Itinerary Highlights
- Hike one of the world’s great circuits to the mighty Paine Towers.
- Hike above the ice of Grey Glacier and enjoy dramatic views.
- View French Valley's enormous granite amphitheatre.
- Stay in Patagonia’s first fully sustainable accommodation.
- Choose between a cosy standard dome with shared bathroom or upgrade to a superior dome with private bathroom and heater.
- Start in El Calafate, Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales (transfer included).
- Trek with quality guides and have your entire luggage transported for you.
Itinerary in brief
- Day 1: Transfer from Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Calafate to Torres del Paine NP
- Day 2: Trek Valle del Frances trail
- Day 3: Trek Pehoe - Grey trail
- Day 4: Trek to the Towers
- Day 5: Transfer to Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Calafate.
Tailor-made suggestions for this itinerary
- Add on a side trip to the Argentinean Patagonia with a visit to the trekking mecca, El Chalten and to El Calafate to visit the incredible Perito Moreno glacier.
- Visit Peninsula Valdes, one of the wildlife highlights of Argentina where you can see whales, seals, penguins, orcas and much more.
- If you are after something more strenuous then consider taking on the longer circuit trek which we also offer. Consult us for our range of options.
Day 1: Punta Arenas
The trip begins with you being picked up from your hotel in Punta Arenas or Punta Arenas airport in the morning and driven to EcoCamp Patagonia, located in the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park. Alternatively, you can start your trip in Calafate (see our weekly transfer board for EcoCamp's pick up & drop off schedule). En route we make a stop in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of "Seno de Ultima Esperanza", where we enjoy a hearty local lunch. The journey is scenic and highly atmospheric, featuring many wild birds and wonderful Patagonian landscapes. The day ends with our arrival and overnight stay at EcoCamp Patagonia, with a prime view of the majestic Torres. Sunset is usually around 11 pm during the summer months, meaning that there will still be enough daylight for you to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon once you arrive.
Day 2: French Valley
After breakfast we drive toward Pudeto dock where we board the catamaran to Pehoe, from here we will begin the challenging trek to Valle Frances (French Valley), along a steep trail that leads to the very heart of the Paine Massif. How far in we go depends on our group's trekking rhythm. A swifter walk will lead us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south east face of the Massif, where we will be treated to fantastic views of the valley. We continue to ascend towards the upper section of the valley where we will be able to marvel at the extensive mass of the valley's geological formations. After our upward trek, we will pause for a picnic and relax a while. This day's trek will end as we descend through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest which will take us to Refugio Paine Grande, located on the peaceful shores of Lake Pehoe.
Day 3: Grey Glacier & Boat Ride
This day will see us hike from Paine Grande Refugio along the shores of Lake Pehoe to the northern side of the glacially beautiful Lake Grey. We will feast on a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails right to the huge, crystalline facade of Glacier Grey, where we will have plenty of time to marvel at the calving glacier. From the southern end of Glacier Grey, we will transfer to EcoCamp.
Day 4: Torres del Paine
The goal of the penultimate day of our 5-day trek will be to complete the most famous trekking trail in Torres del Paine National Park! We will walk from EcoCamp towards Hostería Las Torres before ascending to Ascencio Valley on the Tower's eastern face. Mountain ridges, beech forests and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley. Our big challenge comes in the form of the steep moraine, a huge mass of boulders which will lead us to that iconic base-view of the Towers - Three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice. After a tough uphill climb, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before us, with the glacial lake visible below. Is there any better place in the world to have lunch? After feasting on the view and our picnic, we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp for a well-deserved dinner.
Day 5: Punta Arenas
We will board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas in time to catch the evening flight.
Please contact us for dates
Suggested Accommodation
| City |
Accommodation |
| Torres Del Paine |
EcoCamp |
| Torres Del Paine |
Refugio Paine Grande |
Whats included?
- Meals as specified
- All ground transport as indicated in the itinerary
- Regular bus tickets Calafate<>Natales if starting/finishing in Calafate
- One expert English/Spanish speaking trekking guide
- Torres del Paine National Park fee
- 3 nights accommodation at EcoCamp (dome of your choice)
- 1-night accommodation at Refugio Paine Grande (1) (shared basis)
- Boat crossing over Pehoe Lake and Grey Lake (2)
- Sleeping bag for the mountain hut if needed
- Luggage transport: while trekking you will carry just your daypack
What’s not included?
- Flight tickets
- Insurance (it is mandatory you purchase appropriate insurance for this trip)
- Voluntary tipping of guides and staff
- Soft drinks or snacks not served with the meals included at the EcoCamp. Bringing US$ in cash for buying extra drinks/snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine NP is recommended
- Items of a personal nature
- Any items not mentioned as included
Notes
*Prices are based per person in double lead in rooms. Other room types and hotels are available. Rates are subject to change and different rates may apply during holiday seasons and special events.
**During shoulder and low season (October and April), some excursions are subject to weather conditions and may be cancelled or modified for reasons of security. In any case we will either modify the original itinerary or offer you a good alternative of excursion within the park.
