• An experienced English-speaking local leader
• Cusco Airport transfers (on designated group arrival and departure days only)
• All land transport required in the itinerary
• Hotel accommodation in Cusco and Aguas Calientes on twin share basis
• Luxury lodge accommodation during the trek on twin share basis
• Guided sightseeing tour of Cusco
• A guided visit to Machu Picchu
• Meals as described in the Meal Plan

• Travel Insurance
• Cusco Airport departure taxes
• Salkantay Trail fee of $50 payable locally
• Tips for local staff
• Lunches and dinners when in Cusco
• Miscellaneous personal expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc

Cusco Airport transfers are provided for all clients.

When in Cusco, there is a wide range of dining options and it makes sense to allow you to explore these options. So, your holiday price does not include meals other than breakfasts when staying in this city. You will pay directly for a total of 2 lunches and 3 dinners (see itinerary for details) and you should allow approximately US$10 - 15 per meal. Whilst trekking and staying in lodges and at the hotel in Aguas Calientes, a full 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.

There are a huge variety of restaurants in Cusco catering for every budget and palate. If you want to seek out some traditional Peruvian fare you should be sure to sample some Ceviche (the word ceviche comes from the indigenous Quechua word 'siwichi', meaning fresh fish); this healthy, zesty and fresh dish is one of the most popular dishes in Peru. Also worth tasting is Lomo Saltado, a beef and vegetable dish cooked in a wok, which blends both Peruvian and Chinese ingredients. Drink recommendations include Mate de Coca (Coca Tea), a herbal tea made from the dried leaves of the coca plant and said to prevent altitude sickness and, of course, Pisco Sours! No trip to Cusco would be complete without sampling this alcoholic cocktail, which is made by mixing the peruvian liquor, Pisco, with egg white, ice, lime juice and angostura bitters. Throughout the trek, all meals will provided by the lodges. Prepare to indulge yourself! The lodges all have their own inventive gourmet menus, which will provide a refreshing take on the region’s most iconic dishes. All the offerings are locally sourced – from the organic coffee blends to healthy snacks! Lunches will be prepared by the cooks on the spot and will consist of hot soup, gourmet sandwiches or a hot lunch, snacks and salads. Additionally, you will be handed a 'snack-pack' to carry in your day pack with dry fruits, peanuts, chocolates and fresh fruits. 

New for 2020: alcohol is now included whilst staying at our luxury lodges.

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot always provide special diets.  Due to the nature of some of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your diet with food/snacks from home.  If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice.  Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

Whilst in Cusco we will spend 3 nights at the elegant El Mercado hotel (or similar). The El Mercado is an charming property located just a stone's throw from the Plaza de Armas, the main square of Cusco.

Formerly part of the old farmers' market, El Mercado has been designed to incorporate some of the elements of the market, in its original décor, which mixes the best of colonial and contemporary architecture, its relaxed atmosphere and innovative cuisine.

During our trek we will stay at four beautifully-appointed mountain lodges, which are truly one of a kind. Each has been created with traditional Incan building techniques and is designed to blend perfectly with the surrounding environment. At each of our intimate 6-room lodges, you will enjoy hot showers, fine gourmet meals, select wines, goose-down bedding, massages, outdoor hot tubs and highly personalised service from the local staff.

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. Depending on availability, it may be possible to pre-book single rooms throughout the holiday. For additional hotel prices and single supplement costs please refer to the dates and prices page of the trip on our website.

When in Cusco and during the Salkantay Trail trek the group will be accompanied by professional, English-speaking local tour guides.

This holiday involves going to high altitude. During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 3500 metres. 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. You can also talk to one of our trekking experts if you have any concerns about altitude. 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.

There is a charge of US$50 for entrance to the Salkantay Trail. This is payable locally.

We estimate that $350 will be sufficient to cover your requirements including the above mentioned meals, the $50 Salkantay Trail fee, as well as expenses such as tips for drivers, trek crew and local guides. Soft drinks, wine and beer are available every night and if you intend to partake you should budget accordingly. 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 and in emergency can even be used to purchase goods. Credit cards can be used to purchase goods and to pay for meals in Cusco.

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 £50 to 60 to a group tipping pool.

Single traveller - possible additional cost

This holiday is priced on a 2-person-sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself and do not request single room occupancy, we will make every effort to pair you up with another single traveller of the same sex. If this proves not to be possible, you will be liable for an additional single traveller payment.

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage, which should be a soft and sturdy duffel bag, and one day pack.  Your bag on trek will be carried by porters or pack animals and should not weigh more than 15kg. Alll you will have to carry in your day pack will be items such as a water bottle, waterproofs and camera. It is possible to leave extra baggage at the hotel in Cusco. Please note that baggage allowance on internal flights in Peru is 20kgs and that this limit is usually strictly enforced. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.

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 ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.