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 27 customers
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.
Amazing!
Wow! This trip was an amazing experience! Our Backroad's leader, Oscar, thought of everything! Hiking from lodge to lodge gave so much more meaning to the final destination of Machu Picchu. Hiking at altitude was challenging at times but we always felt supported by our Backroad's leader. This was one of the most rewarding trips I have ever taken!





One of the best!
Having just completed our 30th Backroads trip this fall, I look back at the Peru Lodge to Lodge trip as one of my all time most memorable and favorites. The lodges, scenery, leaders, Machu Picchu were all absolutely incredible. The hiking can be challenging, considering the elevation, but it is sooooo worth it in the end. Top of the list! Thanks, Backroads!!
The most amazing trip EVER!
This trip absolutely exceeded my expectations! It was very challenging, but the guides made it totally doable. I love how the Backroads team helps to immerse travelers in the culture of Peru and the Inca. From having a shaman bless our hike over the pass, visiting a farmstead run by a tiny Inca woman, to hiking up Machu Picchu Mountain to view the ruins, it was truly a trip of magic and mystery. I will never forget it!
Peru Lodge to Lodge trek--Backroads does it right
As always, Backroads exceeds expectations. Everything was meticulously organized. The logistics on this trip are critical, and they never missed a beat. Loved the challenge of this trip. Can't wait for the next one

Extreme experience!
Best vacation ever. Loved the experience. The challenge. The 'team'. What an amazing way to experience Machu Picchu.

Breathtaking Adventure - Unforgettable Experience
Of the six (!) Backroads trips I've taken this may be the most memorable. The opportunity to truly peel off from the crowds and hike as a very compact group over remote, challenging terrain was a thrill. Being beautifully accommodated in private lodges along the way was a luxury and really rejuvenated us for the next day's activity. Add great fresh food and exciting cuisine to the list. The joy was truly in the journey.




This was a trip of a lifetime!
The treks were challenging but incredibly beautiful. We were able to see so much more of the culture, people and gorgeous terrain than if we had gone on our own. I cannot say enough great things about the guides, accommodations and the meals. If you like active travel, Go Backroads!

A fantastic trip!
What a blast! The hiking was a challenge to be sure, but trekking in the Andes was so worth it. Our guides were excellent, we learned so much and were so inspired by the Peruvian people. Thank you for a great vacation.
Trip of a life time
Verified Buyer
As expected, Backroads continues to exceed expectations. Take a few days to acclamate to the altitude by arriving Cusco early. Train! This is not a wimpy hike! Wonderful local guides join the group. Take a hike back in time. Expect the unexpected.

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.
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