The trek starts in a quiet, rural valley between Cuzco and the Sacred Valley and finishes in Ollantaytambo, only seven miles upstream from the start of the Inca Trail. It passes through seldom-visited Andean villages, Inca and pre-Inca ruins and heads onto a beautiful altiplano plateau surrounded by glaciated peaks. Most groups won't encounter any other tourists for the entire trek and the combination of stunning mountain scenery and wildlife, fascinating relics and real isolation is truly rewarding.

We use three-star hotels for this Andean trip, which feature an excellent blend of quality and comfort and are within an easy walk of the attractions in Cuzco, the Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes. On trek, we have three nights of full-service camping with full porterage, meaning our camp staff put up and take down the tents, cook, and do all the camp chores. You need only carry your backpack for the day and enjoy your time passing mountains and Inca ruins.



Below are the hotels typically used on this trip.



Cuzco: MamaSara (nights 1-2 and 8)







Just a few blocks from the historic centre, MamaSara is well located for our adventures in the one-time Inca capital of Cuzco. The design of the rooms pays homage to the city with locally sourced furniture and artwork, while the restaurant serves Peruvian Andean cuisine.



Moonstone Trail: Full-service camping (nights 3-5)







For three nights, we sleep among Andean peaks and wake to mountain views. It'll be the adventure of a lifetime for some, but not one without comforts. We sleep and dine in good-quality four-season tents. We also have a toilet tent set up both in camp and during lunch stops. Boiled and filtered drinking water is provided in the mornings, at lunch and dinner so we can refill our water bottles. Additionally, a bowl of warm water is provided each morning and evening for washing. Camp staff will set up, break down and transport all camp equipment necessary.



Ollantaytambo: Tunupa Lodge (night 6)







Tunupa Lodge is located in Ollantaytambo, a town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It has comfortable and cosy rooms, plus a bar and restaurant that serves delicious local and international cuisine, plus a variety of drinks. The hotel also has a lovely garden and is a great place to relax and reflect on your amazing trek to Machu Picchu.



Aguas Calientes: Inti Punku Machu Picchu Hotel (night 7)







The Inti Punku is centrally located in Aguas Calientes, a small town alongside the Urubamba River. This comfortable hotel offers clean, contemporary rooms with private baths and hot water, making it a perfect place to relax and take in this unique setting far below the ruins of Machu Picchu.