Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking Tour
9 days
8 nights
Activity Levels 3-5
Premiere Hotels
Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking Tour
9 days
8 nights
Activity Levels 3-5
Premiere Hotels
2025: Jun-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
#MyBackroadsTrip
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
Please Select a Group Size
Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.
