A frequent item on travelers’ bucket lists, Machu Picchu remains a stony silent mystery. Since American archaeologist Hiram Bingham chanced upon it in 1911, the five-acre multilevel site and its 3,000-plus steps have become the focus of speculation, study and enduring fascination. Believed by many historians to have been constructed at the apex of the Inca Empire’s power — possibly as an estate or citadel for the emperor Pachacuti — it was mysteriously abandoned a mere century after it was built. Today, those who make the trek to the site 7,970 feet above sea level will see the remains of an upper and lower town that once supported about 200 buildings around a central city square, and an intricate irrigation system used to feed crops in a dedicated agricultural zone.

Located in Peru northwest of Cusco, the famed bastion’s remote location in the Andes Mountains makes it a destination best visited on an organized expedition. Choices include the new Adventurer’s Route offered by luxury adventure outfitter INCA International Nature & Cultural Adventures. The 10-day trip begins in Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage City. Before the ascent to Machu Picchu, a Cusco city tour takes in the Plaza de Armas, the baroque Catedral and the ancient sacred site of the Temple of the Sun.

Rather than follow the standard tourist path, participants will experience food sourcing in local markets, cooking classes and visits with local craftspeople and artisans including indigenous weavers. Hiking paths range in difficulty. Prices begin at $5,245 per person, based on double occupancy. Hotel and lodge accommodations are included, along with all meals, non-alcoholic beverages, guides, activities, tours, entry fees, sightseeing arrangements and round-trip airport transfers, along with other travel arrangements as detailed in the itinerary. Airfare, gratuities, alcoholic beverages and personal expenses are not included. Weekly departures will take place beginning March 3, 2018, and continue through Dec. 20, 2018.