Trekking the Inca Trail: 5D/4N — Self-Launched Version
5 days · Peru (Cusco & Inca Trail)
G Adventures charges £700
No-markup version: ~£565 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A fully independent version of G Adventures' classic 5-day/4-night Inca Trail trek. You arrange your own Cusco hostel, book a licensed Inca Trail permit and licensed guide directly (permits are legally required and only sold through authorised operators via the official MINCUL/Dirección Desconcentrada de Cultura Cusco system), and hike the same route — Km 82, Wayllabamba, Dead Woman's Pass, Phuyupatamarca, Wiñay Wayna, Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. Where the group tour includes porters, chef and all camping logistics, the self-launched route uses the cheapest legal options: a shared porter or the "porter-free" lightweight approach (rent gear locally, carry your own kit), a basic trail operator package for the camping section, and a self-arranged return by train and bus. Costs are rough estimates in GBP per person; the actual trek package is the one fixed cost you can't avoid and it's non-negotiable if you want to walk the official trail.
Day-by-day
Arrive Cusco — acclimatise, gear check and trail briefing
Cusco
Fly or bus into Cusco (1,700m above sea level — take it easy). Check into a hostel in the historic centre (San Blas is cheapest and liveliest). Spend the day hydrating, walking slowly, and sorting gear: rent sleeping bag, sleeping mat and trekking poles from a gear shop on Calle Plateros (roughly 45 soles sleeping bag, 45 soles mat, 30 soles poles per trek — around £20 total). Confirm your trek briefing with your booked operator and pick up your permit paperwork and duffle bag. Do NOT do a big hike today.
🚌Airport-to-centre taxi approx 25-30 soles (£6); local buses elsewhere 1-2 soles
🛏Hostel in Cusco centro, dorm bed (e.g. basic San Blas hostel), approx £10/night
- →Cusco historic centre walk
- →Gear rental in Calle Plateros
- →Trail briefing with your booked operator
Cusco to Km 82 — hike to Wayllabamba
Inca Trail / Wayllabamba
Pickup from your hostel by minibus around 5-6am, drive to Ollantaytambo (approx 1.5h) and on to Inca Trail trailhead at Km 82 (2,600m). Show permit and passport at the checkpoint, then hike 11km / 5-6 hours to Wayllabamba camp, passing the Llactapata ruins. This is the gentlest day — enjoy it. Camp is set up by your operator's porters; meals on the trek are included in the standard trail package.
🚌Shared minibus transfer from Cusco to Km 82, included in trek package (approx £15-20 of the package cost)
🛏Wayllabamba campsite — tent provided within the mandatory trail operator package
- →Inca Trail hike: Km 82 to Wayllabamba (11km)
- →Llactapata ruins viewpoint
Wayllabamba over Dead Woman's Pass to Pacaymayo
Inca Trail / Pacaymayo
The hardest day: 12km / 6-7 hours with the big climb to Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman's Pass, 4,215m) and a steep descent to Pacaymayo camp (3,600m). Start early, pace yourself, coca leaves and coca tea genuinely help. Cheaper option if you want to save on porter fees: carry your own 6kg kit and only pay for the basic operator/guide/meals package (a porter adds roughly £25-40 over the trek — worth it for many solo hikers).
🚌On foot — no transport available
🛏Pacaymayo campsite — tent provided within the trail operator package
- →Inca Trail hike: Wayllabamba to Pacaymayo (12km)
- →Warmiwañusca / Dead Woman's Pass (4,215m)
- →Runkurakay pass ruins
Pacaymayo to Wiñay Wayna — the big scenic day
Inca Trail / Wiñay Wayna
Longest day: 16km / 8-9 hours over the second pass, past the oval Runkurakay watchtower ruin, down through cloud forest to Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca, then a long stone staircase descent to Wiñay Wayna camp (2,650m). Spectacular but relentless — poles pay off here. Eat well, sleep early; the next morning's wake-up is usually 4am.
🚌On foot — no transport available
🛏Wiñay Wayna campsite — tent provided within the trail operator package
- →Inca Trail hike: Pacaymayo to Wiñay Wayna (16km)
- →Runkurakay, Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca ruins
- →Wiñay Wayna ruins
Sun Gate to Machu Picchu, then back to Cusco
Machu Picchu / Aguas Calientes / Cusco
Pre-dawn start for the 6km / 2-3 hour walk to Inti Punku (Sun Gate) for the first view of Machu Picchu, then descend into the citadel for a 2-hour guided tour with your licensed guide (included in the trail package; the site entry ticket is also part of the permit). Afterwards take the shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes (approx US$12 / £9.50), then either the PeruRail Expeditions or IncaRail Voyager train to Ollantaytambo (approx US$45-65 / £35-50 if booked early) and a shared colectivo or public bus back to Cusco (approx 10-15 soles). Note: guides can only be arranged through licensed operators and are mandatory for the trail itself. Cheaper alternative if permits sell out: book the 2-day Lares Trek + Machu Picchu by train combo.
🚌Machu Picchu shuttle bus approx £9.50; train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo approx £40; colectivo Ollantaytambo–Cusco approx £3
🛏Hostel in Cusco centro, dorm bed approx £10 (or onward travel)
- →Sun Gate (Inti Punku) sunrise view
- →Machu Picchu guided tour (licensed guide included in trail package)
- →Optional Huayna Picchu or Circuit 2 route — pre-book online with the Machu Picchu ticket
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£565 | £700 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £135 per person (19%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£565
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Trekking the Inca Trail: 5D/4N — Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £565 per person for 5 days in Peru (Cusco & Inca Trail). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £700 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £565 — a saving of roughly £135 (19%) per person.
How long is the Peru (Cusco & Inca Trail) trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Peru (Cusco & Inca Trail).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Peru (Cusco & Inca Trail), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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