Tour overview

This 4-day guided trek is the classic Inca Trail on its own, for travellers who are already in Cusco and acclimatised to the altitude. Groups have up to 16 trekkers aged 15 and over, with a local leader, guides and porters. You spend three nights camping on the trail in twin-share tents set up by the porters, with self-inflating mats provided; you bring your own sleeping bag. All meals on the trek are included, prepared by the crew, along with a small duffel bag for your gear, a reusable rain poncho and boiled drinking water each day. Travellers can instead choose the quieter Quarry Trail, with two nights camping and a hotel night in Aguas Calientes. The trek covers around 42 kilometres in total.

A pre-trek briefing in Cusco is held the afternoon before you start. On the first morning you are collected early and driven through the Sacred Valley to the trailhead, beginning with a relatively gentle walk along the Urubamba River past Inca terraces and the ruins of Llactapata.

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The second day is the hardest: a steep five-hour climb to Warmiwañusca, known as Dead Woman's Pass, at 4,200 metres, with sweeping views, then a long descent to camp. Porters carry the tents, food and up to five kilograms of your gear, so you walk with just a daypack. Evenings at camp are spent around the dining tent, with hot drinks and meals prepared by the cooks.

The third day crosses the Runkurakay Pass at 3,980 metres, with views of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba, and follows original Inca paving through cloud forest to the ruins of Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna, terraced into the mountainside. On the last morning you rise at 4am to reach Intipunku, the Sun Gate, as the sun lights Machu Picchu below, followed by a guided tour of the citadel and the train and road journey back to Cusco.

The physical rating is high. Permits are limited and must be booked months ahead. This trek suits fit travellers who want to reach Machu Picchu on foot as the Incas did. The best months to walk are May to September, in the dry season.

Trip highlights

  • The ruins of Llactapata above the Urubamba (Day 1)
  • Dead Woman's Pass at 4,200 metres (Day 2)
  • Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Wiñay Wayna (Day 3)
  • Sunrise at the Sun Gate (Day 4)
  • A guided tour of Machu Picchu (Day 4)
  • Porters carrying the camp and your gear

Your route

5 stops from Cusco to Cusco

4-day route: Cusco – Inca Trail – Dead Woman's Pass – Machu Picchu – Cusco
  1. Cusco Day 1
  2. Ollantaytambo Day 1
  3. Inca Trail (camping) Days 1–3
  4. Machu Picchu Day 4
  5. Cusco Day 4

Why choose this tour

The classic Inca Trail with permits, porters, camping and meals arranged. A short, focused trek for travellers already in Cusco.

Best suited to

  • Fit hikers already in Cusco
  • Travellers adding the Inca Trail to an independent trip
  • Anyone wanting to reach Machu Picchu on foot
  • Solo travellers looking for a group
Machu Picchu beneath misty peaks

Day-by-day itinerary

4 days from Cusco, Peru to Cusco, Peru

  1. Day 1 · Sacred Valley, Llactapata Start the Inca Trail

    An early transfer to the trailhead and a gentler first day along the Urubamba River.

    Hotel
    Camping in twin-share tents
    Meals
    Lunch, Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Warmiwañusca Dead Woman's Pass

    A steep five-hour climb to the highest point of the trail at 4,200 metres.

    Hotel
    Camping in twin-share tents
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, Wiñay Wayna Inca ruins

    Cross Runkurakay Pass and follow Inca paving past ruins through cloud forest.

    Hotel
    Camping in twin-share tents
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Sun Gate, Machu Picchu, Cusco Machu Picchu

    Reach the Sun Gate at sunrise, take a guided tour of Machu Picchu and return to Cusco.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A hiker on a trail in the Andes near Cusco

Where you stay

  • Inca Trail (3 nights) Camping in twin-share tents

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 3 nights camping on the Inca Trail, or 2 nights camping and 1 hotel night on the Quarry Trail
  • Meals 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners
  • Guided Inca Trail trek with a local leader and porters
  • Inca Trail permit and a guided tour of Machu Picchu
  • Transport by vehicle, bus and train, including the return to Cusco
  • Tents, self-inflating mats, a duffel bag and a reusable rain poncho

Not included

  • Flights to Cusco and hotels in Cusco
  • Sleeping bag
  • Tips for porters and guides, travel insurance and personal spending
A hiker crossing a rugged Andean landscape

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want hotels — all three nights are camping
  • You have not acclimatised — arrive in Cusco a few days early
  • You are not used to hiking — the trek is hard
  • You want accommodation in Cusco included — it is not

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Peru
Machu Picchu from above under a clear sky

Departures & prices

From £755 per person, twin share, tour only. 110 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

What is the camping like?

Three nights in twin-share tents set up by porters, with self-inflating mats. Bring your own sleeping bag. Facilities are basic.

Do I need to be in Cusco beforehand?

Yes. A briefing is held the afternoon before, and you should spend at least two days in Cusco to acclimatise.

How hard is the trek?

Hard, with steep climbs and a high point of 4,200 metres. Good fitness is essential.

What do porters carry?

Tents, food and up to 5kg of your personal gear in a duffel bag provided. You carry a daypack.

What if permits sell out?

The Quarry Trail is an alternative, with two nights camping and a hotel night in Aguas Calientes.

When is the trail closed?

Every February for maintenance.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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