The adventure begins bright and early as our private van will pick you up from your hotel at 5am (please coordinate your pickup with us in advance- pickups are also available from the Sacred Valley with prior organization).

Along the way we stop in the town of Calca at a local market for any last minute supplies. This market is great place to get any snacks for the journey, or gifts for the local kids you will pass along the trail. After a short stop at the market, we continue to our trailhead in Huaran.

Along the river bank , we meet our trekking team and settle down for the first of many delicious breakfasts from our talented chef. While we tuck in, the horsemen pack up our duffel bags onto the mules and horses and prepare for the journey ahead. Make sure that everything you need for the day is packed into your daypack- you wont see your duffel until camp.

At the beginning of the day, the warm weather welcomes you to the trek. However, as we gain elevation, it begins to cool down. Remember to pace yourself, as the first section of the trail is steep. It will eventually flatten out to a more gradual climb.

The Pachachaca river flows alongside the trail, offering occasional reminders of how high we have already climbed. Those who are interested in plants and flowers will be enthralled by the species that we will pass on our ascent. Ask your guide anything, from local culture to flowering patterns of this funny looking plant you found, and he will tell you exactly.

Day 1 sees a gain of over 900m/2953ft in elevation. We make a stop along the way for a buffet style lunch, prepared with a delectable mix of local and international ingredients. The rest of the journey leads us into the farming community of Cancha Cancha, and its absolutely stunning scenery.

On our arrival to Cancha Cancha, our trekking team greets us with a selection of snacks and hot tea. We will spend the remainder of the afternoon in this isolated Quechua speaking village; playing with the kids or simply savoring the beauty that nature has provided this small pocket of civilization, perched deep in the Andes.

If you do decide to mingle with the locals, your guide will be more than happy to translate and teach you some Quechua phrases.

Later, we head over to our dinner tent for a delicious and abundant 5-course dinner. To end the night, we get cozy in our sleeping bags, ready to spend the night admiring the star-studded skies. Your guide will share his wealth of knowledge about the intricate farming methods using the constellations for guidance, local knowledge passed down by ancient Incas.

• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Afternoon Tea – Dinner
• Accommodation: Camping facilities
• Distance: 12kms / 7 miles
• Time: 6hrs approximately
• Difficulty: Moderate