Andean Odyssey

25 days - from $5555

High adventure among the dazzling mountains, lakes and salt deserts of Peru and Bolivia

Peru excels at the mysterious and the magical: just check out the Nazca Lines, sprawled among desert plains; or gaze out onto Machu Picchu, rising like a mirage atop an abrupt, hidden Andean peak; then visit Titicaca’s floating reed Uros Islands or follow the hypnotic flight of Colca Canyon’s condors. This trip takes in all these wondrous moments, and explores the country’s colonial glories in Lima, Cusco and the beautiful white city of Arequipa. But that’s not all – Bolivia provides experiences that Peru can’t: the breathtaking city of La Paz, surely one of the most spectacularly sited anywhere, and boasting an addictive, carnivalesque atmosphere. And to the south lies fantastical, otherworldly Uyuni, a surrealist world of expansive deserts made of salt and trees of rock – a landscape unlike any other, and one that needs to be seen to be believed.

Highlights

• UNESCO World Heritage-listed colonial city of Sucre
• The potions of 'Witches’ Market'
• Tiahuanaco's 'Gateway of the Sun'
• Uyuni Salt Desert's caves and cacti
• The 'Lost City of the Incas' - UNESCO World Heritage-listed Machu Picchu
• La Paz - the world's highest 'unofficial' capital city
• Puno - a town four kilometres above sea-level
• The colourful market town of Pisac
• The condors of one of the deepest canyons in the world - Colca Canyon
• The floating reed islands of the Uros people on the highest navigable lake in the world - Lake Titicaca
• The towering Inca citadel at Ollantaytambo
• UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient Inca capital of Cusco
• UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre of the Peruvian capital Lima
• UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nazca Lines - gigantic lines, symbols and animal images etched into the ground
• Warminwanusca - 'Dead Woman’s Pass' on the Inca Trail
• The white volcanic 'sillar' architecture and Cathedral of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Arequipa

Itinerary:

Day 1-2: Lima3-4: Lima - Nazca - overnight bus5: Arequipa6-7: Colca Canyon - Arequipa8-9: Cusco - The Sacred Valley10-13: Important Note10: Inca Trail Km 82 - Wayllabamba (8km)11: Inca Trail - Pacaymayo (11km)12: Inca Trail - Winaywayna (15km)13: Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes (5km) - Cusco14: Cusco15: Cusco - Puno16: Lake Titicaca - Sillustani - Puno17: Tiahuanaco - La Paz18: La Paz19-20: Uyuni - Uyuni Salt Desert21-22: Potosi23-24: Sucre25: La Paz
Included:

• The services of Peregrine's expert English-speaking local leader throughout the tour, and local guides at some sites.

• Local flight from Arequipa to Cusco, and Sucre to La Paz.

• Sightseeing (including entrance fees where relevant): Lima; desert cemetery of Chauchilla; Nazca Lines; Arequipa; Cusco; ceremonial ruins of Sacsayhuaman; the Sacred Valley including the ruins at Qenko, market town of Pisac and Inca citadel at Ollantaytambo; La Raya (4335 metres); Sillustani burial chambers; ruins of Tiahuanaco; La Paz including Witches Market and Valley of the Moon; sliver mining town of Potosi; and the colonial city of Sucre.

• 4-day trek on the ‘Classic’ or ‘Lares’ route to Machu Picchu.

• 3 nights full service camping, including the services of porters and a cook.

• Guided tour of Machu Picchu, including park fees.

• 2-day excursion to Colca - one of the deepest canyons in the world.

• Half-day boat excursion on Lake Titicaca, including the floating reed islands of the Uros Indians.

• Full-day 4WD excursion to the Uyuni Salt Plains.

• Scenic train journey around Lake Popoo and across the Altiplano in Bolivia.

• Free time to explore Lima, Arequipa, Cusco, Puno, La Paz, Potosi and Sucre.

• 1 night on a deluxe overnight coach from Nazca to Arequipa in a reclining seat.

• Train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.

• Arrival transfer.

International flights, airport departure taxes, visas where required, meals not included in the itinerary, insurance, laundry, any optional tours or activities during free time, tips and items of a personal nature.