Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking Tour
Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking Tour
9 days
8 nights
Activity Levels 3-5
Premiere Hotels
2025: Jul-Oct, Dec2026: Apr-Dec
Journey through the High Andes from Cusco to Machu Picchu
From atop the Salkantay Pass, it’s clear why ancient people worshipped these mountains. Your destination: legendary Machu Picchu. Feeling breathless? Maybe it’s the altitude. Maybe the views. Or maybe both.
Highlights
- Hike unencumbered from lodge to lodge, with porters and mules handling your luggage and leaving you free to soak up the scenery
- Trek the famed Salkantay Pass route to 15,200 feet for breathtaking views of the dramatic snow-covered Andes
- Observe a stunning bird’s-eye view of Machu Picchu and join our local guide for a visit to the Lost City, where we gain insight into Inca culture
- Relax in style after full days of hiking at comfortable high-altitude lodges—many complete with hot tubs!
- Take a grand tour of the Andes’ diverse landscapes, from cloud forest to alpine steppes and Cusco’s charming streets
This is a Special Departure. See Terms & Conditions.

Start/End Cusco
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary

Day 1
Take in stunning vistas of the Cusco Valley as you trek to the Inca Temple of the Moon and the fortress-temple Sacsayhuamán with a local expert • Visit the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art to view unique artifacts from ancient Peruvian civilizations.





Night 1
Located between the San Blas arts district and Cusco’s vibrant main square, this serene oasis mixes contemporary fixtures with traditional design. A Relais & Châteaux member.

Days 2-3
Trek along a route used by the Inca in the 15th century • Ascend to the high-altitude grasslands of Soraypampa with breathtaking mountain and valley vistas, including your first look at Mount Humantay • Walk up to a glacial lake and take in views of towering glacier-covered Salkantay peak, a sacred mountain in Inca mythology • Taste pisco sours, the country’s national drink.





Nights 2-3
This stylish mountain lodge, set at 11,800 feet, welcomes you with a hot tub and incomparable views of Salkantay, the region’s highest peak.

Day 4
Watch for condors soaring overhead as you travel up the Río Blanco Valley • Summit Salkantay Pass, standing eye-level with the glacier-capped slopes of the mighty Salkantay mountain • Soak in the views from the outdoor hot tub at our remote mountain lodge.





Night 4
Overnight at “the place where the wind lives” and enjoy a hot tub soak at 12,000 feet.

Day 5
Make your way into the cloud forest—one of the world’s most fascinating and threatened ecosystems • Amid the Ceja de la Selva (or “eyebrow of the jungle”), look for frogs, hummingbirds, parrots and beautiful flowers, including orchids, asters and begonias • Feeling adventurous? Try cuy (guinea pig) at a traditional Andean feast, cooked pachamanca style on buried coals.





Night 5
This lodge features a hot tub and rests in a cloud forest at 10,300 feet in the Collpapampa Valley.

Day 6
Trek through an incredible portion of the Santa Teresa River Valley • Follow an undulating route through wild highland landscapes to the river, up a picturesque mountainside • Try specialties like giant avocados and a sugar-sweet passionfruit cousin called granadilla in the town of Playa • Hike on a restored ancient Inca trail to our serene lodge, nestled amid coffee plants and banana, avocado and eucalyptus trees.





Night 6
Savor spectacular views from this lodge, built right into the mountainside and flanked by an avocado orchard.

Days 7-9
Gaze upon Machu Picchu from the seldom-traveled Llactapata Trail • Head through bamboo forests to the Vilcanota River • Take a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes and explore its markets and shops • Rise early for a full day in Machu Picchu • Spend the morning exploring the ruins • Hike up Machu Picchu Mountain for an impressive overview, then get up close as our local guide reveals secrets of Machu Picchu’s discovery • On your final morning, learn about native orchids, birds and tea plantations with our hotel’s naturalist.




Nights 7-8
This eco-friendly hotel’s Andean-style casitas blend seamlessly into the surrounding cloud forest. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Our hike to Machu Picchu Mountain requires a permit, which Backroads will obtain on your behalf (included in your trip price). We recommend booking your trip four to six months prior to departure for the best chance of securing your permit. Your passport information is required at the time of booking to secure permits; reservations can be kept on hold for up to three days while you collect this information. If we’re unable to secure your permit, you’ll miss this portion of the hike but will still be able to join us for the full Machu Picchu Citadel tour.
Our hikes through Peru’s captivating, rugged terrain climb rocky and sometimes uneven paths, many of which are remote and do not intersect with roads. Vehicles will get us to and from the trailheads, but the nature of these trails is such that we won’t see our vans along the route. Ample trail support in the form of water, snacks and encouragement is provided by your Backroads leaders and local guides.
This trip has been designed to offer as many hiking options as possible. Since many of the trails are unmarked, we recommend that you hike with the company of a Backroads leader or one of our local support staff. On the few days when we’re in national parks, regulations require you to hike in the company of one of our certified park guides.
Hotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Night 1
Premiere Hotel
Located between the San Blas arts district and Cusco’s vibrant main square, this serene oasis mixes contemporary fixtures with traditional design. A Relais & Châteaux member.
Nights 2-3
Premiere Hotel
This stylish mountain lodge, set at 11,800 feet, welcomes you with a hot tub and incomparable views of Salkantay, the region’s highest peak.
Night 4
Premiere Hotel
Overnight at “the place where the wind lives” and enjoy a hot tub soak at 12,000 feet.
Night 5
Premiere Hotel
This lodge features a hot tub and rests in a cloud forest at 10,300 feet in the Collpapampa Valley.
Night 6
Premiere Hotel
Savor spectacular views from this lodge, built right into the mountainside and flanked by an avocado orchard.
Nights 7-8
Premiere Hotel
This eco-friendly hotel’s Andean-style casitas blend seamlessly into the surrounding cloud forest. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 26 customers
Epic adventure on the Salkantay Trail
Breathtaking trails, sometimes literally as the day we hiked up and over the Salkantay Pass above 15,000'. Each day's hike while physically challenging was taken at our own pace, with plenty of time to soak in the scenery. We enjoyed the comfortably attractive lodges along the trail and enjoyed very fine fresh meals at each one. Our guides provided great support and knowledge about the history and culture of this part of Peru. Touring Macchu Picchu on the last day of the trip was a fantastic finish.









Feeling Accomplished
This was our first trekking tour, having previously done several biking tours with Backroads. It's hard to describe how challenging it is to hike at up to 15,200 feet, but it was do-able thanks to the efforts and encouragement of our guide Oscar and his local team. The scenery is absolutely stunning, and being immersed in the local culture was inspiring. This is a life experience that is like none other.

Spectacular trip!
What a lifetime experience to trek between lovely lodges with spectacular views, food, hikes, and cultural details. Challenging hikes with organized, supportive, caring guides! All those details that are hard to manage in a foreign country are simply taken care of. My husband and I plan to use Backroads for future active vacations to explore parts of the world.
Amazing and iconic trip of a lifetime.
Spectacular scenery, challenging and fun hikes, extraordinary Backroads and local leaders, fascinating culture and history, excellent food. Not to be missed!
Lifelong Memories
This trip is a must for anyone who likes to hike and loves adventure, culture, and history. It is the trip of a lifetime with incredible leaders and guides, delicious food, and amazing accommodations. We made lifelong memories and lifelong friends on this trip. Thank you Oscar and Henry!




Amazing experience!
My daughter and I had a wonderful trip. Our group leader, Oscar, along with Henry, Daniel and the rest of their team, made sure we were well taken care of. They provided "surprises" that made our experience so much richer than I could have ever anticipated. The hike was challenging for me but absolutely gorgeous. The lodges, especially the food, service and hot tubs, were perfect. We were part of a wonderful group that made the trip even more enjoyable. I highly recommend this trip. It was absolutely wonderful.
One of the best trips ever
This trip blew past all my expectations. The natural beauty of the Andes, the delicious food, and the pride the Peruvians (especially in Cusco) take in their Incan/Quechan culture made for an incredible experience. The hikes are tough at this altitude, and I do recommend getting there at least a day (probably two) to get used to the thinner air, but it is absolutely worth the effort. Oscar was a terrific leader, and he had two other local guides who shared so much history and culture with us. I would absolutely do this trip again.
Best Trip
What an amazing adventure!!! We loved the whole experience. Oscar and his team were incredible. Each day was filled with excitement. They had surprises for us (I won't tell you so you can be surprised too) which were really cool. Hiking from lodge to lodge was an amazing journey. Each day brought challenges, accomplishments, friendships, photography, laughter and awe-inspiring views. The food and lodges were wonderful. We looked forward to sitting in the hot tub after a long day with a cold beer while waiting for a delicious dinner telling stories around the table. By the end of the trip it felt like our group had known each other for years. The kindness, patience and encouragement of the guides got us to our goal each day. We never felt pressured to hurry. They taught us how to pace a climb in high altitude. I was nervous before we left worrying if I could climb at those heights but after learning the tips and tricks from our wonderful guides we got the job done! If you love hiking and adventure this is a trip of a lifetime! We'll be heading to Patagonia next to explore new terrains.










Fabulous Andean mountain adventure!
The Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trek turned out to be my favorite Backroads trip of the 12 I have taken thus far! Truly the "road less travelled" to Machu Picchu, The Salkantay Trail is physically and emotionally challenging but awe inspiring and spiritually satisfying at the same time. Our Backroads guide, Volker, and our local mountain guides, Jorge and Gilberto, left no stone unturned in orchestrating this extraordinary journey. From arranging a "blessing ceremony" for safety on the trail high above Lake Humanity to getting us through a few, sometimes challenging, route changes due to seasonal land slides and weather issues, to providing great commentary on local customs, history and the flora and fauna of the region(s) we hiked through. We enjoyed spectacular scenery, friendly and welcoming Peruvian people, superb lodging, authentic local cuisine and great camaraderie amongst our group as we had ample opportunity to connect on the trail and in the Lodges which we had all to ourselves after each day of trekking. Truly a unique Backroads experience from it's start in Cusco to it's grand finale finish at the breathtaking site of Machu Picchu!
This is a challenging and awe-inspiring trek.
This trek is physically challenging and well worth the effort. The trek is superbly conceived and designed, and expertly executed. The scenery, vistas, local culture, and historic sites are jaw-dropping and more than worth the daily treks. The local meals and food are a major plus.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
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