You fly to Lima and reach the Peruvian capital the same day or early the following morning. If your plane lands today, your tour guide gives you a warm welcome and you spend the night in Lima. (Distance: approx. 20 km; driving time: approx. 30 min.)

If your plane reaches Lima this morning, you will be there in time to start today's programme together with your group. The day begins with a panoramic drive through Peru's bustling capital, and you explore the modern district of Miraflores, where your hotel is also located. You pass the district's main square and the Huaca Pucallana archaeological site, where you can take photos from outside, before reaching the centre of Lima and continuing your discovery tour of the old town on foot. You take a guided tour of the famous San Francisco Monastery, visit the Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martín and pass the impressive cathedral. Around 30% of Peru's entire population lives in this capital of contrasts, which is also considered a melting pot of many different cultures. At Plaza San Martín you have a little free time at lunchtime and, depending on your appetite, can have a small lunch or buy snacks for the onward journey. How about a few empanadas, for example? Afterwards you drive along the legendary Pan-American Highway towards Paracas. Along the way, look forward to some typical Peruvian snacks your tour guide has brought along, as well as the odd interesting anecdote. Glance out of the window every now and then to enjoy the impressive scenery, and in no time you'll arrive in Paracas. Tonight you stay in a pretty hotel right on the beach. Settle in at your leisure and enjoy the hotel's amenities. At sunset you get together with the whole group once more and enjoy a typical pisco sour or a refreshing soft drink on the beach. Savour your cool drink and get in the mood together for the travel experiences ahead. 1 night in Paracas. (B) (Distance: approx. 230 km; driving time: approx. 4 hrs)

In the morning a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands awaits you; they are part of the Paracas nature reserve and known for their wealth of species. From the boat you have the chance to spot pelicans, cormorants and sea lions, among others. Perhaps you'll also come across Humboldt penguins, which have made the islands their home because of the cold ocean current. You can also take a look at an unusually large drawing in the sand, the so-called Candelabra, whose origin and meaning scientists have still not been able to explain conclusively. Afterwards you continue towards Nazca. On the way you stop at the Huacachina oasis, a lush green oasis framed by date palms amid 100-metre-high sand dunes. Get your camera out and take a few steps through the oasis. In Ica, at a pisco bodega, you learn more about the production of Peru's national drink and taste the spirit, made mainly from Muscat grapes, which you already got to know the evening before in the form of a pisco sour. Once in Nazca, you have the option of exploring the famous, curious Nazca Lines from a bird's-eye view in a small plane (optional, bookable locally, approx. 35 min., cost approx. € 115, weather-dependent). The best-known figures of the Nazca Lines include the hummingbird, the astronaut and the monkey. If you like, you can pass the time at the small airport watching the small planes take off and land, or relax at the hotel. You spend the night in Nazca. (B) (Distance: approx. 220 km; driving time: approx. 4 hrs)

Get ready for a long day on the coach – but it's worth it! The long but scenic drive along the Pan-American Highway through the only coastal desert outside Africa is broken up by regular stops in wonderful scenery with dreamlike views. You pass olive groves in Yauca, drive through deserts and valleys and along the spectacular coast, and enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Pacific in the seaside towns of Chala and Camaná. Here you can also visit a restaurant during the lunch break, or grab a snack and stretch your legs. Along the way, look forward to interesting conversations with your tour guide and fellow travellers. Listen as your tour guide tells you more about the country and its people, plays music and perhaps introduces you to a classic of Peruvian literature. Add a good book or an interesting podcast or two, and the time on the Pan-American flies by. In the evening you reach Arequipa, Peru's second-largest city, and check in at your hotel in the city centre, where you spend the next two nights. (B) (Distance: approx. 600 km; driving time: approx. 11–13 hrs depending on traffic)

Today is devoted entirely to the city of Arequipa. Arequipa is also called the "White City" because of the light-coloured volcanic stone from which many of its buildings are made. On a city walk you explore the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. You start at the main square, one of the most beautiful in Peru, with its 19th-century cathedral housing magnificent treasures of gold and silver. In a side street near the Plaza de Armas you visit the old Jesuit church "La Compañía", which, with its splendid façades and elaborately designed columns with spiral carvings, is one of the most beautiful churches in the country. Walking through the large 17th-century Santa Catalina Monastery, you gain an insight into the more than 400-year history of the monastery, which has only been open to visitors since 1970. In the late morning you visit the traditional San Camilo market, where you can mingle with the locals, learn more about Peru's medicinal plants and get to know regional products. Ever heard of tumbo, lúcuma or granadilla? Your tour guide buys a selection of local fruits for you, and you can taste them as you please. After that the rest of the day is yours! Stroll through the city and let yourself drift, or join your tour guide at the "Santuarios Andinos" museum, where you can marvel at the famous ice mummy Juanita (optional). (B)

In the morning you leave the city and take one last look at Arequipa from above from the Yanahuara viewpoint. Goodbye Arequipa, and off to the pampa! You continue your journey towards the Colca Valley. The varied drive takes you up through the vast pampa highlands of the "Salinas y Aguada Blanca" National Reserve, home to numerous alpacas, llamas and vicuñas. At a short photo stop you can watch these cute animals from the road. The highest viewpoint on today's route, the "Mirador de los Andes", lies at around 4,900 m and promises a breathtaking view of the Colca Valley and the Andes. All in all, it's good that you take it easy today, as the altitude of today's destination should not be underestimated. In the Andes, coca leaves in various forms have always been used to counteract and relieve the symptoms of altitude sickness. The classic is coca leaf tea, and your tour guide is also happy to hand out coca sweets and coca chocolate to try. The main attraction of the valley is the Colca Canyon, which at around 4,100 m deep is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Once in the Colca Valley (3,600 m), you have the chance to grab a bite to eat for lunch in the town of Chivay, the valley's capital, and then check in at your hotel. To round off the day, you are taken to the nearby hot springs. Enjoy the warming water of the springs and get a little used to the altitude before ending the evening quietly and relaxed at your hotel. 1 night in the Colca Valley. (B) (Distance: approx. 250 km; driving time: approx. 5 hrs)

Getting up early is definitely worth it today! From around 5 am you can have breakfast at your hotel and then set off for the canyon, or more precisely the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint, which you reach after a drive of about an hour. At this popular spot, the magic of Peru can be felt by everyone. Magnificent views open up into the spectacular canyon and the terraced fields on the steep slopes. And to crown it all, with a bit of luck you'll see the majestic Andean condors, the largest flying birds in the world, as they glide majestically through the gorge on the thermals and circle above the visitors' heads. A natural spectacle that can only be seen in a few places in the world. Combined with a short walk around the spacious viewpoint, you can quietly soak up the magic and very special atmosphere of this unique place. On the way back you pass some traditional villages in the valley where life and the customs of the inhabitants have hardly changed since Inca times. Depending on timing, you stop in Chivay for lunch or take it along as a lunchbox for the road. You then continue your journey towards Lake Titicaca. You take a break at a restaurant along the way to prepare further for the altitude over a cup of Inca mint tea, known locally as muña tea, and with a bit of luck you may also spot Andean flamingos during the drive. You reach the town of Puno on Lake Titicaca and check in at your lakeside hotel. 2 nights on Lake Titicaca. (B/L)

After breakfast you set off on a boat trip on the deep-blue waters of Lake Titicaca. Your first stop, after a crossing of about 20 minutes, is at the floating reed islands of the traditional Uros people. The inhabitants build the islands and the buildings on them from the reeds growing right by the lake. Your tour guide will gladly reveal exactly how this works. After a short stop on one of the Uros islands, you continue your boat trip on the lake and, after about 1.5 hours, reach the Capachica peninsula. In Llachón a member of the community accompanies you on a short walk through the village and across the island, and you learn more about the residents' traditional way of life. For lunch you are the guest of a local family who treat you to traditional delicacies. Look forward to a typical regional soup and grilled trout with tasty side dishes. The family also gives you an insight into local crafts such as soap-making and weaving. You walk back to the boat and reach Puno after a boat trip of about 2 hours. End the day in a relaxed way at your hotel. If you're looking for a restaurant for dinner, your tour guide will be happy to give you tips. (B/L)

Early in the morning you leave Lake Titicaca behind and drive past traditional Andean villages and the snow-capped giants of the Cordillera Vilcanota towards the Urubamba Valley. You break up today's long drive with interesting stops. When you get a little peckish, you stop for a snack at the local restaurant "El Cordero Macho" and try the local dish "cancacho", pork or lamb roasted over wood and hot bricks with various side dishes. After another stage you stop in Raqchi and wander through the Inca ruins of the same name (3,500 m). In Andahuaylillas you also visit the magnificent 17th-century colonial church, which, with its sumptuous interior and remarkable frescoes by local artists, is also called the "Sistine Chapel of the Andes". There is also time for more conversations with your tour guide and fellow travellers, and you can work your way further through your holiday reading and podcast list. In the evening you reach the "Sacred Urubamba Valley", where you spend the next two nights. (B/S) (Distance: approx. 450 km; driving time: approx. 10 hrs)

The "Sacred Valley of the Incas" got its name from the Spaniards, who admired the high yields the Incas achieved in the region with their skilful terrace farming. Thanks to its fertile soil, its relatively sheltered location and constant supply of mountain water, the Sacred Valley was ideal as an agricultural production centre for the Incas. At a typical local market in Urubamba you mingle with the locals and can stroll along the stalls as you please and inspect the local produce. Your tour guide shops for a small picnic – but more on that later. At the agricultural terraces of Moray, which once served the Incas as a research centre, you learn more about local terrace farming. You continue to the salt mines of Maras, where the famous Maras salt is extracted in the traditional way. Afterwards you walk from the salt pans back down into the valley (walk: approx. 30 to 45 min.). Along the way your tour guide picks a suitable spot in nature for your picnic, where you can refuel with the food brought from the market. Look forward to typical bread, cheese and ham from the region, plus toasted corn kernels and nuts as well as small regional snacks. On the way back to the hotel you also stop at a local family's home and have the chance to taste the traditionally made corn beer "chicha de jora". (B/P) (Distance: approx. 120 km; driving time: approx. 2 hrs)

You continue your journey and make a first stop at the market in Chinchero. Still looking for a few souvenirs for your loved ones at home? Then this is the right place! You then continue to the still very traditional village of Ollantaytambo, where hardly anything has changed since Inca times. After a walk through the winding lanes and a visit to the fortress that once served to defend the Sacred Valley, you have some time in the village for a light lunch or to buy a snack for the train journey. Then you board the panoramic train to Aguas Calientes, now also officially known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. The journey takes you past beautiful scenery, small streams and towering rocks. After your arrival you check in at your hotel at the foot of Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes is very small, so you can stroll through the village in the evening as you like and have dinner at a restaurant before probably turning in early to be well rested for the highlight, Machu Picchu, the next day. 1 night in Aguas Calientes. (B) (Distance: approx. 50 km; driving time: approx. 1.5 hrs; train journey: approx. 1.5 hrs)

The highlight of your Peru trip awaits you – Machu Picchu! In the early morning hours you enjoy the mystical atmosphere of the lost city of the Incas, still shrouded in mist. On a tour you explore, among other things, the main square, the round tower, the sacred sundial, the royal chambers, the Temple of the Three Windows and the cemetery*. On this day we also offer you the opportunity to climb Huayna Picchu as an option. This is the best-known mountain of the site (at its head). Tickets are limited to 150 per day and access times are also regulated. The climb up Huayna Picchu is via partly steep stairs and steps of varying height (approx. 1,600 steps to the summit!) and is demanding in any case, especially in difficult weather conditions. Good fitness and a head for heights are therefore essential. If you still want to take on this absolutely worthwhile climb, which rewards you at the end with an unforgettable view of the entire citadel and the surrounding mountains, please order your ticket in advance via SKR (optional, € 90 p.p., limited availability, please book with your registration; please note that Huayna Picchu is open all year round, but spontaneous closures may occur due to weather). After visiting Machu Picchu – especially for guests who have not opted to climb Huayna Picchu and therefore have a little more time – you take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you can pass some time. Or, if you're looking for a little peace between the bustle of Machu Picchu and the bustle of Aguas Calientes, you can also walk back to Aguas Calientes (distance: approx. 7–8 km, walking time: approx. 90 minutes). Once the group is complete, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo. There your bus awaits you to continue to Cusco. You spend two nights in Cusco. (B) (Train journey: approx. 1.5 hrs; distance: approx. 120 km; driving time: approx. 4 hrs) *Please note that due to legal regulations, the time allowed inside Machu Picchu is limited to 2.5 hours. Visitors are distributed across different circuits, each with its own character. This serves to better coordinate visitor flows and protect the ruins.

Cusco (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Andean city of 350,000 inhabitants and former heart of the Inca Empire, awaits you! Look forward to plenty of pre-Columbian and colonial sights and a charming old town. On a discovery tour on foot, you first stroll across the main square, the "Plaza de Armas", with its cathedral, one of the largest churches in South America. A real gem even from the outside, it becomes truly magnificent inside: the silver high altar and the splendidly carved choir stalls make an impressive sight. As your city walk continues, you head up into the quaint artists' quarter of San Blas, which offers a lovely view of Cusco. You also visit the Temple of the Sun and can mingle with the locals as you stroll through the bustling San Pedro Market. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to explore Cusco, one of Peru's most beautiful cities, on your own. Pick up last souvenirs, or simply sit on the Plaza de Armas to watch the colourful hustle and bustle and enjoy the city's special flair. In the evening you meet for a farewell dinner together at a typical restaurant and look back once more on the many impressions of the trip. (B/D)

In due course your tour guide takes you to Cusco airport and you first fly to Lima. Depending on your connecting flight from Lima, the flight from Cusco may leave very early in the morning. Now it's time to say goodbye to Peru, and you fly home from Lima. If your flight leaves Lima early, you will arrive in Germany the same day. (B) (Distance: approx. 5 km; driving time: approx. 20 minutes)

In the morning you land back in Europe.