Prices from GBP £4,895 or USD $6,590 per person
(Prices subject to currency exchange rates and excludes international flights to Peru. Based on two people travelling)
SAVINGS:
Special Low Season Savings – new for 2018. Travel from 01 – 31 March 2018 and save £445 or $600 per person.
NB: There is also a longer 7 day Lares adventure offering savings of £600 or $800 per person if you have more time.
Day 1: Arrive in Cusco, Peru
Arrive in Lima and connect directly by short flight to Cusco in southern Peru, a stunning ancient city of elegant colonial mansions built upon original Inca foundations. Your hotel is one of these converted mansions, a perfect base from which to explore and acclimatize to altitude. Take a stroll with your local guide along its charming cobbled streets and bustling squares to delve into its fascinating history, art collections and museums.
Day 2: Cusco
Cusco is one of those cities that is perfect to just wander about and get lost in and see what you find – you usually end up back at the main square at some point! Delve into the local district of San Blas with its market stalls with a local chef who will teach you about Peruvian delicacies and how to make the perfect Pisco sour. Finish off your culinary adventure with a fantastic and fun bean to bar chocolate workshop at the Choco Museum and learn how to make your own sweet treats!
Day 3: Visit inspiring local community school - morning
Today you will also be able to visit some inspiring school and local community projects that we support in neighbouring villages. This morning head first to Kusi Kawsay, a non-profit school in the Sacred Valley offering a unique mix of academic learning intertwined with Andean knowledge, philosophy and traditions. A donation of $100 per person goes towards school equipment and we can of course amend the donation amount if you wish to contribute further as they rely on grants and donations alone.
Day 3: Visit local community tourism initiative - afternoon
Staying in the beautiful Sacred Valley, you have a chance to meet members of a unique self-managed community tourism initiative called La Tierra de los Yachaqs formed of 8 communities. The mission of this exemplary umbrella community initiative is to preserve the history and traditions of its people whilst creating an economic and sustainable income for them all. $120 per person is received directly by the community for your visit and you are welcome to make additional donations if you wish.
Day 4: Lares Lodge-to-Lodge Adventure in the Sacred Valley
Today embark on your 5 day adventure into the depths of the Sacred Valley en-route to Machu Picchu. This journey is perfect for those who love hiking and a chance to meet some of the wonderful traditional communities of the Andes. You also get a choice each day on how to spend your time, depending on just how active you feel. The lodges themselves are built sensitively and sustainably to offer a very comfortable experience in tune with its surroundings.
Day 5: Lares Valley
Yesterday you will have had your first introduction into the culture and traditions of the Peruvian Andes, exploring a local market for colourful textiles and discovering a unique way of cooking with a pachamanca lunch. Today you delve deeper into the Lares Valley with a chance to either meet some traditional weavers at Choquecancha or hike amid turquoise blue lakes and towering peaks to the remote village of Huacahuasi, where your next cosy lodge also awaits.
Day 6: Hiking Inca Trails in the Sacred Valley
The citadel of Machu Picchu is not the only fascinating Inca site in the region and the next days offer you a chance to explore a little more of the history of this remarkable ancient people. Spend a little more time with the local community of Huacahuasi or hike or bike in the spectacular mountain surroundings. You and your travel companions may decide to do different things, meeting for a riverside lunch afterwards before exploring the village of Ollantaytambo.
Day 7: Discovering Ollantaytambo
Your guides will bring the magnificent Inca site of Ollantaytambo to life today, whose temple was considered by the Incas to be their most important ceremonial centre. The more active among you can also get up early for a stunning sunrise hike above the site for some dramatic views. In the afternoon, take a train along the Urubamba River Valley to reach the bustling little town of Aguas Calientes and your hotel, nestled below the steep approach to Machu Picchu.
Day 8: Machu Picchu
As dawn breaks, take the winding road up to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, perched impossibly and spectacularly between steep Andean peaks. As you enter the Sanctuary, the sun breaks through the morning mist and cloud to reveal in all its glory this incredible city and its skilfull architecture. You can even scale the precipitous pathway to Huayna Picchu above the site for some incredible views before returning by train to the Sacred Valley for a chance to relax in luxury.
Day 9: Sacred Valley
One of our favourite hotels in Peru, the fabulous Sol y Luna is a chance to relax and unwind after your adventure in beautiful surroundings. You may wish to take out their wonderful Paso horses for a leisurely horseback ride or perhaps just book yourself into their spa for a pampering treatment after a gentle stroll around the gardens or a swim in the heated pool. We can also arrange for you to visit their inspirational local school founded by the owner, if you wish.
Day 10: The Grand Finale in Lima
Return in the morning from Cusco to Lima to spend a day in this vibrant capital famed in recent years for its creative and exciting dining in particular. Meet one of our local friends (it might be a film producer, historian or chef) who will give you a unique insider’s access to the city and finish off this superb adventure with a private interactive dining experience with one of Peru’s most acclaimed celebrity chefs before heading back to the airport this evening.
The vivid colours, history and music of Peru are an integral part of the rich tapestry of this wonderful country. Add to this some intriguing and diverse treasures, from high altiplano to dense jungle, to discover beyond the spectacular Inca citadel at Machu Picchu, the primary draw for most visitors whilst on a luxury holiday to Peru.
If you crave remote and jaw-droppingly beautiful mountain landscapes, don’t miss out on taking the crossing through Bolivia into the Atacama Desert. There’s also some stunning trekking in South America and climbing to experience along the Cordillera of the Andes. Paddle slowly through water lily-strewn streams on the look-out for monkeys and sloths along the Amazon River, or cross the high altiplano leisurely by train, soaking up some majestic Andean vistas.
If you love your history, go beyond the better-known Inca sites to explore well off-the-beaten-track archaeological finds in the north of the country and discover the remains of sophisticated ancient cultures, some of which pre-date the Incas – from intricately carved adobe cities to magnificent painted temple frescoes or remote hilltop walled cities. Wherever you choose to go on your luxury holiday in Peru, expect diversity, gastronomy and the warmest welcome from the Peruvian people.
As a wonderful family holiday destination, Peru is the perfect introduction to Latin America, with a fabulous selection of hotels and rustic lodges. It also makes for an excellent compliment to any itinerary that takes in neighbouring Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, or also Bolivia and luxury Chile holidays for those who seek some rugged adventure.
Whether it’s exploring tiny local markets, trekking to little-known Inca sites where you might be the only people in the visitor’s book that day, or being guided by some expert historians, our first-hand knowledge and expertise will ensure that when you travel with us, you’ll enjoy the most extraordinary tailormade luxury Peruvian experience.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour and catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore – Dream – Discover - Mark Twain - You can view clips of some of our own favourite discoveries here.
- Utterly designed and tailored around you and your requirements
- Totally unique every time you travel with us
- The very best hand picked guides which can make the difference between a good and an outstanding holiday
- Established over 30 years ago we have been around longer than most
- Our specialists come from, have lived in or travelled extensively in the regions we cover
- Unparalleled knowledge provides you with the best possible experience
- Philanthropy is our philosophy
- Our founding principle is to always ‘put something back’
- An amount from each holiday is donated to our selected conservation and humanitarian charities
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By Marcela Kunova - 20th April 2017
Nicola Shepherd, founder and CEO of The Exploration Company, organises unusual trips for HNW and UHNW clients ranging from birthday parties at an Indian Maharajah's palace to reliving Sir Vivian Fuchs's 1950s expedition to the South Pole. Citywealth caught ...
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Flight-Inclusive Bonding: We are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and hold ATOL Number 7159
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