek then
takes you through lush cloud forest, green
valleys and high passes with breathtaking
views of snow-capped Andean peaks, with
time to stop and explore fascinating Inca
temples and settlements along the way.
For a tour brochure and reservation form
please contact
us.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart UK
Fly London to Lima, transfer to hotel in
Lima.
Day 2: Lima - Cuzco
Morning flight to Cuzco, transfer to downtown
hotel. After a trip briefing, the afternoon
is free to gently explore the sights of
the ancient city of Cuzco, or simply to
adjust to the altitude, watching the world
go by, in one of the numerous cafes in the
Plaza de Armas.
Day 3: Tambo Machay - Cuzco (5 hours
walk)
Today you enjoy an acclimatisation walk
from Tambo Machay, an ancient ruin high
in the Cuzco valley. We pass some of the
amazing Inca sites in the countryside around
the city, walking downhill to Sacsayhuaman,
the huge and impressive Inca ruin on the
outskirts of Cuzco, before returning to
the town and hotel. (Dinner not included)
Day 4: Km 82 - Wayllabamba (6 hours
walk)
After a second night at altitude you should
be feeling ready for action. You have a
three-hour drive via Ollantaytambo to the
trail's starting point at Km 82. The first
half day's walk is fairly easy and on an
undulating path which follows the Urubamba
river for much of the way. After lunch,
a gentle climb takes you to your camp at
Wayllabamba. There are a couple of steep
drops and climbs into gullies along the
way, with great views of Mt. Veronica standing
at 5,000m. You pass a couple of small places
to buy drinks.
The path is dusty but firm and there are
no steps.
Day 5: Wayllabamba - Pacamayo (8-12
hours walk)
Today you have the big climb from 2,700m
to Dead Woman's Pass at 4,200m. This is
a relentless and steep climb on narrow trails,
first through grassland, then cloud forest
(where some people start to feel the altitude),
where the path is steeper and can be muddy.
Eventually it opens out onto pasture where
you will have lunch with snow-capped mountains
behind you and a distant view up to the
top of the pass, still several hours ahead.
The final stretch to the top of the pass
is well maintained with steps but the pace
is slow because of the altitude. You descend
500m on steps to your evening's campsite
at Pacamayo below the ruins of Runkurakay.
Day 6: Pacamayo - Winay Wayna (8-10
hours walk)
Now on the Inca Trail proper, the path is
mostly steps which are steep in places and
there are ruins at every mile or so along
the way. You have your second high pass
at 4,000m again with steps leading up to
the top and down the other side. The descent
takes around an hour to Sayacmarca ruin,
which is perched above more steps. From
here the trail is very pretty, wide and
easy going with interesting fragments of
cloud forest on route. The third pass is
reached easily after passing through an
Inca tunnel in the rock and a gentle climb.
You continue on to the ruins of Puyupatamarca
and then descend steep steps to your campsite
at Winay Wayna.
Day 7: Winay Wayna - Machu Pichu (3
hours walk)
You start early and have a three-hour walk
to Inti Punku, the sun gate, along a beautiful
stretch of trail, scattered with ruins and
some steep flights of steps, with a few
large drops down the side to the Urubamba
river. You arrive at Machu Picchu around
10 am before the crowds arrive from Cuzco.
Once you have explored the ruins thoroughly
you will take a bus down to the train station
at Aguas Calientes for the three-hour train
journey back to Cuzco.
Day 8: Free day
A free day in Cuzco to relax and recover,
explore Cuzco further or sit and enjoy the
atmosphere and its many places to eat and
drink. Celebration meal in evening. (Lunch
and dinner not included.)
Day 9: Cuzco - Lima
Morning flight to Lima, linking up with
the flight back to London. There is the
option of a city tour, depending on flight
times. (Lunch not included.)
Day 10: Arrive back in the UK early
evening
General information
Temperature
Ranges from 30°C during the day to near
0° at night.
What's included?
The tour cost includes scheduled return
flights from London to Lima and Lima to
Cuzco, internal air tax, all accommodation,
private bus and local guides, porters, cooks,
and all meals whilst camping and most in
hotels, entrance to Machu Picchu and all
other sites visited as part of the itinerary.
It does not include insurance, three other
meals as specified in the itinerary, and
international departure tax of $28. A maximum
of £100-200 is specified for personal
expenses.
What's it really like? You trek for an average of 6-7 hours
per day. There are many steps and steep
sections, both up and down, though the long
ascent of Dead Woman's Pass is particularly
tough. The altitute adds to the challenge.
You camp when trekking, in beautiful locations.
Facilities are basic but there is water
for washing. Local porters carry your luggage.
Tour costs
A non-refundable registration fee of £399
is required to secure a place on this challenge.
We then ask that you raise your minimum
sponsorship target of £3,250 to be
received by Epilepsy Research UK at the
latest 8 weeks before departure. Epilepsy
Research UK then pays the full cost of your
tour.
Alternatively you can pay the full tour
costs of £1,300 (plus the registration
fee) and fundraise as you choose with 100%
of your donation remaining with Epilepsy
Research UK.
Please note that prices may be subject
to change.
For a tour brochure and reservation form
please contact
us. This trip is organised by Discover
Adventure (ATOL Protected 5636).
