It's easy to grasp the ancient Inca mindset. Easy, that is, once your lungs adjust to the rarefied Andean air. Once your brain absorbs the heart-stopping splendor of your surroundings. You're atop Salkantay Pass at 15,200 feet. Above you looms snow-mantled Nevado Salkantay, the 20,500-foot monarch of the Vilcabamba range. Towering nearby is colossal Humantay peak. From this vantage point, it's clear why these magnificent pinnacles of rock and ice inspired awe among the region's native inhabitants. And at the apex of this trek, Machu Picchu. You're breathless. Is it the altitude or the views? A little of both.
Day 1 Expert-guided explorations of monumental Inca architecture
Savor stunning vistas of the Cusco Valley as you trek to the Inca sites of Q'enko, Temple of the Moon and fortress-temple Sacsayhuamán 
Overnight at Cusco's renowned five-star Orient-Express.
Days 2-3 Our high-altitude lodge invites a soak
in its outdoor hot tub While you're getting acclimated, walk up to a glacial lake or get lost in views of towering white-capped Salkantay, Inca mythology's most sacred mountain Taste pisco sours, the country's national drink, before our dinner of organic regional cuisine.
Days 4-6 Hike lodge to lodge,
with porters and mules transporting your luggage, and sleep in style Condors soar overhead as you travel up the Río Blanco Valley, circling Humantay Peak Descend through a lush subtropical landscape above the Salkantay River before passing the Santa Teresa River Valley's patchwork of orchards and coffee plantations See who's out and about in a village en route Feeling adventurous? Try cuy (guinea pig), cooked in a large pit of hot rocks, at a traditional Andean feast.
Days 7-9 Gaze upon magical Machu Picchu
from the seldom-traveled Llactapata trail Head downhill through bamboo forests to the Vilcanota River Take a full day to deeply explore the ruins of Machu Picchu: hike to the Gate of the Sun for an impressive overview, then get up close as our local guide reveals secrets of the "Lost City's" astrological designs.
Trip Highlights
- Hiking lodge to lodge, with porters and mules handling our luggage
- Trek an Inca route to 15,000 feet for superb views of the snow-covered Andes
- Gaze upon Machu Picchu from the seldom-traveled Llactapata trail
- Relax at high-altitude lodges - many with hot tubs!
Premiere Inns
Hotel Monasterio (1 night): "An outstanding Orient-Express property housed within a converted 16th-century monastery situated just a short stroll from the Plaza de Armas," says Andrew Harper of this Condé Nast Traveler Gold List winner.
Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort (2 nights): Located at 11,800 feet, this luxury lodge welcomes you with a hot tub and incomparable views of Salkantay, the region's highest peak.
Wayra Lodge (1 night): Overnight at "the place where the wind lives" and enjoy a hot tub soak at 12,000 feet.
Colpa Lodge (1 night): This lodge rests in a cloud forest at 10,300 feet in the Collpapampa Valley, with a hot tub and access to hot springs.
Lucma Lodge (1 night): Savor spectacular views from this lodge, built right into the mountainside and flanked by an avocado orchard.
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (2 nights): Considered by Travel + Leisure a World's Best hotel with "Andean-style casitas" close to the ruins of Machu Picchu. (pool, spa)
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Levels 1 to 2 3 Route Options Available
- 2.5, 4, 4.6 miles
- 80 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- 4.3, 7.8 miles
- 630 - 1950 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- 3.7 miles
- 1200 feet elevation gain & loss
Day 4
- Levels 3 to 4 1 Route Option Available
- 6.7 miles
- 2580 feet elevation gain; 2410 feet elevation loss
Day 5
- Level 4 1 Route Option Available
- 5 miles
- 200 feet elevation gain; 3550 feet elevation loss
Day 6
- Levels 4 to 5 2 Route Options Available
- 8, 10.9 miles
- 1160 - 1320 feet elevation gain; 2510 - 3190 feet elevation loss
Day 7
- Level 4 1 Route Option Available
- 6.2 miles
- 2150 feet elevation gain; 3300 feet elevation loss
Day 8
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 2 miles
- 2000 feet elevation gain
- Guided Walk 3 hours
Day 9
- Conclusion of trip
Terrain Description
Mountain trails, Inca stone jungle paths, archaeological site walks. Please note: Overnight trekking lodges are located at elevations of 6,600 - 11,800 feet. Trekking routes reach up to 15,000 feet. Due to the high elevations and rugged terrain, the routes often feel more challenging than the mileage suggests.
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests
and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the
next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours.
So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly
what and how much you want to do.| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2012 Dates & Pricing*
CLASSIC TRIPS
- 4/5-13Price: $5298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $2890 for sgl. occ.)
- 6/7-15Price: $5198 pp dbl. occ., (+ $2890 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/2-10Price: $5298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $2890 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/11-19Price: $4998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $2890 for sgl. occ.)
- 9/7-15Price: $4998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $2890 for sgl. occ.)
- 10/4-12Price: $4998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $2890 for sgl. occ.)
- 11/8-16Price: $4998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $2890 for sgl. occ.)
- 12/20-28Price: $4998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $2890 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Guest Trip Reviews
My best vacation ever. And I travel a lot! This was my third Backroads trip. It was a fantastic experience, just like my previous trips. Our guides were fantastic, as always. Can't wait for our next trip.- Holladay, UT
This was the best vacation I've taken in a long, long time. Everything was perfect - Peru, the trek and the lodges. I am definitely having re-entry problems at home after such a fantastic time.- Berkeley, CA
I went on this trip with extremely high expectations and without exception, all were exceeded. A truly marvelous experience. Thank you.- Houston, TX
An absolutely beautiful trip. I haven't processed everything that happened and everything I've seen but I'm sure it will stay with me for a very long time. I continue to love Backroads trips and am sure I will be taking another within the year. Thank you for everything you do.- Boynton Beach, FL
Overall, the trip was one of our best ever. Challenging but rewarding.- Calgary, AB
An amazing experience. A valuable mix of culture and nature and physical.- Calgary, AB