HIKING THE INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU
Join Ahimsa Travel Club on a legendary hiking tour of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. After grounding ourselves with two days in Lima and acclimating in the Sacred Valley town of Ollantaytambo, we set out on one of the world’s most iconic multi-day hikes, following ancient stone pathways through high mountain passes, cloud forests, and remote archaeological sites only accessible on foot. Each day on the trail brings sweeping Andean vistas, profound nature and silence, and understanding the history behind this sacred journey. The adventure concludes with the long-awaited arrival at Machu Picchu where we will learn about the stories of the cosmology, geology and rituals of the ancient inhabitants of these living mountains.
We hike with respect for Incan traditions and with reverence for Pachamama, Mother Earth, understanding the Inca Trail as a pilgramage for the Andean people. The adventure concludes with the long-awaited arrival at Machu Picchu, followed by a return to Lima for your flight back. Join Ahimsa Travel Club for the adventure of a lifetime in one of the most powerful landscapes on Earth.
Dates: August 30th 2026 to September 8th 2026
Location: Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Price in USD: $5,595 USD per person
Please note: this price includes two domestic flights within Peru
Difficulty Level: Challenging (this tour is only available to avid hikers who are able to cross the conditions that are listed below during the Inca Trail).
Registration Deadline: March 15th 2026 (we must buy Machu Picchu tickets by then)
Questions: Email prachi@fairkonnect.com
What's on the Itinerary?
DAY 1 | THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
You will be picked up at Lima International Airport and hotel check-in will be available starting at 3 PM and onwards. You will be given a warm welcome and some time to refresh. If your flight gets in earlier, we can show you around the neighborhood. We’ll have a welcome dinner about a 15 minute walk from the hotel and settle in for the night.
Meals included: Snacks + Dinner at hotel
DAY 2 | WALKING TOUR OF LIMA + LAYERS OF HISTORY
After breakfast and welcome orientation, let’s explore the bustling city of Lima together on a walking tour. We’ll walk you through artistic neighborhoods, while you learn about Peruvian cultures (modern and historic) living within the city. Lima is filled with distinct neighborhoods and layers of interesting stories for us to uncover together. For dinner, we’ll have you try Peruvian staples at a cute, independently run vegan restaurant.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
“We had the privilege of interacting with so many local people and were welcomed into spaces in a way that, I believe, is a rarity for tour groups. The immense effort that went into planning this trip was apparent (and appreciated!). I feel so grateful to have been able to participate in the activities that Karol and Prachi coordinated for us. I feel like this trip opened up my world view in ways many others have not. For me, the highlight of the trip, was the night we had the bonfire, with the beautiful music and dancing. The stars had never been brighter and there was so much fun and laughter. The group of travelers all fit together in such a way, that if you’d been on the outside looking in, one might assume we’d all been friends for years.
”
DAY 3 | FLIGHT TO CUSCO AND ACCLIMATIZE
Today we’ll fly to Cusco and head to our hotel in a charming town called Ollantaytambo. After grabbing our Inca trail gear bags, we’ll take the rest of the day to acclimatize to the altitude by relaxing in the hotel. Today we’ll hydrate, rest, take slow walks around town and have a homemade dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4 | EXPLORE OLLANTAYTAMBO + WARM UP FOR INCA TRAIL
After breakfast, let’s warm up our bodies with some movement across the smaller ruins of Ollantaytambo. We’ll take you across this ancient town to explore ruins like the Temple of the Sun and terraces as well as enjoy lunch in charming historic restaurants. After lunch we’ll be doing an orientation on the entire hike and help you prep any materials, supplies and last minute things you might need. The evening is for relaxation so that we can wake up early in the morning and begin the trail.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Total Distance: 12 km (7,800 miles)
Estimated Walking Time: 4.30 hours
Maximum Altitude Point: 2,930 m (9, 612 ft)
DAY 5 | WE BEGIN THE INCA TRAIL VIA THE FIRST INCA CHECKPOINT
We will depart for your Machu Picchu Inca Trail Tour from Ollantaytambo at 5 a.m. via train and head toward KM 82, the starting point of the Inca Trail. After this beautiful ride, your chef will prepare breakfast before you start your trek. We start our hike walking along the left shore of the Urubamba River, following the trail along a flat terrain, to the community of Miskay (2800 m /9184 ft). The first two hours of the trek are relatively easy as we make our way to our first Inca site and checkpoint, Patallacta. This site will start the approach to Machu Picchu. After we arrive at Patallacta, we will make our way down into the canyon to enjoy lunch and the views of Patallacta. From Patallacta, we will continue on the trail at an easygoing pace, while enjoying the scenery and sharing stories from your guide. In the evening we’ll enjoy dinner on the trek.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Total Distance: 10 km (7,376 miles)
Estimated Walking Time: 8 hours
Maximum Altitude Point: 4,215 m (13,821 ft)
Campsite Altitude: 3,600 m (11,811 ft)
DAY 6: SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS AND CLOUD FORESTS
We wake up early to begin our ascent to what’s known as “Dead Woman´s Pass”. The views of the snow-capped mountains and the cloud forest are fantastic here. This first stretch is the most challenging part of the trek. It consists of a steep ascent that stretches for nine kilometers, which will bring us to the first mountain pass in the Inca Trail, Abra Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman’s pass). We will stop at Llulluchapampa to relax and to buy any last essentials. If we’re lucky, we might catch sightings of dee, falcons, llamas and alpacas, who graze on ichu (one of the few plants that grow at that altitude). After the two-hour walk up to the pass, we can enjoy the beautiful views and a refreshing cup of coca tea. After we have made it to the pass, it´s downhill the rest of the day. After about two hours, we´ll stop for lunch, and have a free afternoon in the Pacaymayo Valley.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Total Distance: 13 km (8,136 miles)
Estimated Walking Time: 9 hours
Maximum Altitude Point: 4,000 (13,123 ft)
Campsite Altitude: 3,680 m (12,033 ft)
DAY 7: WATERFALLS AND AN INCA WATCHTOWER
After breakfast, we will continue our hike up the opposite side of the valley, as we make our way towards the second pass on the trek. Along the way, we will see fantastic views of waterfalls and flora and fauna. Halfway up, we will stop and visit the Inca site of Runcu Raccay (an Inca watchtower), and to catch our breath before we continue our climb to the pass (4,000 meters). From the pass, we will once again begin our descent back into the cloud forest. After about an hour, we arrive at Sayacmarca, one of the most beautiful ruins on the Inca Trail, where we’ll have a one hour, guided tour. From Sayacmarca, we will continue to our lunch spot at Chaquicocha (dry lake). Here you will see some of the fantastic flora and fauna the Inca Trail has to offer. From Chaquicocha onwards, we will walk along Inca flat (gradual inclines), as we make our way towards our final campsite, Phuyupatamarca (3,680 meters). This area of the Inca Trail had stunning views of the Vilcabamba mountain range, as well as abundant flora and fauna. After another two hour walk, we’ll arrive at our campsite, where we’ll get our first view of Machu Picchu mountain and the Urubamba river. We’ll settle into our campsite, and have the chance to explore the Inca site. As the sun goes down, we can enjoy the beautiful sunset over the snow-capped peaks and have dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8: VIEWS OF THE SACRED VALLEY
Today, we will have the chance to enjoy one of the most spectacular sunrises on the Inca Trail, weather permitting. After breakfast, you´ll have a guided tour of Phuyupatamarca. We will then start our way down the long descending stone steps to Wiñay Wayna 2,650m/8,692ft, where we will have lunch. As we near the bottom of the staircase, we will visit the site of Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). This site has beautiful views of the Sacred Valley and was an important agricultural site for Machu Picchu. After Intipata, we will continue to Wiñay Wayna, the archaeological site that is the largest on the Inca Trail besides Machu Picchu. It consists of an impressive complex made up of an agricultural center, with numerous terraces, a religious sector, and an urban sector. This site offers spectacular views over the already narrower Urubamba River valley. After our visit, we will have our last lunch with the porters. Following, it is a tradition on the Inca Trail to have a thanking ceremony for all the hard work the porters and cooks have provided. If you wish, you may leave a tip for them at this time. After we´ve said goodbye to our team, we will carry on to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), where we will get our first views of Machu Picchu. It takes about an hour of hiking along a trail of flat stones in the highland jungle to reach the Sun Gate. From there, it is about another hour down to the site itself. Upon arrival, we´ll have a chance to enjoy the sunset and to see views of Machu Picchu without crowds, before taking the bust to your hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 9: EXPLORING MACHU PICCHU, THE LOST CITY OF THE INCAS
The day is finally here! We will wake up early and board one of the first buses to Machu Picchu, to enjoy the sunrise at the citadel (if the weather allows). These buses are first come, first serve, starting at 5:30 a.m. We’ll take you on a two-hour tour of the Inca citadel moving through the layers of Machu Picchu from its astronomical advances, agricultural innovations and rituals rooted in community and sacred powers. After exploring Machu Picchu, we will have lunch in Aguas Calientes and do some last minute shopping. We’ll head back from here to Ollantaytambo via train so that you can get a good night rest before your flight the next day.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Total Distance: 11 km (614 miles)
Estimated Walking Time: 5.30 hours
Maximum Altitude Point: 3,680 m (12,033 ft)
DAY 10: AIRPORT DROP OFFS
After hotel checkout, catch your domestic flight from Cusco (booked by us) to Lima so that you can fly back to your international destination. You will be dropped off at the Cusco airport for your connecting flight to Lima.
Meals included: Breakfast
Trip Cost
$5,595 USD PER PERSON
What's Included
Pre-Departure Support (health, safety and cultural guide) & assistance with Visa Application
Airport transferS IN PERU
2 domestic flightS FROM LIMA TO CUSCO AND THEN FROM CUSCO TO LIMA ARE INCLUDED
ACCOMMODATIONS (MIXTURE OF HOTELS AND CAMPING)
MEALS AS INDICATED ABOVE
Local transporTation PER ACTIVITIES
Local Team available 24/7
PORTERS THAT HELP CARRY STUFF DURING HIKING
Camping gear
Sleeping bags
Sleeping mats
Tents
Duffel bag for your clothes & personal items up to 13 lbs (6 kg)
Tickets
Entrance fee to the Inca Trail
Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
TIPS FOR LOCAL DRIVERS AND GUIDES
Entrance and Tickets to places of interest per itinerary
What's NOT Included
ROUNDTRIP AIRFARE TO PERU
VISA TO PERU
MANDATORY TRAVEL INSURANCE
LAUNDRY AND ANY ADDITIONAL HOTEL AMENITIES
MEALS NOT INDICATED ABOVE, ALCOHOL, AND EXTRA SNACKS
VACCINES THAT YOU MUST DISCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR
ITEMS YOU MUST PACK FOR MACHU PICCHU (HIKING CLOTHING AND GEAR)
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES AS LISTED ABOVE
TIPS FOR HOTEL CLEANING/HOTEL STAFF
ADDItIONAL ACTIVITIES AND TRANSPORTATION YOU MAY DO ON YOUR OWN TIME