Our Team
Our Tour Experts
Heroes and Heroines
Where to Stay
Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.
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![Amy Waters snow biking]()
Our Team
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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![William Dalrymple]()
Our Tour Experts
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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![Liz Bonnin]()
Heroes and Heroines
the people who lead the way when it comes to those things which matter to us: exploration, the environment, women’s empowerment and education
Sacred Valley
At a lower altitude to the dizzying heights of Cusco, the Sacred Valley offers a welcome place to stay for a few days, acclimatise and enjoy an old-world charm whilst exploring traditional market towns and impressive Inca sites.
For those seeking adventure, the Sacred Valley can also be explored on horseback or by raft along the raging rapids of the Urubamba River. It also serves as the starting place of many trekking routes, including the celebrated Inca Trail.
Acclimatise in the Sacred Valley
Exploring Pisac
To the Incas, the Urubamba River symbolised the flow of life and was therefore guarded by the watchful gaze of numerous ancient citadels perched on the lofty mountain ridge above. Constructed for worship and astronomical observation, the first of these is at the lively market town of Pisac. Etched out of the terraced hillsides, the ruins comprise some of the finest examples of Inca masonry in the valley with the Templo del Sol (Temple of the Sun) being the most impressive. Pisac, itself, is a quaint town, famous for its artisan markets where you can find extraordinarily fine jewellery, ceramic and textile craftwork.
Peruvian Pasos
Exploring on Horseback
Known for their docile character, comfortable gait and willing nature, the beautiful Peruvian Paso horse offers one of the smoothest rides to explore the land of the Incas. Originally from Spain, the Paso was bred for its endurance and hardiness, making light of the toughest terrains from deserts to mountains. From the delightful Sol y Luna Lodge, armed with a picnic, spend a day riding through the Sacred Valley, passing maize fields, local communities, the mighty Urubamba River and abandoned Inca terraces.
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
Journey Peru & the Galapagos Islands
Encompassing the highlights of Peru, a stay in Quito and a sailing around the Galapagos Islands, this adventure tracks from culturally-dense and colourful Cusco to the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu before moving to Ecuador’s historic capital city and the enchanting…
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
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
Journey Peru & the Galapagos Islands
Encompassing the highlights of Peru, a stay in Quito and a sailing around the Galapagos Islands, this adventure tracks from culturally-dense and colourful Cusco to the iconic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu before moving to Ecuador’s historic capital city and…
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.
Peru
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
Burrowed in the Sacred Valley of the Incas close to the village of Yucay, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is a colonial-style property set at the base of striking green mountains within 100 acres of private land. The…
Peru
Sol y Luna Lodge
Encompassed by the majestic mountains and undulating landscapes of the Sacred Valley, Sol Y Luna is an authentic-feeling Andean retreat that is hidden on the outskirts of Urubamba. Aside from being ideally placed for train journeys…
Peru
Explora Sacred Valley
An iconic piece of architecture nestled within high Andean mountains and ancient corn plantations, the very design of Explora Sacred Valley was amended numerous times due to discoveries of important Inca remains. In keeping with the…
Peru
Belmond Rio Sagrado
Perched on the banks of the rushing Urubamba River and encompassed by lush gardens, Belmond Rio Sagrado is a tranquil Andean hideaway that sits in harmony with the surrounding Sacred valley landscape. Fine Peruvian-fusion cuisine is…
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.
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.
Talk with our experts
- 01285 880 980
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…
Machu Picchu
Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is one of the most…
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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