Peru & Machu Picchu: Self-Launched Inca Trail Adventure
9 days · Peru
G Adventures charges £3,275
No-markup version: ~£795 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 9-day Cusco-to-Cusco adventure covering the Sacred Valley, the classic 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and time to acclimatise in the Andes. You'll book your own Inca Trail permit (the key logistical challenge — permits sell out months ahead), arrange local transport and guides, and stay in hostels and guesthouses rather than premium hotels. Same destinations and the same unforgettable trek, at a fraction of the guided-tour price.
Day-by-day
Cusco: Land of the Incas
Cusco
Fly or bus into Cusco (3,400m) and take it easy on arrival — the altitude is real. Check into a hostel in the San Blas or historic centre area, drink plenty of coca tea, and wander the cobblestone streets past Inca stonework and colonial buildings. Book your Inca Trail permit online in advance (or via a licensed Cusco agency) if you haven't already. Evening: light dinner and an early night.
🚌Taxi from Cusco airport to centre ~£4-5 (or 20-min walk from some areas)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Cusco historic centre (~£12-20/night)
- →Acclimatisation walk around Plaza de Armas
- →San Blas artisan neighbourhood stroll
- →Coca tea and altitude rest
Sacred Valley: Pisaq Ruins & Local Traditions
Sacred Valley (Pisaq / Ollantaytambo)
Take a shared colectivo or local bus from Cusco to Pisaq (~1.5 hrs, ~£2). Explore the massive Pisaq ruins perched above the town, then browse the famous artisan market. Continue by colectivo to Ollantaytambo (~£2) — a charming Inca town and the classic trailhead base. Eat at local menú del día spots for a cheap traditional lunch.
🚌Colectivo Cusco→Pisaq ~£2, Pisaq→Ollantaytambo ~£2
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (~£15-25/night)
- →Pisaq archaeological site (entry ~£12 with Boleto Turístico)
- →Pisaq artisan market
- →Ollantaytambo town and Inca ruins
Sacred Valley: Acclimatisation Day
Ollantaytambo / Sacred Valley
Use today to acclimatise at lower altitude. Choose a self-guided hike to a nearby waterfall, or book a via ferrata/zip-line session locally in the Sacred Valley. Otherwise explore Ollantaytambo's ruins and terraces and prepare your trek gear and food. Confirm your permit paperwork and porter arrangements if you've hired any.
🚌Walking / local taxi within valley ~£2-4
🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (~£15-25/night)
- →Self-guided waterfall hike
- →Optional via ferrata via local operator (~£35-50)
- →Ollantaytambo ruins (Boleto Turístico)
Inca Trail Day 1: Setting Off
Inca Trail (KM82 → Wayllabamba)
Start the classic 4-day Inca Trail. You must trek with a licensed guide and permit — join a small group trek booked through a Cusco agency (typically includes guide, cook, porters, food and camping). Day 1 is a gentle warm-up along the Urubamba river valley to Wayllabamba camp (~12km). Note: DIY permits are limited to set daily quotas and can only be bought via authorised operators, so an agency-arranged trek is the practical self-launch route here.
🚌Private/shared van to trailhead (included in trek)
🛏Trekking camp (included in group trek)
- →Inca Trail checkpoint KM82
- →Guided trek Day 1 (~12km)
- →Camp at Wayllabamba
Inca Trail Day 2: Dead Woman's Pass
Inca Trail (Wayllabamba → Pacaymayo)
The toughest day: climb to Dead Woman's Pass (4,215m) via Warmiwañusca, the highest point of the trek, then descend to Pacaymayo camp (~12km). Pace yourself, hydrate, and enjoy the spectacular Andean scenery. Your trek group's cook provides meals.
🚌Hiking
🛏Trekking camp (included in group trek)
- →Dead Woman's Pass summit (4,215m)
- →Guided trek Day 2 (~12km)
- →Camp at Pacaymayo
Inca Trail Day 3: Cloud Forest & Ruins
Inca Trail (Pacaymayo → Wiñay Wayna)
The most scenic day: pass Runkurakay and Sayacmarca ruins, descend through cloud forest, and reach Wiñay Wayna camp (~16km). Beautiful orchid-lined trails and Inca sites throughout. Early night before the final push.
🚌Hiking
🛏Trekking camp (included in group trek)
- →Runkurakay and Sayacmarca ruins
- →Phuyupatamarca viewpoint
- →Wiñay Wayna ruins
- →Guided trek Day 3 (~16km)
Inca Trail Day 4: Sunrise at Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu / Aguas Calientes
Rise very early to reach Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) for sunrise over Machu Picchu — the payoff of the whole trek. Descend into the citadel for a guided tour. Afterward, take the bus or walk down to Aguas Calientes, soak your legs, and stay the night.
🚌Machu Picchu shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes ~£10
🛏Hostel in Aguas Calientes (~£18-30/night)
- →Sun Gate sunrise over Machu Picchu
- →Guided Machu Picchu citadel tour
- →Machu Picchu entry (included in trek package)
- →Aguas Calientes hot springs
Return to Cusco
Aguas Calientes → Ollantaytambo → Cusco
Take the scenic train back from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (or Poroy) — book the PeruRail or Inca Rail service in advance. Then catch a colectivo or bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco. Spend the afternoon resting and celebrating in Cusco with a pisco sour and a good meal in San Blas.
🚌Train Aguas Calientes→Ollantaytambo ~£35-55 (book ahead); colectivo to Cusco ~£2
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Cusco (~£15-25/night)
- →Scenic train ride through Urubamba valley
- →Return to Cusco
- →San Blas dinner and celebration
Cusco: Departure
Cusco
Final morning in Cusco — last souvenir shopping at San Pedro Market (great for cheap textiles and gifts) and a leisurely breakfast before heading to the airport. Trip ends in Cusco.
🚌Taxi to Cusco airport ~£4-5
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →San Pedro Market shopping
- →Qorikancha or Sacsayhuamán if time allows
- →Departure transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£795 | £3,275 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,480 per person (76%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£795
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Peru & Machu Picchu: Self-Launched Inca Trail Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £795 per person for 9 days in Peru. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,275 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £795 — a saving of roughly £2,480 (76%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Peru.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Peru, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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