18-35 Travel
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The honest read
  • About £198/day across 7 days
  • We only rate a price against this trip's own history once we've tracked it for 21 days — no guessing before that.
  • Pricier per day than most similar trips (median ~£133/day)
  • 5.0 from 2 traveller reviews

Price movement, fill and the all-in cost come from our own daily tracking— not the operator’s feed. You book on TourRadar; the live price always applies there.

Length7 days
RouteRound-trip · Cusco
Group sizeMax 10
Ages18–35s
Nights6 nights
Runs15 months/yr
BookingInstant confirm

About this trip

A private, fully guided version of the Lares Trek, built around seven days in the Andes rather than a big group itinerary. You get the classic build-up to Machu Picchu: high alpine lakes, quiet countryside, and a soak in natural hot springs before the final approach.

Days start in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, then head into the mountains proper, crossing the Pumahuanca pass before dropping back down toward Machu Picchu itself.

It's a shorter trek than some Inca Trail routes, but still a proper high-altitude walk, ending with the Sun Gate at dawn.

What you'll do

  • Explore Cusco and the Sacred Valley
  • Trek over the Pumahuanca pass at 15,682 ft
  • Soak in natural hot springs in the Andes
  • Visit Andean archaeological sites along the route
  • Walk through the Sun Gate at dawn for your first view of Machu Picchu
Good to know
  • Private trip — it's just your own group with a guide, not joining strangers
  • Involves trekking at high altitude, so some fitness and time to acclimatise helps

Day by day

Exactly what you do each day, where you sleep, and how it flows — written by us, from the real itinerary.

CuscoPumahuanca MountainLaresAguas CalientesCusco
Route map for Backroads Machu Picchu- (PRIVATE TRIP)
  1. CUSCO — Cusco

    A OneSeed staff member picks you up from Cusco airport and takes you to the partner lodge in San Blas, the historic district a short walk from Plaza de Armas. At 5 pm, meet your group for an orientation covering the itinerary, packing, and what to expect on the trail. You're at 3,400m already.

  2. After breakfast, drive 90 minutes through Andean peaks and colourful villages to Moray, where three vast Incan amphitheatre-like terraces cut into the landscape. Stop at the Maras Salt Mines 20 minutes away—over 3,000 salt pools still in use from pre-Incan times. Visit Incan ruins at Chinchero before returning to Cusco.

  3. Drive two hours to the Pumahuanca trailhead, then trek up the valley towards Puyoc over 9 miles and 6–8 hours, learning about native flora and fauna and watching for viscachas or Andean foxes. Arrive at camp in late afternoon at 4,100m elevation.

  4. Hike two hours to the Pumahuanca pass at 4,780m—the trek's highlight—then descend gradually to Cuncani, passing snow-capped peaks and mountain lakes. Cover 8 miles and 6–8 hours of trekking. Pick up some Quechua phrases along the way.

  5. CUNCANI TO AGUAS CALIENTES — Lares

    Rise early to visit a local family near Cuncani and test your Quechua. Trek 4 miles through small communities growing quinoa and tarwi over 3–4 hours, then soak in the hot springs at Lares. A bus takes you from there to the train station for the journey down to Aguas Calientes.

  6. AGUAS CALIENTES TO MACHU PICCHU TO CUSCO — Aguas Calientes

    After breakfast, catch a 20-minute bus to Machu Picchu and explore the ruins early before crowds arrive, followed by a two-hour guided tour and free time to wander. Return to Aguas Calientes by bus, then train to Ollantaytambo (2 hrs) and onward to Cusco (2 hrs).

  7. Breakfast and airport shuttle to catch your international flight home from Cusco.

What's included

  • Guide: Guide & porter services
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the trek Farewell dinner
  • Activities: Airport transfers Trekking permits and entry fees All ground transportation to/from trail
  • Accommodation: 3 nights accommodation in Cusco 1 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes 2 nights tent camping
What's extra
  • Activities: Pickups and dropoffs outside of the first and last day of itinerary (can be booked separately) Emergency medical & evacuation insurance (required) Trip cancellation insurance (recommended) Snacks during trek Beverages outside of designated meals Personal items (laundry, clothing, snacks, etc.) Single Supplement $300.00
  • Insurance: EMERGENCY MEDICAL & EVACUATION INSURANCE (REQUIRED) All OneSeed travelers are required to purchase Emergency Medical and Evacuation Insurance prior to their expedition. You must show proof of insurance prior to your trip and will not be permitted to begin your expedition until completed. You may purchase this coverage through the insurance provider of your choice but it must include emergency medical and emergency evacuation insurance, providing coverage against personal accident, death, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability. We also strongly recommend that it covers cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. A reputable insurance provider will have customer support agents who can answer questions and help choose the best plan for you. At a minimum, your coverage must include: Emergency Accident and Sickness Medical Expense Benefit: $100,000 Emergency Evacuation Benefit: $300,000 The pandemic has added additional complexities surrounding insurance as no policy covers all COVID-19 travel risks. It is the responsibility of the traveler to understand what is and is not covered under their specific policy. Insurance providers often bundle medical and evacuation with trip cancellation & interruption insurance. CANCELLATION INSURANCE (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) We highly recommend purchasing additional trip cancellation & interruption insurance after booking your flights. Supplemental insurance may cover the following: Trip cancellation due to an injury before your expedition Trip cancellation if a family member becomes ill Reimbursement if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to weather Lost baggage or theft 24-hour customer support

How travellers rate it

5.0from 2 real reviews
Guide5.0
Itinerary4.0
Transport5.0
Accommodation4.5
Food5.0
Operator4.8
Price history — our own daily tracking
Tracked 9 days · 129 checks
Today
£1,385
Typical
builds at 21 days (now 9)
Lowest
£1,370
on 20 Jul
Highest
£1,385
£1,330£1,379£1,42820 Jultoday
Spots left · 31 Jul departure

Cheapest live departure per day, in £, recorded by our tracker since 20 Jul. Never a brochure “was” price.

Your free day in Cusco

Landing early, staying on, or filling free time? The best-rated day experiences in Cusco — you book on Viator (we may earn a commission).

Tour dupe
Same trip, less money
£810 less all-in
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu – Group Service
5from £5935 days
The trade-off: 2 fewer nights, and a different operator.
See the dupe
How it compares

The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.

Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.

Getting there

Cusco· one-way, arrive 30 Jul 26

One-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown on Trip.com.

Hotels in Cusco

View more accommodation

Live prices via Booking.com & partners, booked on their site — separate from your tour. We may earn a commission; it never changes your price.

On a budget?

Hostels in Cusco for the night before your tour · 30 Jul31 Jul

Booked on Hostelworld, separate from your tour. We may earn a commission — it never changes your price.

Getting online in PeruWhat data actually costs, and the throttle limits nobody publishes

Common questions

How long is Backroads Machu Picchu- (PRIVATE TRIP)?

It's a 7-day trip. It starts and ends in Cusco.

How much does Backroads Machu Picchu- (PRIVATE TRIP) cost?

The land price starts from £1,387 per person for the 7-day trip. You book on TourRadar, where the live price always applies.

What's included in the price?

The price covers all your accommodation, a group leader/guide. Anything the operator lists as optional or not included — see the full breakdown on this page.

What's not included?

travel insurance (required) is not included, so factor it into your budget. We show typical flight costs and can point you to insurance on this page.

How big is the group?

Groups are capped at around 10 travellers — a small-group trip, mostly solo 18–35s travelling to meet people, not a coach tour.

When does Backroads Machu Picchu- (PRIVATE TRIP) run?

It runs across roughly 15 months of the year, so there's usually a departure to fit your dates. Check live availability and prices in the dates section above.

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