You are ready to shake up the planet’s most famous hike. If you think adventure should never force you to skimp on comfort, the Luxury Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is calling your name. We have sorted out every single hassle, turning this old, tough route into a smooth four-day trip full of style.
No rough camping here. Each night you step into a large walk in tent kept warm and comfortable. Your private chef cooks fresh Peruvian meals using local ingredients. After dinner a massage waits to ease sore muscles. You sleep well. You wake ready.
This trip is small and exclusive. Guides know the route inside out. Porters carry the gear. You arrive at Machu Picchu rested and relaxed, not worn out. The Luxury Inca Trail turns a famous trek into an elegant adventure in the Andes.
Group Services
Our Handcrafted 4 Day Luxury Inca Trail
- You choose this if you want the top trek with comfort.
- Luxury Inca Trail is a personal four day hike to Machu Picchu.
Day 1: An Elegant Start Unveiling Ancient Perspectives
A private van rolls up to your door first thing. You start the day with a solid gourmet breakfast, nothing fancy but it hits the spot. From there the trail begins. You wander through Patallacta soon after, a sprawling Inca site that spreads out across the valley floor. The guide points out the old storehouses and terraces while you keep moving.
Lunch happens right on the path. The chef sets up a quick station and hands over fresh plates. You eat, pack up, and push on. The day covers about 12 kilometers in roughly six hours. Nothing rushed, just steady steps. By late afternoon Wayllabamba camp comes into view. Your glamping suite waits, big, warm, and ready. The team handles every detail so you can drop your pack and relax.
Day 2: Ascending to Insight The Cloud Forest and Elevated Achievement
Hot coffee shows up at your tent before you even unzip the door. You sip it while the sun climbs. Breakfast follows, quick and filling. Then the trail heads up into cloud forest, mist curling around your boots. The climb keeps going until Dead Woman’s Pass hits you at 4,215 meters. You stand there catching breath, the whole valley spread below.
The path drops after that. You pass old Inca towns still linked by the same stones they laid centuries back. Hours roll by. Ten kilometers total, about eight on the move. Pacaymayo camp appears in a green bowl by late afternoon. Dinner is already waiting, hot and simple. You eat, stretch out, and let the day go
Day 3: Revealing Heritage Privileged Access and Sunset Ceremony
You cross Runkuraqay Pass first thing, the air thin but the view wide open. A short drop later you stop at Sayacmarca. It doubled as a watch post and some kind of Inca office, the guide explains while you poke around the walls. The afternoon stretch leads to Phuyupatamarca, the Town Above the Clouds. Stone circles mark old ceremonies, tiny rooms hint at daily life long ago.
Before the light fades you stand at the edge and take in the whole Andes chain, peaks rolling away like frozen waves. Dinner waits back at camp. The day clocks 13 kilometers in about seven hours, legs tired but satisfied.
Day 4: The Grand Reveal Sun Gate Entry and Vistadome Return
Early breakfast gets you moving while the camp is still quiet. You pass Wiñaywayna soon after, terraces stepping down the slope, small houses tucked between. The trail narrows and climbs. Before you know it the Sun Gate, Inti Punku, opens up ahead. Machu Picchu fills the valley below, stone and green in perfect morning light.
A private guide takes over from there. You walk the citadel together, history in every corner, buildings telling their own stories. When the tour wraps, you catch the Vistadome train. Windows wide, scenery sliding by all the way back to Cusco. The day covers 11 kilometers in about four hours, easy and unforgettable.
Client Assurances
- Private tours only.
- Trip runs even if you travel solo.
- Luxury Inca Trail stays on schedule.
Inca Trail luxury Itinerary
Day 1: Cusco – Km 82 – Wayllabamba
You want to a little twist on how people see the world’s most famous hike. If you believe adventure should include comfort, the Luxury Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is the right choice. We have removed every problem. The old difficult path now becomes an easy four-day trip with style. You walk on stones the Incas placed centuries ago. Their empire covered western South America in the fifteen and sixteen hundreds. The trail ends at Machu Picchu. Pachacutec built the citadel in the fourteen hundreds. UNESCO lists it as a World Heritage site.
You do not sleep on the ground. Each night you enter a large tent. It is warm and clean. Your private chef cooks fresh Peruvian food with local products. After dinner a massage helps your muscles. You sleep well.
The group is small. Guides know the trail completely. Porters carry all heavy items. You reach Machu Picchu rested and ready. The Luxury Inca Trail offers comfort and beauty in the Andes.
- Hiking Distance: 12 km / 7.5 mi
- Walking Time: Approx. 6 hours
- Max. Elevation: 3,000 m / 9,843 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Included Meals: Lunch, snacks, tea service and dinner
- Extras: Hot showers, massages, drinks
Day 2: Wayllabamba – Dead Woman’s Pass – Pacaymayo
You start the day with a hot drink brought right to your tent. Coffee or tea, whatever you want. Breakfast comes next and fills you up for the long climb ahead.
The trail goes up right away. Four hours of it. Cloud forest presses in, damp and green. Polylepis trees stand like old men with peeling skin. Every switchback gives you a bigger slice of the Andes. You stop once to tighten a lace and the porters pass you again, packs bouncing.
Llulluchapampa is a flat patch at three thousand seven hundred sixty two meters. Soup steams in tin bowls. Chicken, potatoes, a roll. You eat leaning against a rock. The guide points to the ridge ahead. Warmiwañusca. Four thousand two hundred fifteen meters. You nod, wipe your mouth, start walking.
The last hour is all lungs and short steps. You count to ten, rest, count again. Wind slaps you at the top. Prayer flags snap. The whole range sits below. Inca roads cut straight lines across the valleys. You stay five minutes, maybe ten. Then you turn downhill.
Two hours of jarring steps. Knees complain. Pacaymayo Alto camp is tucked in a bowl at three thousand six hundred meters. Shower water is hot. The massage table is set up under a tarp. Hands dig into calves and shoulders. Dinner is trout pulled from the river that morning, quinoa, a square of dark chocolate.
Night drops fast. The river keeps talking. You lie back and stare at stars you never see in the city. The Incas moved armies over this pass. You moved yourself. Sleep hits hard. Tomorrow the stones get older on the Luxury Inca Trail.
- Hiking Distance: 10 km / 6.2 mi
- Walking Time: Approx. 8 hours
- Max. Elevation: 4,215 m / 13,828 ft
- Difficulty: High
- Included Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea service, dinner
- Extras: Hot showers, massages, drinks
Day 3: Pacaymayo – Runkuraqay – Phuyupatamarca
You open your eyes to the Andes right outside the tent. Waterfalls drop in the distance. Valleys stretch green below. Breakfast is hot and ready. Eggs, fruit, fresh bread. You eat while the sun climbs. Then the trail starts up.
Two hours of steady climbing. The path switches back through cloud forest. You reach Runkuraqay Pass at three thousand nine hundred fifty five meters. The ruin sits there, round and solid. Guides say it was a tampu, a rest stop for Inca runners and traders. You walk the walls. The view looks over the whole route.
The way down takes another two hours. Sayacmarca appears on a ridge in the mist. Terraces fall away. Stairways climb to temples. The stonework is tight. No gaps. Lunch waits nearby. Soup, chicken, potatoes. You eat on a flat rock.
Two more hours of walking. Phuyupatamarca rises at three thousand six hundred eighty meters. City Above the Clouds. Baths still hold water. Terraces drop in perfect steps. The Andes roll out forever. Salkantay stands white in the distance.
Camp is set when you arrive. Hot shower. Massage. Dinner under the stars. Trout, quinoa, chocolate. You sit quiet. The peaks watch. Veronica. Pumasillo. You think about the Incas who built all this. Sleep comes easy. Tomorrow Machu Picchu waits on the Luxury Inca Trail.
- Hiking Distance: 13 km / 8 mi
- Walking Time: Approx. 7 hours
- Max. Elevation: 4,000 m / 13,123 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Included Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch, tea service, dinner
- Extras: Hot showers, massages, drinks
Day 4: Phuyupatamarca – Machu Picchu – Cusco
You start at five in the morning. Coffee or tea arrives while the sun rises over the Andes. You sip and watch the light change. Final breakfast on the trail is hot and filling. You say goodbye to the chefs, porters, and therapists who carried you this far.
The path drops along old Inca steps. You pass Phuyupatamarca, Intipata, Wiñaywayna. Few people around. These sites handled ceremonies, farming, living. Terraces still hold soil. Water runs in stone channels.
Around ten you reach the Sun Gate. Inti Punku. Machu Picchu appears below. The citadel Pachacuec built in the fifteen hundreds. You stand quiet. Then walk the short stretch to the entrance. Lunch waits at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge.
Afternoon brings the private guided tour. You see temples, terraces, water systems. Crowds stay light. After the visit you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. A quick look around town. Then the Vistadome Observatory train to Ollantaytambo. Private car to Cusco. Hotel by eight thirty. The Luxury Inca Trail ends.
- Hiking Distance: 11 km / 6.8 mi
- Walking Time: Approx. 5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Included Meals: Breakfast, snacks, lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge
Included/Not Included
All Inclusive Luxury Provisions
Personal Service & Logistics
- Private Pre Trek Briefing: An in depth, personalized orientation conducted by your lead guide at your hotel.
- Expert Private Guiding: Services of a highly qualified, professional private tour guide dedicated exclusively to your party.
- Guaranteed Access: All official Inca Trail permits and definitive Machu Picchu citadel entrance passes secured.
- Seamless Transfers: All necessary ground transportation during the four day tour via comfortable, private vehicles.
- Premium Return: Your relaxing return from Aguas Calientes to Cusco aboard the plush Observatory Train or the scenic 360° Train.
Unrivaled Accommodation & Amenities
- Three Nights of Elevated Glamping: Accommodation includes the finest luxury equipment and meticulous campsite setup.
- The Ultimate Sleep: Private, walk in tents furnished with luxury cots (queen or twin setup), high thread count sheets, plump pillows, warm duvets, and premium sleeping bags.
- Private Sanitary Suite: A dedicated tent featuring hot pressurized showers, a spacious dressing area, and a flushing system toilet.
- Comfort Furnishings: Dedicated tents for private massage sessions and elegant dining, complete with tables, comfortable chairs and fine linens.
- Personal Touches: High quality bathrobes, plush towels and premium organic toiletries.
Elite Support Team & Culinary Excellence
- Personal Porter Service: A dedicated porter is assigned to you to carry up to 22 lb (10 kg) of your personal gear.
- Gourmet Culinary Team: A private team of professional chefs preparing fresh, multi course gourmet meals tailored to your preferences.
- Restoration & Recovery: A certified massage therapist is available every evening (all 3 nights of camping).
Gourmet Provisions & Refreshments
- Four refined breakfasts, four exceptional lunches, and three elegant dinners.
- Daily provision of healthy snacks and freshly boiled, treated drinking water.
- Hot beverages (premium coffee, herbal teas) and complimentary refreshments, including soda, beer, champagne and Pisco served during your exclusive evening dining.
Safety & High End Gear
- Top of the line, adjustable trekking poles.
- Comprehensive first aid kit, private oxygen supply, and satellite phones for guaranteed communication.
Items Not Included (Please Note)
- Dinner on the final day in Cusco.
- International or domestic airfare.
- Personal Travel Insurance.
- Gratuities for your dedicated trekking team (Guides, Porters, Chefs, Therapists).
Prices
How to Access the Luxury Inca Trail
You need to book your Luxury Inca Trail permit about five months ahead. Every person on the trail must have one. That includes you, the guides, porters, and cooks. The Peruvian Ministry of Culture sets the limit at five hundred people per day. Roughly three hundred are staff. Two hundred are guests. The Short Inca Trail gets three hundred more.
Groups stay small. Ten guests plus two guides. Or eight guests with one guide. Only licensed operators can secure spots. Permits go live each October first. Operators grab them fast. They need your passport details, a deposit, and staff information.
Packing List for the Luxury Inca Trail
- Original passport and any new one if renewed after booking.
- Down sleeping bag rated for cold nights, we provide if needed.
- Sturdy trekking boots, cashmere base layers, lightweight fleece, waterproof jacket, sun hat, gloves, quick dry pants.
- Personal toiletries, biodegradable wipes, quick dry towel.
- High SPF sunscreen and lip balm.
- Headlamp with extra batteries, batteries drain faster at altitude.
- Camera with spare power packs.
- Compact binoculars.
- Favorite paperback for camp downtime.
- Carbon fiber trekking poles, we supply if requested.
- Strong insect repellent.
- Small daypack for personal items, porters handle the rest.
Your Luxury Inca Trail includes daily gourmet meals, private chef, massage therapist, and hot showers at camp. We handle permits, train tickets, and every detail so you simply walk and enjoy.
Frecuently Asked Questions
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That’s a great question, and the difference is huge! We believe the historical challenge should be the focus, not discomfort. The Luxury Inca Trail simply removes the “roughing it” part. Instead of crowded campsites and basic rations, you get private glamping, gourmet dining from a dedicated chef, and specialized support like a massage therapist. You also benefit from a private guide and walk in tents with real beds, not just sleeping bags on the ground. It’s an elevated experience designed purely for your enjoyment and recovery.
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A: Since the Peruvian government strictly limits these permits (only 500 per day), they sell-out fast. To guarantee your spot and secure your preferred dates especially if you’re aiming for the beautiful dry season (May through September) you absolutely need to plan ahead. We strongly recommend reserving your tour 8 to 10 months out.
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Not a problem at all! Since this is a private service, we guarantee your departure, even if you are traveling solo. The price reflects the exclusive resources (your guide, your chef, your porters) dedicated just to you, so your itinerary is never compromised.
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Let’s be honest, the Inca Trail is a solid workout we rate it as moderately difficult. The altitude and crossing those high passes are the main challenges. However, because you set the private pace, have a personal porter handling your heavier gear (up to 22 lbs/10kg), and receive those wonderful restorative evening services, our luxury version is significantly easier to manage than the standard trek. We just ask that you get some regular cardio in the months before your trip.
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Your well being is our top priority. We always suggest you spend 2 – 3 days relaxing in Cusco or the Sacred Valley beforehand to properly acclimatize. On the trail, our luxury service includes a dedicated oxygen supply and a comprehensive first aid kit, managed by professional staff trained to keep you feeling well and safe.
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We’ve completely redefined ‘camping.’ We replace thin pads and sleeping bags with real luxury cots (or beds) inside large, weatherproof walk in tents. This means high quality linens and proper bedding. The best part? You have the critical convenience of a private sanitary suite with a flushing toilet and a hot pressurized shower every night. It’s less camping, more private, mountain lodging.
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Absolutely yes. Our private culinary team specializes in high end service. They are experts at creating fresh, multi course gourmet menus and can easily accommodate specific dietary needs like vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, or complex allergy requirements. Just make sure to share all details with your travel designer when you book.
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They are! Your elegant dining experience includes complimentary soft drinks and a curated selection of local fine beverages, such as beer, champagne, and Pisco (Peru’s national spirit), to properly celebrate your days on the trail.
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Gratuities are not included in the tour price. While completely your choice, it is a kind tradition in Peru to recognize the incredible effort of your support team (guides, porters, and chefs) at the conclusion of the trek. Your guide will be happy to discreetly offer advice on customary amounts if you wish.
Group Services
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