Cycle through the Sacred Valley, past Inca ruins.
Cycling tour plus the classic Inca Trail
Skedaddle has a 15-day trip that combines six days' cycling through the Sacred Valley – past the Inca ruins of Pisac, the colonial town of Paucartambo and through Amazon rainforest – with the classic Inca Trail. After four days of trekking, over Dead Woman's Pass and past the ruins of Wiñay Wayna, you reach Machu Picchu at daybreak.
• From £1,495, including camping/lodge accommodation, most meals and bike hire. Flights extra. 0191-265 1110, skedaddle.co.uk
Salkantay & Llactapata Inca trails on horseback
Follow in the hoof prints of the conquistadors on a 10-day ride (up to five hours a day) past the glacial lake at Humantay and through passionfruit orchards in the Santa Teresa valley, following the Salkantay and Llactapata Inca trails. Say farewell to your horse before walking (8km) or taking the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
• From £1,995, including hotel/lodge accommodation. Flights extra. 01829 781123, equestrian-escapes.com
Luxury on the Salkantay Trail
Wilderness Journeys has launched a new nine-night trek following the Salkantay Trail – named after the Cordillera Vilcabamba's highest peak (6,271m) which you pass beneath. The walk takes you through sub-tropical valleys in the shadow of high mountains. Highlights include the Inca ruins of Tarawasi and Llactapata, a guided tour of Machu Picchu (reached by train), and at the end of each day you get to kick back in plush lodges, some of which have outdoor hot tubs.
• From £1,995, including accommodation and most meals. Flights extra. 0131-625 6635, wildernessjourneys.com
Espíritu Pampa, the 'last' Inca city
The Traveller has launched a 15-day trip that focuses on the city of Espíritu Pampa. It was this remote site, excavated in 1964, that turned out to be the Inca empire's final outpost, not Machu Picchu as Hiram Bingham wrongly believed. The trip, which includes three days' walking, also takes in the Inca site of Tambomachay, the "White Rock" with its impressive carvings and, of course, Machu Picchu. Departs 10 September.
• From £3,650, including hotel accommodation, flights and most meals. 020-7269 2770, the-traveller.co.uk
Cusco, cooking and the citadel
Don't fancy trekking? Much Better Adventures has a seven-night trip that includes a tour of Cusco and bus trips to the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara. After visiting a local market to buy ingredients, you'll spend the day cooking with a Quechua family before catching the train to Machu Picchu.
• From £825, including hotel accommodation and most meals. Flights extra. muchbetteradventures.com
Inca Trail independently
About 200 trek permits a day are issued to tourists, who have to be accompanied by an official guide. If you're keen to book locally, Pachamama Explorers is a licensed Inca Trail tour operator based in Cusco. It has a great reputation, and offers easy and more challenging guided treks to Machu Picchu, ranging from two to seven days. Choose from the classic trail or one of the alternative routes, including the Salkantay, Choquequirao, Lares Valley and Ausangate treks.
• Walks should be reserved up to three months in advance. From $525 (£340) for a four-day classic walk, including camping accommodation and all meals. +51 84 226570, pmexplorers.com
Written by 2Machupicchu
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