Rainbow Mountain Trek scenery

Hiker on the Ausangate Trek

Landscape views as we explore Rainbow Mountain - Ausangate Trek, Peru

Landscape views as we explore Rainbow Mountain | Karina Merkel

Ausangate Mountain in Andes (Cordillera Vilcanota) Peru

Local Peruvian woman out in the sunshine - Ausangate Trek, Peru

Local Peruvian woman out in the sunshine | Chris Gooley

Ausangate Trek

Ausangate trek through remote Andean high-altitude landscapes

Peru



3 reviews

5 Days from

$1420 USD

Trip Code: AUR

View dates to Book

Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Sleeping Bag Hire pp per night

$16 USD

Tent Only Single Supplement

$80 USD

Solo Traveller

$1130 USD

Duration

5 Days

Activities

5 day trek

Style

Classic Adventures

Accommodation

4 nights camping

Meals

4 Dinners
5 Lunches
4 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading: Moderate
This trip is graded moderate and is suitable for fit and healthy people. On a moderate trek physical activity will generally not exceed eight hours in a day, and altitudes generally not exceeding 5,500 metres. On a moderate adventure the physical activity is sustained and travelers should be comfortable with occasional rough terrain. At any stage of a moderate trek you can expect long steep climbs and descents and a wide range of weather conditions. An example of an average day on moderate trek could include several ascents and descents of 500 metres or more, level ground is rare in the mountains. *Suggested preparation: To prepare for a moderate trek you should begin training four to five months before your departure. As a guideline, an hour of aerobic exercise three to four times per week would be considered a minimum requirement. The best preparation is bushwalking involving relatively steep ascents and descents in variable weather conditions. If you can manage a couple of valley floor to ridgeline ascents per bushwalk, albeit with stops along the way, you will cope with a moderately graded trek. Speed is not important, stamina, confidence and continuity are. Please remember the fitter you are the more you will enjoy your holiday.
5 / 10
Moderate

Carbon Footprint

54kg of CO₂-e PP per day

(217kg of CO₂-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

Trek around Mount Ausangate (6384m / 20945ft), Peru’s highest sacred mountain
Cross high-altitude passes above 5000m / 16404ft in the Cordillera Vilcanota
Walk through remote Andean valleys with glacial lakes and alpine landscapes
Camp in high mountain environments including at the base of Ausangate

Overview

Trek Peru’s Ausangate region on a high-altitude journey through remote Andean landscapes. This multi-day trek from Cusco crosses mountain passes above 5000m / 16404ft, with views of Ausangate, Peru’s highest sacred peak. The route passes glacial lakes, alpine valleys and traditional communities in the Cordillera Vilcanota. Fully supported camping allows you to focus on the trekking experience while travelling through one of Peru’s most remote mountain regions. This is a high-altitude trek. You must spend a minimum of two nights at or above 3000m / 9843ft (e.g. Cusco) prior to the start of the trip for proper acclimatisation. Participation is only possible if this requirement has been met.

Itinerary

Expand all | Collapse all

Leaving Cusco behind, you travel into the Andean highlands, where traditional Quechua communities continue to live in close connection with the land. At Tinki, your trek begins across open valleys dotted with grazing alpacas, with the snow-covered peak of Ausangate rising steadily into view. The trail climbs gently, allowing time to settle into the rhythm of walking at altitude as the landscape opens into a broad alpine setting. By the time you reach Upis camp (4430m / 14534ft), you are surrounded by high peaks and expansive skies, offering a strong sense of the remoteness that defines this region. Accommodation: Camping Note: This is a high-altitude trek. You must spend a minimum of two nights at or above 3000m / 9843ft (e.g. Cusco) prior to the start of the trip for proper acclimatisation. Participation is only possible if this requirement has been met.

Meals: L,D

Today the route leads deeper into the Ausangate region, with a steady ascent toward Arapa Pass (4670m / 15322ft). As you gain elevation, views open across remote valleys and glaciated peaks, with the scale of the surrounding mountains becoming more apparent. Beyond the pass, the trail passes a series of glacial lakes, including the striking waters of Pucacocha, where the colours shift with the light and weather. A further climb over Alcatani Pass brings you to Ausangatecocha, where camp is set beneath ice-covered slopes in a high alpine setting. Accommodation: Camping

Meals: B,L,D

This is the most demanding day of the trek, with an early ascent toward Palomani Pass (over 5000m / 16404ft), the highest point of the journey. Reaching the pass, wide views extend across the surrounding Andes, offering a clear sense of the scale and isolation of the region. The descent leads into the Machuraqay Valley, where the landscape gradually softens into rolling terrain. Along the way, you may encounter herders tending alpacas, reflecting the traditional livelihoods of the area. Camp at Wanu Wanu (4592m / 15066ft) is set in a quiet valley, well away from established trekking routes. Accommodation: Camping

Meals: B,L,D

The final day of trekking follows high-altitude plains and glacial headwaters, with a gradual ascent toward Jampa Pass (4950m / 16240ft). From the pass, views extend across surrounding peaks, including Mount Callangate, marking the final high point of the circuit. Descending from the pass, the trail returns toward the village of Pacchanta, completing a full circuit of the Ausangate massif. On arrival, there is time to rest in the nearby hot springs, set against the backdrop of the mountains you have just crossed. Accommodation: Camping

Meals: B,L,D

After breakfast, you depart Pacchanta and travel by road back to Cusco. The journey retraces the route through highland landscapes and rural communities. Arriving back in the city, the contrast between the remote mountain environment and Cusco’s historic centre marks the end of the trek.

Meals: B,L

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Ready to start your adventure?

85 scheduled departures between 12 Aug 2026 and 30 Oct 2027.

Departs 12 Aug 2026 – ends 16 Aug 2026 (5 days)
Departs 15 Aug 2026 – ends 19 Aug 2026 (5 days)
Departs 19 Aug 2026 – ends 23 Aug 2026 (5 days)
Departs 22 Aug 2026 – ends 26 Aug 2026 (5 days)
Departs 26 Aug 2026 – ends 30 Aug 2026 (5 days)
Departs 29 Aug 2026 – ends 2 Sep 2026 (5 days)
… and 79 more departures.

View dates to Book

What's included?

Included

4 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
Expert bilingual local guide with wilderness first aid training
Use of a kit bag which includes a duffle bag and sleeping mat
Group camping equipment
Solar powered lamps in tents
Private internal transportation
Filtered drinking water
Group medical kit and portable hyperbaric chamber

Not included

International flights and taxes
Airport transfers
Visa fees
Travel Insurance (compulsory)
Meals not listed as included
Personal expenses such as phone calls, laundry, aerated and alcoholic drinks
Tips and gratuities
Any items not listed as included

About your guide

Our guides are bilingual and our treks are conducted in English.

Reviews (3)



This trek is very demanding and challenging requiring a good level of fitness to successfully complete the long days of trekking. Virgilio (guide) was very professional, approachable, very organised and explained very clearly what was ahead each day and was very supportive during each day's trekking. Teresa (cook), Octavio (assistant cook), Romulo and Andres (Donkey drivers) were very organised, supportive of everyone and Teresa's meals were varied and very flavoursome. The trek was very remote but allowed for some very peaceful and tranquil walking. The campsites each night were in the valley floors where we were surrounded by the beautiful mountains of the Cordilliera Blanca and the green and beautiful valleys. The tents and sleeping bags were of very high quality, kept us comfortable and warm during the 'chilly' nights. The terrain was very rocky in places with many switch backs as we climbed the steep ascents and equally steep descents. A unique trek for the 'great adventurer'. A very special trek.

Jenny Newell|NSW, Australia

2 Oct 2025



This trek was truly unique with the most amazing scenery but extremely challenging. Juan (guide), Bernardo(cook), Hilario and Guia Juan were very supportive, professional and made the trek all the more memorable. Bernardo cooked a great variety of food and the team worked so well together setting up camp each day and nothing was ever a bother. The trail had some very steep ascents and descents but generally a 'well worn' trail. A very special experience.

Jennifer (Jenny)|NSW, Australia

1 Oct 2025



Fantastic trip but don't take it lightly, it is at a constant high altitude so you need to be prepared for what that means. Having said that it was quite OK if you took it at the right pace, with the right attitude. The scenery was fantastic, the weather varied - from brilliant warm sun, to heavy mists and even snow, but it all added to the experience. The crew were all amazing and the equipment provided was first rate.

D. Collins|Breakfast Point, NSW

5 Nov 2019

Responsible Travel

Extra trip info

Camping - Equipment

Our camping equipment is of proven quality and designed for the conditions you will experience in Peru. We provide tents on a twin share basis with plenty of personal space and storage for your luggage. A number of these tents are available as single tents at a supplementary charge. A private toilet tent will be erected at each campsite, however if campsites have ablution blocks, we use them instead. We also provide a kit bag which includes a duffle bag, sleeping bag and inflatable sleeping mat.

Camping - Meals

Breakfast and dinner are served in our communal mess tent with folding chairs, tables and a solar light. Lunch is usually picnic style and is prepared by one of the cooks who accompany us. We provide three hearty meals on all our treks in Peru. The mess tent is also available for communal use in the afternoon and evening.

Show All|Hide All

This is a moderate to challenging trek with long walking days and mountain passes above 5000m / 16404ft.

Yes, prior multi-day trekking experience and a good level of fitness are recommended due to altitude and terrain.

Yes, you must spend at least two nights at or above 3000m / 9843ft (such as Cusco) before starting the trek.

Yes, the trek is fully guided by expert bilingual guides with wilderness first aid training.

The trip includes a group medical kit, emergency oxygen and a portable oxygen chamber.

The best time to trek Ausangate is during the dry season from May to October, when rainfall is minimal and skies are typically clear.

Fully supported trekking with pack animals so you carry only a day pack
Expert bilingual guides trained in wilderness first aid and high-altitude travel
Proven World Expeditions operational systems and safety approach in Peru
Quality camping equipment including sleeping systems and solar lighting
Responsible travel practices with no mandatory local cash payments

Guaranteeing A Great Peru Trip

Pioneering World Firsts

Quality equipment

Quality accommodations

Innovative itineraries

Custom built, reliable transport

Our all inclusive approach

Ausangate Trek

Trip highlights

Overview

Itinerary

Map

Elevation

Ready to start your adventure?