• W-Trekking at Torres del Paine National Park

    6 nights / 7 days

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  • Trek one of South America’s most famous long-distance walking routes through Torres del Paine National Park.
  • Climb through the beautiful Ascencio Valley to the iconic Base Las Torres viewpoint.
  • Walk beneath Almirante Nieto and the Cuernos del Paine, with spectacular views across Lake Nordenskjöld.
  • Explore the dramatic French Valley, surrounded by mountains, hanging glaciers and some of the park’s most impressive scenery.
  • Trek along Grey Lake towards the enormous Grey Glacier, an outlet of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
  • Travel through changing landscapes of Lenga forest, glacial valleys, rocky mountain terrain and turquoise lakes.
  • Experience nights within the national park with a choice of fully equipped camping or mountain refugio accommodation.
  • Cross beautiful Lake Pehoé by catamaran at the end of the trekking adventure.

For this itinerary, the gateway is Puerto Natales in Chilean Patagonia. From the UK, travellers would normally fly to Santiago, then continue south by domestic flight towards Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas, depending on available schedules. Ask us for competitive fares. 

Fully Equipped Camping


Stay in pre-set mountain-quality tents, complete with sleeping bag and mat, so there is no need to carry your own tent or camping equipment. Campsites have bathroom facilities with hot showers and personal lockers, and guests receive a welcome kit including a sleeping bag liner and towel. Meals are included from dinner on the first night of the circuit.


Mountain Refugios


For a little more comfort, choose the mountain hostel/refugio option. Accommodation is in simple shared mountain lodges, generally in bunk-bed rooms, with a sleeping bag, personal locker and access to bathrooms with hot showers. Full board is included during the trek.

Included services:

  • Itinerary with accommodation, transfers
  • Bed & Breakfast.
  • Meals according to programme.
  • Entrance fees (included based on current values, subject to change).

Excluded services:

  • International flights
  • Possible fees at border crossings.
  • Optional excursions.
  • Gratuities
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Services not mentioned in the program.
  • Travel Insurance

LENGTH: 5 Nights


PRICE:  from £1,685 per person, based on two people sharing a tent. Single supplement and hotel option available on request. 


INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY:  Puerto Natales, Patagonia


How Challenging is the W Trek?


This is an active trekking holiday and travellers should be comfortable walking for several hours over uneven and sometimes steep mountain terrain. The detailed programme describes the Base Las Torres and French Valley days as demanding, with the French Valley potentially involving 10–12 hours of walking, while the Grey Glacier day is around 8–9 hours. Good hiking boots, suitable all-weather clothing and a reasonable level of fitness are therefore important.

Iconic W Trek

Follow Patagonia’s legendary W-shaped route through the heart of Torres del Paine, linking together the park’s famous valleys, mountains, lakes and glaciers.

Base Las Torres

Trek through the Ascencio Valley and ancient Lenga forest before climbing to the unforgettable viewpoint beneath the three towering granite spires of Las Torres.

Glaciers & Mountains

Discover the spectacular French Valley and walk towards Grey Glacier, where the enormous Southern Patagonian Ice Field meets the turquoise waters of Grey Lake.

Sleep in the Wild

Stay within Torres del Paine itself, choosing between pre-erected, fully equipped mountain tents or simple refugio accommodation, with meals provided during the trek. 

Overview

Experience one of Patagonia’s great walking adventures on the legendary W Trek through Torres del Paine National Park. Named after the shape traced by its trails through the mountains, this spectacular route takes you deep into a landscape of granite towers, turquoise lakes, ancient forests, glaciers and vast Patagonian wilderness.


Beginning in Puerto Natales, travel into Torres del Paine and spend five unforgettable days walking between some of the park’s most celebrated landscapes. Hike through the Ascencio Valley to Base Las Torres, where the park’s iconic granite towers rise dramatically above a glacial lagoon. Continue beneath the imposing Cuernos del Paine, following trails overlooking Lake Nordenskjöld before venturing into the magnificent French Valley, surrounded by soaring peaks and hanging glaciers.


The final stage leads towards Grey Glacier, part of the vast Southern Patagonian Ice Field, where immense walls of blue-grey ice spill towards Grey Lake and icebergs drift across the water. A catamaran journey across Lake Pehoé provides a wonderfully scenic end to the trek before returning to Puerto Natales.


Accommodation within the park can be in fully equipped camping or mountain refugios, allowing you to experience Patagonia up close without having to carry your own camping equipment. Meals, park entrance, the Lake Pehoé catamaran and regular bus transfers between Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine are included in the trekking package.


Day by Day Itinerary

 

Day 1 | Arrival - Puerto Natales

Private transfer from the bus terminal or airport in Puerto Natales to the hotel in Puerto Natales.


Overnight at the Hotel Vendaval (or similar) in Puerto Natales for one night including breakfast.



Day 2 | Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine National Park

Private transfer from the hotel in Puerto Natales to the bus terminal in Puerto Natales.


To get to the park, you will take the convenient public bus running from Puerto Natales to the park entrance at Laguna Amarga. Once you arrive, you should pick up your welcome kit at the Welcome Center and continue walking to Las Torres Camping area.



Day 3 | Trekking to the “Base Las Torres” viewpoint

During the first couple of hours of today’s hike you will climb upwards into the Asencio Valley, stopping occasionally to admire the marvellous views of Lake Nordenskjöld and Almirante Nieto Mountain (2,670 m.) behind you. After resting at Refugio El Chileno, you will continue along the trail for about an hour and a half, passing through an age-old Lenga (Beech) forest and crossing plunging streams, to the Campamento Torres. Here, you will turn sharply and climb steeply for about an hour up the side of the valley, through a rock-covered glacial moraine, to the ‘Base Las Torres’ viewpoint.


This magnificent spot rewards you with memorable views of the Torre Sur, at 2,850 m., the Torre Central (2,800 m.), the Torre Norte (2,600 m.), and the Cerro Nido de Cóndor. After plenty of time for pictures, descend back down to the Refugio El Chileno to spend the night.


Difficulty: demanding, 6-8 hours



Day 4 | Trekking from El Chileno to Los Cuernos Refugio

Depart the Refugio El Chileno heading south-southeast, retracing the previous morning’s path; but after about 30 minutes’ walk you will see the marker for the shortcut that leads southwest toward the Refugio Los Cuernos. This trail will take you around the base of Almirante Nieto Mountain, part of the Paine Massif, with great views of Lake Nordenskjöld. Beginning in December, on these hillsides thousands of flowers bloom in different colours, especially the Ciruelillo or Fire Bush, which takes its name from the deep red of its flowers.


After about a 4.5-hour moderate hike, you will arrive at the foot of the Cuernos (Horns), where your Refugio is located. This is one of the most charming sites in the whole park, a perfect spot to rest and recover your energy for the next day’s challenging trek up the French Valley.


Difficulty: at the beginning easy, later medium, 4-5 hours



Day 5 | Trekking up the French Valley

During the first 2 hours, your path will take you westward, with Lake Nordenskjöld below to your left and the Cuernos soaring up on your right. Upon reaching the Campamento Italiano, we recommend that you contact the CONAF park rangers so you may leave your large backpack with them and take only a smaller day-pack along on the demanding next part of your trek.


This hike will take you northward, up the valley of the Río del Francés, with scenery to rival that of anywhere in the world. After a 90-minute walk over difficult terrain, you will reach the Paine Grande lookout, where you’ll be able to gaze up at the mountain’s ‘hanging’ glacier and, as the day’s sun warms the ice, occasional small avalanches. From here, you have the option of returning back down the valley; but if you continue onward for another 90 minutes, shortly after the Campamento Británico you’ll reach the lookout considered by many to be the most overwhelming location in the park: the Mirador Valle del Francés. This spot affords jaw-dropping views of the Paine Grande, the Cerro Hoja, the Cerro Máscara, the Cerro Catedral, the Cerro Aleta de Tiburón, the Cuerno Norte, and others.


After returning down the valley to the Campamento Italiano, and collecting your pack, you will turn soutwestward for a much easier 2-hour hike to the Refugio Paine Grande, overlooking Lake Pehoé.


Difficulty: demanding, 10-12 hours


 

Day 6 | Trekking to Grey Glacier

The trail to the Grey Glacier Viewpoint takes you around the western side of the Paine Massif with views of Grey Lake and mountains beyond. After an hour and a half of moderate (but often windy!) hiking, you will reach the first lookout point, where you’ll see the massive Grey Glacier in the distance, spawning icebergs into Grey Lake.


You’ll continue northward for another 90 minutes through a Lenga forest until reaching the main lookout, just across the lake from the glacier. From this spot, you’ll have a good chance to appreciate the glacier’s 20-metre-high, blue-grey terminus, marking one of the edges of the great Southern Ice Field.


On your return, you will retrace your steps back to Lake Pehoé, in time for the 18:30h. catamaran trip across the lake to the Pudeto park entrance, where your bus will be waiting to take you back to Puerto Natales.


Difficulty: medium, 8-9 hours


Private transfer from the bus terminal in Puerto Natales to the hotel in Puerto Natales driver only


Overnight at the Hotel Vendaval (or similar) in Puerto Natales for one night including breakfast.


Day 7 | Depart

Private transfer from the hotel in Puerto Natales to the bus terminal or Airport in Puerto Natales driver only

Why we love it

Wildlife

Glaciers

Scenery

Trekking

Go Beyond the Ordinary

All itineraries can be tailored to your dates, budget and travel style. Add extra nights, upgrade hotels, include wildlife experiences or create something completely bespoke.