Day 2: Arrive Arequipa (Overnight in Arequipa hotel). Fly from Lima to Arequipa where you will meet with your tour leader who will be with you for the trip.  Transfer to hotel.  Arequipa is Peru’s second largest city yet it maintains a laid back atmosphere and a traditional colonial style as it lies in the shadow of El Misti volcano.  We take a visit to the Convent of Santa Catalina, offering a brief respite from the outside world and a unique view into a by-gone way of life.  Later in the afternoon we visit the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries where we have the opportunity to view the Inca mummy known as “Juanita”.            

Day 3:Colca Canyon (Overnight): Travel for approximately 3 ½ hours along a rough, rutted road through high plains flanked by extensive Inca and pre-Inca terracing en route to Colca Canyon.  On our drive there are ample photo stops allowing us to enjoy some spectacular views of volcanoes, agricultural terraces and wild alpaca and vicuña herds.  We spend the night in the Colca Valley allowing us time to acclimatize and take a dip in the relaxing thermal baths of La Calera.

Day 5: Island Visit - Amantani (Overnight Amantanti home stay):Today we leave the port of Puno by way of a tourist boat and cruise Lake Titcaca (the highest navigable lake in the world at 3800m).  Our destination – the Island of Amananti.   We lunch on the island and then we split into smaller groups and billet into family homes where we stay with the locals and experience their style of living first hand for a once in a lifetime cultural exchange.  In the late afternoon we can enjoy the breathtaking sunset over Lake Titicaca from the top of the island. On a clear day we will even be able to see the distant peaks of the Cordillera Real in Bolivia.

Day 6: Island Visits -  Taquile & Uros  (Overnight Puno): Say our farewells to our host families and return to Puno today via our first stop on Lake Titicaca is Taquile Island.  The people of Taquile Island’s unique culture, style of dress and lifestyle make for a memorable visit. The island is characterised by the quality of their textiles.  Here, the men of the community do all the knitting, as this is strictly a male domain, while the women do the spinning. High quality, locally knitted goods are available for purchase at various cooperatives on the island.  We lunch on Taquile before resuming our boat trip to the floating islands of the Uros people. The Uros began their unusual floating existence centuries ago in an effort to isolate themselves from the Colla and Inca tribes.  Arrive in Puno and spend the night in the hotel.   

Day 7: Cusco (overnight Cusco): An 8 hour panoramic bus ride brings us over the highlands to the former capital of the Incas: Cusco. During the trip we enjoy our lunch and visit different tourist attractions like the colonial church of Andahuaylillas and the Inca temple Raqchi (dedicated to Wiracocha the most important god in Andean ideology). Arrive in Cusco and transfer to our hotel for the night (3400 m).

Day 8: Sacred Valley (Overnight Ollantaytambo): Travel through the Sacred Valley and visit the towns and Inca ruins of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo.  Get a chance to learn a little about the local people, their way of life and their traditional weaving techniques.

Day:10 Today we proceed around Sondor Mountain to a high pass (an altitude of 4440m), from which we will have great photo opportunities: scenic Huacahuasi Lake and snow-capped Veronica Mountain (amongst others!) are visible from the path. After a good morning’s hike, we stop for a quick rest in a living Inca settlement, where many still farm the traditional crop of potatoes in the same way that their ancestors did. We resume our hike upstream to the second pass, Ipasayqocha (4550m) and then descend to our campsite near Lake Ipasayqocha for the night.  Approx. walking time 8 hours.

Day:11: (Overnight Aguas Calientes): Today we will have ample photo opportunities: our gentle path is covered in Andean flora, and animals such as llamas and alpacas can be seen grazing along the mountainside. If we’re lucky, we might even catch a glimpse of Andean geese, puna ibis, Andean cara caras or condor. You will feel firsthand the warm welcome of the Quechua people and will have the rare opportunity to see how they live.  Our descent takes us through the spectacular valley of Patacancha, where everything remains as it has since ancient times. After our five-hour hike, we reach the town of Patacancha, where we eat lunch and wait for our private bus to take us to Ollantaytambo, we catch the train for an incredibly scenic ride to Agua Calientes, where we will spend the night in a hotel.  Later you may have time to relax aching muscles in the therapeutic hot springs.    Approx. walking time 5 hours.

Day:12:Visit Machu Picchu. (Overnight Cusco): Rise early to take advantage of viewing Machu Picchu in the early morning light, the best time to view the 'Lost City of the Incas'.  There is free time to explore on your own after our tour, and the opportunity to climb Wayna Picchu, which will allow you to view Machu Picchu from a different vantage point.  In the afternoon we return to Cuzco by train, then bus, arriving in the evening. 

Day 15: Depart Peru: Transfer to airport to catch your international flight.