Day 1Cusco, Peru – mountain biking paradise

Welcome to Cusco! We’ll meet you at 1pm for a traditional Peruvian meal at a local favourite restaurant. In the afternoon there’s time for a stroll around Cusco’s beautiful historic centre, and our mechanic is on hand to help you assemble your bike if you’ve brought it from home. It’s important to take it easy and drink plenty of water today to aid acclimatisation, as we start riding tomorrow!

• Accommodation: Comfortable Cusco hotel, Cusco (L,D)

Day 2Yuncaypata – Cusco’s glorious back yard

Like many Andean cities, Cusco sits in the flat bottom of a steep-sided, horseshoe-shaped valley, and the hills around the town offer miles and miles of riding, ranging from easy 4x4 track to gnarly downhill and a jump park. We’ll spend the day doing as many descents as you like, each different approaches to the long hillside generally known as Yuncaypata. On at least one lap we’ll pull out the classic ending – descending a flight of ancient stone stairs into the Plaza de San Blas, scattering pigeons and tourists.

• Accommodation: Comfortable Cusco hotel, Cusco (B,L,D)

Day 3Ride to Pisac via paved road or dirt track

Cusco to Pisac via Taray is a brilliant, fairly challenging track. We have to push bikes for a couple of stretches, but the effort is worth it if you are interested in some lovely fast riding through a river gorge, followed by serious rocky downhill. Alternatively, you can stick to the highway, a fabulous and very scenic sealed-road descent to Pisac. Here we’ll check out the Pisac’s famous artesania (handicraft) market and have some lunch before heading out for some more downhill in the afternoon – or if you prefer, you can use the afternoon to check out Pisac’s Inca ruin (entrance not included), a massive fortress and agricultural complex that dominates the local landscape.

• Accommodation: Hotel in Pisac (B,L,D)

Day 4Ride and camp in the Lares Valley

This morning we’ll drive up to Amparaes Pass and then descend on easy gravel road into the remote Lares Valley, starting in high-altitude rock and cold, and ending up in a warm, green river gorge. The chance to enjoy a beer and barbecue at the surreal and beautiful water park that is Lares hot springs is worth a trip in itself. Naturally occurring hot springs are surrounded by lovingly landscaped terraces and lawns dotted with tents. This is one of our favourite places in the world – there is no better end to a day’s riding than soaking in the springs and staring up at the stars.

• Accommodation: Camping at the glorious Lares hot springs (B,L,D)

Day 5Amparaes Pass to Calca – the bike day of a lifetime

This morning an incredibly scenic drive takes us up to the dizzying Amparaes Pass, and to the top of one of the world’s best off-road descents. Section follows section of llama track, gravel riverside, and eventually scenic river gorge. We'll end with an array of undulating riverside single track (or take the open, speedy gravel backroad alongside) into the outskirts of Calca, back once more in the sunny Sacred Valley. From here we'll drive back to Cusco for the night.

• Accommodation: Comfortable Cusco hotel, Cusco (B,L,D)

Day 6Free day in Cusco

There are things to do in Cusco to suit every mood and personality: churches, museums, and art galleries; adventure activities like rafting and horse riding, and organised tours. This is also the perfect day to just wander around and enjoy the spectacular mountain views, traditionally dressed locals, excellent cafes and charming architecture that characterise the historic centre of Cusco.

• Accommodation: Comfortable Cusco hotel (B)

Day 7Ride from Moray to Salineras

This is our pick for the best day trip from Cusco – even non-riders get on bikes to enjoy the easy cross-country ride through farmland near Chinchero, ending at Maras – three massive amphitheatres of incredible engineering precision and stern, magnificent beauty. After exploring this significant Inca site we’ll saddle up again for our next descent – christened ‘the School’ by our bike guru Ronald, this dirt-track ride has something to teach everyone from novice to expert, and ends at our favourite Inca attraction, Salineras – a surreal and beautiful patchwork of pools and paths that still produces salt using Inca technology.

• Accommodation: Family-run Ollantaytambo hotel (B,L,D)

Day 8Backdoor Inca Trail descent

This morning we drive up to 4350 metre (14,000 feet) Abra Malaga (Malaga Pass). Here we cross from the eastern to the western side of the Andes – we’re now on the upper slopes of the mighty Amazon Basin, and will lose nearly 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) of altitude over an incredibly scenic 71 kilometre on-road descent into tropical cloud forest.

It's not hard to see why this ride is one of South America's classics, and often favourably compared to Bolivia's infamous ‘Death Road’. It's pure fun – a long, gentle descent through some of the most spectacular scenery you'll ever see. By the time we get to Santa Teresa, at 1,900 metres, we’re in high jungle – a whole different world from the icy Andean pass where we started.

• Accommodation: Rustic eco-lodge outside Santa Teresa (B,L,D)

Day 9Outdoor adventures on the jungle trail to Machu Picchu

Today you have a choice. You can experience Cola de Mono, South America’s highest zipline (flying fox), and one of the most exciting and scenic activities we’ve ever encountered, then relax in the Baños Termales de Cocalmayo, natural mountain hot springs beside a raging river. Or if you’re feeling energetic, you can undertake the taxing but rewarding mountain hike to Llactapata, a recently discovered Inca ruin. Late in the day we’ll take a short train ride to Machu Picchu pueblo, or Aguas Calientes.

• Accommodation: Family-run hostal, Aguas Calientes (B,L,D)

Day 10Machu Picchu tour

An early start rewards us with sunrise at Machu Picchu – a peak moment for anyone. A spectacular stone city surrounded by incredibly steep, incredibly green mountains, Machu Picchu needs no introduction and is deservedly one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. A guided tour is a necessary start to orient you in this massive site, then you’ll have plenty of time to explore the site and some of the surrounding peaks on your own before we catch the train back to Ollantaytambo for the night.

• Accommodation: Family-run Ollantaytambo hotel (B,L,D)

Day 11Ride the Inca Avalanche course

We’ve saved the best for last – the Mega Avalanche track. At times exhilarating, at times humbling, it’s a massive 1,500 metres descent from the Abra de Malaga, over 20 kilometres of unrelenting single track through rocks, mud, forest tracks and stone walls, to name just a few features. No downhiller would want to leave Cusco without having a crack at this ride, and with a full day, we’ve got time for two laps. The really great thing is how this track is set up as if deliberately so that people of all levels of ability can participate – a paved road zigzags across the valley, frequently intersecting the single track that bombs straight down, and our expert guides will advise you which sections are appropriate for you.

After an unforgettable day’s biking we’ll head back to Cusco for our last evening together.

• Accommodation: Comfortable Cusco hotel (B,L,D)

Day 12Departure Day

We’ll get you to Cusco airport in time for your flight out. If you’re staying on in Peru, we’re delighted to help out with suggestions and assistance for the rest of your time here.

(B)