People ask is A&K the same company as Abercrombie and Kent? The answer is yes. Geoffrey Kent founded Abercrombie and Kent in Africa in 1962. The Kent family introduced luxury African Safari travel then over the years then expanded to all seven continents. A&K now offers luxury Expedition Cruising, Private Jet Travel Around the World, outstanding African expeditions to the last Continent of Antarctica. Pavlus Travel is a leader in providing the lowest prices for all A & K travel Worldwide travel be it a Tanzania Safari or any of their luxury European tours.
Day 1 - Lima, Peru
Arrive in Lima and transfer to your hotel, located in the city’s
exclusive residential district of Miraflores. Founded in 1535
by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, this “City of
Kings” is a blend of colonial structures, pre-Colombian
sites and modern conveniences.
Day 2 - Lima
Start with a visit this morning to Huaca Pucllana, a historical
site in the midst of urban Lima. Then, visit a food market in
the company of a local chef before enjoying lunch at a local
restaurant. Afterward, stroll the city’s colorful Barranco, an
artists’ haven, and visit the Osma Museum. Continue your
gastronomic discovery of Peru on a Chef’s Table experience,
savoring the delicious dishes you have cooked for dinner.
Day 3 - Sacred Valley
Fly to Cusco, located more than 11,000 feet above sea level,
where you are met and transferred to the Sacred Valley of the
Incas. En route, visit an animal sanctuary to interact with the
South American camelids living there — such as llamas and
alpacas — and learn about the valuable fibers created from
their coats. Then, visit the beautiful Hacienda Sarapampa to
savor lunch with the owner, who cordially shares his family’s
history in farming and shows you around the farm. Continue
to your awe-inspiring resort, designed to fit in with the
Sacred Valley’s landscapes.
Day 4 - Sacred Valley
Visit a remote village where the local residents provide a
hands-on introduction to the customs and crafts that make
up their way of life, including weaving and cooking, for an
A&K-exclusive experience. Then, participate in one of Peru’s
oldest and most sacred rituals when you join a local shaman
in a traditional offering to Mother Earth (Pachamama).
After this spiritual ceremony, visit the Kuychi Center to
meet the children at Niños del Arco Iris (Children of the
Rainbow), a project supported by Abercrombie & Kent
Philanthropy that provides education, nutrition, medical
care and hope to children in the Sacred Valley. Sit down to
lunch served on site before returning to your hotel, where
you prepare for your visit to Machu Picchu with a private
lecture from a renowned scholar and expert on the Incas.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure, gazing upon the
soaring Andes and savoring a refreshing Scenic Sundowner.
Day 5 - Machu Picchu
Today, explore Ollantaytambo, a fortress of massive stone
terraces that hug the mountain slopes and the site of the
Incas’ greatest victory over the invading Spanish. Then Ride
Like a Local, journeying aboard the Inca Rail First-Class
Train deep into the Andes toward Machu Picchu, and gazing
out at the spectacular Peruvian countryside. Upon arrival in
the early afternoon, explore the ruins with your expert guide
and, as you wander amid the age-old stone walls, picture life
as it might have been in this majestic high-altitude citadel.
Overlooking the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century at the height of the Inca Empire. Although
this “Lost City” was revealed to the rest of the world by
American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911, its location was
long known to locals. Alternatively (for an additional cost),
travel by train for the same scenic ride, but with a twist:
disembark at KM 104 and set out with a guide on a hike that
culminates at the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), looking out over
the vast UNESCO World Heritage Site. Either way, arrive for
your overnight stay at the only hotel located on-site at
marvelous Machu Picchu.
Day 6 - Machu Picchu
Rise with the sun to walk through Machu Picchu in the
early morning mist before the crowds arrive, an experience
some consider the spiritual highlight of the journey. After
exploring the “Lost City of the Incas,” board the Vistadome
train back to Ollantaytambo. Continue to Cusco, where
you check in to your hotel, once a 16th-century monastery
and now a national monument that offers a retreat from the
bustle of Cusco while set just off the city square.
Day 7 - Cusco
This morning, discover Cusco on a city tour that includes the
Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo
Temple. Listen as a local expert explains how the historic
clashes between the Incas and the Spanish played a role
in forming today’s Peruvian culture. Later, visit the well-preserved
ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a testament to Incan
architectural skill. This imposing fortress, which witnessed
the greatest battle between the Spanish and the Incas, is
compiled from colossal stones and overlooks the red-tiled
roofs of Cusco. This afternoon, enjoy time at leisure to rest or
shop. Tonight, listen to a private Andean music presentation
by a regional expert and learn the history of his handmade
instruments. Absorb not only the timeless quality of the
Peruvian folk tunes he plays, but the unmistakable cultural
identity revealed by their haunting, immersive melodies as
well. Afterward, sit down to a farewell dinner at an elegant
Cusco restaurant, where the chef gathers local ingredients for
use in innovative recipes that remain true to Peru’s culinary
traditions.
Day 8 - Lima
This morning, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.
Visit the San Blas Neighborhood, a unique, bohemian
enclave where you find the workshops of artisans.
Stroll San Pedro Market and Visit the Inca Museum for a
taste of local fruits and cheese, and a glimpse of daily life,
followed by a look back into Peru’s rich history.
Explore with an Expert Photographer who helps you
refine your skills and capture Cusco as a local sees it,
including its narrow streets and beautiful houses.
Later, board your departing flight.