• A professional and qualified Tour Leader

• Cusco Airport transfers on Day 1 and Day 18

• Accommodation as described

• Meals as described in the meal plan

• All land transport involved in the itinerary

• When camping a full service including food and all equipment (excluding personal equipment)

• Inflatable sleeping mat while camping

• All activities/excursions/entrance fees mentioned except where specified as ‘optional’

• Travel insurance
• Some meals as described in the meal plan
• Tips for porters and other trek staff
• Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc

There will be a single-timed transfer from the airport in Cusco to the group hotel in Ollantaytambo on day 1.

Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

At the end of the trip a single timed group transfer to the airport in the afternoon is provided.

All breakfasts, 14 lunches and 10 dinners are included in the holiday price. Where there are a wide range of dining options to suit all tastes and budgets it is sensible to leave this choice to you and therefore we have not included meals (other than breakfasts) while staying in Cusco, Ollantaytambo and when visiting Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). You will need to pay for a total of 3 lunches and 7 dinners. While trekking a full trek service including all meals is provided.

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. If you are on a trekking or cycling holiday, water is supplied to fill up your individual bottles. This will be boiled, filtered or provided in large jerry cans or 5 litre bottles. Additionally you should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water when in towns or where water is not supplied. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

On trek the food provided will be a mixture of local and worldwide favourites, with all ingredients purchased in Peru and cooked for us by highly trained staff cooks.  The food our cooks are able to produce on trek will be a taste sensation! Lunch is usually a picnic - fresh fruit, salad and bread, cheeses, cold meats, avocado and plenty to drink. Dinners will be three courses and the menus will be flavoursome and varied. There will be no problem catering for vegetarians.

In Cusco and in Aguas Calientes there is a wide range of restaurants cafes and bars serving excellent and varied cuisine! Meals, apart from breakfast, are not included here so you are free to make your own choice of restaurant and menu. If you are looking to sample some traditional Peruvian fare we can recommend trying Ceviche, a dish of raw fished marinated in citrus juice (the acid in the citrus juice effectively ‘cooks’ the fish), which is the unofficial national dish of Peru! The name Ceviche actually comes from the Quechua word ‘siwichi’, meaning fresh fish. Guinea Pig or ‘Cuy’ is also a common delicacy in the Andes and has been eaten at special occasions since the time of the Incas! Usually served roasted or barbequed, Guinea Pig meat has a gamey taste. It is very high in protein and low in cholesterol.

When it comes to drinks, before and during your trek we can recommend drinking Mate de Coca. It takes a little time to acclimatise to Cusco’s 3400m elevation and one of the things that is said to help acclimatisation is supping this mildly stimulating, greenish and unusual tasting ‘tea’ made by steeping fresh coca leaves in boiling water. Those looking to celebrate the end of their holiday with an alcoholic beverage (best saved till post trek when you are fully acclimatised!) should seek out a ‘Pisco Sour’. This classic South American cocktail, made by mixing the Peruvian liquor Pisco with lime juice, egg white and bitters, is incredibly moreish!

During the holiday we will stay at comfortable and well-located hotels in Ollantaytambo, Cusco and Aguas Calientes. We have 2 nights at the Tikawasi Valley hotel in the Sacred Valley, 5 nights at the Tierra Viva Hotel in Cusco and 1 night at the Inca Terra Pueblo Hotel in Aguas Calientes.

Whilst trekking there will be a total of 9 nights camping where you will receive a full service from our friendly camp crew. You will sleep in roomy 2 man dome tents, with a porch, and inflatable camping mattresses are provided. All the camp equipment and luggage will be transported between camps by mules, so you need only carry your day pack each day. Our camp crew will erect and dismantle the tents for you, cook, and take care of all the camp chores. During walking days, having stayed behind to collapse camp, it is usual for the crew and the pack animals to overtake the group during the day and you will usually arrive into camp to find it already established and the kettle on! In camp, as well as the tents used for sleeping, there will also be a mess tent, with chairs and tables, where the group will dine (and socialise into the evening) and a toilet tent. Hot water for washing will also be provided to you in the mornings and when you arrive at the camp each day.

All accommodation is allocated on a twin-sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. It is possible to hire a single tent while on trek for an additional cost. This must be arranged ahead of departure and is subject to availability (please note that single tent hire does not include single rooms in hotels). Depending on availability, it may also be possible to pre-book single hotel rooms. For additional hotel prices and single supplement costs please refer to the dates and prices page of the trip on our website.

The group will be led by a professional and qualified tour leader. Whilst on trek the group will be supported by a full trek crew including camp assistants, cook, baggage animals and their handlers.

This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least one night above 4000 metres and/or trekking to 5000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude on our website which can be viewed via the link below. Unless you have previous experience of trekking above 4000 metres you should consult one of our trekking experts before embarking on this holiday. On this trip we carry a portable altitude chamber (PAC-bag) and/or bottled oxygen for use in emergencies. www.keadventure.com/page/altitude.html

New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu came into force in 2022.

Daily visitor numbers are limited and visitors must be accompanied by a guide on one of five designated 'circuits' that are walked in a one-way direction, with a maximum of 4 hours allowed with in the site.

A ticket, issued by the Peru Ministry of Culture, and included in your trip cost, needs to be purchased in advance of your visit. The ticket will stipulate an entry time and one of the 5 circuits. KE will aim to book the most comprehensive Machu Picchu tour available.

Tickets are linked to your name and passport number and usually sell out 2-3 months in advance. It is therefore important for you to supply us with your passport details at the time of booking to allow us to secure the required tickets.

If you are completing the Inca Trail, a set Machu Picchu circuit is included with your Inca Trail Permit.

IMPORTANT: If you change passport between booking and travelling, you must bring your old passport with you, as your ticket will be linked to the passport details you booked with.

We estimate that $300 (or equivalent in €/$) will be sufficient to cover your requirements including the non-included meals and incidental expenses such as tips for drivers, trek crew and local guides. There are a total of 5 lunches and 5 dinners which you will need to pay for directly and we recommend you budget $10 - $25 dollars per meal. There is no need to purchase local currency (Peruvian Soles) prior to travelling. It is possible to withdraw your money in local currency from ATMs in Cusco. If you are bringing your travel money with you we recommend you bring it in the form of US dollars in cash as this provides for the easiest exchange. Credit cards can be used to purchase goods and to pay for meals in Cusco and Ollantaytambo.

Tipping is common in Peru, however you must remember that it is voluntary, and how much you give depends on how you feel about the service you have received. Airport baggage carriers are the only exception and tipping is compulsory. These people are unwaged and make a living by carrying your luggage. The general rule is 1 or 2 soles per bag. For hotel staff, tipping is not expected, but is welcome. For hotel porters 1 or 2 soles per bag is reasonable. Drivers of standard taxis do not usually expect a tip. As with most countries, it is usual to tip in restaurants and 10% is expected for good service. For the support crew on trek (guides, cooks, porters etc.), it is recommended that each client contributes around £60 - £80 in Peruvian Soles to a group tipping pool.  Your guide will assist with the distribution of these tips to your support crew. We would advise that you get together as a group towards the end of your trip to agree on a suitable tip for your guide.

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. Your bag on trek will be carried by porters or pack animals and should not weigh more than 10kg (NOT including your sleeping bag and thermarest), and you will be provided with a special duffel bag at the trek briefing in Cusco in which to repack for the trek. It is possible to leave clothes and other items not required on trek at the group hotel in Cusco. 

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.