This is not a regular Salkantay Trek and it is not only the Classic Inca Trail. It is a rare 6-day expedition that combines two of Peru’s most epic hikes in one powerful journey.

You begin in the wild Salkantay region, surrounded by glaciers, quiet valleys, Humantay Lake, Salkantay Lake, and high mountain scenery. After crossing the Frozen Inca Pass, you connect with the legendary Classic Inca Trail at Wayllabamba and follow ancient stone paths toward Machu Picchu.

The final reward is unforgettable: you arrive at Machu Picchu on foot through the Sun Gate, then return to Cusco aboard the panoramic Vistadome train. If you are comparing options, read our Inca Trail vs Salkantay Trek guide.

The best time to hike the Salkantay and Inca Trail is usually from April to October, when the weather is drier, the trails are firmer, and mountain views are often clearer. May to September is the most popular season, especially for travelers looking for blue skies and strong mountain visibility.

From November to March, the landscape is greener and there are fewer travelers, but rain is more common, trails can be muddy, and visibility may change quickly. This combined route does not operate when the Inca Trail is closed for annual maintenance.

Andean weather changes fast. You can have sun, wind, cold, rain, and mist on the same day. The Salkantay section is high, cold, and exposed, while the Machu Picchu area is lower, warmer, and more humid. Pack in layers and always keep your rain gear ready. For broader seasonal planning, read our Best Time to Visit Peru guide or check the official Machu Picchu weather forecast.

This trek is challenging. It is not technical climbing, but it is a serious high-altitude hike with long days, steep climbs, mountain passes, stone steps, changing weather, and remote camps.

The hardest sections are Day 2, when you cross the Frozen Inca Pass at 5,100 m / 16,732 ft, and Day 4, when you climb Dead Woman’s Pass and continue across another high section of the Classic Inca Trail.

We recommend arriving in Cusco at least 2 days before the trek. If you can arrive 3 days early, even better. During your first days, drink water, eat light meals, avoid alcohol, rest well, and choose gentle activities such as a Cusco City Tour or Sacred Valley VIP Tour.

Tell your guide immediately if you feel headache, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, or shortness of breath. You can also review official guidance on Travel to High Altitudes before your trip.

1. Cusco — approx. 3,300 m / 10,826 ft
2. Humantay Lake — approx. 4,200 m / 13,780 ft
3. Salkantaypampa / Salka Glamp — 4,280 m / 14,041 ft
4. Frozen Inca Pass / Inca Chiriasca Pass — 5,100 m / 16,732 ft
5. Dead Woman’s Pass — 4,215 m / 13,829 ft
6. Wiñay Wayna campsite — 2,600 m / 8,530 ft
7. Machu Picchu — 2,430 m / 7,972 ft

This trek includes the Classic Inca Trail, which has limited daily permits. Once permits sell out for your date, we cannot open more spaces. For this reason, early booking is strongly recommended, especially from May to September.

To secure your booking, we need each traveler’s full name exactly as shown on the passport, passport number, date of birth, passport expiration date, and nationality. Please do not use nicknames or shortened names, as permits and tickets must match your official travel document.

Machu Picchu tickets are also issued for a specific date, entry time, and circuit. Once your permits and tickets are confirmed, your space is secured for the selected departure. You can check availability on our Inca Trail Availability page.

On the final day, you wake up early and hike the last section of the Inca Trail to Intipunku, the famous Sun Gate. This is one of the most powerful moments of the expedition. Weather permitting, your first view of Machu Picchu will appear from above after days of hiking through mountains, valleys, Inca sites, and ancient stone paths.

This tour is designed to give you one of the most complete Machu Picchu experiences available on this route. It includes:

• Circuit 1: Access to the upper panoramic viewpoints after arriving through the Sun Gate, according to the assigned official route.
• Circuit 3: Access to important lower and central areas of the citadel for a guided visit, depending on official availability and final ticket assignment.

After your guided visit, you will travel to Aguas Calientes and return by the panoramic Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo. From there, we continue by private transport back to your hotel in Cusco.

Circuit rules are controlled by the authorities and may be updated. We will confirm your exact entry details with your final booking information. You can review the Official Machu Picchu Circuits and Routes or read our Machu Picchu Tickets guide for more details.

You do not need to carry all your luggage during the trek. TreXperience provides a duffle bag for up to 7 kg / 15 lb of your personal gear.

During the Salkantay section, cargo mules help carry camping equipment and duffle bags where allowed. During the Inca Trail section, licensed porters carry the equipment and your duffle bag from camp to camp.

You only carry your daypack with the items you need during the hiking day: water, rain jacket, warm layer, snacks, camera, sunscreen, passport, personal medicine, and small essentials.

Keep your daypack small and light for the final day at Machu Picchu, as large backpacks are restricted inside the citadel. Your guide will advise you what to take and what to leave before entering.

This trek includes 5 nights of camping in comfortable tents, usually shared by 2 trekkers. We also provide key camping equipment such as dining tents, tables, chairs, sleeping pads, pillows, hand towels, extra blankets, and portable toilets.

Fresh meals are prepared on the trail by our trekking chef. The tour includes all meals during the hike, except lunch and dinner on the last day. Drinking water and daily snacks are included. Please bring a reusable water bottle or hydration bladder.

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary requests can usually be accommodated with advance notice. Please tell us your food requirements when booking so our team can prepare properly.

Toilets along the route can be basic, especially in remote areas. Do not expect hot showers every night. Bring wet wipes, hand sanitizer, a small quick-dry towel, and personal hygiene items.

Charging options are limited and not guaranteed. Bring a fully charged power bank and keep your phone, camera batteries, and headlamp warm at night, as cold temperatures can drain batteries faster.

Cell phone coverage is limited and unreliable on many sections of this route, especially in the high Salkantay area and remote valleys. Do not depend on your phone for communication during the trek.

TreXperience follows safety protocols and carries emergency support equipment such as first-aid kits, oxygen tanks, satellite phone support, waterproof tents, dining tents, and portable toilets. Your guide will monitor the group throughout the trek.

Bring Peruvian soles in small bills for personal expenses, snacks, toilets where applicable, and optional tips. ATMs are available in Cusco and Aguas Calientes, but not on the Salkantay or Inca Trail sections.

The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu are protected areas with strict rules. Drones are not allowed on the Inca Trail or inside Machu Picchu. Large backpacks, tripods, selfie sticks, food, alcohol, aerosols, umbrellas, and walking sticks may be restricted or prohibited inside the citadel.

Please stay on marked paths, do not touch or climb on Inca walls, do not leave trash, and carry a reusable water bottle. Responsible travel helps protect the trail, the communities, and Machu Picchu for future generations.

Machu Picchu is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu Protected Area. Visitor rules are strict and designed to protect the archaeological site and the surrounding natural area.

For official visitor information, you can also check the Machu Picchu Official Website.

Choose the Salkantay Trek via Inca Trail 4 Days if you want a shorter wilderness route with part of the Classic Inca Trail and Machu Picchu by train.

Choose the Salkantay Trek + Short Inca Trail 5 Days if you want Salkantay, part of the Classic Inca Trail, the Short Inca Trail, Wiñay Wayna, and the Sun Gate arrival. Choose this 6-day tour if you want the full Classic Inca Trail experience combined with the wild Salkantay route.

Choose this trek if you want more than a standard route to Machu Picchu. This expedition is ideal for travelers who want a real mountain adventure, remote landscapes, Inca history, camping, and the powerful feeling of arriving at Machu Picchu on foot.

It is a great option if you are deciding between the Salkantay Trek and the Classic Inca Trail, because this tour combines both in one journey. You get the wilderness of Salkantay first, then the ancient stone paths of the Inca Trail, and finally the arrival to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.

If you prefer an easier trip with less hiking, we can recommend a shorter Machu Picchu tour or a train-based option.

The Classic Inca Trail 4 Days follows the traditional Inca Trail route from Km 82 to Machu Picchu. This 6-day expedition includes the Salkantay wilderness first, with Humantay Lake, Salkantay Lake, the Frozen Inca Pass, and remote Andean valleys before joining the Classic Inca Trail.

Choose this tour if you want a longer, wilder, and more complete mountain adventure before entering Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.

The regular Salkantay Trek focuses on Salkantay scenery and usually reaches Machu Picchu by train or alternative access. This 6-day route combines Salkantay with the Classic Inca Trail, original Inca stone paths, Inca sites, and the Sun Gate arrival.

It is the stronger choice if you want both the wild mountain feeling of Salkantay and the historic experience of the Inca Trail.

A small-group tour is a good choice if you enjoy meeting other travelers and want a shared trekking experience with professional support.

A private tour is best if you want more flexibility, a more personal pace, and a more exclusive experience. It is especially recommended for couples, families, groups of friends, photographers, or travelers who prefer extra attention from the guide.

If you are traveling with several people, the private tour can also offer excellent value because the price per person usually improves as the group size increases.

After you book, our team reviews your details, confirms availability, and secures the required permits and tickets for your travel date. Once your permits are confirmed, your space is officially secured.

Before the trek, we will send you important information about your briefing, packing list, pickup time, balance payment, and final recommendations. During the briefing in Cusco, you will meet the team, receive your duffle bag, review the itinerary, and ask any last questions.

From that point, you only need to prepare, rest, and get ready for one of the most complete trekking routes to Machu Picchu.

If the Inca Trail permits or Machu Picchu tickets are sold out for your preferred date, we will help you check the best available alternatives. Sometimes shifting your start date by a few days can make the trek possible.

If this route is not available, we can suggest other strong options, such as the Classic Inca Trail, Salkantay Trek, Lares Trek, Short Inca Trail, or a Machu Picchu tour by train.

The best way to avoid this situation is to book early, especially if you plan to travel during the busiest months. You can check current dates on our Inca Trail Availability page.

Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu tickets are issued with your passport information, so your details must be correct when booking.

If you renew your passport after booking, contact us as soon as possible. In many cases, you should travel with both passports: the old one used for the permit and the new valid passport. This helps avoid problems at checkpoints.

Name changes are usually not possible once permits are issued, so please send your full name exactly as shown on your passport.

You do not need technical climbing experience, but you should prepare your body for long hiking days, altitude, stairs, and uneven stone paths.

A good training plan includes regular walks, uphill hikes, stairs, light strength training, and practice with a daypack. If possible, do a few longer hikes before your trip so your legs and feet get used to several hours of walking.

Break in your hiking boots before arriving in Peru. New boots on a 6-day trek can cause blisters and make the experience harder than it needs to be.

The day before the trek should be simple and calm. Attend your briefing, prepare your duffle bag, charge your devices, organize your daypack, and make sure your passport is ready.

Eat light, drink water, avoid alcohol, and go to bed early. The first day starts very early, so good rest will make a big difference.

This is also the best time to confirm any rental gear, dietary request, airport transfer, hotel pickup, or last-minute question with our team.

Your guide will monitor the group during the trek and will support you if you feel unwell. If you have symptoms such as strong headache, nausea, dizziness, unusual tiredness, or shortness of breath, tell your guide immediately.

The safest decision depends on where you are, how you feel, and the conditions on the route. Your guide will evaluate the situation and activate the best plan available.

Do not hide symptoms or try to push too hard. The goal is to enjoy the trek, but your safety always comes first.

Yes. We can help you make the trip smoother before and after the trek. Before the hike, many travelers add airport transfers, hotel nights in Cusco, gear rental, a Cusco City Tour, or a Sacred Valley tour for acclimatization.

After the trek, you can add an extra night in Aguas Calientes, Huayna Picchu Mountain, Machu Picchu Mountain, Rainbow Mountain after a recovery day, or private transfer service.

If you want a more comfortable and complete experience, tell us your travel dates and we can help you organize the best add-ons around your trek.

Yes. The final day is designed so you can arrive at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate and still enjoy a guided visit inside the citadel.

The route is planned to include panoramic views from Circuit 1 and a guided visit through Circuit 3 when assigned and available, giving you both the classic wide view from above and a closer look at important areas inside Machu Picchu.

You can learn more about entrance types in our Machu Picchu Tickets guide.

Yes, but we recommend it only if you stay an extra day in Aguas Calientes. This 6-day trek already includes a full and early final day, plus the return train to Cusco.

If you want to add a mountain hike, you can choose Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain. Advance booking is required because availability is limited.

We recommend arriving in Cusco at least 2 days before the trek, and 3 days is even better. This gives your body time to adapt to altitude before starting a challenging expedition.

During those days, choose light activities, drink plenty of water, eat well, and avoid alcohol. A Sacred Valley tour or easy Cusco tour can be a good way to acclimatize.

This trek is safe when operated by a licensed and experienced local team, but it is still a challenging high-altitude expedition. The main risks are altitude, fatigue, weather, cold temperatures, uneven trails, and long hiking days.

TreXperience guides carry first-aid equipment, oxygen, and satellite phone support. Your guide will monitor the group and make decisions based on safety, weather, trail conditions, and group pace.

Yes. If you are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose intolerant, or have a food allergy, let us know when booking so our trekking chef can prepare in advance.

Our goal is to make your food experience safe, nourishing, and enjoyable. Special diets are much easier to manage when we know them before departure.

Yes, travel insurance is strongly recommended for this trek. A good policy should cover high-altitude trekking, medical care, evacuation, trip interruption, and personal belongings.

This is especially important because the route includes remote areas, high-altitude passes, and permits that are date-specific.