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Sacred Valley & One-Day Inca Trail Trek

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Fully Guided Adventure Small Group Walking & Hiking Inca Trail
Our Price From 2,539 Per Person
Exclusive Savings 123 Per Person
 Trip Length
7 Days
 Trip Starts
Cusco
 Trip Finishes
Cusco
7 Day Sacred Valley & One-Day Inca Trail Trek Itinerary (Exodus)
Countries Explored: Peru
Trip Style
Walking & Trekking
Departures
Budget
Affordable
Max. Group Size
16
Pace
Easy / Leisurely
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
TPI

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Exodus 7 Day Sacred Valley & One-Day Inca Trail Trek. This trip is the perfect introduction to the highlights of Cuzco and the Sacred Valley area, explored predominantly on foot. On this short adventure, explore Cuzco, one of the most beautiful cities in South America, plus some of the ruins in the surrounding area, including Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman. Travel to Ollantaytambo and visit the Pumamarca ruins before trekking through the Sacred Valley.

Join the One-Day Inca Trail with impressive views of the Urubamba River valley, visiting the...read more ruins of Wiñay Wayna on our way to the Sun Gate and first sight of Machu Picchu. We return the next morning, fresh and well rested to tour Machu Picchu, one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world, before returning to Cuzco.

Itinerary

In the altiplano hills, Cuzco, the imperial city of the Incas, was the geographic, cultural and political centre of a vast empire which, at its peak, stretched from present-day Quito in Ecuador to Santiago, Chile. After Spanish conquistadors invaded the city, they built on top of Inca structures, resulting in unique architecture, a fusion of the Spanish colonial and Inca styles.

There is a noticeboard in the hotel reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be held. Remember to take it easy on arrival in Cuzco (and drink plenty of water) to help your body adjust to the altitude (11,155ft/3,400m). Stay: MamaSara Hotel (or similar).

The hills above Cuzco are dotted with spectacular Inca ruins. We drive 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 ruins. Stay: MamaSara Hotel (or similar) (B/L).

Today has been left free for exploring Cuzco. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people watching and Qorikancha (the Sun Temple) in the Santo Domingo church and monastery are worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs, such as alpaca jumpers and scarves. If you would like something more active, there is an array of other optional activities available from Cuzco, including paddleboarding on a lake, mountain biking, or a combination of via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley. Stay: MamaSara Hotel (or similar) (B).

We drive from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo (approximately two hours' drive) and then onto Pumamarca (approximately 30 minutes), the remains of a hillside fortress on a steep slope overlooking the Sacred Valley. These ruins are less visited than others in the area so our time here should be relatively uninterrupted.

After we finish exploring, we walk back through the valley to Ollantaytambo, with views of the terraced countryside along the way. The walk should take about three hours. Stay: Tunupa Lodge (or similar) (B).

We wake early for a scenic train journey through the Urubamba River valley (approximately 1hr 20min) to Km104 where we disembark, cross the river, and start our full-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Our uphill efforts are rewarded with spectacular views and access to the attractive ruins of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), where we enjoy our box lunch. From here, a relatively flat trail takes us past wild orchids to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), where we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu, one of the New Wonders of the World.

Our afternoon arrival usually yields great photo opportunities as we descend into the ruins complex. With our full tour tomorrow, we exit the site and board the bus to Aguas Calientes to enjoy a well-earned meal, shower and a comfortable bed for the night in preparation for our early return to Machu Picchu. Stay: Inti Punku Machu Picchu (or similar) (B/L).

We start early to beat the day-trippers from Cuzco and reach the ruins as early as possible; buses return us up the winding road to the Machu Picchu entrance. During high season (May to October), there may be a bit of a wait. Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is the staggering mountain backdrop.

The Spaniards never found it, the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained an enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. The guided tour highlights the history, culture, architecture and mysteries that Machu Picchu holds to this day.

This afternoon, we catch the train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min) and continue by private bus to Cuzco (1hr 30min). Stay: MamaSara Hotel (or similar) (B).

Begin your return journey home after breakfast. But if you're not ready for the adventure to end, you can always book onto our Lake Titicaca extension, where you explore the sky-high waters by boat, visit an indigenous community and explore the pre‐Incan site of Sillustani. Alternatively, journey into the wilds on our Amazon Rainforest extension and explore lakes, rivers and jungle trails in search of the abundant wildlife that lives there (B).

Trip Inclusions

  • Discover Cuzco with its distinct Inca-Colonial fusion architecture
  • Explore the Sacred Valley and ruins above Cuzco by foot
  • Walk the one-day Inca Trail via Wiñay Wayna ruins to Machu Picchu
  • Experience two unique visits to Machu Picchu for photos and fully guided exploration
  • Rest and refresh after your trek with overnight in charming Aguas Calientes

  • Six nights in hotels
  • Travel by private bus and by train
  • Airport transfers included
  • All breakfasts and two lunches
  • Six nights in hotels
  • All transport and listed activities
  • Tour leader throughout
  • Arrival and departure transfers

  • Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
  • Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
About Exodus Travels
About Exodus Travels

Hit the trails with Exodus - from challenging peaks to leisurely coastal and countryside walks. Read more

Exodus Trip Leaders
Exodus Trip Leaders

Exodus chooses their Leaders carefully. Professional, dedicated and are passionate about sharing their home countries. Read more

Accommodation with Personality
Accommodation with Personality

Wherever possible, Exodus chooses properties that are locally owned and that reflect the area you are visiting. Read more

Availability

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Sunday 18 May 2025
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Sunday 08 Jun 2025
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Sunday 07 Sep 2025
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Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you enquire. Additional savings may apply. We guarantee the lowest price in Australia. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Exodus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Exodus. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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