Belmond Hiram Bingham plus Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

The Belmond Hiram Bingham plus Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the ultimate two-day immersion in the wonder of Machu Picchu — arriving in the style of a golden-age explorer aboard one of the world's most celebrated luxury trains, then spending the night at the only hotel perched at the very entrance to the ancient Inca citadel. Named after the American historian who brought Machu Picchu to world attention in 1911, the train itself is a rolling five-star experience: polished wood, gleaming brass, crystal glassware, and Novo Andean cuisine served as the Sacred Valley unfolds outside panoramic windows.

Departing Poroy station (a short drive from Cusco) at 09:05, the train winds through the fertile Andean highlands, descends through the cloud forest of the Sacred Valley, and skirts the rushing Urubamba River before arriving in Aguas Calientes at 12:25. From there a private bus whisks guests to Machu Picchu, where a small-group expert guide leads an unhurried two-and-a-half-hour tour of the 15th-century Inca masterpiece. Overnight at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge — 31 rooms, just steps from the citadel gates — delivers the rarest gift Machu Picchu offers: sunrise over the ancient stones before the day-trippers arrive.

The return on Day 2 is just as memorable: a morning of solo citadel exploration followed by a four-course dinner with fine wines and live Peruvian music on the evening train back to Cusco. This itinerary is tailor-made for travellers who want to experience Machu Picchu unhurried and uncompromised. For reservations and current pricing contact Palace Trains at 1-800-724-5120 or travel@palacetours.com.

Cusco — Imperial Capital of the Inca Empire

Cusco sits at 3,400 metres in the Peruvian Andes and served as the political, military, and spiritual heart of the Inca Empire from the 13th century until the Spanish conquest of 1533. The city's historic centre — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — layers colonial baroque churches and convents directly atop Inca stonework, creating one of the most visually striking urban landscapes in the Americas. The Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral of Cusco, and the district of San Blas are must-visits before or after the train journey. Guests typically arrive a day or two early to acclimatise to the altitude before departing on the Hiram Bingham.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas

The Sacred Valley stretches north-west of Cusco along the Urubamba River, and the train traverses much of its length on the way to Machu Picchu. This was the agricultural heartland of the Inca Empire — the altitude and microclimate ideal for growing the maize that fuelled the civilisation. From the train windows guests see the great Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, whose massive stone terraces and Sun Temple demonstrate military and religious architecture at its most imposing. The town below is one of the best-preserved examples of Inca urban planning still inhabited today.

Machu Picchu — The Lost City of the Incas

Built around 1450 as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti, Machu Picchu was abandoned within a century, most likely during the Spanish conquest, and remained unknown to the outside world until Hiram Bingham's 1911 expedition — the explorer after whom this very train is named. The citadel sits at 2,430 metres on a saddle between two peaks, overlooking the Urubamba River gorge, and comprises around 200 stone structures connected by more than 100 stairways. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World since 2007, it is the most-visited archaeological site in South America. Key structures include the Intihuatana Stone (a ritual solar observatory), the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Royal Tomb, and the agricultural terraces that cling to the precipitous mountainside. The surrounding Historic Sanctuary encompasses cloud forest rich in orchids, hummingbirds, and Andean spectacled bears.

Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo)

The gateway town at the foot of the mountain, Aguas Calientes takes its name from the natural thermal springs that bubble up nearby. The town's restaurants, craft markets, and thermal baths make a pleasant interlude, though guests staying at the Sanctuary Lodge are spared the daily bus commute from here. The train station — officially Machu Picchu station — is the terminus of the PeruRail luxury services and the point from which buses ascend the hairpin road to the citadel.