This morning after breakfast, head out of Hanoi and drive to Sung village. The bulk of the about 70 families in Sung Village are Dzao “Tien” people. Their principal means of income are farming and forest plantations. After lunch at your lodging, go for a first-timer’s tour of the community. After spending more time in the community, visit a 100-year-old tea plantation and the seductive Sung Cave. There are very steep and slick parts of the walk, so make sure you have appropriate shoes on. Return to your guesthouse for a lovely hot shower and a filling meal after a handicraft workshop.

We will be traveling to the Sacred Valley this morning, which marks the beginning of our exploration of Peru’s ruins and mysteries! But first, we’ll travel to Awanacancha, which is home to the most exquisite camelids in the world: guanacos, llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. Return to the coach and find a window seat as we head deeper into the Sacred Valley after taking a few selfies with the Llamas and seeing the ancient Incan craft of weaving. We’ll stop again at Pisac, where the fusion of colonial and Incan influences has given the locals a distinctive way of life. Discover the charming village well-known for its artisan fairs, where you may spend a lot of money purchasing exquisite jewelry, ceramic, and textile crafts! Discover the Sacred Valley’s rural way of life by visiting the Amaru Community. The villages welcome visitors to share their way of life, beliefs, customs, and culture, and the community has managed to retain its pre-Hispanic ancestral clientele. In the tranquility of Sacred Valley, join the Amaru people for a traditional lunch.

You have the entire day ahead of you! There will be plenty of free time for you to take your time exploring Sacred Village. Join an optional journey to Ollantaytambo and Yucay if you’re feeling particularly daring and want to see the striking ruins and recognizable stone terraces that line the Sacred Valley’s slope. You can also choose to go on an optional tour to Maras and Moray if you’d rather something a little different from the ruins and mountainside. Thousands of salt pool terraces have been carefully excavated into the Sacred Valley’s slope here. In the Sacred Valley, salt has been extracted for millennia using these magnificent white and pink ponds.

Prepare to mark off a famous World Wonder when you visit the breathtakingly beautiful ancient city of Machu Picchu! We’ll go there by train and private transfer, then go straight to Machu Picchu’s main attraction—the mountain fortress itself! The “lost city” of Machu Picchu was hidden by forest growth between the mountains until 1911. It is now the most popular tourist destination in Peru, greeted by the serene misty mountains and stunning stone architecture of palaces, terraces, and temples rising 2,420 meters into the sky! With the help of our personal local guides, we will explore the enchanted fortress in the same manner that the ancient Incas did in the fifteenth century. Take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity and enjoy the surroundings!

On your final morning in the Sacred Valley, relax. Take advantage of the opportunity to return to Machu Picchu and spend more time exploring the archeological ruins, or take a train to Ollantaytambo, a nearby village in the Sacred Valley. Ruins and terraces loom above the picturesque village of Ollantaytambo from every direction as they wind up the hills. Choose a pleasant location on the charming cobblestone streets and join the locals for a traditional lunch. We’re going back to Cusco, the capital, this afternoon. Visit the Yucay Museo, also known as the Museum of Living Culture, to discover more about the techniques used to create Peru’s renowned textile wool products, including washing, dying, spinning, and weaving.

We’ll bid Cusco farewell today and board a quick trip back to Lima! Discover the rich local history while taking in all the attractions of Colonial Lima, including views of the Main Square, Government Palace, Cathedral of Lima, and City Hall. Take a walking tour of Miraflores with your guide in the afternoon, then if you’d like, take a bike excursion around Lima’s affluent neighborhoods and boardwalk. The breathtaking cliffside vistas in Miraflores are ideal for a leisurely bike ride. Alternatively, take an optional Peruvian cooking lesson to discover some of the best recipes made in the nation and go market shopping for fresh produce. Take an optional evening tour of the Magic Water Circuit of Lima, one of the most spectacular water fountain shows in the world! It features lights, music, and interactive exhibits! Alternatively, go at your own speed through Lima’s vibrant streets after midnight.

Everything worthwhile has to end eventually! Celebrate a memorable eight days of touring Peru with new travel companions over a final breakfast and farewell. The hotel closes at 11:00 a.m. Up until your departure, you are welcome to explore Lima at your own speed.