Journeys: Explore Machu Picchu

This seven-night small-group tour with G Adventures takes you through some of Peru's most famous sites, starting in Cusco. Here the blend of Inca and colonial architecture stands alongside the city's modern life, with the Cusco Planetarium offering a nocturnal perspective tied to Andean cosmology. The itinerary moves on to the Sacred Valley, visiting places like Ollantaytambo and Pisac where pre-Inca ruins meet traditional communities that have cultivated the land for centuries.

From the valley, a scenic train journey leads to Machu Picchu, the renowned mountaintop citadel and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour includes a guided visit along one of Machu Picchu's new circuits, designed to regulate visitor flow while offering different views of the ruins. Highlights also encompass local experiences such as a traditional pachamanca dinner in Urubamba and visits to community-run projects in the region.

Though compact, the tour packs in early starts and varied transport including planes, trains and private vans. Staying in modest hotels with some stairs to climb requires reasonable mobility. It presents a blend of archaeology, culture and landscape, guided by knowledgeable locals who share insights beyond the commonly told stories.