Today, begins your adventure of a lifetime with the Classic Inca Trail. We will pick you up from your hotel in our private van at 4:30am. From there, we travel to Piskacucho, which is known as kilometer 82, where the Classic Inca Trail begins. Along the way, we stop for breakfast in Ollantaytambo at 6:30-7am to load up on energy for our start of the trail. (Breakfast is not included).

Upon arrival at kilometer 82 (8:30am), we will have some time to organize ourselves by using the restrooms, applying sunscreen, insect repellent, etc. Once at the Inca Trail checkpoint, be ready to show your entrance tickets, passports and (if paying a student rate) your student card.

At the start of the trail (2,720m/8,923ft) we will cross the Vilcanota River and follow its route towards the right. The first day is relatively easy, a warm-up along the Inca flat terrain. There are great views of the Inca Fortress (Huillca Raccay), the vast and incredible Inca site of Llactapata, (officially called Patallacta), the Urubamba mountain range that divides the jungle, the Andes Mountains, and the beautiful snow-capped peak of W’akay Willca (5,860m/19,225ft) known in books as Veronica.

Our first campsite is in Ayapata, an hour and a half up towards the small village of Wayllabamba (3,000m/9,842ft) located in the temperate green valley of the same name. Temperatures at night are around 5ºC depending on the month.

During the day, we will enjoy spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains Veronica, (5,860m/19,337ft), the lush green valley around us and a myriad of flora and fauna.

After waking up at 5 to 5:30am and enjoying a hot breakfast, we start a steep ascent towards the highest pass, Abra de Warrmihuañusca or Dead Woman’s Pass at (4,200m/13,779ft). On this day, you will feel a real sense of achievement upon reaching the top! After a well-deserved rest, we begin the descent towards our lunch spot, which is located at Pacaymayu (3,550m/11,646ft).

On our way up towards the pass, we will be able to see an array of hummingbirds and a combination of other species of birds. There will be plenty of time to appreciate the incredible variety of native plants and the Polylepis or Q’ueuña trees, which grow in the astonishing cloud forest located at (3,650m/11,972ft)

After lunch, begins the second two-hour steep climb towards Runkuraqay pass (almost 4,000m/13,123ft). We arrive at our campsite by 5 pm. Temperatures at this campsite are around 4ºC during the night.

This is the most impressive day by far so keep this in mind as you ascend on day three! We wake up for breakfast at 6am and start the day with a gentle climb towards the archaeological site of ‘Phuyupatamarca’ (meaning ‘Town in the Clouds’). Here, we reach the third highest point along the Inca trail (3,680m/12,073ft). The views of the mountains, canyons and surrounding areas are spectacular!

The Inca site of Phuyupatamarca, is located a few minutes’ walk from the third pass. After visiting this site, we continue walking down 3,000 stairs through the cloud forest to the impressive agricultural Incan site of Intipata. After taking some time to visit this site, we continue until we arrive at our third campsite Wiñay Wayna (2,680m/8,792ft). Today, we will only walk about 4 to 5 hours. We arrive at camp by lunchtime! Temperatures during the night are about 12º C.

A short walk from our campsite is the famous Incan site of ‘Wiñay Wayna’ which means `Forever Young` in Quechua. It is named after a special orchid which grows abundantly in the area.

At around 4:00am, it is time to wake up, have breakfast and start day 4 on the Inca trail to get to Machu Picchu on time. This is the final part of your journey, arriving by 6:00am to reach the Sun Gate (also known as Inti Punku). At that point, the majestic Machu Picchu Citadel will be in front of us with its intense beauty – an incredible sight for all to see. At this point, we walk downhill towards Machu Picchu Citadel (2,400m/7,872 ft.). After walking 40 minutes, we enter the citadel from the top through the “House of the Guardians”. From there, we proceed towards the control point, where we register and leave our backpacks. You are only allowed to take small bags into the citadel, such as camera bags. Your professional guide will direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets. You can wander around the town squares as well as climb the intricately carved stone stairways. Machu Picchu is considered as the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom. Once the guided tour is over, you will have free time to explore the site on your own.

You will also have time to indulge in a few of the following activities on your own if you choose (not included in the price)

Climb up Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain and appreciate the beauty and magnificence of Machu Picchu from there.
Other optional activities in Aguas Calientes include a visit to the local museum or bathe in the hot springs.

You will descend to Aguas Calientes by bus (included) and will have time to have lunch on your own. We board the Expedition train by 6:18pm to head towards the Ollantaytambo Train Station. This is where you will meet our private van and be transferred to your hotel in Cusco arriving around 9:45pm.