Self-Launched Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
7 days · Peru
Inkayni Peru Tours charges £1,090
No-markup version: ~£720 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the 7-day Salkantay + Inca Trail combo out of Cusco. The critical difference: the Inca Trail (days 4-7) legally requires a licensed guide and government-issued permits, so we keep that portion guided but book it directly through a budget Cusco operator (or as a standalone 4-day Classic Inca Trail), and do the Salkantay approach days self-supported with local transport, homestays and your own camping gear/rental. This slashes the operator markup while keeping the same lakes, passes, ruins and Machu Picchu sunrise. Prices are approximate 2026 backpacker rates and assume booking Inca Trail permits 4-6 months ahead (they sell out fast, especially May-Sept).
Day-by-day
Cusco to Mollepata to Soraypampa + Humantay Lake
Soraypampa, Peru
Take a shared colectivo or local bus from Cusco to Mollepata (about 3 hours, ~£6) — depart around 05:00 from Av. Arcopata or the Terminal Terrestre. From Mollepata, hire a shared taxi/pickup up the rough road to Soraypampa (~£8-10 per person, arrange the night before). Drop your pack at a basic campsite or the Soraypampa community refugio (~£8-12). In the afternoon hike the well-marked 1.5-2 hour trail up to Humantay Lake (4,200 m) — no guide needed, just acclimatise in Cusco for 2-3 days first. Dinner at the campsite or bring your own stove food.
🚌Colectivo Cusco–Mollepata ~£6; shared pickup Mollepata–Soraypampa ~£9
🛏Soraypampa campsite / community refugio (bring or rent tent + sleeping bag in Cusco, ~£5/day rental)
- →Humantay Lake hike (self-guided)
- →Salkantay valley views
- →Acclimatisation walk
Soraypampa to Salkantaypampa to Pampa Japonesa
Pampa Japonesa, Peru
Start early (06:00) for the climb past Salkantaypampa toward the glacier basin. The trail is obvious and busy with trekkers, so navigation is easy; carry 3-4 litres of water and snacks. Camp at Pampa Japonesa below the Salkantay glacier (~4,100 m) — there are flat pitches and a basic stream. Cold night: expect sub-zero. Bring a stove and dehydrated meals bought cheaply at Cusco's Mercado San Pedro.
🚌On foot (~12-14 km, 5-6 hrs)
🛏Wild camping at Pampa Japonesa (own tent)
- →Trek to Salkantaypampa
- →Glacier viewpoint at Pampa Japonesa
Over Incachiriaska Pass and down to Canal Inca
Canal Inca, Peru
The big day: cross Incachiriaska Pass (~5,338 m) — the highest point of the route. Leave by 05:30, move slowly, watch for altitude symptoms, and turn back if you feel unwell (this pass is genuinely high and solo trekkers should consider hiring a local arriero with a horse for safety, ~£25-35/day). Descend steadily to camp at Canal Inca. Because the standard Salkantay-to-Inca-Trail link is complex, most self-launchers treat today as the end of the independent section and arrange a pickup/transfer toward Ollantaytambo or Km 82 for the Inca Trail start.
🚌On foot (~14 km, 7-8 hrs); optional arriero/horse ~£30
🛏Camping at Canal Inca (or basic farmhouse homestay if arranged)
- →Incachiriaska Pass crossing
- →Descent through high puna
Canal Inca to Ollantaytambo to Km 82 — Inca Trail Day 1 to Ayapata
Ayapata, Inca Trail
Note: the Inca Trail is permit-only and legally must be walked with a licensed guide and operator. Book a 4-day Classic Inca Trail directly with a Cusco budget agency (e.g. via GetYourGuide or a local operator like a small Ollantaytambo-based agency) for roughly £380-450 including permits, crew, meals and porters — still far below combo-tour pricing. Day 1: transfer to Km 82, cross the Urubamba, visit Paucarcancha, and trek through cloud forest to camp at Ayapata (3,300 m).
🚌Local transfer to Km 82 (~£10 if not included); trek ~12 km
🛏Inca Trail camp at Ayapata (provided by trail operator)
- →Paucarcancha archaeological site
- →Andean cloud forest trek
Inca Trail Day 2: Dead Woman's Pass to Chaquicocha
Chaquicocha, Inca Trail
The hardest day — climb to Warmiwañusqa (Dead Woman's Pass, 4,200 m), descend to Pacamayo for lunch, then climb again past Runkurakay to camp at Chaquicocha. Your guide handles logistics; you carry a daypack while porters take the rest. Sleep early, it gets cold.
🚌On foot (~12 km, 7-8 hrs)
🛏Inca Trail camp at Chaquicocha
- →Warmiwañusqa (Dead Woman's Pass)
- →Runkurakay ruins
Inca Trail Day 3: Phuyupatamarca to Wiñaywayna
Wiñaywayna, Inca Trail
The scenic day: cross the Runkurakay pass, walk the original Inca causeway through cloud forest, visit the ceremonial terraces of Phuyupatamarca, then descend through orchids and tunnels to camp at Wiñaywayna (2,650 m). Optional detour to the Intipata terraces for sunset views.
🚌On foot (~10 km, 5-6 hrs)
🛏Inca Trail camp at Wiñaywayna
- →Phuyupatamarca ceremonial site
- →Wiñaywayna ruins
- →Intipata terraces (optional)
Sun Gate sunrise, Machu Picchu, back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Cusco, Peru
Leave camp at 04:00 to reach the Sun Gate (Intipunku) for sunrise over Machu Picchu — the payoff. Take the included 2-hour guided circuit of the citadel (permits are tied to your trail booking). Optional Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb requires separate advance permits (£60-70). Bus down to Aguas Calientes (~£9), lunch, then take the Expedition/Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo (~£45-60) and a colectivo back to Cusco (~£5). Expect to be back around 20:00-21:00.
🚌Bus Aguas Calientes ~£9; train to Ollantaytambo ~£50; colectivo to Cusco ~£5
🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£10-15, book yourself)
- →Sun Gate (Intipunku) sunrise
- →Guided Machu Picchu citadel tour
- →Optional Huayna Picchu (extra permit)
Self-launched vs. Inkayni Peru Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Inkayni Peru Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£720 | £1,090 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £370 per person (34%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Inkayni Peru Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£720
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 Self-Launched Salkantay Trek & Inca Trail to Machu Picchu cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £720 per person for 7 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 Inkayni Peru Tours?+
Yes — Inkayni Peru Tours charges around £1,090 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £720 — a saving of roughly £370 (34%) per person.
How long is the Peru trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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, hiking, culture 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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