Machu Picchu from afar
4.9
| 83 reviews

Trek the Salkantay Route to Machu Picchu

7 nights
Challenging

The younger, cooler sister of the over-crowded Inca Trail

What's Included?

Activities & Certified Guides

All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guides

Hotel & Camping

4 nights in friendly boutique hotels and 3 nights camping on the trail

Meals

All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

Transfers & Porterage

Airport transfers, local transfers, and porters and horses to carry your luggage on the trek

Equipment & Permits

Everything you need for camping along the trail including your tickets and entry fees

Small Like-minded Groups

Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
From

excluding flights
From

excluding flights

What's it like?

4.9
| 83 reviews
Highly Recommend
September 2024
Christine C.
Highly Recommend
September 2024
Christine C.
Highly Recommend
September 2024
Christine C.
Found a love for trekking and new friends
September 2024
Michael D.
Found a love for trekking and new friends
September 2024
Michael D.
Found a love for trekking and new friends
September 2024
Michael D.
Hiking and eating
September 2024
Aaron J.
Hiking and eating
September 2024
Aaron J.
Hiking and eating
September 2024
Aaron J.
Hiking and eating
September 2024
Aaron J.
Hiking and eating
September 2024
Aaron J.
The best adventure!
September 2024
Jillian G.
The best adventure!
September 2024
Jillian G.
The best adventure!
September 2024
Jillian G.
The best adventure!
September 2024
Jillian G.
An epic trip!
August 2024
Francesca R.
An epic trip!
August 2024
Francesca R.
The Salkantay Trek
August 2024
Lewis W.
Once in a lifetime trip
August 2024
Megan C.
Once in a lifetime trip
August 2024
Megan C.
Best one yet.
July 2024
PATRICK M.
Best one yet.
July 2024
PATRICK M.
Best one yet.
July 2024
PATRICK M.
Best one yet.
July 2024
PATRICK M.
Just Incredible in so many ways!
June 2024
Jen O.
Just Incredible in so many ways!
June 2024
Jen O.
Just Incredible in so many ways!
June 2024
Jen O.
Machu Picchu from afar
Humantay Lake
Ruins on the Salkantay trek

Voted one of the top 25 treks on the planet by National Geographic

Trek through rainforest, cloud forest, over high passes and around glaciers - your feet might get tired, but your eyes never will

Sleep in picture-perfect campsites, so close to the Milky Way you can almost touch it

Can’t get enough of Incan cities? Check out our Choquequirao trek to visit Machu Picchu's ‘sacred sister’. Want to linger longer in Peru? Check out Trek to Machu Picchu and Go to the Amazon.

Key Information

Day 1

Arrive in Cusco and get to know your crew

View of one of the main squares

Arrive at your hotel in Cusco this afternoon, perfectly located off one of the main squares. If you’ve got the time, head out to wander the streets for your first real taste of Peruvian culture. Join your guide later for dinner at a nearby restaurant, where you can sample the local cuisine and music, as well as get to know your fellow adventurers. After dinner, head back to the hotel for a good night’s rest.

Day 2

Tour of the Sacred Valley

The ruins

The Sacred Valley was a crucial area for the Inca Empire, functioning as an agricultural, spiritual and political hub. You’ll visit the two main sites, Pisac and Ollantaytambo, to experience their ancient ruins, cobbled streets and learn about their history. On returning to your hotel in Cusco, you’ll meet your guide for a quick pre-trek briefing. Afterwards, the evening is yours - relax, grab some dinner and probably have an early night, ready for tomorrow’s adventure.

Day 3

Trek to Humantay Lake

Humantay Lake

Hiking

4-5hrs · 10km · 420m up · 400m down

You’ll be up picked from your hotel for a scenic drive to Mollepata, the starting point for the Salkantay route, where you’ll enjoy breakfast in a local house. After brekkie, you’ll make your way to the start of your trek in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba at Challacancha (3780m), getting your first glimpse of the Salkantay and Humantay mountains on the way. After packing the horses, it’s time to set off towards Soraypampa (3800m), the location of your first campsite. From here you’ll trek up to the high altitude and bright turquoise waters of Humantay Lake (4200m), sitting below the Humantay Glacier, before descending back down to the camp at Soraypampa.

Day 4

Soraypampa to Huayracmachay

Trekkers on the Salkantay Route

Hiking

6-8hrs · 12km · 830m up · 710m down

Today’s a tough one. After breakfast, you’ll start with an uphill hike to the highest point of the trek, the Salkantay Pass (4630m). At the top, you’ll make an offering to Apu Salkantay and learn the significance of the mountain to Inca culture. Descend to Huayracmachay (3920m), passing turquoise lakes with the Pumasillo and Humantay mountains in the distance.

Day 5

Huayracmachay to Lucmabamba

Waterfall and bridge

Hiking

9-10hrs · 21km · 50m up · 1870m down

Descend through the rainforest along the Santa Teresa River, trekking past lush vegetation and waterfalls. Stop for lunch at Colpapampa then continue to Lucmabamba. After arriving you'll have a chance to visit a nearby coffee plantation and roam the nearby tomato and avocado fields to pick vegetables for the chef to use in tonight’s dinner.

Day 6

Trek to Aguas Calientes via Llactapata

Trek to Aguas Calientes via Llactapata, Peru, Action Treks

Hiking

6-7hrs · 13km · 870m up · 880m down

After breakfast, you’ll embark on an easy(ish) trek through the rainforest to the Llactapata Inca site (2700m). You’ll have plenty of time to explore the area and catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu in the distance. From Llactapata, you’ll descend for lunch before boarding a train to Aguas Calientes. On arrival, you’ll check in to your hotel and perhaps indulge in a power-nap before visiting a local restaurant to enjoy dinner with the crew.

Day 7

Ah...Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu from afar

Hiking

4hrs · 3.5km · 296m up · 296m down

Today you’ll head to Machu Picchu itself, one of the world’s most incredible archaeological sites, with a breathtaking location to match. You'll catch the bus there and have a guided tour to hear all about the hidden secrets of this ancient site. After a long day, you’ll return by bus to Aguas Calientes and continue your journey back to Cusco via the expedition train to Ollantaytambo, and then bus it from there. You’ll be back at your hotel with a drink in hand by 21:00, no doubt ready to drop.

Day 8

Time to go home

Coloured blankets

After your Peruvian adventure, it's time to head home. Your transfer will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the airport in time for your onward journey.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Cusco Airport (CUZ)

Flexible - arrive any time on Day 1

Ends

Cusco Airport (CUZ)

Flexible - catch any flight home on Day 8

Transfers

Catch any flight you like. Your host will pick you up on arrival and drop you off on departure. Just bear in mind that if you arrive at the crack of dawn your room may not be ready for check-in. The usual hotel check-in time is at 1pm. An arrival airport transfer is included even if you decide to arrive earlier than the trip start date - just provide your flight details with the host.

Travel options

There are currently no direct international flights from Europe or the US into Cuzco. Flights generally involve one or two changes and go via Lima. If you prefer to break up the journey, you could consider flying into Lima a day early and booking an onward flight to Cuzco the following day. Airport hotels are available in Lima or, if you have more time to spare, why not stay in the popular Miraflores district of Lima and use this as a base to explore the city? See Optional Extras below for prices for extra nights in Cuzco or Lima before or after the tour.

Day 1

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 3 – Day 5

Campsite · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 6

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 7

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 8

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

A plate of Lomo Saltado, a traditional beef and potato dish in Peru.

Whilst trekking, an experienced chef will be on-hand to make amazing meals in the middle of the mountains. Expect plenty of hot food and drinks with every meal. Snacks such as chocolate or granola bars, cookies, dried or fresh fruit will be provided in addition to three meals a day during the hike. Breakfasts typically include things like oats (or 'kiwicha', a local supergrain), eggs/omelettes, jam and toast, pancakes and granola. Lunches are usually soups, salads, pasta, or potato-based dishes and dinners tend to be three-course cooked meals complete with dessert! Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request this on your passenger info form.

What is the accommodation like?

The internal courtyard of the Tierra Viva Centro Hotel, Cusco, at night.
Cusco

During your time in Cusco, you’ll stay in a centrally located stylish boutique hotel, such as the Tierra Viva Cusco Hotel or similar. This highly rated hotel is set in a classic colonial house just off the Plaza de Armas (main square).

Camp set up on the Choquequirao trail.
Salkantay trek

During the trek, you'll camp along the route. Your host will provide a four-man tent for every two people, complete with a Thermarest inflatable mattress and pillow. You’ll be accompanied by a group camp chef and porters, bringing a kitchen tent, dining tent with tables and chairs, and a toilet tent with portable loo. There will be shower facilities at the Day 5 campsite only (at Lucmabamba), with basic wash-bowl facilities provided for freshening up at the other wild camps on Days 2-4.

Twin room at Hatun Inti, Aguas Calientes, Peru
Aguas Calientes

On the last night of the trek, you'll stay in either the La Cabana Machu Picchu or Andina Luxury in Aguas Calientes for a good night's sleep before heading up to Machu Picchu the following day. Both hotels are modern, clean, very friendly and serve a brilliant breakfast.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).

This trip has been rated as Challenging

A little tougher and higher than the classic Inca Trail (and without any of the permit faff), the Salkantay Trek is a great challenge for those with good fitness who are after quieter trails and dramatic Andean landscapes. The two nights in Cuzco (3350m) before the trek double up as acclimatisation days, but nevertheless - the steep terrain and high altitude will make the going tough at times, particularly on the first three days of the hike. No previous experience is necessary, but you will need to be able to walk for up to 10 hours a day with considerable ascent and descent for four consecutive days. Porterage is included, so you'll only need to carry a small daypack with extra layers and bits for that day.

The only one thing you can say about the weather in Peru is that it is difficult to accurately predict. You can have beautifully clear hot days in the middle of the wet season and hail storms in the dry season – it’s one of the beauties of Peru.

In the Andes, there are two main seasons – wet and dry. The wet season runs from November to April and is wet but usually warmer overall. The dry season runs from May to October and has hot clear days but cold nights. May and June are two of the most popular months to trek in the Andes as the weather tends to be more stable. If you're spending time in Lima before or after the trip then be aware that the season is the reverse of this so you can expect some grey skies. For current advice about travelling in Peru, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.

james p.(October 2024)
A magical adventure

Macchu Picchu and the Salkantay trek truely are must-do activities that would be amazing no matter what. MBA managed to take it to the next level though with a well planned itinerary that never left us bored and took us to the kind of places (like the avocado farm or Freddy's coffee place) you would never find if you were trekking privately. All the time we were supported by enthusiastic, friendly and knowledgable guides whose tales kept us interested through the long treks. The group dynamic worked well, and despite anxieties about mixing in with lots of strangers it worked great. Already searching the website to find the next trip! Thanks MBA.

Taranjeet K.(October 2024)
Experience of a lifetime

What an amazing trip. Christian is the heart and soul of this trip and Eddy is a lovely support. Both of them ensured every detail was looked after. I felt extremely looked after. This trip will challenge you physically and mentally and not for the light hearted. There are parts of trail where the altitude hits hard. The first day and last day were a refreshing experience (alpaca farm, hot springs, coffee plantation with Freddie) Made some lovely friends and created wonderful memories . Really enjoyed the camping nights too, just being a vegetarian does not work in your favour. I have done a few trips with MBA and this is right there on the top. Thanks Christian, Edison and MBA

Mr P.(October 2024)
Amazing hikeing trek

The trek was well planned out the Route takes you through some amazing scenery challlgeing But well worth it. The food was plentiful and fulling the Guides a well training and Streaming good knowledge of the area and the history you walk though with load off welcoming advice

naomi d.(October 2024)
Amazing trip

We had the best trip, I was a little nervous but didn’t need to be. We were so well cared for. Food was amazing, tents were not luxurious but comfortable,, wake up calls with coffee were great. What an amazing experience, guides were brilliant. I was worried at age 45, 20lbs overweight and arthritis in my joints , if I can do it anyone can. Do not hesitate to book, you can do it honestly. You won’t regret it

Duncan J.(October 2024)
Superb trip to Salkantay and Machu Picchu

This trip was well organised and well suited to our group. Our guides Christian and Eddie were great fun and very knowledgeable and were willing to work with the group to push ahead when we had opportunity to free up time for additional activities the following day. Well done and thank you

Kat S.(October 2024)
This was an incredible trip.

This was an incredible trip. I've been eaten alive by mosquitos, sunburnt, exhausted and had extremely sore calves, and it was still great.

We were eased into the week with a fascinating tour of the Sacred Valley, and then it was time for the hardcore hiking – and yes, it's tougher than you might expect, but it's so worth it. The second day going up to the Salkantay Pass was really challenging, with an early start, relentless uphill at elevation and (for some) a touch of altitude sickness. The views were stunning, though, and the sense of achievement I got was very much worth it!

I loved the contrast between those mountain days and the later trails through more jungley forest, with the dozens of beautiful butterflies and wonderful plants. I am, however, still putting lotion on dozens of mozzie bites long after getting home, so I'd recommend covering up if possible and perhaps finding a more effective repellent spray than I had!

The campsites were set up for us in advance, which was very welcome after long, hard days when I thought I'd never stop walking. The food was amazing, and it was hard to believe our chefs could create three course meals in campsite kitchens. Being so well fed and looked after made a huge difference to the experience.

Lastly, our guides, Dario and Eddie, were fabulous, full of expert knowledge and stories and always friendly and supportive. I struggled a few times and was a lot slower hiking than I'd expected, and they really helped me to keep going and reassured me. I appreciated them so much.

On this trip I really got a sense of the different sides of these parts of Peru and I would really recommend it to anyone looking to explore this wonderful country and challenge themselves at the same time.

(As a piece of feedback, I booked a few extra nights' accommodation in Cusco, and this ended up meaning I had to move hotels a couple of times, which wasn't ideal. I would advise that if you book extra nights please be aware this could happen and you might need to closely follow up with the organiser. Once this was sorted, all was OK, but it was a more stressful start to the trip than I'd hoped for!)

Holly B.(September 2024)
Once in a lifetime trip

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in hiking and wild camping. The scenery throughout was spectacular. The hike through Salkantay pass and into the jungle takes you through every possible environment. The hike was hard and some days were over 8/9 hours of trekking through difficult terrain. The altitude made it even more difficult as you got out of breath much easier than normal. The team we had were amazing, particularly Dario who was an excellent guide and kept us all entertained with his stories and jokes. The day trip on the first day added to the experience. The early start each morning was rough but it meant that you got to experience a full day every day and it felt like we had been there two weeks not one. Being able to see machupiccu at the end was the icing on the cake. This was a fantastic trip which we will remember forever.

Rachel F.(September 2024)
Wowsers! What a week…

Unbelievable experience from start to finish. We had travelled and acclimatised for 5 days ahead of the Much Better Adventures trip, but that aside, there was so much included in this trek - one day was more action packed than a week would be back home!

Three days of real “trekking” doesn’t seem like a lot, but together with the other activities and travel to and from places, it’s a jam packed schedule.

For me personally, I think there was possibly a little too much time spent on buses / trains and felt a bit done with transportation at times. I’d have enjoyed one more day of full trekking which was hard going at altitude (the first 2 days are the worst!)

Guides were excellent; accommodation superb and food provided exceeded my expectations. Ditch a little of the transport and you’ve got a winning trek here!

Christine C.(September 2024)
Highly Recommend
Highly Recommend
Highly Recommend
Highly Recommend

This adventure was an unforgettable experience. The everchanging scenery was amazing, from reaching the Salkantay Pass to decending to the lush sub tropical rainforest (oh and Machu Pichu). Our guides, Christian and Eddy, were exceptional. Their knowledge of the region's history, local culture, flora, and fauna was impressive. They were always attentive to our needs, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable experience. The fantastic group of people I shared the trek with made the journey even more memorable. Highly recommend!

Michael D.(September 2024)
Found a love for trekking and new friends
Found a love for trekking and new friends
Found a love for trekking and new friends
Found a love for trekking and new friends

When I booked I didn't really know what to expect. MBA were great from the start, checking solo availability for me before I booked. A slight mixup with hotels on arrival was quickly resolved by the local drivers (shout out to Maximo 🙂). The guides (Chstian and Eddie) were amazing support and incredibly knowledgeable about the whole trip start to finish, I couldn't have asked for more. The best part was the people and the friends I've made, this was my first trekking holiday and I loved getting to know people and hearing their stories while trekking through amazing scenery. Thanks to all those on 14/09/24 loved our adventure.

P.s Ome thing to watch out for is mosquitos at the lower elevations, my legs too a battering even with repellent.

Mike D

Aaron J.(September 2024)
Hiking and eating
Hiking and eating
Hiking and eating
Hiking and eating
Hiking and eating
Hiking and eating

Excellent trip. Enjoyed every minute (even the painful uphills 🤣) 2 fantastic guides with a great team. Craic was brilliant with the other travellers and the adventure was so much better than I expected. Look forward to the next trip with MBA

Eleanor H.(September 2024)
Great views and amazing guides

Christian and Eddy were both brilliant - very knowledgeable and I always felt very safe. The scenery and hike was fabulous. The accommodation was pretty variable - the first campsite was quite ropey and the bathroom facilities weren't good. The hotels at the start and end could also be improved.

Jillian G.(September 2024)
The best adventure!
The best adventure!
The best adventure!
The best adventure!
The best adventure!

I couldn’t recommend this adventure enough! This was my first group trip of this sort and I had the absolute best time! It was so cool meeting people from all over the world and sharing experiences together. The guides were top notch, the food incredible, and the scenery indescribable. I will definitely be booking another trip!

Amanda D.(September 2024)
Wonderful experience

Our tour guides and the staff were very accommodating and the tour guides had a wealth of knowledge on the locations we had visited. I would definitely boast of this trek and suggest it to any looking for an unforgettable vacation.

Francesca R.(August 2024)
An epic trip!
An epic trip!
An epic trip!

Trekking the Salkantay trip was amazing! Our guides Christian and Eddie went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a brilliant time. The altitude definitely makes a difference when hiking but it's totally doable for any active person. We were treated to 3 courses dinners every evening, all of which were delicious! I'd definitely recommend!

Lewis W.(August 2024)
The Salkantay Trek
The Salkantay Trek

A great week with a brilliant team trekking the Salkantay. The opportunity to explore Cusco, archaeological sites at Pisac and Ollaytatambo were fantastic. The hike itself was good, and challenging in parts - Salkantay Pass and the descent into the rainforest was particularly spectacular. The hot springs and coffee tour were also highlights, but a full final day at Machu Pichu was by far the standout set piece.

Shout out to Christian and Eddie for making the trip very memorable indeed !

5 stars. A must for all budding overseas hikers.

Richard G.(August 2024)
A beautiful and unforgettable week!

What an incredible experience! We had a great group of 14 interesting people of various ages and backgrounds…this made for a really fun trip that I felt very fortunate to be a part of!

Our guides, Christian and Edison, were exceptional, extremely knowledgeable and professional throughout with a positive and fun-loving mindset. They took good care of us, but at the same time treated us as adults and as individuals, always with excellent communication. I was quite emotional saying goodbye at the end. The chefs and tent crews were excellent and we were always well fed with delicious and varied meals!

The trek was a perfect mix of terrains, scenery and challenges…altitude, steep inclines and descents in parts, ever-changing and stunning scenery from glaciers to rainforest…all capped off with Machu Picchu which is truly spectacular!

The hotels we stayed in Cusco and Agua Caliente were very comfortable, clean and well-run, which was nice to have after four nights of camping!

Would definitely recommend this trip!

Jane R.(August 2024)
Challenging but brilliant experience

The Salkantay trek trip was amazing. Stunning views, a great group of people, some very memorable cultural experiences and a trip I'll never forget.

There were a couple of downsides though. It is incredibly physically challenging and the added altitude element made it much harder than expected. It's hard terrain on day 2 with lots of climbing up and down on boulders and rocks which was hard on the knees and required a lot of concentration. We apparently missed the chinchillas because we were heads down, trying not to slip or stumble. We also had mixed ages and abilities in our small group which meant the one guide couldn't be with everyone.

There was some confusion with the access to Machu Picchu as the rules have changed recently. Luckily we were able to get the access we had booked, but I'd recommend you confirm that you're getting the right route as we very nearly didn't.

The trek itself was very well organised and ran smoothly. We didn't have to do anything except walk and carry our day packs. The tents were set up, amazing meals prepared. It was excellent.

We did have a lot of problems with the extra nights accommodation we'd added on to both sides of the trip. We were moved to several different hotels. We had to find this out for ourselves and the communication around it was poor. We came back to our room one day to find someone else in it and all of our stuff had been moved. We went on a 4am trip on another occasion to be told we had to check out as we had no reservation at that hotel for that night. We couldn't check out as we were being picked up by a tour, and when we returned, all of our things had been moved to a different hotel.

To be fair we were offered airport transfers to compensate which was a nice touch, but it was a chaotic experience at the time.

This was a bucket list experience that I'd highly recommend. My advice is to train for it as it's demanding and double check your Machu Picchu access/ any extra arrangements you also book so you're not disappointed.

Megan C.(August 2024)
Once in a lifetime trip
Once in a lifetime trip
Once in a lifetime trip

Words cannot express how incredible this experience was with Lino and Much Better Adventures. I have done backpacking and outdoors trips before, but this takes the cake. The hospitality, food, crew, accomodations -- everything was incredible. This particular trek isn't for the faint of heart, especially if you're looking to sleep in, but the early morning and steep elevation change are worth it for the views. None of the pictures here do it justice. If you're worried about a group of strangers, I was too. But we showed up as strangers and left as lifelong friends ❤️.

Eline L.(August 2024)
Amazing trip. I did not

Amazing trip. I did not do as well with the altitude as i thought but thanks to a great guide (Lino) and a great group i made it to Machu Picchu and it was well worth the effort. Bucket list trip!

PATRICK M.(July 2024)
Best one yet.
Best one yet.
Best one yet.
Best one yet.
Best one yet.

Christian and Eddie the guides were full of knowledge and infectious expertise, their passion for their country and this trek was unparalleled compared to any other guides we saw. The food was incredible given the circumstances. The trek was as easy or as hard as you wished to make it, which catered for a range of different fitness levels (albeit ensure you’re not a complete mincer for this). Well up there as one of the best weeks of my life, I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone.

Armo K.(July 2024)

Amazing trip. Highly recommended.

Diana M.(July 2024)
It was a great adventure

It was a great adventure making memories for a lifetime! Huge thank you to our guide Christian for his guidance, knowledge, funny moments and patience)

vince l.(July 2024)
Excellent Organisation, Great Team Guide,

Excellent Organisation, Great Team Guide, and support Team

Claire H.(July 2024)
Incredible trek

Absolutely incredible adventure - challenging hike up Salkantay pass and stunning views every day. Our guide Cristian was the best - perfect English, motivational and funny, and very knowledgeable about the trail, history and wildlife. He watched out for everyone in the group and made sure we had enough rests to catch our breath while telling us interesting stories about the area. The food was delicious and freshly prepared, with different selection and fresh juices for every meal. The camp site was always set up and the tents were comfortable; it was an added bonus to wake up to hot coca tea and hot water for washing. We had options to visit alpaca farms, coffee plantation and hot springs which added to the adventure.

Michael P.(June 2024)
Incredible five-day trek

I had a great time on this trek. The landscapes are so varied and we took in so many beautiful places, from Humantay lagoon to the cloud forests. The food was incredible and plentiful, and the guides were great at bringing us together as a group and solving any issues that cropped up along the way (like struggles with the altitude). I would recommend arriving in Cusco a few days early, though, as two days may not be enough time to acclimatise if you do not have previous experience hiking at altitude. Also be aware that the Machu Picchu ticket only includes access to the citadel. If you want to climb Machu Picchu mountain or Huayna Picchu, you will need to organise this separately (in consultation with MBA) well in advance, or take your chance and queue for a ticket at Aguas Calientes when you get there.

Jaume L.(June 2024)
An Unforgettable Experience

MBA experiences are always incredible. From start to finish, they are thoughtfully planned and fantastically executed, and the adventure to Machu Picchu via the Salkantay trek was no exception, leaving me with unforgettable memories.

Everything went smoothly on this mountain adventure, blending intense hiking with activities like feeding alpacas and becoming coffee farmers. It was a journey through the forest with breathtaking views and guides who went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable. Dario, Eddie, and the rest of the staff took great care of us, preparing special diets for those with ailments, providing support during the hike, and explaining the history of every corner of each Inca ruin we encountered.

A special shoutout to Dario for helping me with my "stuff" (💍).

Jen O.(June 2024)
Just Incredible in so many ways!
Just Incredible in so many ways!
Just Incredible in so many ways!
Just Incredible in so many ways!

Wow, wow, wow! These guys are amazing and what a trip! Our guides Christian and Eddie were just superb and the rest of the team from the chefs to the horsemen were also incredible. The trek was insane and well within reach of anyone with ‘fairly decent’ fitness and a great attitude (I’m nearly 50 and have ‘fair’ fitness although injuries to contend with) The altitude was fine to contend with - I took dried/sugared ginger to munch on, drink plenty and we did breathwork each morning to get our oxygen levels up. No dramas! The scenery, people and experience as a whole was second-to-none. Peru is just beyond stunning. Ealing up with a glacier view from your tent was unbelievable. Every little thing was thought of and the whole team were so accomodating. How they knocked up these awesome 3 course meals in tiny mountain huts and camp kitchens etc was insane! The knowledge, story telling and connection till to the land is something you will never forget. Nothing was too much trouble and the guides were so attentive - working so hard so keep everyone safe. Truly soul inspiring and such a magical break from the materialism and ego of ‘western society’. This is so much more than a trek. It’s a life changing, soul nourishing reality check that many of us so badly need. We opted to head to Machu Picchu the earliest we could on the last day and the 4am wake up was well worth it. To arrive at this historical site before sun rise when it was so quiet and watch the sun rise over the mountains was worth its weight in gold. Barely anyone there but us to witness this awe inspiring sight. My fellow trekkies were the best, if I could do this all again I would choose these beautiful folks to do it with. We laughed together, cried, shared stories and learned about each other and supported each other in so many beautiful ways. I would do it all again tomorrow if I could. I don’t want to add many pics as I don’t want to spoil it lol. Thanks so much guys, I love you all forever and every single part of this trip holds a special place in my heart forever 💕🥹

David A.(June 2024)
Breathtaking from start to finish

Couldn't recommend highly enough, had a wonderful time surrounded by breathtaking scenery and our guide Dario was awesome, everything was so well organised.

Evan T.(June 2024)
Great trip and great people.

Great trip and great people. It was a decent challenge, but doable.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What's included?

  • Tent, inflatable mattress and pillow
  • Duffle bag for your personal belongings
  • Group oxygen bottle and medical kit

What's available to hire?

  • Sleeping bag
  • Trekking poles

What do I need to bring?

  • Day pack (25-35 litre)
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Warm fleece or down jacket
  • Hiking boots
  • Wicking base layers
  • Light long walking trousers
  • Few t-shirts
  • Hiking socks
  • Winter gloves
  • Beanie and sun hat
  • Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag
  • Warm layers for the first night camping at 4400m
  • Ear plugs
  • Trekking poles (recommended)
  • Head lamp
  • Sunglasses
  • Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
  • Sunscreen (SPF 35+ recommended)
  • Insect repellent
  • Water bottle

FURTHER INFORMATION

  • You'll be given a duffel bag during the trek briefing to pack your trekking gear into. You'll have an 8kg limit per person for porterage, so you'll only need to carry your day pack.

  • Your camp crew will provide you with boiled water every day, which is safe to drink. Should you have any concerns about the water quality, please feel free to bring additional water purification tablets.

*Requests for optional extras can be made after booking on your “My Bookings” page

Sleeping Bag Hire

Payable Before Departure

Sleeping Bag Hire

Trekking Pole Hire

Payable Before Departure

Trekking Pole Hire

Pre/post accommodation in Cusco (Twin/Double/Single)

Payable Before Departure

Pre/post accommodation in Cusco (Twin/Double/Single)

Per Night

Pre/post accommodation in Lima (Single)

Payable Before Departure

Pre/post accommodation in Lima (Single)

Per Night

Pre/post accommodation in Lima (Twin/Double)

Payable Before Departure

Pre/post accommodation in Lima (Twin/Double)

Per Night

Optional Private Room & Tent Upgrade

Payable Before Departure

Optional Private Room & Tent Upgrade

Per Person

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 126kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

This trip visits locations at or above 4500m. At this altitude some people may experience symptoms associated with Altitude Sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). The likelihood of more severe conditions, such as HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema), increases at higher altitudes. Previous experience at high altitude is not necessarily an indicator of future performance. Your guide(s) are trained to mitigate the risks associated with altitude, by carefully managing the rate of ascent and the intensity of the activity, and to provide the appropriate support response should someone feel ill during the trip. Should you experience health issues during your trip you should inform your guide immediately so the proper care can be provided. Owing to the nature of this trip, it is essential that your personal travel insurance policy provides cover up to the maximum altitude visited on this trip as well as emergency medical evacuation by helicopter.

Clean drinking water will be provided for you each morning and at meals. In an effort to eliminate plastic waste you must bring your own water bottle or hydration bladder with you. If you are concerned about the water quality, please feel free to bring additional water purification tablets.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

Yes, it is possible to leave excess luggage items at the start hotel in Cusco and pick them up at the end of the trip.

The Inca Trail has all the fame, but in our humble opinion, this is a better, less crowded trek. It passes through more dramatic landscapes, past Inca ruins, and still ends at Machu Picchu. It is widely regarded as the best alternative trek, and though that does mean you won’t have the trail to yourself, our local guides will keep you away from the crowds and camping away from other groups. You'll also evade the permit requirement and strict regulations that are enforced on the Inca Trail.

Customer safety is our top priority - we monitor the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - FCDO travel advice and keep in regular contact with our host partner in Peru for the latest updates on the ground. Politically motivated protests are not uncommon in Peru and these can lead to some disruption to transport links and occasionally the closure of sites. In the unlikely event that we have to cancel your holiday in response to a change in FCDO travel advice or disruption, you will be offered the option of a full refund for your MBA booking.

Yes, horses are used by the local team to assist with the logistics of transporting food and camping equipment. They are cared for on the trail by trained handlers within the porterage team. Your host in Peru has the accreditation to work with horses, and they take steps to ensure the welfare of horses by applying a maximum weight of 30kg per horse on a maximum of two trekking expeditions per month. Please be aware that you may encounter other local trekking companies whilst on the trail who sadly do not take the same stringent approach to animal welfare.

No, for this trek you do not need to organise a permit, and entrance to Machu Picchu is included in the price of the trip. As permits are purchased on a first come first served basis, and are in limited supply, early booking for this trip is encouraged.

Your host in Peru typically purchases permits that allow an early 6am or 7am entry to Machu Picchu to miss the crowds, with each permit pre-purchased in the name of individual customers. For late bookings, depending upon availability your host may need to purchase the entry permit to Machu Picchu for a slightly later time slot in the day, separate from the group.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice however we suggest the below as a guideline:

  • If each Porter/Horseman were to receive 60 to 70 soles and your Chef received 120 to 150 soles in total from the group, this would be considered a generous tip, and your team would be delighted!
  • We recommend that your Guide is tipped personally and would suggest between 60 to 100 soles per person.

Of course, you are free to tip more or less and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

We've got your back

Guaranteed to run

All our trips are now guaranteed to run. Once you’ve booked your spot you can immediately make your travel arrangements, no uncertainty, no hanging about (excludes 'request to book' departures). Full details

Flexible payments

Secure your spot with the minimum deposit and pay off the remaining balance in as many instalments as you like, with no interest or fees. Full details

Happiness Guarantee

We’re so confident you’ll have an amazing time we’ll put our money on it. Full details

Full financial protection

To give you complete peace of mind we’re backed by ABTOT, ABTA and ATOL memberships. Full details

Tried & Trusted

We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with over 1000 verified trip reviews averaging 4.8/5.

Connect before you go

You'll be invited to join a WhatsApp group to get to know each other before your big adventure together. Full details

DEPARTURE DATES

May 2025

Saturday 3rd May 2025

to Saturday 10th May 2025
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Saturday 10th May 2025

to Saturday 17th May 2025
Guaranteed to run

Saturday 17th May 2025

to Saturday 24th May 2025
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 3 spaces left

Saturday 31st May 2025

to Saturday 7th June 2025
Guaranteed to run
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Go private and split the bill with ease.

Forget complex logistics, we've taken care of all the details to ensure a hassle-free get together. All of the adventure, none of the faff.

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