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Arrive into Lima, the City of Kings. You’ll be staying in the heart of Lima’s most happening district, Barranco. Home to boutique shops, bars and restaurants and a thriving artisan scene.

Founded by Spanish conquistadors in 1535, today Lima is a captivating mix of extraordinary Baroque churches, colonial squares and contemporary galleries. You will be taken on a tour of both the modern and colonial areas of Lima, with stops at the imposing cathedral, the Presidential Palace, Church of San Francisco and the San Isidro and Miraflores districts.

Stay: Two nights at Hotel B – bed & breakfast

From the treasures of Lima now come the riches of the rainforest. You will fly to Peru’s northern Amazon and board a luxury river boat, which will be home for the next four nights.

As you cruise the Amazon tributaries each day is spent exploring the waterways and dense jungle. Whether it is by foot, kayak or dugout canoe, the guides will be on hand to show you the wildlife of the forest. Days end in the comfort of the boat, where you can enjoy an air-conditioned cabin and a cold drink. A real treat after a day in the jungle!

Stay: Four nights on Aria Amazon – full board (including activities in small groups)

Today your luxury adventure through Peru takes you to the ancient Inca heartland of the Sacred Valley. You will fly into Cusco, but stay at the beautiful Sol y Luna hotel in the Sacred Valley, the perfect base when acclimatising to the thin air of the Andes.

Over the following days you will explore the ancient Inca sites and stunning mountain scenery of the region. Visit the chaming town of Pisac, famed for its artisan market, as well as Ollantaytambo – the longest continuously occupied village on the continent with roads, canals and a fortress that have barely changed since the Inca period.

Not forgetting the taditional Andean village of Chinchero with its well-preserved Inca wall; the salt production centre of Maras and the greenhouse terraces of Moray, which were used by the Incas to refine their farming techniques.

Stay: Three nights at Sol y Luna – bed & breakfast

Today you will visit arguably South America’s most famous attraction. The Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu.

After breakfast board the luxurious Belmond Hiram Bingham tain to Machu Picchu. A delicious brunch, drinks and traditional music makes the journey fly by as the train weaves through a parade of changing landscapes, from lush fields and vibrant villages to epic mountains and the meandering Urubamba River.

You will arrive at Machu Picchu in the afternoon and spend the rest of the day on a guided tour of the terraces, temples, staircases, palaces and fountains of this ancient citadel. The night is spent at a boutique hotel in the small town of Aguas Calientes, at the foot of the ruins.

Stay: One night at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel – half-board

After a morning at Machu Picchu you will take the train to Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once the ancient Inca Capital.

As well as relics left over from the Inca Empire, Cusco is rich in masterpieces of colonial architecture such as the Cathedral and Church of the Company of Christ. Explore the quaint cobbled streets and Baroque buildings, as well as beyond the city to visit the massive walls of the Sacsayhuaman Fortress. You’ll also take in the famous archaeological sites of Kenko and Tambomachay, both important religious centres for the Incas.

Stay: Two nights at the Belmond Palacio Nazarenas – bed & breakfast

From Cusco you will board the Titicaca train to Lake Titicaca. The journey takes a full day and you’ll enjoy dramatic scenery as you cross the Altiplano – hopefully seeing vicuna, alpaca and llama en route. A delicious three course lunch is served on-board and local musicians playing gentle Andean music to accompany the journey.

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, with stunning views and shores that are home to Aymara and Quechua Indians – people who pre-date the Incas by over 1,000 years. Your hotel is set on its own private peninsula and is the perfect base for exploring the area. The hotel has its own boat to take you to the nearby floating reed islands of Uros and the traditional communities on Taquile. There are trails to explore by foot and bike, as well as bird watching and a number of colonial sites.

Stay: Three nights at Titilaka – full board (including activities in small groups)

You will leave the shores of Lake Titicaca and travel into the vast and remote Colca Canyon. Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, the Colca Canyon is reputed to be the world’s deepest river gorge. It is certainly one of the most spectacular.

Your home is a luxury tented camp in the canyon, offering spectacular views of the Inca terraces which dot the valley walls and also the Sabancaya Volcano in the distance.

During your stay you will visit the Cruz del Condor lookout point, one of the best places in Peru to see the majestic Andean Condor. There are also trails to explore, active geysers, ancient Inca burial sites to discover and local communities to visit.

Stay: Two nights at PUQIO – full board (including activities in small groups)

Your final stop is the beautiful colonial city of Arequipa. Set in a stunning valley at the foot of the snow-capped El Misti Volcano, Arequipa is the perfect spot to end your time in Peru. Your hotel is set in a monastery dating back to 1583 and only has a handful of rooms and incredibly attentive service.

This Aymara Indian and Inca settlement became a colonial city in 1540, and your guided tour will reveal a wealth of fine Spanish buildings and Baroque churches including the Santa Catalina convent which was built in 1579. Keep your camera at the ready – there will be fantastic views of Mount Misti, Mount Chachani and Mount Picchu-Picchu to snap.

Stay: Two nights at Cirqa – half-board