Today, your historic adventure through Peru's culture begins when you touch down in Lima. You’ll be met by our friendly team on the ground before being whisked off to your hotel in the city. Your guide will give you an overview of the city and the must-visit spots (and restaurants!) to help you make the most of your time in this cosmopolitan, food-lovers’ capital along the way.

You’ll be met by your local guide this morning, ready and raring to explore Lima’s rich and vibrant history. You’ll visit colonial landmarks such as the grand cathedral and Aliaga’s House, before taking a stroll around the Larco Museum, home to an impressive array of pre-Columbian art. There are so many fascinating artefacts and stories here, the perfect introduction to your archaeological adventures into Peruvian history before you head north. 

Today, you’ll fly to Trujillo, your gateway to Northern Peru and all the history waiting for you there. After your short flight, settle into your hotel and spend the rest of the day however you wish. Explore the colourful colonial centre or grab a coffee at a local cafe and watch the world go by before your historic explorations kick up a notch tomorrow. 

You’ll discover Trujillo’s most important historical sites today. First up, you’ll visit the Temples of the Sun and the Moon, impressively rising up from the Moche Valley’s bleak desert. The smaller, but beautifully preserved Moon Temple will be a highlight, with its countless colourful friezes found inside. Next up, you'll head further through the Moche Valley to visit the huge adobe city of Chan Chan. 

You'll travel from Trujillo to Chiclayo today, stopping along the way to visit the temples and tombs at El Brujo, dating back to the Moche era, holding huge spiritual importance in their time. When you arrive in Chiclayo, you’ll check into your hotel for the next two nights, knowing you’re right on the doorstep of some of Northern Peru’s most significant pre-Incan discoveries. 

This morning, you’ll head off on a guided tour to take in some of the richest treasures of Peru's pre-Inca North. Firstly, you'll visit the site where the tomb of the Mochica warrior Lord Sipan was excavated. Only discovered in 1987, it’s one of the most important archaeological sites in all of the Americas. Next, you'll continue on to the renowned Royal Tombs Museum to see some of the vast collection of treasures that were discovered at this time. 

Prepare for a long drive today as you'll leave Chiclayo behind, heading towards Chachapoyas, gateway to the ancient kingdom of the ‘Cloud People’. You’ll be venturing well beyond the usual tourist trail today, so prepare for some unpaved, bumpy roads and a journey of around 9 hours. Stop along the way for a picnic lunch to break up the journey and admire the scenery. When you arrive in Chachapoyas, check into your hotel for the next two nights and rest up after the long journey. 

Today, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the impressive fortress at Kuelap, one of Peru’s lesser-visited historic secrets. This huge structure, perched high above the mountain ridge surrounded by mysterious cloud forest, was built by the Chachapoyas and is a real feat of ancient engineering. Known as ‘the Machu Picchu of the north’, but attracting a fraction of the visitors, it’s a truly rewarding place to visit, and you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of Peru’s vast history. 

Bid the Chachapoyas region goodbye today as you head to Jaen, around a four-hour drive away. You’ll be dropped at the airport in time for a quick flight to Lima for the night. Head out to grab some dinner at one of the world-class restaurants you didn’t make it to earlier on in your trip, we’d hugely recommend finding somewhere for a plate of supremely fresh ceviche! 

Today you’ll head back to the airport for your onward flight to Cusco. After a short flight, you’ll be met at the airport before hitting the road in the scenic direction of the Sacred Valley. Your gaze will be glued to the window as the landscape seems to get more beautiful as every mile ticks by.

Today, you'll take a tour to some of the most memorable destinations in the Sacred Valley. Head to the local market at Chinchero, one of the most colourful in the Andes. It feels somewhat more authentic than the better-known Pisac Market, and we love that. You’ll then continue on to soak up more of Peru’s history at the imposing Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo. A delicious lunch stop will be included along the way.

A highlight of any Peru holiday is waiting for you today. From Ollantayambo, you’ll start the spectacular train and bus journey up into the clouds. Your guide will be there to meet you and lead you around the ancient terraces of this historical icon. Our guides are brilliant here. Machu Picchu might be quite a busy place to visit, but they have a clever way of seeking out the quieter bits, allowing you to take in the awe-inspiring sight of the Incan empire in peace. You’ll head back to the small town for the night tonight, before heading back for another adventure tomorrow. 

You’ll have tickets for a second entry to Machu Picchu this morning to explore by yourselves. If you’ve packed your hiking boots, you might choose to challenge yourself with a climb up Huayna Picchu, the huge peak that forms part of Machu Picchu’s iconic backdrop. It’s quite the climb, so a good level of fitness would be required for this, but the spectacular bird's-eye views over the Incan city are worth it. Tickets are needed to take this hike, and visitor numbers are tightly controlled, so let us know if you’d be interested and we’ll be sure to book your slot. After all of that adventure within the clouds, it’s time to ride the train to Cusco for your final two nights.

We love Cusco. It’s a city so rich with Inca and Spanish colonial influences. Simply spend a few hours strolling around its cobbled streets, atmospheric squares, sampling the delicacies in the small local cafes and soaking up the colour and culture in the countless handicraft markets and museums. There are plenty of historical sites to explore here too, such as the Inca Temple of the Sun and the Inca ruins surrounding the city. Chat to us about the best place to eat for your last evening, we’d love to recommend some of our favourite foodie spots. 

Today, your historical journey through Peru comes to an end as you head back to the airport for your overnight flight home, via Lima. You’ll have left the typical tourist path far behind you on this Peru holiday, and we know you’ll be flying home with plenty of memories and a deeper understanding of the country’s pre-Incan past.