On this thrilling journey through Peru, much of which is spent at altitude in the Andes Mountains, you’ll discover the heart of the Inca Empire at Machu Picchu, encounter soaring condors and sail on the waters of Lake Titicaca.
For advice on where to go, what to do and how to choose your perfect tour, talk to our Travel Experts.
Our Panoramic Peru tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine.
Visit the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu
Experience the culture and colours of Lake Titicaca
Enjoy a tour of Peru's beautiful and spectacularly-situated second city
Spot condors - the biggest flying birds on Earth - at the magnificent Colca Canyon
Our Authentic Experiences Tour has been thoughtfully designed and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.
Browse the colourful produce at a market, taking a selection of fresh ingredients to the house of a welcoming local family where you will use them as part of a cooking class, preparing a delicious regional dish.
Visit the indigenous Uros people, a community who live on floating islands made of reeds on the waters of Lake Titicaca, and spend some time learning about their fascinating culture.
Learn all about the subtle flavours of 'Pisco', Peru's national beverage and tipple of choice, at a tasting in Lima.
While Peru’s train lines are too disconnected to be called a network, there are a handful of lines that serve a few sections of the country, but with a topography that goes from rugged coastline to towering mountains its not much of a surprise. The most popular railway is the Ferrocarril der Sur, which links Cusco with Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu and Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
There are three rail operators that run trains to suit a variety of budgets along this line, including PeruRail, which runs the Vistadome and Titicaca trains that you will ride in our Panoramic Peru tour. Super comfortable, with huge windows to help you make the most of the spectacular views and even cultural shows, these are journeys that you will never forget.
The Vistadome is an observatory train that passes through the breathtaking landscapes of the Sacred Valley to the foot of Machu Picchu. With panoramic windows and an elegant observation car, the views are unparalleled, and a helpful commentary will keep you informed about what you’re seeing. But that’s not where the magic ends – throughout the journey you’re also exposed to authentic culture through music and a Saqra dance show. You can freely move from your comfortable seat to the observation car that features outward facing bench seating and you’ll also be served a snack and hot teas as you travel. This train journey is a highlight of our Panoramic Peru tour.
Crossing in the Andes in an epic 10-hour journey, the Titicaca connects Cusco with the city of Puno on Lake Titicaca. Onboard you’ll find a bar and observation car, so you can sip a drink of choice while enjoying the incredible vistas of the mountains and altiplano that you’re passing through. There’s also a three-course gourmet lunch service in the dining car, afternoon tea and a pisco sour demonstration, and cultural performances of typical dances of Puno and Cusco. This incredible journey is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and part of our Panoramic Peru tour.
Fly to Lima, Peru's historical capital. Later enjoy your first taste of Peruvian cuisine at a local restaurant.
Originally named the City of the Kings, Lima is rich in heritage, which you’ll see for yourself today. Start in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre to admire the colonial magnificence. Explore the 17th-century San Francisco Monastery. Visit Casa Aliaga, a beautifully-preserved colonial mansion, and finish the day at Huaca Pucilana archaeological centre.
Fly to Cusco and transfer to the Sacred Valley. Spend the afternoon in Manos de la Cominidad, learning about the traditional crafts of weaving, pottery and jewelry making from local artisans. You will have the opportunity to join a hands-on workshop, giving you a glimpse of the authentic cultural heritage and traditions of the community. Afterwards, make your way to the Pisac archaeological site before transferring to your hotel.
Today, journey to Moray, the Inca agricultural laboratory that boasts impressive circular terraces. Continue to Maras, where you will witness the marvelous salt evaporation ponds most famous for producing the pink table salt we all recognise today. Afterwards, go on to Ollantaytambo where we’ll visit the preserved Incan houses and explore the old fortress, offering a glimpse into ancient Andean civilization.
Leaving the Sacred Valley today, board the panoramic Vistadome train for your journey to Aguas Calientes, gateway to the world-famous Macchu Pichu. Transfer into a bus for your journey to the ruins. One of the world’s great archaeological discoveries, Machu Picchu sits on a mountain ridge 2430 metres above the Sacred Valley. Built around 1450, it was abandoned about 100 years later, and left ‘undiscovered’ (the local people knew of it) until 1911 when it was brought to international attention.
Enjoy the morning at leisure or choose one of these optional tours: take the challenging hike up to Huayna Picchu, a viewpoint overlooking Machu Picchu; Aguas Calientes’ thermal baths for a relaxing soak; or a second entrance to Machu Picchu for further explorations - perhaps even venturing up to the Intipunku or Sun Gate. This afternoon, return to Aguas Calientes and take the train to Cusco.
After breakfast, embark on a full-day tour of Cusco, the Imperial Capital of the Incas. Start at Koricancha and the Santo Domingo Church, where you’ll discover the sacred site once adorned with gold and life-size golden statues. Next, visit the Cusco Cathedral, home to stunning Cusco School paintings and intricate gold and silver reliefs. Participate in a traditional Quechua ritual with a Shaman, offering thanks to Pachamama (Mother Earth). This evening enjoy a vibrant folklore show featuring traditional music and dancing.
Today take a train from Cusco to Puno. Journey through amazing Andean landscapes to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, passing through the spectacular Peruvian highlands. The train has 4 dining cars, a bar car and an observation car. Along the way you will enjoy a gourmet lunch prepared with exquisite Andean ingredients and there will be music and dance shows on board.
Journey by boat across Lake Titicaca to the floating islands of Uros, which are constructed entirely from reeds. Spend some time exploring and meeting the local Uros people before continuing to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Taquile. Once a stronghold of the Inca, you'll find wonderful textiles here. After your tour of the island, head back to Puno.
Today travel to Colca, approximately a 5 to 6 hour drive, passing through Lagunillas and Tocra along the way. Keep your eyes peeled for flamingos, Andean ducks and llamas. Reach Pata Pampa at 4,820 metres altitude, where you can admire the volcanoes Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca-Hualca and Mismi (the source of the Amazon River), as well as views of the Cordillera de Chila. Once in Chivay, enjoy the view of the terraces of the Colca Valley before time to bathe in the natural hot springs.
After an early breakfast, depart Colca and travel to Arequipa. En route, stop at Condor Cross for a picturesque view of the canyon, and hopefully a few sightings of the native condors gliding on the thermals. Hopping back in the bus, you’ll also visit the remote Andean villages of Maca and Yanque.
With interesting colonial architecture and being surrounded by volcanoes, Arequipa is quite a site. Head to the Carmen Alto viewpoint, visit Yanahuara Quarter and admire the UNESCO-listed Plaza de Armas and the Monastery of Santa Catalina. Continue on to the San Camilo market to buy ingredients with which you’ll cook a traditional dish with a local family and then dine together. Fly from Arequipa to Lima this afternoon, with a farewell dinner in Lima.
Fly to the UK, arriving home the following day.
We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.
Places Visited: UK - Lima (2N+1N) - Cusco (2N) - Sacred Valley (2N) - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes (1N) - Machu Picchu - Puno (2N) - Colca (1N) - Arequipa (1N) - UK
All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price. If your tour departs in less than 30 days, please call our travel experts to book.
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Departures for Solo travellers only are available for this tour on selected
dates.
In addition to being for solos only these departures feature smaller group sizes, free
airport lounge access and complimentary cocktails on arrival.
There are no dedicated Solo departures for this year. You can enjoy any of our tours with no Single Supplement on our Happy to Share option or explore the solo departures in other years.
Extend your holiday or break up your journey with one of our extensions and stopovers. Choose from city breaks or some beach time, or spend more time in your chosen destination.
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