Itinerary Expand all Cuzco to Cuzco Depart London. The overnight group flights to Cuzco leave London this evening. Day 1 Start Cuzco (3400m); free time to explore the Inca capital. Set amidst hills in the altiplano, the Imperial City of the Incas, Cuzco (3,400) was the geographic, cultural and political centre of a vast empire which, at its peak, stretched from present-day Quito in Ecuador to Santiago in Chile. After the Spanish conquistadores invaded the city they started building on top of the Incan structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of the Incan and Spanish colonial styles. The group flights usually arrive in the mid-afternoon, giving time to wander the cobbled streets, visit the museums, churches and pre-Columbian buildings, such as Qorikancha – the Sun Temple, or to sit in a café and enjoy a coca-tea. There will be a briefing in the evening.Hotel San Agustin Plaza / Eco Inn (or similar) Arrive Cuzco (3400m); free time to explore the Inca capital. Set amidst hills in the altiplano, the Imperial City of the Incas, Cuzco (3,400) was the geographic, cultural and political centre of a vast empire which, at its peak, stretched from present-day Quito in Ecuador to Santiago in Chile. After the Spanish conquistadores invaded the city they started building on top of the Incan structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of the Incan and Spanish colonial styles. The group flights usually arrive in the mid-afternoon, giving time to wander the cobbled streets admiring the old houses, visiting its interesting museums, churches and pre-Columbian buildings, such as Qorikancha – the Sun Temple, or to sit in a café, enjoying a coca-tea watching locals go about their business. There will be a briefing in the evening.Hotel San Agustin Plaza / Eco Inn (or similar) Day 2 Visit the Sacred Valley; continue to Ollantaytambo (2800m). Today we visit the magnificent Sacred Valley of the Incas and the incredible ruins at Pisac before continuing on to Ollantaytambo, where we spend the night. The Sacred Valley, which runs along the Urubamba River near Cuzco, is the true heartland of Incan culture and tradition, which is still strong today. The high-Andean scenery is dotted with old towns and villages dating back to pre-Columbian times. The ruins of the Citadel at Pisac guarded a road from the lowlands and gives way to a picturesque landscape of terraces carved into the solid rock itself. The Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo give you a sense of the scale of what is to come as huge stone terraces scale the valley sides. This was the royal estate of Inca Emperor Pachacuti as well as being of religious and defensive significance.Hotel Pakaripampu (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 The Classic Inca Trail: Start Inca Trail trek from km82; walk along Urubamba River, climb to Huayllabamba. The Classic Inca Trail is a tangential branch part of a 45,000km road network linking the whole empire to Cuzco. It was built in the 15th Century to reach Machu Picchu but was abandoned soon after the Spanish conquest. American adventurer, Hiram Bingham travelled along the trail when he came across Machu Picchu in 1911. The trail opened to the public in 1970. This morning we follow a track beside the river (45 minutes) to the start of the Inca Trail at Piscacucho, commonly known as Km82. After greeting our trekking crew, we show our passports at the checkpoint and begin the Inca Trail trek. The trail runs alongside the Vilcanota River beneath the impressive snow-capped Nevado Veronica, passing through cactus gardens and fields of corn until we reach the enormous Inca ruins of Llactapata, where we continue up a side valley to camp near the hamlet of Huayllabamba. Walk Profile: approx. 11km / 6‐7hrs walking Full-service Camping - Huayllabamba Camp Inca Trail - Meals Included: breakfast lunch dinner Moonstone Trek: Trek past ruins and hamlets to the village of Chillipawa. An early start as it's a very busy first day! We take a private minibus to the trailhead, stopping first to explore the nearby ruins from which the trek takes its name. This is a large site with several distinct Inca remnants, clearly of religious importance. As with the rest of the trek, we are most likely to have the site completely to ourselves. The Moonstone itself is a large carving on an enormous boulder, and its significance is not yet understood. The trailhead is in a quiet, dusty valley and we soon climb high enough from the floor to enjoy some great views. At around lunchtime we stop to explore the imposing pre‐Inca fortress of Wata that straddles the trail. The ruin has not yet been accurately dated and pottery can often still be found lying on the ground. The path then traverses along a green side valley as we make our way above a few tiny villages before entering the village of Chillipawa, where we camp. Walk Profile: approx. 10.5km / 6‐7hrs walking Full‐service Camping Moonstone Trek - Meals included: breakfast lunch dinner One Day Inca Trail Option: Full day walking tour of ruins outside of Cuzco, including Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman The hills above Cuzco city are dotted with some of the most interesting Inca ruins. We drive from Ollantaytambo to the highest, Tambomachay, and return on foot to Cuzco via Puca Pucara, Qenco and Sacsayhuaman: an easy acclimatisation walk to get used to the altitude. An open-air picnic lunch is included during the hike near the spectacular ruins. Walk Profile: approx. 6.5km / 5-6hrs walking (inclusive of the time for visiting the sites) San Agustin Plaza Hotel (or similar) One Day Inca Trail Option - Meals Included: breakfast lunch Day 4 The Classic Inca Trail: Cross Dead Woman's Pass (4215m), then descend to Pacaymayu.teps to Pacaymayu. This is the longest and most strenuous day. A long climb (largely up stone staircases) takes us first through an area of cloud forest to the meadows of Llulluchapampa, then over the Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman's) pass, at 4215m the highest point on the trek. After quite a long, steep descent we camp in the scenic valley of the Pacamayo River (3600m). Walk Profile: approx. 10km / 6‐7hrs walking Full-service Camping - Pacamayo Camp Inca Trail - Meals Included: breakfast lunch dinner Moonstone Trek: Up the Accoccosa Pass and onto the high pampas. A long, steady climb with plenty of rest stops to aid acclimatisation takes us above the villages and into the high pampas ‐ rugged meadows of long grass. We normally stop for lunch shortly before the crest of the Accoccosa Pass (and the very rare Andean Flicker is sometimes seen (although often heard!)). The last leg of the pass is on loose red scree, but the view from the top makes it all worthwhile: a broad, hidden valley surrounded by snowy peaks ‐ the Huayanay Range on the left, the Urubamba Range straight ahead and beautiful, triangular Mt Veronica (5,800m) to the right. We have time to explore this plateau and experience walking in the high altiplano before returning to our camp for a well‐deserved hot dinner. The camp's isolation, well away from any settlements, results in spectacular night skies when clear. Walk Profile: approx. 8.8km / 4‐5hrs walking Full‐service Camping Moonstone Trek - Meals Included: breakfast lunch dinner One Day Inca Trail Option: Free day in Cuzco Today has been left free to relax after the trek or explore Cuzco further. Again, your leader can help to arrange optional excursions and activities for you. San Agustin Plaza Hotel (or similar) One Day Inca Trail Option - Meals Included: breakfast Day 5 The Classic Inca Trail: Over Runquracay Pass (3800m) to ruins of Sayajmarca and Phuyupatamarca. We start the day with an easier climb which takes us past the ruins of Runquracay and over the Runquracay Pass (3930m). From now on the Inca Trail becomes a clearly defined path made of flat boulders. We pass the ruins of Sayajmarca and suddenly enter rainforest; at one point the trail passes through an Inca tunnel. We camp at a spectacular campsite on the ridge above the Inca site of Phuyupatamarca (3680m) to benefit from the views of sunset and sunrise. Walk Profile: approx. 12km / 5-6hrs walking Full-service Camping - Phuyupatamarca Camp Inca Trail - Meals Included: breakfast lunch dinner Moonstone Trek: Continue along a narrow canyon and Incan aqueduct before crossing over to the Inca quarry of Canchiqata. We start after breakfast by following the stream from down this hidden valley into a narrow canyon. Rare polylepis trees grow here and we pass through a small grove as we leave the canyon. Our path then turns North and traverses very high above a deep and steep valley separating us from the Huayanay Mountains. This is probably the most spectacular section of the trek and we roughly follow a (now defunct) Inca aqueduct spectacularly carved out of the cliffs to take water from the hidden valley of our campsite to the Sacred Valley several miles away. At the end of the traverse we have a short but steep climb up to our lunch spot, a flat, ridge‐top meadow facing straight across the Sacred Valley to the snowy Urubamba Range. After lunch we walk down to Huayrapunku. Meaning "Gate of the Wind", this is a ridge‐top Inca shrine oriented to Mt Veronica, of which it has a simply incredible view. Finally a short walk brings us to our final campsite in amongst the granite stones of the Canchiqata Quarry. It was here that huge blocks were cut from the rose‐coloured granite before being dragged down the mountainside and across the river to the Sun Temple at Ollantaytambo. Walk Profile: approx. 11.8km / 5‐6hrs walking Full‐service Camping Moonstone Trek - Meals Included: breakfast lunch dinner One Day Inca Trail Option: Today we explore the Urubamba Valley, visiting the town of Chincero, the Salineras de Maras and the Moray ruins This morning we head out of Cuzco to the colourful town of Chinchero, known as the city of the Rainbow, and explore the Inca ruins above the village. Chinchero was an important agricultural site during the Inca period; of note are its stairs, Incan walls and beautiful terraces where camelids grazed and the land was cultivated with various products. From here, we’ll head to the ruins at Moray - terraces built in depressions or gigantic natural holes. These terraces are concentrically superimposed, taking the form of a gigantic amphitheatre. The main hole has a depth of 150 metres with the average height of the terraces being almost 2 metres. Moray is thought to be an Incan agricultural research centre where crop experiments were carried out at different heights - each terrace is built with an irrigation channel and each of them constitutes a microclimate that allows farming of different crops. Finally, we’ll explore the Salineras de Maras, which are made up of more than 3000 pools in different shades of white and brown. Maras salt has been collected since pre-Inca times. Many experts recommend Maras pink salt for people suffering from hypertension because it has low levels of sodium chloride. Maras salt also contains calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium, making it a perfect medicinal option for skin conditions and to treat swelling. We will enjoy a local meal in a community along the Valley and will learn about Local lifestyle and activities. After lunch, we drive down the valley to Ollantaytambo where we spend the night. Pakaritampu Hotel (or similar) One Day Inca Trail Option - Meals Included: breakfast lunch Day 6 The Classic Inca Trail: Walk down Inca steps to Wiñay Wayna and Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate. From the ridge, we embark on the infamous Inca steps: a two-kilometre stone staircase taking us rapidly downhill amid a panorama of overwhelming immensity, with the peaks of the Vilcabamba range above, and the river thousands of metres below. After visiting the attractive ruins of Wiñay Wayna, we have an undulating walk through cloud forest high above the river to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. From here we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu itself, with Huayna Picchu rising behind. Traditionally busy with groups of trekkers clamouring for photos, we plan our arrival at Inti Punku later in the day so we can enjoy unobstructed views of the magnificent ruins. Whilst most groups choose to visit Machu Picchu today, we'll pass around the edge of the ruins and exit the site, descending to Aguas Calientes for a well-earned rest, a shower and a comfortable bed for the night. Our trekking permits allow us one entry into the site, which we use for our tour tomorrow when we are refreshed and more able to enjoy it. There is usually time for an optional visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes, however, in recent years they have become over-crowded and the water quality can suffer as a result. We will be reunited with those who have been on the Moonstone Trek at the hotel this afternoon. Walk Profile: approx. 9km / 6-7hrs walking Hotel Casa Andina, Aguas Calientes (or similar) Inca Trail - Meals Included: breakfast lunch Moonstone Trek: Descend to Ollantaytambo where the trek ends; catch the train to Aguas Calientes and re-join the rest of the group. Photographers are advised to wake up before dawn this morning, to watch the sun rise over the Sacred Valley from our campsite high above it. The sun's first rays catching the glaciers of Mt Veronica certainly makes the effort more than worthwhile. This is our last day on the trek and we descend from the pampas down into the lush valley floor along the enormous stone ramps on which the Incas dragged the stones. We cross the river and explore the huge Sun Temple complex to see where the stones ended and what use they were put to. Our trek ends as we board the train to Aguas Calientes, where we join the rest of the group at the hotel. Walk Profile: approx. 8km / 2‐3hrs walking Hotel Casa Andina, Aguas Calientes (or similar) Moonstone Trek - Meals Included: breakfast lunch Train Option: One Day Inca Trail via Wiñay Wayna to Machu Picchu This morning we travel to Ollantaytambo and take the train to Km104 where we embark on the infamous Inca steps: a two kilometre stone staircase taking us rapidly downhill amid a panorama of overwhelming immensity, with the peaks of the Vilcabamba range above, and the river thousands of metres below. After visiting the attractive ruins of Wiñay Wayna, we have an undulating walk through cloud forest high above the river to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. From here we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu itself, with Huayna Picchu rising behind. Traditionally busy with groups of trekkers clamouring for photos, we plan our arrival at Inti Punku later in the day so we can enjoy unobstructed views of the magnificent ruins. Passing around the edge of the ruins, we exit the site and descend to Aguas Calientes for a well-earned rest, a shower and a comfortable bed for the night. Our trekking permits allow us one entry into the site, which we use for our tour tomorrow, but anyone wishing to visit the citadel on both days can purchase an additional entry ticket today – your tour leader will assist with this. There is usually time for an optional visit to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes, however, in recent years they have become over-crowded and the water quality can suffer as a result. Walk Profile: approx. 9km / 6-7hrs walking Hotel Casa Andina, Aguas Calientes (or similar) Train Option - Meals Included: breakfast lunch Day 7 Early morning guided tour of Machu Picchu; free time to explore further, then return to Cuzco by train and by road. In order to beat the day-trippers arriving from Cuzco and reach the ruins as early as possible, a very early start is required to queue for Machu Picchu; only government-registered buses can make the 30-minute drive up the winding road to the site entrance and during high season (May-October) queues can be hours long. Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is its mountain backdrop of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it, the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained a great enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu are now fully enforced; of the three possible visiting slots, we will purchase the morning slot from 06:00 until 12:00 (unless unavailable), you will be limited to a maximum of four hours within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will also be three set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; we select the most comprehensive route. We catch an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30 mins) and continue by private bus to Cuzco (2hrs 30 mins). Hotel San Agustin Plaza / Eco Inn (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 End Cuzco. For land only travellers, the trip ends in Cuzco after breakfast today. Those who are travelling on the group flights will be taken to Cuzco airport this morning for your overnight flight to London. Meals included: Breakfast Depart Cuzco. For land only travellers, the trip ends in Cuzco after breakfast today. Those who are travelling on the group flights will be taken to Cuzco airport this morning for your domestic flight to Lima where you will connect with your overnight international flight to London. Meals included: Breakfast Arrive London. The group flights arrive into London this afternoon.
Amazon Rainforest extension (from Cuzco) Code: XPC Easily accessible via a short flight to Puerto Maldonado from Cuzco, the Amazon is the world's largest rainforest and home to an astonishing array of wildlife, as well as countless plant species. Spending three nights at a lodge in the incredibly rich Tambopata Reserve, we use motorised canoes to explore its lakes and rivers, and follow jungle trails to discover its dense forests. The detailed itinerary can be found here. Please ask your sales consultant for more details. Price from: £449 (compulsory supplement of £80 for single travellers)
Lake Titicaca extension Code: XPT Journey across the spectacular high altiplano to Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable freshwater lake (3,800m). Explore its waters by boat and visit the descendants of the Uros Indians who live on floating reed islands, and are also known for producing fine textiles. Back on the mainland, we visit the pre‐ Incan site of Sillustani, comprised of burial towers with fantastic views over the region. The Titicaca Extension is only available after your main tour as we do not recommend arriving straight into Puno due to the altitude. The detailed itinerary can be found here. Please ask your sales consultant for more details. Price from: £209 (compulsory supplement of £48 for single travellers)
Peru Visas are not required by UK citizens, Western European nationals, Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and most other nationalities. If you are in any doubt please contact the nearest Peruvian Embassy.
Peru There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. If you are travelling to the Tambopata reserve in the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. We also strongly recommend that you obtain a Yellow Fever vaccination. Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in the Amazon region. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites: always apply insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers while in the rainforest to avoid being bitten.
Premium Hotels & Camping We spend 4 nights in premium quality hotels and 3 nights full-service camping. The hotels normally used are indicated within the itinerary however accommodation may differ from those stated depending on your departure date. On this holiday, the hotels that we use offer greater comfort than those on our standard Inca Trail tour - all are a minimum of a local 4-star rating. All of the properties are centrally located, with en suite bathrooms and breakfast facilities and many feature Colonial architecture. In Cuzco the properties that we use are all located within the old town and within walking distance of the Plaza de Armas. All hotels have a safety deposit box in the room. Please note that central heating is very rare in Peru, even in good standard hotels. Most hotels provide plug in heaters and spare blankets. The trek itself is on a full-service camping basis, meaning that our camp staff will erect and dismantle the tents for you, cook, and do all of the camp chores for you. You need only carry your day pack. We use three-man 4 season Eureka tents purchased in 2019 for those on a twin share basis and two-man tents for singles. The tents are relatively spacious with enough room inside for the kitbags. We provide thermarest-type mats which are about 4cm thick when inflated and 3-4 season sleeping bags with a liner. We also have a dining tent complete with table and folding chairs, and toilet tents for use during lunch stops as well as during the evenings. A hot drink and a bowl of warm water (to wash with) will be brought to your tent each morning. We recommend the early booking of single supplements and of pre/post-tour accommodation. A limited number of single supplements (hotel and tent) are available on this trip; please request upon booking.
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Reviewed November 2019 Helen P Trip: The Inca Trail in Comfort A fantastic guide I found hiking the trail a real challenge but our guide Holger Collantes, and his assistant Mel, were just amazing. Their support and encouragement got me through. They really were the best! Holger was also an absolute mine of information about Peru - there were no questions he couldn't answer. The Inca remains and, of course, Machu Picchu itself were magical. The people, the food ... all incredible. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Completing the trail. What did you think of your group leader? Amazing. He always went above and beyond what was necessary to make sure we were all happy and well cared for.
Reviewed October 2019 Alex Campbell Trip: The Inca Trail in Comfort Just amazing!!! This trip was fantastic from start to finish. Really well organised by Exodus. We loved every minute of this trip, the Inca sites you visit along the way and the amazing scenery just make this amazing, it really does make it about the whole 4 days of hiking rather than just the last one when you arrive at Macchu Picchu. We were lucky to be hiking with a fantastic group of people and our guide and porters were incredible. The chefs and porters deserve a special mention, the food was incredible, and arriving at camp every day to find everything set up and a drink waiting for us made it feel much more like glamping!! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Hard to say, on the last day of hiking the guide for us up early to climb a little higher and we watched the sun come up over a glacier, the porters arrived with hot tea and it just felt a little unreal and magical. Of course arriving after 4 days of hiking to see Macchu Picchu below you is incredible. What did you think of your group leader? Bruce was AMAZING, nothing was too much trouble and he knew so much not just about Incas but about all the flowers and everything we saw along the way, it really made the trip. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go prepared for an adventure, and ladies take loo roll in your back pack everywhere, it's often in short supply!!! Is there anything else you would like to add? Thank you to everyone involved in making our trip so memorable we planned this a year ago and it totally lived up to our expectations!!!!
Reviewed September 2019 Sophie Penney Trip: The Inca Trail in Comfort Very beautiful and interesting trip The views on the trek were really wonderful, Cusco is a beautiful city. There is lots to see on this trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Reaching the top on the 2nd day of the hike was a big sense of achievement. What did you think of your group leader? Tina is very kind and friendly. She did a very good job of looking after us and checking that we were managing with the altitude. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? One little thing, the kit list is missing toilet paper. Of course you can get it there but I would have preferred to know in advance that you need some for the trek! And yes it really is that cold at night you definitely need to bring properly warm clothes. Walking poles are marked as optional but we wouldn’t have made it without them! The amount of stuff you are allowed for the trek is quite small, smaller than it sounds anyway, so plan carefully.
Reviewed August 2019 Margaret Goodge Trip: The Inca Trail in Comfort Amazing Adventure! A wonderful trip which was superbly organised. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Arriving at the Sun Gate at the end of our trek and glimpsing Machu Picchu below was an emotional moment. Arriving at the summit of Dead Woman’s Pass on day 2 was also special. Both of these moments were enhanced by sharing the experience with a lovely group of fellow travellers. What did you think of your group leader? Julio was a wonderful leader. Organised, knowledgable, friendly and empathetic, his skill in leading our group was superb from beginning to end. As a group, we knew we were in safe hands. He was very ably assisted by Anthony, whose easy going, friendly personality really added to the group dynamic. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? This trek is graded as ‘moderate’ but day 2 of the trek to Dead Woman’s Pass is quite a challenge, especially in the hot weather in which we were ascending. Combine that with the effects of altitude, and putting in some training, in advance of the trip, is definitely useful. Give yourself an extra day in Cuzco prior to the beginning of the trip if possible. It definitely helped me adjust to the altitude. On the trek itself, walking poles are invaluable. Even members of our group who normally don’t use them, found them very useful in the descents. Although some snacks are provided on the trek, I would recommend taking more. The food prepared by the chefs is excellent (especially given the facilities they have at their disposal) but you’ll burn a lot of calories and I found I needed extra snacks. Finally, if you are travelling as I did in July, the night time temperatures really do drop. I used all my extra layers to keep warm. Is there anything else you would like to add? I’ve wanted to trek the Inca Trail for a very long time and it lived up to all my expectations. The Inca Trail in Comfort trip was a fantastic trip and I would thoroughly recommend it to others.
Reviewed July 2019 Sarah and Richard Swan Trip: The Inca Trail in Comfort Inca Trail incomfort and Amazon extension Amazing and challenging adventure! We did the Inca Trail in comfort with the Amazon extension. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking through the Sun Gate together as a group after 4 tough days of trekking and seeing Machu Picchu come into view. Our amazing, strong and cheerful porters. Respect! Our leaders Julio, Anthony and Roldan. Jungle wildlife. What did you think of your group leader? Julio and Anthony on the Inca Trail were outstanding. Friendly, approachable, kind and supportive. Julio also very good back in Cusco etc. Lots of recommendations and advice. All clearly explained. He even came with us to the airport when we left for the Amazon. Could not fault them! Roldan for the Amazon extension. From the moment he met us at the airport he really looked after us. His knowledge and care he has for the jungle are second to none. We were so fortunate to have him as our guide. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Embrace the adventure! Look for Exodus sign outside the airport. Do not be taken in by random people who approach you in the airport with offers of help. If you can give yourself an extra day in Cusco to get over the flights. Do the Inkan Milky Way walking tour. Ask for a room at the rear or side of the hotel if you are not used to traffic noise! Stick to kit list. We didn't take rain ponchos but had it rained in the Amazon it would have been useful. Take lots of snacks for the treks (some is provided but you may want more!). Bring inflatable pillow for the Inca camping. Altitude: we took diamox, bought local product recommended to inhale and avoided alcohol to start with and were fine! Is there anything else you would like to add? It's tough and challenging but the most amazing adventure with wonderful people and supported by excellent local guides, porters and chefs.
Reviewed July 2019 Robert Walden Trip: The Inca Trail in Comfort Fantastic, well organised trekking holiday. Great guide (Mike) who was very knowledgeable, great fun and very helpful to everyone in the group. Porters and food provided on the trek itself were outstanding. Weather was generally very good which obviously helped our enjoyment and the scenery stunning. We were also fortunate enough to see a spectacled bear on the "run up" to Dead Woman's Pass. An experience you will remember for the rest of your life - no matter how young you are! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The final morning when we got up at 5.30am to stand above the clouds and witness snow-clad mountain peaks in the early dawn sunshine. What did you think of your group leader? A1. We could not have had better. He went the extra mile. He emphasised the entire trek was our holiday - not just the final destination. How right he was. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Warm thermals at night time essential. Altitude is a problem to some degree for most people - Mike provided a herbal decongestant to rub on our palms and inhale. A decongestant would probably be useful to pack - a bunged up nose is not conducive to good sleep at any altitude. Is there anything else you would like to add? We have never had a bad holiday with Exodus!
Reviewed June 2019 Marcia Nash Trip: The Inca Trail in Comfort Inca Warriors Fabulous trip; very well organised and executed by Exodus. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? View of Machu Picchu from Sun Gate What did you think of your group leader? Awesome. Mike is best tour guide ever. Well organised, efficient, calm in the face of problems, good humoured at all times, great company, knowledgable and informative. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Better exchange rate in Peru than in UK and several bureaux d'echange in Cusco accept sterling, which would save losing twice on exchange rate, so wait until arrival to buy currency if you will have time before setting off on trek. Try to obtain several single sols as most public toilets cost one sol. If you take photos of people they will expect a sol. Don't underestimate amount of tipping: we each tipped support staff (porters and chefs) around 250 sols between them and the assistant guide around 80 sols for the 4 day trek. We each tipped the main guide about 150 sols, which was recommended by Trip Adviser and on the assumption that he got paid more by Exodus but, with hindsight, perhaps we should have given him more given how hard he worked and how much value he added to the whole trip. A lightweight lamp for your tent would be useful as there isn't much daylight left when you arrive at camp and you get up in the dark. A headtorch is essential and either a spare or spare batteries. I think more people who didn't take Diamox felt unwell than who did so, on balance, I would say take it. I wouldn't recommend coca leaves, though, as I suspect they gave me a headache (and they taste disgusting). We had the opportunity to leave stuff at the hotel in Ollantaytambo whilst on trek and pick it up after the trek before going onto Aguas Callientes, where we spent 2 nights instead of 1 because of a rail strike, so it is probably worth leaving a set of clean clothes there. Eating out is very good value. Meals at non-touristy restaurants cost under 50 sols including a drink. Touristy restaurants c 70-80 sols, including a drink. A local beer costs 6-8 s, a glass of wine or pisco sour 15-20 s. If you want to try guinea pig, do so at the restaurant recommended by the tour guide. Alpaca is good at most restaurants. Souvenirs at markets are good value. I think I spent 1300 sols in total, including 5 hats and a scarf, meals and tips. Is there anything else you would like to add? I would highly recommend doing this trip with Exodus
Reviewed June 2019 Rosie H Trip: The Inca Trail in Comfort The Inca Trail in Comfort 30 May departure & Lake Titicaca Extension This was a brilliant trip. The Inca Trail in Comfort was well organised & a good mix of trekking and sightseeing. Our guide, Mike, was great & the camping porter team were inspiring. The camp chef provided excellent meals. The hotels were comfortable & the camping was as good as camping gets. The group gelled well together. The Lake Titicaca Extension is also well worth doing and good value. We were very happy with all aspects of the trip & would recommend it to anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I loved the whole trek: highlights included the first view of Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate, the spectacled bear we saw from the trail, reaching the top of dead Woman's Pass, the view from our camp site on the last morning, rowing a reed boat on Lake Titicaca ... What did you think of your group leader? Mike was a brilliant leader. He is extremely knowledgeable and was keen to share with us. He is friendly to all and certainly helped the group to gel. He is considerate of the needs of the group and provided help when appropriate to those who needed it. He organised the trek well and kept the group together. He organised a variety of restaurants for lunch & dinner, all good, and even booked us a restaurant in Puno (Titicaca extension) which was an excellent recommendation. He is considerate of health and safety, the environment and the local community. Mike was great and we were very lucky to have him as our group leader. Davis and the camp team were also very good. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? This is a brilliant trip - book it as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness and enjoy walking, (and don't have bad knees - there are a lot of steps). Bring good walking boots, well worn in. Use poles (you can hire locally, or buy in UK for similar price - must be telescopic / adjustable with rubber ends.) If leave is not a concern, consider arriving a day early in Cuzco to acclimatise. Bring a good head torch. We didn't go to the hot springs so no need to carry swimming costume / large towel / flip flops on trek. Hotel Casa Andina (Aguas Calientes) provided shampoo so no need to carry on trek. We could have left some stuff in Hotel Pakaripampu (Ollantaytamo) before the trek, to collect after Machu Picchu on way back to Cuzco. Minimise the weight in your ruck sack. If leave is not a concern - the Lake Titicaca extension is excellent value. Don't be put off by the drive - it's in a comfortable coach & includes 4 stops & lunch. Don't under estimate the amount you need for tipping. Although the exchange rate is better in Cuzco it's convenient to arrive with a little local money. The exchange rate was approximately the same changing pounds into dollars in UK then changing the dollars into sols in Cuzco as it was to change pounds directly into sols in Cuzco. However all the exchange outlets would exchange dollars (including very near hotel San Agustin Plaza) but they didn't all exchange pounds. Western Union in Main Square exchanges pounds. We spent approx 1450 sols per person for 11 nights (incl 1 night in Cuzco pre tour & Titicaca extension). If you do the Titicaca extension, include the reed boat ride, and book the Balcons de Puna restaurant for dinner & floorshow. Is there anything else you would like to add? The trip was great. Thanks to Mike for excellent organisation & guiding. Thanks also for organising extra night in Aguas Calientes due to train strike.
Reviewed June 2019 Martin Atkin Trip: The Inca Trail in Comfort Inca Trail In Comfort - 30th May Departure This was a challenging but most rewarding of adventures on the Inca Trail. A group of individuals of varying ages, abilities and backgrounds became a team over the 4 day trek. Our guide and leader, Mike, was inspirational giving of his knowledge, experience and friendship throughout. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? While Machu Picchu was the end of the trek it was camp on the third night together with the sunrise on the fourth day that will be my standout memory. Waking to a glorious sunrise on that last day with the clouds filling the valleys below was an awesome sight. What did you think of your group leader? Mike was a fantastic guide and leader. Whether it was recommendations on places to visit in Cuzco, his encyclopedic knowledge of all things Peru and Inca or his care for those having difficulty at the higher altitude his energy and enthusiasm exceeded all expectations. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure your fitness levels are as good as possible. This will ensure you maximise your enjoyment. Is there anything else you would like to add? I will certainly be looking for further opportunities to travel with Exodus.
Reviewed May 2019 Scott Semple Trip: The Inca Trail in Comfort Spectacular trek with the best trek leader The trek to Machu Picchu in Comfort is very much a trek worth taking. Machu Picchu is very impressive as you might imagine, but somewhat overshadowed by the majesty of the Peruvian mountainside that you trek through to reach it. I was blown away by the views along the treks, particularly from Dead Woman’s Pass and our final campsite at 4000m. I do not normally write reviews and the thing that makes me want to is to highlight just how amazing our tour leader Cesar Smith (“Smithy”) was. I have never encountered a more friendly, informative and inspiring trek leader in all of my travels. Easily the best tour guide I have ever encountered. Smithy’s passion for his country, mountains and knowledge of historical contact are impressive enough, but his support for the entire group was outstanding. A few in the group struggled with some altitude effects and fitness. These members were sensitively supported by Smithy, whilst he also facilitated those of us wanting to trek faster to do so. Friendly and informative with a contagious passion for the trek, I cannot say enough good things about Smithy, our tour leader. If you have options of choosing dates with his involvement, he comes with my highest recommendation. In terms of the trip, there are parts that are physically challenging, so I would advise reading the training guide. My wife and I trained for the trip and were very glad we did. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking up over Dead Woman’s pass and the last campsite and 4000m offered breath-taking views. What did you think of your group leader? I cannot say enough good things about our group leader. Easily the best guide I have ever experienced. Friendly, informative without being overbearing. His passion for the mountains and the country of Peru is inspirational. His relationship with our porters one of mutual respect. Amazing knowledge and I genuinely warmed to the man to a degree which surprised me. One of the big highlights of our tour was the tour leader. Cesar Smith (“Smithy”) comes with my biggest recommendation. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Read the trip notes. Read the training guide. Those that had not did struggle with some the challenging sections of the trip. Dead Woman’s Pass is a challenge for most people, so do the training for the trip. Is there anything else you would like to add? I was very impressed with the porter tea. Our chef Luciano demands specific praise. The food was excellent, and varied. The lead porter Alejandro, ran a tight ship, and each of the porters were constantly busy, supporting the entire group. A really inspirational bunch of lads. They had clear respect for our tour leader, who again, I simply cannot say enough good things about. If you have any choice in the matter, try to book a tour with Smithy as your tour leader.
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