Upon arrival at Lima International Airport you’ll be met by an Atelier concierge who will assist you. Before hotel check-in, get a snapshot of life in Lima and enjoy dramatic coastal views from upmarket San Isidro and Miraflores Districts.

Your first full day of this exciting tour takes you to Cusco and the Sacred Valley, for some of the most iconic wonders in South America. You’ll fly to Cusco from Lima, and after checking into your boutique Cusco hotel the rest of the day is left at leisure. Enjoy the fine restaurants, boutiques, and many cultural highlights of Cusco your own way. You can explore Sacsayhuaman Fortress, visit the Qorikancha Temple (the most important of its kind in the Inca Empire), or lose yourself around the atmospheric – and historic – streets of Downtown Cusco.

Your Salkantay Trek tour goes up a gear on day 3, first with either kayaking on Laguna Piuray or white-water rafting down the Urubamba River, followed by an adrenaline-pumping via ferrata (climbing) and zip-lining tour for those brave enough. You’ll climb the steep slopes of a dramatic mountain on the fringes or the Sacred Valley and, having admired the views and conquered to cliff, take a series of exhilarating zip-wires back to the valley floor – some up to 400m long.

Time to get deep into the wilds of Peru on the 5-day Salkantay Trek, staying at remote mountain lodges along the way. The adventure begins near the typically Peruvian village of Mollepata, situated high above the Rio Blanco Valley. Before reaching Mollepata, visit the Quillarumiyoc archaeological site and head deeper into the wilderness. The hiking on day 1 of the Salkantay Trek is modest, walking through lush green valleys with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Heading towards the first mountain lodge, you’ll witness the snow-capped Humantay and Salkantay Mountains filling the horizon before a gradual ascent and arrival at Soraypampa for the evening.

After a good night’s rest, and a hearty breakfast, get ready for a dynamic day of hiking and optional excursions. There is around 4 hours of trekking to do today, passing high Andean flats, rocky hillsides and occasional wildlife. The highlight comes at the spectacular waters of Laguna Humantay, a glacial lake surrounded by imposing mountainsides. Once here, having admired the tranquility and beauty of this place, take part in a traditional Andean ceremony to honor Mother Earth and choose from optional activities including horseback riding, extra hiking, or a relaxing massage before returning to your lodge.

The early-morning will see you crossing-grass covered high Andean plains, before making the rocky ascent to the Salkantay pass. Here, fields of green are replaced by ice pools and rocky terrain followed by a descent that leads into greener pastures and the open clearing of Colpapampa. Today’s trekking enjoys a real mixture of terrain and environment, from loose pathways and steep hills to forest trails and even marshy wetlands. The scenery is sublime throughout, culminating at the Wayra Lodge in Wayraccmachay, your home for the evening.

Feeling refreshed after a night in the mountains and your cozy lodge, day 4 of the Salkantay Trek follows a pathway which runs adjacent to the Salkantay River for large portions of the day, heading ultimately for Colpa Lodge, your next stop. Along the way, snake through this fertile region of long Ichu grassland, gushing streams, cloud forests and plenty of plantlife like orchids and bromeliads. A contrast to yesterday’s high mountain passes, you’ll feel temperatures warm and see wildlife re-appear today. Upon arrival at Colpa Lodge there is chance to meet locals and have an afternoon at leisure in your remote, glorious surrounds.

Another day of incredible trekking will lead you, eventually, towards the fantastically well-preserved Inca ruins of Llactapata – one of the best-known and most iconic ancient sites in Peru. To get there, you’ll hike through the Santa Teresa River Valley and its enchanting forested trails, passing coffee plantations and plenty of plantlife before picking up a transport vehicle that takes you to a section of the classic Inca Trail route, on the way to your next cozy cabin home – Lucma Lodge.

The final day of hiking on the Salkantay Trek is fittingly special, first tackling a verdant section of the ancient Inca Trail through cloud forests and past crystalline streams, dissecting the Aobamba River Valley before reaching Llactapata. Once here, you can explore an archeological site that’s known for its enormous size, complexity and preservation, a superb example of Inca construction and agricultural techniques. After a guided tour of the complex and time to enjoy the valley views, you’ll continue through lush vegetation and finally catch a rare glimpse of Machu Picchu itself in the distance, unforgettable. Later, walk through forested trails, past coffee plantations and on to board a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes, where a boutique hotel is your home for the evening.

The climax of your Salkantay Trek is to visit Machu Picchu itself, the ancient Lost City of the Inca. Having taken an early morning transfer to the Citadel gates, you can then look forward to a private guided tour and an afternoon at leisure around the Lost City. Having explored and digested this legendary place, hop to the town of Aguas Calientes and a train towards Cusco, through the Sacred Valley on one of the most scenic train journeys in South America.

As your trip draws to a close, you may have time for one final walk around the area before your onward flight to Lima from Cusco and home, full of priceless memories of Peru.