CLASSIC W TREK

We will depart from Puerto Natales at 7:00 AM heading towards Torres del Paine National Park. We will pass through estancias and pampas, and you will be delighted with the landscapes, flora, and fauna that are characteristic of Patagonia. Be sure to have your camera ready! Upon arrival at the refuge, you can leave your luggage and begin the hike to the Tres Torres Viewpoint.

Once you reach the viewpoint at 900 meters (2,953 ft.) above sea level, you can rest, take photos, and have lunch. Our descent will be along the same trail, taking us back to the refuge where we will have dinner and you can rest for the next day.

Depending on the weather, our morning will be illuminated by the oranges and pinks of a Patagonian sunrise. We will hike to the Los Cuernos Viewpoint, where monumental twin black granite peaks, shaped like horns, rise dramatically into the sky.

Along the way, we will pass by Laguna Inge and may spot condors and other birds of prey circling overhead as we walk below. The well-marked trail ascends 200 meters from the base of Almirante Nieto Hill (2,750 m / 9,022 ft) and crosses the Bader River before reaching Los Cuernos Refuge or Domos Franceses.

Today, we will embark on a challenging hike into the heart of the Paine Massif. After breakfast, a winding trail awaits us, leading to the Francés River. At the entrance to the Francés Valley, we will climb over massive rocks and get our first glimpse of the hanging glacier at the top of the valley.

From this point, we will ascend for about an hour through a dreamy Japanese garden-like landscape before reaching La Plateau viewpoint in the Francés Valley. At the top of the valley, Cerro Catedral and Cerro Fortaleza rise like towering fortresses over the landscape. We will take some time to enjoy lunch at the viewpoint before beginning our return journey.

We will start the morning by hiking up the winding trail that leads to Laguna Negra. From there, we will witness sections of the vast Southern Patagonian Ice Field, a geological phenomenon that still hides unexplored peaks.

We will then continue to the Grey Glacier viewpoint, where we will stop for lunch and take in the breathtaking sight of the ice. If we’re lucky, we may even see chunks of ice calving from its massive walls.

Today, there is an option to take a 2.5-hour kayaking excursion (advance reservation required—please contact our travel specialists).

The last day begins with a free morning to stretch, relax, and take in the landscape. You will have the option to go on a kayaking excursion or take an ice hike on the Grey Glacier.

After lunch, we will set sail across Grey Lake to the massive façade of Grey Glacier. We will take time to observe the textures, lines, and colors of the ice wall and, of course, watch for ice calving.

On your return journey, you will see the “ice mushrooms” sculpted by the wind atop the towering peaks of Paine Grande as we navigate past blue-hued icebergs.

Back on solid ground, we will take a 20-minute walk along Grey Beach to meet our transfer, which will take us back to Puerto Natales, where our journey comes to an end.