Perfect Peru - 9 Days

Lima - Cusco - Pisac - Ollantaytambo - Sacred Valley. Once you have arrived at Lima International Airport, you'll board a domestic flight to Cusco, soaring over the snow-capped peaks of the Andes. Sitting at 11,440 feet, Cusco is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere.

On arrival, you're met and transferred towards Urubamba in the Sacred Valley, stopping en route to browse the colourful stalls of Pisac Market and visit the community workshops of Manos de la Comunidad. From here, we continue to the village of Ollantaytambo, where Inca street layouts and town planning remain remarkably preserved amid meticulously terraced hillsides. Inhabited since the 13th century, its cobbled streets lead up to the site's Inca Fortress and Temple of the Sun.

Built from massive monolithic stones by the ruler Pachacuti in the 1400s, this complex showcases intricate stonework and a ceremonial temple set atop a fortified terrace. We climb over 200 steps to the summit for sweeping views and a closer look at the expertly carved masonry, along with the remains of ancient temples and ceremonial fountains. We spend the night in the Sacred Valley.

Sacred Valley - Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes. After breakfast, you'll take the Vistadome train through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, then board a shuttle up to the "Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu.Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, Machu Picchu was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungle for 400 years until its discovery by the explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Our guide brings the history of this mystical site to life, before we head back down to the accommodation in Aguas Calientes.

Aguas Calientes - Sacred Valley - Cusco. This morning, you take the Expedition train back to the Sacred Valley from Aguas Calientes, then board a shuttle to Cusco. On arrival, you're transferred to the accommodation, with the rest of the day free for you to explore Cusco independently - you might wander through the San Pedro Market or step inside Cusco Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas.For those wanting to see the ruins again, a self-guided return visit to Machu Picchu is available at an additional cost.

After breakfast, we set out on a walking tour of San Blas, Cusco's historic artisan quarter, known for its narrow cobbled streets, whitewashed colonial houses, colourful art galleries, and traditional workshops. As we wander through this bohemian neighbourhood, we take in its lively atmosphere, deep cultural heritage, and views over the city.

The rest of the day is free for you to spend as you wish, with the option to join a guided hike to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman and Tambomachay at an additional cost. Sacsayhuaman is the largest of the Inca ruins on the edge of Cusco and was the site of a major battle with the Spanish in 1536, with some believing the city was laid out in the shape of a puma with this site forming its head. Tambomachay, meanwhile, sits nearly 13,000 feet up and is known as the "Baths of the Inca" for its sacred stone-carved waterways, thought to have been reserved for Inca royalty.

Cusco - Puno. This morning, we set off on one of South America's great overland journeys, travelling by bus from Cusco to Puno through the Andean highlands and traditional villages.

Along the way, we stop in Andahuaylillas to visit its 1580 church, celebrated for its ornately decorated colonial interior and sometimes described as the "Sistine Chapel of the Americas". We also visit Raqchi to see the remains of the Temple of Viracocha, regarded by historians as one of the most significant Inca constructions, before crossing La Raya, the highest pass on the route, where llamas, alpacas, and vicunas roam the open countryside.

Our final stop before Puno is Pucara, an ancient ceremonial site with evidence of a civilisation that predates the Incas. We arrive into Puno later in the afternoon or evening.

After breakfast, we set off on a full-day boat excursion to the Uros and Taquile Islands on Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake.

We begin at the floating islands of the Uros people, ingeniously constructed from totora reeds. Known as the self-proclaimed "Lords of the Lake", the Uros preserve traditional fishing techniques and hunt wild birds, with the men skilled in weaving reeds into homes, boats, and handicrafts, and the women renowned for their knitting.

From here, we continue to Taquile Island, home to around 400 families who continue to uphold Inca traditions and values. The island is known for its archaeological ruins, sacred sites, and lively festivals, and its welcoming residents maintain traditional dress while producing intricate, colourful textiles with symmetrical patterns that reflect their Andean beliefs and way of life.

Puno - Lima. In the morning, you're transferred to Juliaca Airport, around an hour away, in time for your flight to Lima. On arrival, a representative meets you and transfers you to the accommodation for check-in.

From here, we set off on a half-day tour of Lima, taking in both the colonial and modern sides of the city. In the historic centre, we visit the Plaza Mayor, pass the Government Palace and City Hall from the outside, and step inside the Cathedral of Lima and the Convent of Santo Domingo, a religious and architectural gem housing sacred paintings, images, and relics of Peruvian saints, along with written accounts of the Dominican Order's work across the country.

The tour continues into modern Lima, driving through the exclusive residential districts of Miraflores and San Isidro.

Today, you have the option of joining a full-day excursion to see the Nazca Lines from the air, at an additional cost. Early in the morning, you're transferred by bus to Paracas, a scenic peninsula on the Peruvian coast known for its wildlife and beaches, before continuing to Pisco Airport to board a small aircraft with a window seat for every passenger.From the air, you'll see the Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site believed to have been created more than 1,000 years ago. Each design carries its own significance: the 300-foot (90-metre) monkey has only nine fingers, thought to symbolise the nine months of drought the Nazca people once experienced each year, while the spider is linked to water and fertility, said to appear just before the seasonal rains. The hummingbird, condor, and flamingo are believed to have beaks aligned with the sunrise and sunset of the year's two solstices, and the lizard, unfortunately split in two during construction of the Pan-American Highway in 1937, can also be seen.You'll enjoy lunch at a hotel in Paracas before returning to Lima by bus, with drop-off at your accommodation.

Today you check out of the hotel and make your own way to the airport for your departure flight.