The Inca Trail is one of the most aspirational travel experiences in the world: navigating the Peruvian Andes, passing ancient Inca ruins, and finally arriving at Machu Picchu on the final day can feel like a real achievement and is a wonderful way to explore the history, scenery and culture surrounding the Lost City of the Incas.

The Inca Trail is a four-day trek, beginning at a humble railway stop in Piscacucho, Peru, around 2.5 hours from Cusco, and culminating in an iconic view of Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate on its fourth and final day. It follows an ancient pathway between Cusco and Machu Picchu, traversed by nobility, priests and messengers at the height of the Inca empire in the 15^th century.

Despite only encompassing around 43 kilometres of hiking across a four-day route, the Inca Trail involves steep ascents and descents as you travel through some of the Peruvian Andes’ highest and most challenging mountain passes and valleys. It is considered a strenuous hike and requires a good level of fitness to complete, but the views of the surrounding mountains, the Urubamba River valley, and the iconic Lost City of the Incas along the way are incredibly rewarding.