We pick you up from your hotel at 5:00 am and drive about two hours via Anta, Ancahuasi and Limatambo to Mollepata (2,800 m / 9,186 ft), where we stop for breakfast and last snacks. Another hour's drive brings us to Soraypampa (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), the starting point of the trek. A 1.5-hour climb leads to the turquoise Humantay Lake (4,200 m / 13,780 ft), fed by the hanging glaciers of Humantay Mountain (5,480 m / 17,979 ft). After enjoying the views, we return to Soraypampa for lunch and then hike about two hours to our first campsite at Salkantaypampa (4,200 m / 13,780 ft). Today you cover 9 km (5.6 mi) in 5–6 hours of hiking.

After breakfast, we climb past the moraine to Soyrococha (4,400 m / 14,436 ft) through a dramatic landscape of grassland and rock. About an hour later, we continue to the highest point of the trek, the Salkantay Pass (4,600 m / 15,092 ft), with views of the snow-capped Vilcabamba range and the glaciated south face of Salkantay. The trail then descends to Wayraqmachay (3,919 m / 12,858 ft) for lunch. In the afternoon, an easy three-hour descent through increasingly green vegetation brings us to our second campsite at Collpapampa (2,950 m / 9,678 ft). Today you cover 17 km (10.6 mi) in 7–8 hours of hiking and reach the highest point of the trek.

Today we follow the Santa Teresa River through an increasingly lush valley with waterfalls, passion fruit, bananas, avocados and coffee. After about three hours, we rest at Winaypoqo before continuing for another three hours via La Playa Sahuayaco (2,050 m / 6,726 ft) to our third campsite at Lucmabamba (2,060 m / 6,759 ft), surrounded by the rich flora and fauna of the region. Today you cover 15 km (9.3 mi) in 5–6 hours of hiking.

A climb of two to three hours leads to the viewpoint of Abra Qelloqasa (2,860 m / 9,383 ft), where you enjoy a rare view of Machu Picchu from the southeast. We then visit Llactapata, an Inca site linked to Machu Picchu, before descending for about two hours through bamboo forest, orchards and coffee plantations to the Ahobamba River. After lunch at Hidroeléctrica, a pleasant three-hour walk along the railway brings us to Aguas Calientes, where you check into your hotel, freshen up and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Today you cover 22 km (13.7 mi) in 8–9 hours of hiking.

After an early breakfast, we take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu (2,400 m / 7,874 ft) to enjoy the citadel in the quiet of the early morning. Your guide then leads you on a comprehensive tour of its most important buildings and temples; our entry slot is between 6:00 and 10:00 am. Afterwards, you take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch and then the train to Ollantaytambo, where our private transport brings you back to your hotel in Cusco.