Peru – Trek the Inca Trail 17th-26th November 2017

Reg fee: £100 / Minimum sponsorship amount: £3,500

Thank you for expressing an interest in Action Cancer’s 2017 Inca Trail Trek. We are delighted to send you further details as requested.

Throughout the following pages you will find the following information on the trek:

Trek itinerary Travel arrangements What’s included in your package

Fundraising hints and tips Information on Action Cancer and the life-saving service we provide

A registration form, medical form and freepost envelope

How taking part in this challenge will make a difference… This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore one of the world’s most iconic trekking trails. By setting yourself this challenge you are committing to trekking up to 52km at high altitude to the lost city of Incas earning every bit of your sponsorship. While you will be testing your physical ability you will be motivated that fact you have raised a significant amount of money to support the life-saving work of Action Cancer. By taking on this challenge you will raise enough money to provide 43 women with breast screening appointments or 87 counselling appointments for people affected by cancer. This pack provides more detailed information on the Services Action Cancer delivers to people affected locally in Northern Ireland. How do I register to take part? We have a limited amount of places available for this challenge so recommend you get signed up early. Our travel partner for this challenge is a company called Global Adventure Challenges who have many years of experience in leading treks all over the world. All you need to do to confirm your place is fill in the registration form, medical form and provide a photocopy of your passport and return in the enclosed freepost envelope, along with your registration fee of £100. If there is any information not included in this pack or you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us on 9080 3369 and we will be happy to have a chat! We look forward to welcoming you to team Action Cancer!

Global Adventure Challenges Red Hill House, Hope Street, Chester, CH4 8BU Tel: 01244 676454 Fax: 01244 683962 Email: pete@globaladventurechallenges.com Web: www.globaladventurechallenges.com

The Inca Trail is one of the most popular trekking trails in the World. Exceptionally challenging, the Inca Trail reaches an altitude of over 4,200 m, but when you eventually reach Machu Picchu (lost city of the Incas), it is all worth-while.

Don’t be fooled by other itineraries in the challenge market – this is the REAL Inca Trail that leads us through the majestic Sun Gate to Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail consists of 3 nights camping, hiking

through sub-tropical vegetation and embracing snow-capped peaks such as Pituitary, Sahuasiray and many more. The days trekking will be hard, but the spectacular views of river valleys far below,

Phuyupatamarca (“the town at the edge of the clouds”), and reaching the lost city will never be forgotten. This is one of the most challenging but satisfying events to date.

Join us on this mystical Inca challenge!

Voted one of the World’s Top Ten trekking trails

Experience the pilgrimage of the

Inca’s and trek to Machu Picchu

Explore Machu Picchu – one of the New Seven Wonders of the World

Immerse yourself in an ancient

civilisation and learn about the

mysterious Inca’s Permits limited and restricted –

the most responsible way to reach

Machu Picchu

Best time to go: April, May, June,

September, October and early November Duration: 10 days

Trekking days: 5 Distance trekked: 52km Accommodation: Hotels and 3 nights camping Challenge grading: Tough

Day 1

We depart Dublin on our flight to Cusco arriving the next day. (An overnight in Lima maybe required).

Day 2 Cusco (11,00ft/3,380m)

We arrive in Cusco and are met by our local guides and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free for participants to acclimatise to the high altitude. Dinner will be had as a group later in the day and participants do as they wish for lunch.

Day 3 Acclimatisation Trek - Inca Sites

Today it is essential participants take some exercise to adjust to the high altitude. We have a fairly early breakfast before transferring to the Inca ruins high above Cusco – Tambo Machay. We then trek down having our lunch en-route to Sacsayhuaman for a tour and then back down to Cusco.

Day 4 Cusco - KM82 (2,650m) - Wayllabamba (3,000m)

We travel by road from to KM82 – the start of the Inca Trail. On the way we will see beautiful landscapes such as the Vilcabamba Range with one of the highest Peaks, Salkantay (6,200m) and the Urubamba Range with its highest Peak called Veronica (5,800m). We finally reach Ollantaytambo – a beautiful Inca town where we take a short break before continuing to our start point.

At KM82 the challenge begins! First we must register at the checkpoint crossing the Piscacucho Bridge to connect with the Inca Trail. For the first hour we follow the Urubamba River, a flat section with two Inca Sites to see. The trail continues undulating, for the next 20 minutes or so before reaching the Patallacta lookout, from where we will have the impressive view down to the Inca town of Patallacta (2,700m). Continuing to the Kusichaca Valley, we passing the communities of Tarayoq, Hatunchaca, and Wayllabamba, which is our first campsite (3,000m).

Trekking distance – approx 11km

Day 5 Wayllabamba (3,000m) - Warmihuanusa (4,200m)

- Pacaymayo (3,600m)

Today is the most challenging day; we climb steadily up from 3,000m to 4,200m, until reaching the first Pass called “Warmihuañusca” or “Dead Woman’s Pass”. On the way we will be see impressive cloud forest, beautiful queuñales (Queuña forest and indigenous trees), beautiful likens, bromeliads, orchids, birds, also The Huayanay Glacier, and part of the Vilcabamba Range.

On top of “Dead Woman Pass”, we are going to see the second section of the Inca Trail and the second pass called Runkuraqay. From this point it is only one more hour to reach the Pacaymayu Valley Campsite, 3600m.

Trekking distance – approx 11km

Day 6 Pacaymayo (3,600m) - Runkuraqay (3,950m) Phuyupatamarka (3,600m) - Winayhuayna (2,700m)

Today we will see ourselves conquer the 2 remaining mountain passes. To begin with, we will ascend from 3,600 to 3,950m to reach a beautiful Inca construction called Runkurakay. We then push on to the top of the second pass. From here the Inca Trail heads down hill for 1 hour to reach, “Sayacmarka”, another archeological site at 3,600m. On the way to the third pass, Phuyupatamarka, we are going to pass through our first Inca tunnel – the views on this part of the trail are truly memorable and unforgettable, with lush green mountains as far as the eye can see. Once we’ve broke the third pass, we then descend to Wiñaywhuayna, the last campsite on the way to Machu Picchu. Continuing down the original stairway for one hour passing through another Inca tunnel, we will begin a flat section of the trail. From here, we will finally reach the last campsite in approx 2-3 hours.

Trekking distance – approx 16km

Day 7 Winayhuayna (2,700m) - Sungate (2,850) - Machu Picchu (2,400m)

We wake very early in order to reach the Sungate for one of the best views of Machu Picchu. The trek to the Sungate will take approx. 1hr. Here we will see our first glimpse of the lost city of Machu Picchu and we can take a rest and take in that classic view of one of the worlds greatest sights. After a short break we descend to the ruined city of Machu Picchu. After we stop for refreshments, we start our walking guided tour in Machu Picchu with the guide. After our tour of Machu Picchu, we will need to meet at the designated point in Aguas Calientes town. In mid/late afternoon, we board your train for the return to

Cusco. We then transfer back to our hotel.

Day 8 Cusco

There is so much to see and do in Cusco that we spend the day doing just that (and giving our legs a rest!). The day is free at leisure to do as you wish. In the evening, we all get together for our celebratory meal and to reflect on our achievements.

Day 9

We transfer to Cusco Airport for our flight back to Dublin.

Day 10

Arrive Dublin / Belfast.

(Please note that whilst we make every effort to adhere to this schedule this is subject to alteration. This is a complex itinerary and subject to change)

A £100 non-refundable registration fee is required to hold your place on the challenge.

Each participant is required to raise a minimum sponsorship of £3,500.

80% of the sponsorship will be required 12 weeks before the trek departs: £2,800 due by Friday 8th September 2017

The outstanding balance is due 4 weeks before the trek departs: £700 due by Friday 20th October

Return flights from Dublin / Belfast to Cuzco including all airport taxes and fuel surcharges

All meals except lunch on day 2, dinner day 7 and lunch on day 8

Park entrance fees and Inca Trail

Permits Trekking tour and site permits

for Day 3

All accommodation and transfers

Professional, English speaking local guides throughout whole stay in Peru

Camping equipment – tents and inflatable sleeping mattresses

Porters and Inca Trail Guides Global Adventure Challenge

Leader Full Medical Kit with

supplies Local English speaking doctor for

actual Inca Trail

Departure Taxes in Lima and Cuzco ($30 – Lima / $6 Cuzco)

Alcoholic drinks Lunch on day 2, dinner day 7 and

lunch on day 8 Travel Insurance - this can be taken

through GAC upon registration at a cost of approx. £63.00 pp

Visa (if applicable)

About Action Cancer

Action Cancer is Northern Ireland’s leading local cancer charity providing a range of lifesaving and support services to the local community. The charity has been operating for over forty years and provides vital services across Northern Ireland. In order to provide these services we must raise £4million, Action Cancer receive no government funding and rely entirely on the support from the general public and local business community. Our services include:

Breast Screening – available to all women aged 40-49 and over 70, ages not included in the standard NHS screening range. We offer 1,000 appointments every month and make an average of five cancer detections per 1,000 screenings. In 2014/15 we screened a record 10,000 women.

Counselling – available to anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer as well as their families.

Complementary Therapy – a mixture of aromatherapy, reflexology and touch therapy, available

to anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer as well as their families. Both our Counselling and Complementary Therapy services are available to children as well as adults with the service beginning at age 5.

Peer Mentoring - Our peer support is offered to those who have received a cancer diagnosis and this is provided by previous cancer patients who are able to empathise and understand fears, concerns and emotions, in a unique way that many of us cannot.

Health Promotion – educating the community ways to lead a healthy life style through a range of awareness courses including hereditary cancer support, Schools programme, MOT health checks, mens health and many other general awareness campaigns

Big Bus – allowing us to provide our services in regional areas across Northern Ireland.

Raising Sponsorship Money

Register and receive a fundraising pack full of information and ideas. Each trek participant is fully supported by The Action Cancer Events Team. We will be on hand every step of the way to offer support and guidance to help you reach your fundraising target of £3,500. Some of the things we can provide include:

Branded T shirts

Branded Collection Buckets

Design and print of posters and tickets for fundraising events Request letters for raffle prizes and collections

Sponsor Forms

Awareness brochures

Banners, balloons etc. for events

Advice on setting up justgiving page

Bagpacks in a local supermarket throughout August

Who Can Take Part in the trek?

This trek is open to anyone over the age of 18, or 16+ if accompanied by a guardian. You must be physically fit and well enough to take part in the challenge. All participants are required to complete a medical form and in some cases this may require a doctor’s signature to confirm your ability to participate.

Action Cancer Contacts

Your contacts in Action Cancer are:

Steph Ellis Dawn Weir Events Assistant Events & Local Group Support Officer Direct Line – 9080 3349 Direct Line – 9080 3369 Email sellis@actioncancer.org Email dweir@actioncancer.org

How do I register

Complete the enclosed registration form, including payment of your registration fee* Return a photocopy of your passport Complete the enclosed medical form Return your completed registration form, medical questionnaire and copy of your passport in the

freepost envelope provided *Please note your £100 registration fee is non-refundable