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Machu Picchu Tours & Treks

Embark on the adventure of a lifetime to Peru’s stunning Machu Picchu, an iconic Incan citadel high in the Andes mountains. Whether you choose to hike along the Inca Trail or travel by train, our Machu Picchu tours make it easy to visit this fascinating archaeological site.

 
Perched high above Peru’s Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and iconic relic of the Incan Empire. A bucket-list destination for travellers worldwide, it offers extraordinary history and breathtaking natural beauty. Explore offers two unforgettable ways to visit Machu Picchu - depending on what you'd prefer, you can choose to hike to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail or visit Machu Picchu by train. 

Hike to Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail
Offering unforgettable views of the Sacred Valley and situated amongst a tropical forest, the Inca Trailis a famous hiking trail to Machu Picchu, passing ancient ruins and breathtaking natural scenery. Hike the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu on one of our Inca Trail trekking tours. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing Machu Picchu appear from the mist as you descend from the Sun Gate on the last day of your hike.

Most of our Inca Trail and Machu Picchu tours are small group tours, with average group sizes of 10-16. You'll be joined by like-minded travellers, as well as an expert local leader and a team of porters and cooks to aid you on your hike.

Machu Picchu by train 
If you’d like to explore Machu Picchu without the hike, we offer several trips to Machu Picchu via train, so you still get to experience this amazing site without having to spend several days trekking. The journey begins with a comfortable train journey to Agua Calientes, a mountain town close to the base of Machu Picchu. From there,  a bus ride takes you up to the site itself. The length of the journey depends on your departure point - on some of our trips we travel from Cusco and on others we take the train from the Sacred Valley. Either way, there's plenty of time to explore the wonders of Machu Picchu in a day. 

Combine Machu Picchu with other Peru highlights
Offering a range of adventures to Peru, our tours you can combine your visit to Machu Picchu with other highlights of this incredible country including Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, the Sacred valley and Palccoyo. We even offer the chance add a stay at an Amazon rainforest lodge or combine Machu Picchu with Ecuador's Galapagos Islands for an incredible adventure to two of South America’s top bucketlist items in one trip!

Machu Picchu trips by train

Peru Discovery Trip code PS
Best Seller
14 Days From £2349 without flights
Peru Discovery Trip code QPS
Discounted
14 Days From £1425 without flights
Ecuador, Peru, Galapagos Wildlife Trip code GSM
Discounted
15 Days From £3600 without flights

Machu Picchu & Inca Trail trips

Peru Walking and Trekking Trip code PQ
Discounted
Best Seller
9 Days From £1280 without flights
Peru Walking and Trekking Trip code PE
19 Days From £2985 without flights
14 Days From £2545 without flights

FAQs about our Machu Picchu holidays

How do I get to Machu Picchu? Can I visit without having to hike?
With Explore, you have the option to either hike to Machu Picchu or take the train to the nearby town of Aguas Calientes and take a short bus-ride from there. Our hiking trips follow the most popular route to Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail, offering a stunning journey through the scenic beauty of The Andes. 

Can I hike to Machu Picchu?
Yes, Explore offers guided trek tours along the Inca Trail that follows the most popular route to Machu Picchu.

How hard is it to get to Machu Picchu?
It is easy to get to Machu Picchu by train, particularly on our trips as we arrange all the logistics for you. Depending on the trip you take, you'll get the train to Aguas Calientes from Cusco or Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. From there you'll take a short bus ride to Machu Picchu. Generally, after visiting Machu Picchu we stay in Aguas Calientes, avoiding further travel in one day and providing you an opportunity to rest after a day of exploration. 

If you’d like to travel on one of our Inca Trail trekking trips, these are graded as 'Moderate to Challenging'. This means that some days of trek are Moderate and at least one is Challenging. Walking the Inca Trail requires a good level of fitness but with a little pre-tour training, it should be well within the capabilities of anyone who leads an active and moderately healthy lifestyle. It isn’t a race, and you’ll have the whole day to cover the distance and take in all the marvellous views and Inca ruins.

Is it safe to visit Machu Picchu?
Yes, provided you follow the correct route and adhere to site rules, it is very safe to visit Machu Picchu. The site attracts a huge number of  tourists each year with no problems. Machu Picchu has a team of park rangers whose jobs are to keep order and manage with local animals.

It doesn't matter whether you're on one of our trips that takes the train to Machu Picchu, or one of our Inca Trail treks, your safety is our number one priority. Your local leader will have been expertly-trained by us to deal with any unexpected situations, and we pride ourselves on our reputation of reacting quickly and efficiently to issues. Plus, you'll have the reassurance of travelling with others in your group. 

How high is Machu Picchu?
Machu Picchu sits 2,430 metres (7,972 feet) above sea level. At this height, altitude sickness is very unlikely. The surrounding area of Cusco, however, lies at an elevation of 3,399 metres (11,152 feet) – at these heights, altitude sickness is more common and medication such as Acetazolamide is advised.

What other destinations can I combine my Machu Picchu trip with?
Our Peru trips combine Machu Picchu with a selection of the country's other highlights, such as Cusco, Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon. You can also choose to extend your Peru trip with a stay in the Amazon rainforest.

We also offer a trip that combines Peru and Machu Picchu with the Galapagos Islands in one tour.

Is it responsible to visit Machu Picchu right now?
We’re always conscious of the impact our tours have on local communities. All of the porters and cooks for our tours are local people, often farmers, employed from the Sacred Valley area. We ensure that they are all paid and treated fairly. Being a porter on the Inca Trail pays much better than a farming job and one trip can often mean that local people can support their families for weeks.

In 2018, non-reusable plastic was banned from Machu Picchu, and the porters are asked to weigh their rubbish before and after the hike to meet regulations. We only use designated campsites on the trail and all water is boiled before use to ensure its safety. The food served is sourced from the local area - you'll likely have fish from the rivers and vegetables from the surrounding farms.

The permits ensure there are restricted numbers on the trail each day to protect the paths. The Inca Trail is closed in February every year for maintenance work.