The Grand Peru Expedition: Volcanoes, Valleys & Ancient Wonders

Welcome to Cusco, the capital of the Incan Empire, and one of the most beautiful cities on earth! Once you've had some time to settle (and catch your breath — literally!), we will take you on a relaxed walking tour around Cusco’s fascinating historic center, stunning viewpoints and charming neighborhoods — an incredible maze of Inca foundations overlaid with Spanish colonial architecture, all against the backdrop of the surrounding high Andes.

Please remember to take it easy today if you’ve arrived from sea level today, as you need to adjust to Cusco’s 3,400m (11,200ft) altitude.

To the Sacred Valley we go! The sunny floodplain between Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the valley of the Urubamba River is known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

The first stop is Pisac, a tiny, cobbled Inca village that is home to the largest handicraft market in the region and a huge Inca fortress. You’ll explore both, then set off through the Sacred Valley. Expect frequent photo stops as you pass still working Inca terracing, irrigation canals, fertile farmland and awesome mountain vistas.

Next is the highlight of the day: visiting a tiny Quechua community, where you will be greeted by a local family and taught all about Inca textile art. You will learn how yarn is sourced, how thread is made, the natural washing process and about dyeing with tincture plants, and you will make a hand weaving by yourself! This experience will introduce you not only to textiles, embroidery and iconography, but also to its history and importance, all while supporting the work of a small community of artisans.

Your final destination is Ollantaytambo, perhaps the most charming and perfectly preserved of all Inca towns, a maze of cobbled alleyways and sun-drenched plazas presided over by a spectacular, llama-shaped ruin.

The main event has arrived!

A spectacular stone city surrounded by incredibly steep, incredibly green mountains, Machu Picchu needs no introduction and is deservedly one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

You’ll be up at sunrise so there’s time for your guide to show you around Machu Picchu’s main citadel, as well as her favorite hidden nooks and crannies, before the crowds arrive. Then there’s time for your own exploration of the massive, still-mysterious site.

This morning, you'll enjoy a private transport to the airport where you'll fly to Arequipa, arguably Peru’s most beautiful city thanks to graceful colonial architecture and extensive use of sillar (a luminous white, marble-like stone), set against the backdrop of lush green countryside and surrounded by a ring of volcanoes.

Upon arrival in Arequipa, your transfer to your accommodation awaits. Once you've had time to settle in to your accommodation and get your bearings, you’ll explore Arequipa’s historic center with a specialist local guide. The Santa Catalina convent, a colorful, walled city-within-a-city, is a highlight.

This morning, you’ll be in position at sunrise to (hopefully!) greet Colca Canyon’s most famous attractions: the condors who nest here and rise majestically out of the canyon on morning thermals. The strange and beautiful view down into the enormous canyon is worth the trip in itself.

You'll travel through Peru's avenue of volcanoes and check out petrified rock formations, herds of alpacas and vicuñas, and wetlands where ibis, flamingos, Andean geese and other birds congregate.

In the afternoon, you’ll relax in healing waters at natural hot springs, before an evening of traditional dance and food at a local peña (traditional restaurant).