Which luxury tour operators are best for small group tours in Peru?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 11 November 2026
These 7 tour companies meet our luxury definition and sell a group trip in Peru on their own websites, read 11 November 2026. Each card gives what the company says about it, with the trip, place, group size, age band or price where it names one, then what it sells, why to choose it, what to ask for and the limits it publishes. Luxury here means the definition Uncompromised Travel applies to every company, read from its own facts: mainly private trips planned to order at a luxury standard; a published price of about US$500 or more per person per day; groups of 16 or fewer in hotels or lodges it calls luxury, premium or five-star; or small ships it operates itself at premium prices.
Which luxury tour operators are best for small group tours in Peru?
7 tour companies in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that they meet our luxury definition and sell a group trip in Peru; Natural Habitat Adventures, Wild Terrains and Backroads have the most Google reviews under their own name.
Backroads
- Best for
- Active biking and hiking trips for adults
- Peru
- Sells a Peru Hiking & Walking Tour (Sacred Valley, Cusco & Machu Picchu, 7 days) and a Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trekking Tour (9 days).
- What it sells
- Active travel company based in Berkeley, California, that runs scheduled biking, hiking and walking and multi-adventure departures, plus Women's Adventures, family, 30s & 40s and Private trips.
- Why choose them
- Says it has pioneered Biking, Hiking & Walking and Multi-Adventure Trips in over 60 countries since 1979. Google: 4.1 out of 5 from 124 reviews; Trustpilot: 2.2 out of 5 from 13 reviews, newest 4 November 2026. Read 11 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for Women's Adventures if you want a women-only departure, or for Solo Room Savings dates with reduced private room fees.
- Not the fit if
- you want your own room at no extra cost: prices are based on double occupancy and single occupancy incurs a supplemental fee.
- Enquiry
- backroads.com
Boundless Journeys
- Best for
- Active small-group journeys, hiking and safaris
- Peru
- Sells Peru: The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, 8 days, US$6,095 per person with 2027 departures on Jul 25 and Aug 22 and Peru: Lodge-to-Lodge Salkantay Trek, 9 days, US$5,295 per person with 2027 departures on Jul 16 and Aug 20.
- What it sells
- Small-group operator of walking, hiking, trekking, sea kayaking, wildlife safari and cultural departures, with private and custom tours as well, based in Stowe, Vermont, USA.
- Group size
- Generally limits groups to 16 guests with 8 to 10 the average; its hiking trips say groups of 12 or fewer.
- Why choose them
- Generally limits its groups to 16 guests, with 8 to 10 the average. Google: 4.7 out of 5 from 37 reviews. Read 11 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the $500 (2027) single supplement saving for the first one or two solo travellers reserved on a departure, or for a same-gender roommate match.
- Not the fit if
- you want a private room at no extra cost: it charges a single supplement, with $500 (2027) off for the first one or two reserved on each departure.
- Published price
- Italy: The Dolomites Traverse, 8 days, $7,295 per person in US dollars, departures from 26 June 2027, airfare not included. Read 11 November 2026.
- Enquiry
- boundlessjourneys.com/faq
Discover Corps
- Best for
- Culture and conservation trips in small groups
- Peru
- Runs Peru: Wonders of the Sacred Valley, 7 days, adult $5,695 per person on double occupancy, with departures such as Nov 22 to 28, 2026 and Mar 14 to 20, 2027.
- What it sells
- Is a small-group operator, the family volunteer travel division of Terra Education, running its own scheduled small group departures as well as private departures from a San Diego, California address.
- Group size
- Says group size averages 8 with a maximum of 15, while its festival departures are limited to 16.
- Why choose them
- Says group size averages 8 with a maximum of 15. Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 101 reviews. Read 11 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a departure marked STS (Solo Traveller Savings), which offers a single room upgrade at no additional cost.
- Not the fit if
- you are a solo traveller booking within 90 days of departure with no other solo traveller to share: you must pay the single room supplement.
- Published price
- Japan Cultural Odyssey, 8 days, $5,595 per person (adult, double occupancy), departing Dec 13 to 20, 2026. Read 11 November 2026.
Natural Habitat Adventures
- Best for
- Small-group wildlife travel, including women-only trips
- Peru
- Runs a Machu Picchu Women's Journey, a women-only group departure.
- What it sells
- Wildlife-focused small-group operator running its own scheduled departures, plus private and custom trips and women-only Women's Journeys; it also books National Geographic-Lindblad expedition cruises as an agent.
- Group size
- Says its groups average just nine guests. The largest of its own trips listed carries 29 guests (Tundra Lodge Adventure).
- Why choose them
- Says its trips average just nine travellers. Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 307 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 3,027 reviews, newest 10 November 2026. Read 11 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a Women's Journey such as Natural Jewels of Costa Rica, 8 to 17 February 2027.
- Not the fit if
- you may need to cancel late: 60 calendar days or less before departure, the cancellation fee is 100% of the trip price.
- Published price
- Natural Jewels of Costa Rica: Women's Journey, 10 days, 8 to 17 February 2027, from $11,495 per person plus air. Read 11 November 2026.
- Website
- nathab.com
Wild Terrains
- Best for
- Women-only small-group trips for all ages
- Peru
- Runs a women-only Peru trip, 7 days, for up to 14 women through the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu by train, Cusco and Lima. The 22 to 28 Aug 2027 departure is USD $8,800 shared room or $9,800 private room.
- What it sells
- Women-only small-group trips with a local trip leader, in destinations including Portugal, Iceland, Japan, Peru, Argentina and Menorca; it sells direct and shows prices in US dollars.
- Group size
- Says it caps its group size at 10 to 14 women per trip; trip pages give up to 11 (Menorca) and up to 16 (Iceland).
- Why choose them
- Says about half of its travellers come solo and the other half with a friend or family member. Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 175 reviews. Read 11 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for both the private-room and shared-room price for your trip and the name of its local trip leader.
- Not the fit if
- you need flexibility close to departure: bookings are non-refundable and there are no cancellations or changes fewer than 120 days before the start.
- Published price
- Portugal, 8 days, 10 Sept 2027, USD $7,500 per person in a private room (USD $6,500 in a shared room), women only. Read 11 November 2026.
Wilderness Travel
- Best for
- Small-group hiking and wildlife trips worldwide
- Peru
- Sells small-group Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (9 days), Treasures of the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu (8 days) and Trekking the Cordillera Blanca (14 days).
- What it sells
- Family-owned adventure operator founded in 1978 and based in Berkeley, California, running its own scheduled Small Group Adventures plus Private Journeys; it also books small-ship and river cruises operated by others as an agent.
- Group size
- Says its average group size is 10 and never more than 16 on Small Group Adventures.
- Why choose them
- Says its average group size is 10 and never more than 16. Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 193 reviews, newest 6 November 2026. Read 11 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for an Area Specialist as your single point of contact and for the single supplement noted in the Detailed Itinerary of your trip.
- Not the fit if
- you want your own room at no extra cost on most trips: those who request single accommodation pay a single supplement.
Women Travel Abroad
- Best for
- Solo women wanting their own room
- Peru
- Runs a women-only group trip to Peru from June 13 to 20, 2027.
- What it sells
- Is a women-only small-group operator founded in 2014, with single-occupancy rooms by default, that is also an IATA-certified agency.
- Group size
- Caps all its trips at a maximum of 10 travellers and describes groups of 6 to 10 women.
- Why choose them
- Says it caps all its trips at a maximum of 10 travellers. Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 24 reviews. Read 11 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for a place on one of its 2027 small group, women-only departures and for the weekly Saturday community call at 12pm ET.
- Not the fit if
- you want a lower price per person by default: all published prices are for single occupancy.
- Published price
- Egypt New Year Celebration, 8 days (7 nights), US$6,495 per person single occupancy, Dec 29, 2026 to Jan 5, 2027. Read 11 November 2026.
- Enquiry
- womentravelabroad.com
Which of these show a dated price on this page?
5 of the 7 cards show a published trip price with its year, in the currency the company writes it. Ask every company for a written quote for your departure, with the single supplement if you travel alone.
Who to contact first
Start with the 4 companies on this page that publish their prices and cancellation charges, then add any other card that fits your dates and budget.
What to ask each one to set out in writing:
- The total price per person in writing and what it includes: hotels, meals, transport, activities, entrance fees and any internal flights.
- The single supplement on your departure, or whether the company will pair you with a roommate and what happens if no roommate is found.
- The largest group on your departure, how many are booked so far and whether the departure is guaranteed to run.
- The deposit, when the balance is due, the cancellation charges by date and how your payment is protected (ATOL, ABTA, USTOA or a trust account).
Luxury small-group tours of Peru: the questions people ask
What counts as luxury on this page?
A company whose own facts meet Uncompromised Travel's luxury definition: mainly private trips planned to order at a luxury standard, a published price of about US$500 or more per person per day, groups of 16 or fewer in hotels it calls luxury, premium or five-star, or small ships it operates at premium prices.
What should I ask a tour company before booking?
The total price per person and what it includes; the single supplement or whether it will pair you with a roommate; the largest group on your departure and whether it is guaranteed to run; the deposit, the cancellation charges and how your payment is protected.
Can I book with these companies directly?
Yes. Each card links the company's own website or enquiry page; ask for a written quote for your departure that lists what the price includes and the cancellation charges.
Do these companies all sell the same kind of trip?
No. Some run small-group departures open to everyone; some run trips only for solo travellers, women or an age band. Each card says what the company sells, so compare the cards before you ask for quotes.
What is a single supplement?
The extra a solo traveller pays for a room alone. Some companies charge none on some departures; others pair solo travellers with a roommate instead; ask each company for its figure on your departure.
Which of these have the most Google reviews?
Natural Habitat Adventures, Wild Terrains and Backroads, in that order. A count says how many people reviewed a company, not whether it fits your trip; each card gives the rating and count, read 11 November 2026.
Which of these publish their single supplement?
4 of the 7: Backroads, Boundless Journeys, Discover Corps and Wilderness Travel. Ask each for the figure on your departure.
Which of these publish their cancellation charges?
6 of the 7: Backroads, Boundless Journeys, Discover Corps, Natural Habitat Adventures, Wild Terrains and Wilderness Travel. Ask each for the full terms in writing before you pay a deposit.
Which of these say how your payment is protected?
2 of the 7: Backroads and Wilderness Travel. Check each scheme or licence with its issuer before you book.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Each card links the pages of the company's own website its lines were read from, with the date they were read.
How were these companies chosen?
Each one is in the Uncompromised Travel solo and small-group tour operators table, built from the companies ChatGPT names most often when asked about solo and small-group travel. On its own website it meets our luxury definition and sells a group trip in Peru. A company is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each company published on its own website, read on 11 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the company's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel solo and small-group tour operators table. Cards are in alphabetical order. Photos show the places named in their captions, not any company's trips. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.