Trekking in the footsteps of the Incas through the spectacular valleys around Machu Picchu used to be only possible for those prepared to bear arduous trekking and basic camping facilities. Thankfully this is now no longer the case, with Mountain Lodges of Peru pioneering a luxurious lodge-to-lodge trek where keen walkers can still enjoy the magnificent scenery and rewarding experience of hiking historic trails leading into the Inca heartland, but taken at a gentler pace and spending the night in cosy lodges with private bathrooms and plenty of creature comforts. The company’s signature trek, the Salkantay route, takes in six days of walking carefully designed to help you acclimatise to the altitude and taking in breathtaking scenery such as the snow-capped Vilcabamba mountain range, glacier lakes and views of mighty Mount Salkantay. A night is then spent at a luxurious hotel in Machu Picchu town before you visit the ruins themselves the following day with the rest of your group, with the option to also scale the vertiginous peak of Huayna Picchu.