TRIP ITINERARY

Day	Activity/Location
Sep 4	Arrive La Paz.  Depending on your international flight, there may be some time for sightseeing and shopping in the afternoon before getting together at dinner for a meal of traditional Bolivian cuisine and a show of traditional folk dance and music.
Sep 5	Today we travel out, site of the Inca creation myth. We'll visit some fascinating and complex Inca ruins on the north side of the island before returning to Copacabana for the night. We'll sleep by the lakeshore in a beautiful hillside hotel.
3	Today we move on by bus to Sorata, the start of our trek. Sorata is a tranquil town in a beautiful green valley. Those who wish may trek to the nearby Cave of San Pedro, which is home to a huge, underground lake. Early to bed as we start our trek the next day!
4	This trek includes pack mules and llamas to carry the majority of our things. We'll spend five days journeying through the high Andes, visiting a glacier lake and camping beneath the stunning Illampu massif. We depart early in the morning and start climbing the narrow streets of Sorata. We are soon ascending the side of the valley, passing through fields and forest as we make our way towards Illampu. There will be plenty of opportunity to observe rural life as we pass farmers working in their fields and traversing the well-worn mountain paths. Our trek is relatively short today, allowing us time to loosen up and acclimate for the trip ahead.
5	After a hardy and healthy breakfast, we begin our trek, ascending a steep trail to our first campsite, Titisani (elevation 4,480m/14,699-ft.). The campsite is situated just above the Laguna Chillata, a beautiful and mysterious lake from which local medicine men are said to harness curative powers. We may also visit some ancient, pre-Incan ruins nearby.
6	After another great breakfast, we work our way up toward the Laguna Glacier, situated at the foot of the Illampu massif at an elevation of 5,038m/16,529-ft. The air is thin and brisk, and the views, both above and below, are stunning. We spend the night near the glacial moraine which borders the lake. We will have the afternoon and the next morning to explore this photographer's dream.
7	After a morning of exploration, we must depart the Laguna Glacier and move down back toward Laguna Chillata (elevation 4,204m/13,793-ft.) our destination for the day. All those views and vistas that you weren't paying attention to working your way up can now be fully enjoyed on the walk down.
8	After breakfast, we make our final descent to Sorata where we enjoy a hearty meal at a local restaurant. Tonight we return to La Paz for one more evening before our flight to Cuzco the next morning.
9	Morning flight to Cuzco, Peru.  Cuzco is a beautiful colonial city built on top of the old imperial capital of the Incas. It's cobblestone streets, ancient stone walls and surrounding ruins make it one of the continent's most spectacular destinations. We'll spend the day wandering through the old city, visiting markets and exploring some of the Inca sites just above town.
10	Our morning will be free for shopping, museum-visiting or exploration in Cuzco.  This afternoon we'll hop on a bus for a short trip to the Sacred Valley, where we'll spend the night at the Inca town and temple/fortress of Ollantaytambo. Providing some of the finest examples of Inca stonework and replete with astronomical significance, Ollantaytambo is one of the most fascinating Inca sites after Machu Picchu.
11	Train is the mode of transportation today. We'll hop aboard as it heads down the Sacred Valley towards the mysterious and world famous hilltop city of Machu Picchu. Three hours later, we find ourselves in lush cloud forest by the raging Urubamba River, gazing up at Machu Picchu perched high above. Once inside, we'll have a guided tour in English before going off for independent exploration.  Take your time, because we're spending the night just below the ruins and we'll have tomorrow to explore as well.
12	We'll have until our train this evening to take in more of Machu Picchu or do some short treks in the area, for example a climb of well-known Huayna Picchu just behind the ruins. We'll be back in Cuzco in time for some drinks and dancing out on the town.
13	This morning we head back to La Paz or on to Lima, depending on subsequent international flights.  Passengers will be accompanied on Day 13 by our Lima and La Paz representatives.
14	Departure Day