Paul Bird
Reaching the sun gate and marvelling over Machu Picchu unveiled one of the most impressive landscapes that Paul has seen in his global travels.
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Steppes Travel is made by the people who work here. Incredible holidays are made possible because of their vast travel experience and the great enthusiasm they bring to their work.
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We carefully select our experts based on their knowledge, companionship and influence, ensuring that you can travel with the most knowledgeable leaders in the field.
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The people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education.
Machu Picchu
Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Severn Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is one of the most revered archaeological sites in the Americas, if not the world.
For a site that is so well known, not much is known about it. The architectural style suggests it was commissioned by Inca Pachacutec and thus thought to have been built around the early or mid-1400s. It was a ceremonial and administrative centre for a population of just under 1,000. It was unknown to the Spanish, abandoned at some stage, and then hidden from the eyes of the world until Hiram Bingham brought it back to life on the 24th July 1911.
Explore Machu Picchu
Walk the Inca Trail
Climb Huayna Picchu for outstanding panoramic views over the ruins or venture up to the Sun Gate and experience the descent on foot by the original Inca Trail. Head away from the crowds to the outskirts of the ruins to wander alone into Inca houses and for those budding photographers, a photo through the doorways of Huayna Picchu make for a different perspective to the iconic shots one always sees.
Inca Hideaway
Sleep at Machu Picchu
Most visitors spend just half a day exploring Machu Picchu, and while we hope that you will visit such a breath-taking site again, the reality is, it might just be the once. So, in order to make the very most of your stay, we suggest staying overnight, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the complex without the crowds and visit for a second time, to explore in-depth. The Belmond Sanctuary Lodge has an unrivalled position just a stone’s throw from the citadel. Ideally positioned to beat the crowds to the gates, and with views over the cloud-forest clad mountains, it is a true Inca hideaway.
Experiences
What do you really love doing? We curate your itinerary especially for you.
Idea
Peru
Highlights of Peru
Uncover the highlights of Peru while travelling between colonial-era cities and deep river canyons, taking a train to Machu Picchu, the incredible Inca citadel perched high above the cloud forest, interacting with locals living traditional lives on remote Lake Titicaca and sipping…
Idea
Peru
Family Amazon & Inca Adventure
This family-focused adventure journeys between the thrilling Amazon Rainforest, heaving with mysterious mammals and camouflaged creatures, and the dramatic Inca sites and cities of Machu Picchu and Cusco, considering everything from pizza nights to gentle acclimatisation.
Idea
Peru
Machu Picchu & the Galapagos Islands
Encompassing the highlights of Peru, a stay in Quito and a Galapagos Islands cruise, this adventure tracks from colourful Cusco to the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu before moving to Ecuador’s historic capital city and the enchanting Galapagos Islands.
Idea
Peru
Highlights of Peru
Uncover the highlights of Peru while travelling between colonial-era cities and deep river canyons, taking a train to Machu Picchu, the incredible Inca citadel perched high above the cloud forest, interacting with locals living traditional lives on remote Lake Titicaca…
Idea
Peru
Family Amazon & Inca Adventure
This family-focused adventure journeys between the thrilling Amazon Rainforest, heaving with mysterious mammals and camouflaged creatures, and the dramatic Inca sites and cities of Machu Picchu and Cusco, considering everything from pizza nights to gentle acclimatisation.
Idea
Peru
Machu Picchu & the Galapagos Islands
Encompassing the highlights of Peru, a stay in Quito and a Galapagos Islands cruise, this adventure tracks from colourful Cusco to the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu before moving to Ecuador’s historic capital city and the enchanting Galapagos Islands.
Meet our experts
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
Roxy Dukes
If your passion is the outdoors and you are looking to delve into South American culture, Roxy recommends one of the lodge-to-lodge hiking programmes to explore the Sacred Valley and beyond. Hopping between the quiet mountain towns, meet the locals that live off the grid and immerse yourself in the welcoming spirit of Peru.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
Start planning your trip
Explore other regions
Colca Canyon
This barren and largely inhospitable landscape is carved by the powerful Rio Colca as it snakes its path through an enormous volcanic…
Lake Titicaca Peru
At 4,000 metres altitude, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, it is also one of the most beautiful…
Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a fertile valley that follows the Urubamba River from Pisac in the east to Ollantaytambo…
Arequipa
Perched spectacularly on the flanks of El Misti, Chachani and Pichu-Pichu Volcanos and beneath the predominantly blue skies of southwestern Peru, Arequipa…
Cusco
Cusco is a stunning combination of ancient Inca and colonial Spanish influences. Attractive churches, monasteries and convents are interspersed with perfectly preserved…
Huaraz and Central Mountains
The city of Huaraz is known as "the Switzerland of Peru" due to the beauty of the spectacular Cordilleras Blanca and Negra…
Lima
Founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, in colonial times Lima was considered the City of Kings, and UNESCO designated it as a…
Nazca and Southern Coast
Tucked away on the southern coast of Peru and overlooked by the enormous Cerro Blanco sand dune, this sleepy town was hastily…
Northern Peru
Northern Peru is a fascinating area of the country that very few tourists visit. It is rich and varied in terms of…
Peruvian Amazon
The sparsely populated Peruvian Amazon Rainforest blankets more than half of the country in northern Peru and is quite literally teeming with…
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
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