Today begins early; your guide will leave the hotel with you at 5:30am. When you arrive at the train station, you will be given lunch to carry in your daypack.

Your train departs Ollantaytambo at 6:10am and you will have just over an hour to relax onboard and enjoy the scenery or have breakfast (not included). Your hotel can provide you with a picnic breakfast to take with you or you can pack your own breakfast.

You get off the train at the famous KM104, where your trek begins at 2,000m/6,560 ft. above sea level. After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque foot bridge, you will show your passport at the checkpoint and visit your first Inca site, just a few steps away from the checkpoint.

The first hour and a half of the hike is a gentle upward climb. Along the way, we stop at several viewpoints where we enjoy expansive views of the Urubamba river and valley.

We pass through several microclimates throughout the course of the day, including a cloud forest, so be ready to get a little damp and prepare for light rain. The next hour and a half are a slightly steeper uphill with a beautiful waterfall as your reward for the hard work.

When you cross the bridge below the waterfall, be sure to take some photos and keep your eyes peeled for the spectacular Wiñay Wayna (2,600m/8,500ft) above sea level. These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle.

At this point in the hike we are very close to Machu Picchu and you are hiking through lush sub-tropical jungle. Your guide will tell you all about the ruins, plus the incredible and unique flora and fauna on our way to our lunch spot.

You have lunch at a covered shelter at the Wiñay Wayna campground, which is the last campground for those hiking the Classic Inca Trail. The campsites has camping restrooms and sinks with running water to wash your hands.

Take your time as you enjoy your hearty, gourmet lunch and be sure to admire the tropical flowers around the campground. Remember to notify us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when you book!

After lunch, you have a mostly flat walk to the Sun Gate, from which you have your first view of Machu Picchu! Though the hour-long walk is a gentle rolling up and down, it does end with a set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca.

Once you reach the stairs you will know that you’re almost at the Sun Gate! As you turn the corner from the Sun Gate, you will enjoy your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. So, take some time to savor the moment and take photos.

The last hour of the hike down from the Sun Gate to the citadel has many opportunities to take more photos of Machu Picchu from a unique vantage point. There are also a couple more important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu.

Make sure to go slowly, enjoy your time walking in the footsteps of the Inca on the Inca Trail and ask your guide questions about these historical places on the last bit of your hike to Machu Picchu.

Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site (Guard House), where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu.

You will arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists, which gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shot.

Take your time to enjoy this magical experience before taking the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel. Your will enjoy a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs or just go to your hotel to rest after such an exciting day.

• Meals: Box Lunch, Dinner in a restaurant in Aguas Calientes
• 3* Accommodations: Hotel Ferre Machu Picchu
• Difficulty: Moderate

You will leave your duffel bag at the Ollantaytambo train station to be sent by train directly to Aguas Calientes.