Machu Picchu

Four Days on the Inca Trail with TreXperience – The Best Adventure We've Ever Had

Hiking the Inca Trail had been on my bucket list for years, so when Katie, Amber and I finally booked the four-day trek to Machu Picchu with TreXperience, I was counting down the days. I love this kind of adventure—long hikes, early mornings, meeting new people and seeing places you can only reach on foot—and somehow the reality still exceeded every expectation. Four days through the Andes, incredible weather, an amazing group and one of the most unforgettable experiences I've ever had.

Alongside my friends Katie and Amber, I completed the four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with TreXperience, and it was genuinely one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

Our group couldn't have been better. There were the three of us, three other lovely English girls, and two Argentinian boys. Mariano, one of the Argentinian boys was so incredibly poorly but he made it the whole way. We laughed through the steep climbs, encouraged each other up Dead Woman's Pass, shared snacks, played cards in the evenings and finished each day with a tinny.

We also got incredibly lucky with the weather. Day after day we were treated to blue skies, sunshine and some of the most breathtaking mountain views I've ever seen. Every corner revealed another valley, another set of ancient Inca ruins or another panoramic viewpoint that made us stop in our tracks.

Why We Chose TreXperience

Before booking, we spent hours comparing different companies. There are plenty of operators offering the Inca Trail, but one thing kept standing out about TreXperience.

They're a locally owned Peruvian company with an excellent reputation for looking after both their guests and, just as importantly, their staff.

That mattered to us.

The porters are the unsung heroes of the Inca Trail. Every day they carry huge amounts of equipment, from tents and food to cooking gear and dining equipment, often at incredible speeds and across extremely challenging terrain.

Unfortunately, not every company treats them equally.

During our trek we met porters from another company who were visibly upset because the bags they had been given were far heavier than the official weight limits. Seeing people in tears after being expected to carry too much was genuinely heartbreaking and reinforced that we'd made the right decision in choosing a company that takes porter welfare seriously.

TreXperience clearly respected their team, and you could feel that throughout the trek. The staff all worked together with smiles on their faces, supported one another and genuinely seemed proud of what they did.

The Real Superheroes

I still have absolutely no idea how the porters do it.

Every morning we'd pack up, start hiking and think we were making good progress… only to arrive at our next campsite to find everything already set up.

Our tents were waiting.

The dining tent was ready.

Hot drinks were being served.

Lunch was nearly prepared.

Meanwhile, we'd only just caught our breath.

Watching them race past us carrying equipment that looked almost impossible to lift while somehow still smiling was incredible. Their strength, endurance and determination are honestly something else.

Food That Defied All Expectations

One thing none of us expected was just how good the food would be.

When you think of camping, you imagine simple meals and maybe instant noodles.

Instead, every breakfast, lunch and dinner felt like something you'd order in a restaurant.

Fresh soups, beautifully presented main courses, homemade breads, desserts and even cakes appeared as if by magic at the end of every hiking day.

We genuinely couldn't believe what the chef team managed to create from a campsite in the middle of the Andes.

Every meal became something we all looked forward to, and it somehow made the long hiking days even more rewarding.

Saying Thank You

One of the most special evenings came on our final night.

TreXperience introduced every member of the porter and chef team, and we had the opportunity to thank them personally for everything they'd done over the previous four days.

It was a lovely reminder that while we'd completed the hike ourselves, we couldn't have done it without them.

Tipping the porters and chefs is an important tradition on the Inca Trail because they work unbelievably hard behind the scenes to make the experience possible.

As a small extra thank you, our group also bought them a bottle of whiskey to share after the trek. It wasn't expected, but we wanted to show how much we appreciated everything they'd done for us. Seeing their smiles made it completely worthwhile.

More Than Just a Hike

Of course, reaching Machu Picchu itself was unforgettable.

Walking through the Sun Gate after four days of hiking and catching that first glimpse of the ancient citadel is a moment I'll remember forever. It feels earned in a way that arriving by train simply can't replicate.

If you're considering hiking the Inca Trail, I'd recommend doing plenty of research into the company you choose. For us, choosing TreXperience wasn't just about finding a good tour operator—it was about supporting a company that values its local staff and treats them with the respect they deserve.

It turned what was already going to be an amazing adventure into something even more meaningful.

Without a doubt, it was one of the best experiences I've ever had, and one I'll be talking about for many years to come.