Peru Expedition: Trek the Great Inca Road

12 Days | Uncover the remote and remarkable Inca routes of northern Peru

Expeditions
Walking & Trekking
From
EUR €3,380
View dates and book

You’ve heard of the Inca Trail, but what about the Great Inca Road? Made up of ancient Inca trade routes cutting through the Andes, the Great Inca Road is every bit as significant and special as its more famous counterpart – it just doesn’t have the crowds. On this 12-day trekking expedition you’ll join a local leader and traditional llama caravan to hike storied paths that few travellers have ever seen, visiting archaeological sites along the way. To get acclimatised to the altitude, you’ll spend time in the adventure hub of Huaraz, hiking the spectacular surrounding landscapes. You’ll soon find out it’s not called the Great Inca Road for nothing.

Trip overview

Map of Peru Expedition: Trek The Great Inca Road including Peru
Start
Lima, Peru
Finish
Lima, Peru
Theme
Expeditions, Walking & Trekking
Destinations
Peru
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
GGXG
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Hike on the ancient and little-visited trade routes of the Great Inca Road, taking in seriously spectacular views of the Andes and visiting well preserved yet remote Inca outposts.
  • Get acclimatised to the altitude in the adventure hub of Huaraz, a low-key city surrounded by mountains, lakes and glaciers waiting to be explored on your included hikes.
  • You’ll not only be accompanied by a local leader on your adventure – a traditional llama caravan will join you on the Great Inca Road, meaning you only need to carry a daypack.
  • Your hiking journey comes to an end at the incredible Inca site of Huanuco Pampa, where you’ll meet a local guide for a private tour of these significant ancient ruins.
  • Visit the intriguing Caral-Supe archaeological site, left behind by a civilisation pre-dating the Inca and built at the same time as the first Egyptian pyramids.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Awamaki. Donations help them empower indigenous women artisans in Peru with skills training and job opportunities that provide financial independence.

Is this trip right for you?
  • On Expedition trips, there can be some hiccups or welcome surprises along the way. All that’s needed for this is a go-with-the-flow attitude! Sorting out the details is what your local leader is for, so you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
  • This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result, some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
  • This is a hiking trip, and it is strenuous – you need to be physically fit to enjoy all hikes fully.
  • For 4 nights (days 6-10) you will be camping. All gear is provided, including sleeping bags, sleeping mats and pillows and two-person tents.

Itinerary

Map of Peru Expedition: Trek The Great Inca Road including Peru

Inclusions

Meals

11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Bus, Taxi

Accommodation

Hotels (7 nights), Camping (4 nights)

Activities
  • Huaraz: LLanganuco lakes and Laguna 69 guided hike
  • Huaraz: Laguna Churup guided hike
  • Huaraz: Pastoruri glacier & Huascaran National Park guided hike
  • Great Inca Road: Castillo to Soledad de Tambo guided hike
  • Great Inca Road: Soledad de Tambo Archaeological guided site visit
  • Great Inca Road: 4 days fully supported (Porters, Llamas, all meals and equipment)
  • Chavín de Huántar archaeological site guided visit
  • Great Inca Road: Soledad de Tambo to Quenhuajirca guided hike
  • Great Inca Road: Meeting with traditional master weaver
  • Great Inca Road: Quenhuajirca to Tambo Grande guided hike
  • Great Inca Road: Tambo Grande to San Lorenzo de Isco guided hike
  • Great Inca Road: San Lorenzo de Isco to Huanuco Pampa guided hike
  • Great Inca Road: Huanuco Pampa Archaeological site visit
  • Sacred City of Caral-Supe guided visit
Add on activities
  • Lima - Museo de la Nacion (entrance fee) - PEN10
  • Lima - Coast Biking Tour - Urban Adventure (Price based on 2 participants) - USD52
  • Lima - Museum of the Inquisition - Free
  • Lima - Archaeological Museum (entrance fee) - PEN15
  • Lima - Gold Museum Entrance Fee - PEN35
  • Lima - Guided tour of San Francisco Monastery including The Catacombs Admission Fee - PEN20
  • Lima - Private Lima: Home Cooked Tour Urban Adventure (Based on 2 participants) - USD85
  • Lima - Cathedral of Lima (entrance fee) - PEN12

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Please note this trip starts at 6pm on day 1. If you are unable to find a suitable flight it is possible to book additional nights at the joining accommodation. We recommend that travellers intending to depart Lima on the final day of the trip book flights out of Lima no earlier than 12 at noon.

2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement exclude Day 6-10 (Great Inca Road), where you will be camping in comfortable 2-man tents. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

3. Parts of your trip go above 2800 m/ 9200 ft where it is common for travellers to experience some adverse health effects due to the altitude - regardless of your age, gender and fitness. Please consult your doctor for professional advice about travelling at high altitude if you have a health condition.

4. Due to remoteness of Great Inca Road, please make sure you bring all necessary gear, such as walking boots, rain gear, thermals, walking poles, etc with you. While you will be able to visit an outdoor store in Huaraz, it’s safer to rely on your own trekking gear. Please check out Packing List for further recommendations.

5. At the pre-trek briefing you will be given a small duffle bag to pack your clothes for the trek, sleeping bag and personal items. The maximum weight you can take with you is 7kg per traveller.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

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Peru Expedition: Trek the Great Inca Road
From
EUR €3,380