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The Classic Full Circuit

This route is the fastest way to complete the full Torres del Paine circuit at great value. Trek through the isolated northern side of the park, over the infamous John Gardner Pass with the ice field beneath you and back along the W Trek for the complete experience. With fully-supported camping you can travel light and keep the pace up on one of the world's most famous trekking routes.

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The Classic Full Circuit

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Trip type

Guided Activity

Trip length

7 Days

From

$2,995

Location

Torres del Paine

The Classic Full Circuit - 7 - $2,995

Trip Summary and Itinerary Map

Day 1: Trek to Las Torres (The Towers) lookout; Camping at Refugio Las Torres 

Day 2: Trek to Séron; Séron Campsite 

Day 3: Trek to Dickson; Dickson Campsite

Day 4: Trek to Los Perros River; Los Perros Campsite

Day 5: Trek to Grey Glacier; Grey beach camp

Day 6: Free morning or optional activity; Trek to Lake Pehoé; Paine Grande Campsite

Day 7: Trek the French Valley; Puerto Natales

Start from Puerto Natales and end at Puerto Natales

Landmarks visited on The Classic Full Circuit

Operator's Itinerary

Day 1: Trek to Las Torres (The Towers) lookout; Camping at Refugio Las Torres

At 7.30am we pick you up at your lodging in Puerto Natales. Our transfer takes us along an unpaved road heading to Torres Del Paine. When entering the park, we will have excellent opportunities to photograph guanacos (llama family) and Grey foxes, driving alongside lagoons where you can spot Chilean flamencos and black-necked swans.

We will begin our trek to the base of the Towers, following the Ascencio River to enter the Ascencio Valley. We will walk uphill for one hour before stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley surrounded by unbelievable beech forests (Nothofagus family), glaciers and waterfalls.

We'll continue through the valley for another hour and a half before ascending a huge terminal moraine to a lookout (900m), the perfect photo stop. At this point, we will be surrounded by three giant granite towers (2850m) and a lagoon with slurry waters due to erosion produced by glaciers. This amazing view will be accompanied by lunch, adding to the experience.

After being awed by the towers we'll start our descent, following the same path back to our camp at Refugio Las Torres.

Private transfer: 2hrs

Length of hike: 8-10hrs, 21km

Meals: Picnic lunch, dinner 

Accommodation: Camping at Refugio Las Torres


Day 2: Trek to Séron; Séron Campsite

We will have an early start and, weather permitting, enjoy an impressive view of the Tower's peaks lit up in orange at dawn. We will start our walk through an ancient, tall deciduous beech forest with the chance to see woodpeckers or fresh puma tracks. We follow a well-marked trail on a gradual incline that will lead us to an excellent viewpoint of Paine Chico Mountain in the distance.

Continuing on further, we arrive at the Serón Campsite, which is situated in the more gentle northeastern part of the national park. Here, we will set up our camp and enjoy a good dinner together.

Length of hike: 4-5hrs, 9km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner 

Accommodation: Séron Campsite


Day 3: Trek to Dickson Lake; Dickson Campsite

Today is the most relaxed stretch of our journey and especially interesting for flower lovers who, depending on the season, will see orchids, calceolarias, violets and oxalis. We will trek around Paine Lake along a flattish path with views of many mountains, including Cerro Escudo (The Shield) and Cerro Cabeza del Indio (Indian Head Mountain - the profile of an Indian is observed in the rocks).

As the hike goes on, we will arrive at the beginning of the Paine River, from where we will be able to see the incredible Cerro Cubo (Cube Mountain) and Dickson Lake. We'll spend the night at Dickson Campsite, a refugio campsite with pre-pitched tents.

Length of hike: 6-7hrs, 18.5km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner 

Accommodation: Dickson Campsite


Day 4: Trek to Los Perros River; Los Perros Campsite

At this point we will start our adventuring in one of the most beautiful sections of the park, navigating some of the oldest beech forests, along an undulating path, following Los Perros River, with breathtaking views of mountains, waterfalls and lush vegetation.

We will cross a hanging bridge over Los Perros River to arrive at the terminal moraine of a hanging glacier that feeds a crystalline lagoon at its base. Half an hour from this point is Los Perros Campsite where we will stay overnight. Tonight's campsite is the most basic camping on the whole trek.

Length of hike: 5hrs, 9km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner 

Accommodation: Los Perros Campsite


Day 5: Trek to Grey Glacier; Grey beach camp

This is the most difficult day of the whole circuit, but the dramatic beauty of the scenery is more than enough to keep you going. We’ll begin along a clear trail through forests, then make our way through a swamp-like section before beginning our ascent. As we make our way up, we may come across some snow and eventually reach the John Gardner Pass at 1200m above sea level. From here we have an outstanding view of the Grey Glacier and the Southern Ice Field, with its many unclimbed peaks.

We will journey alongside the glacier on an undulating path through fallen trees which contrast against the vivid Nothofagus forests. We also walk beneath the huge thick granite walls of the Cordon Olguín. If we're lucky, we may see ice calving from the front wall of the Grey Glacier, before we reach our beach camping location for the night.

Length of hike: 10-11hrs, 22km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner 

Accommodation: Grey beach camp


Day 6: Free morning or optional activity; Trek to Lake Pehoé; Paine Grande Campsite

Today we enjoy a leisurely morning, around the camp or in front of the Glacier Grey watching for some ice calving from the huge glacier wall.

Optional excursions that you may like to participate in are a 5-hr ice hike on Grey Glacier, or a 2.5-hr kayak excursion on Lake Grey.

The ice hike on Glacier Grey starts with a safety briefing. Following this you'll take a boat ride, then hike for an hour to safely reach the glacier. From here your guide will check the equipment provided to you - ice axe, crampons, helmet and harness. You must have your own hiking boots with ankle support, gloves and sunglasses - without these you will not be permitted to take this ice hike. The hike on the glacier lasts for 2.5hrs, with the whole trip taking about 5hrs. You must be in very good physical shape for this excursion as the hike to the glacier is challenging.

The 2.5-hr kayaking excursion allows you to paddle around the huge floating icebergs that have calved from the glacial wall. You'll first receive a safety briefing from a specialist guide covering the kayak, paddling, route and conditions. All necessary equipment will be provided - neoprene suit, waterproof jacket, gloves, boots, kayak skirt and life vest.

Advance booking and payment is required for both of these excursions - please see the 'Additional Notes' section below.

We'll have lunch in the Refugio before we start a hike to the Pehoé Lake and the Paine Grande Campsite.

Length of hike: 3.5hrs, 11km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Paine Grande Campsite


Day 7: Trek to the French Valley; Puerto Natales

Today's hike is a round-trip, so we'll be able to leave our packs at Refugio Paine Grande and hike lightly. We'll start by skirting the south-west side of Paine Grande, the highest summit in the Park. This will take us through native forests of fire bush and evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the hanging bridge over the French River to observe the first glimpses of the glacier.

As we take in these sights, we will ascend further (300m) for one hour in a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach a viewpoint where we get jaw-dropping views of granite peaks and hanging glaciers. In this stunning location we'll stop for lunch.

We will then follow the same path back to Pehoe Lake, pick up our packs, cross the lake by catamaran and take a private transfer back to Puerto Natales; where we will end the trip.

Length of hike: 7-8hrs, 17km

Catamaran duration: 35mins

Transfer duration: 2hrs

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch

Customer review background image

What our customers think of The Classic Full Circuit

The Classic Full Circuit trips scored 4.1/5 from 43 reviews

The trip was incredible. The destinations are wild, unique, and absorbing. Every location took hold of us and offered so much more than we could do given our two weeks in the area. We found the people very pleasant and friendly, and the guides at the independent operators were knowledgeable, skillful and committed to ensuring that our family had the best experience possible. We were surprised by exceptional weather with clear skies all day but one! Coming down from the pass to Grey Glacier was unforgettable, as was Perito Moreno and Laguna los Tres.

Travelled: March 2021

Jon DeCristofaro -

The entire trip was a highlight! Totally worth the effort getting down there. Between all the flights and bus rides, all of the hours of traveling seemed to disappear the minute we entered the park. The crazy blue waters, the amazing snow covered peaks, the freshness of the air, the excitement of all the other people heading in. We were lucky with the weather, had beautiful partly sunny, partly cloudy days, with only one snowy/rainy day, and of course the winds...must experience the Patagonian winds!! Overall the trip was AMAZING!!!

Travelled: March 2021

Krista Radetich -

The highlight was definitely going over the John Gardner Pass. It was a tough but really rewarding day. One of the most magical moments was when we made it through the pass and had an absolutely gorgeous view of the Grey Glacier in front of us. I also really enjoyed going through the windy passes and fighting our way through the infamous Patagonian wind! It was a pleasure to meet other people on the trail and to discuss what we had seen already and comparing experiences.

Travelled: March 2021

Alexis McGivern -

Highlight — going across El Paso de las Agachonas while in the middle of a blizzard. We thought we were on another planet. People — INCREDIBLE. My favorite group was the first with Chile Nativo, simply because it was the largest (7 ppl) and every single person was amazing. I still loved the other groups too. Landscapes / wildlife — landscapes were out of this world, with all the glaciers taking the spotlight. Wildlife was pretty good. Friends and family — I let the photos speak for themselves. They told me that it looked legendary. Surprises — Dickson campsite. All the icebergs nearby along with the glacier itself. Very lovely. Magical moment — again at Dickson campsite, by the lake, there was this small bank on the lake with perfectly still water and I caught a photo with the mountain and glacier in the back with PERFECT reflection. Looked like a mirror.

Travelled: March 2021

Christian -

The circuit trek in Torre del Paine was by far the highlight. The remoteness and the untouched nature were amazing. Both of our guides on the hikes were amazing! The simple and quiet beauty is what we will remember forever.

Travelled: March 2021

Erin -

My friend and I were so fortunate to happen into a trip with 3 other ladies our same age who were energetic and kind and perfect travel companions. Our guide, Mauricio, was top notch: Warm and welcoming. Well known and happily greeted by nearly all staff amongst the campsites and facilities. A perfect balance of motivation and patience, a wide knowledge of the trek and terrain, and a passion for the land. We had unusually fantastic sunny weather the entire trek which made for stunning views. Two moments of the trek stick out in my mind -- the night sky at Grey Glacier taking in what seemed like the entire galaxy with the naked eye; and an extended mountaintop lunch break overlooking Grey as we walked on to Paine Grande, enjoying the company of friendship we had made with our guide Mauricio and the porters Pablo and Antonio while we played cards in front of an unforgettable backdrop.

Travelled: March 2021

Chelsea Walker -

Great trip - a mixture of excellent day hikes, a longer multi-day hike and great food/ wine. Both Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine national parks were highlights with the highlight being the quieter back areas of the O trek which is a little closer to more wilderness trekking. I was a little surprised how busy parts of the Torres del Paine mainstream hiking areas were, particularly on the W circuit areas. I really enjoyed El Chlaten - it's a great size for a trekking type town and a fantastic base from which to explore the surrounding areas

Travelled: March 2021

Amil Patel -

Sorry, it can’t be just one - Horse riding at the ranch, driving tour of TDP, the walks, the view!

Travelled: December 2019

K Ahmad -

Our visit was memorable, a mixture of city/town life and the great outdoors. Just moosying around Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales at our leisure, either taking in the museums or the varied bars and cafes, to get a feel for the culture and history was so rewarding. Then there was the Torres big circuit, the challenge of the weather and the spectacular scenery....where would one begin - just do it and live the experience? And then while you are enjoying the scenery, there is the wildlife to watch out for, whether this be for the birding - which if you lucky and knowledgeable about is great, or the elusive puma - and yes, we saw one! Of course there is then the new found friendships;- fellow hikers on your 'tour', other hikers as the sites and in our case the exceptional guides and support staff. Yes, we had some moments....cold, wet, thigh deep snow and more rain but hey what are waterproofs for :).

Travelled: March 2021

Ady -

The trek was extremely challenging, both physically and mentally. The landscapes are incredible. The people I met were likeminded and a pleasure to be with. I think, the terrain was the biggest surprise in terms of the difficulty levels associated with ascent/descent and underfoot.

Travelled: March 2021

Iain Findlay -

Highlight: thermal therapy in glacier los perros!! And Xmas eve - beach party with the lodge staff! And how awesome my group was (literally couldn’t have been better - made lifelong friends) Landscape was fabulous, so varied and spectacular. Not much wildlife. Our group was awesome - all young, fit, full of energy and life! Will tell my grandchildren about all of it! Surprised by how good the food was - especially dinner.

Travelled: March 2021

Amy -

Highlights include that each day was a totally different visual delight. Having done a fair amount of hiking - you can drink all of the water and it is icy! What I tell everyone is "You need to do this hike. Eight days of being off the grid and fabulous scenery. " Additional highlight for those of who have humped our stuff - the food is great and plentiful"

Travelled: March 2021

Gregory -

Aysen kayaking

Travelled: March 2021

Anne Roels -

Highlight was summiting on day 5 and seeing the glaciers. The landscapes were incredible, and we finally saw guanacos on the last day. The people were very friendly and welcoming of trekkers, and I appreciated their hospitality. I would tell my friends that they need to put this on their bucket list.

Travelled: March 2021

Angie Kong -

My trip was amazing. The weather was exceptionally good with rain only 1 day. The mountains and granite peaks are unlike any other mountain region I have seen. There were some long days of hiking, but always balanced with a following less demanding day! We saw wanaco, little foxes, woodpeckers and various other birds. I really was hoping to see a puma but that is quite rare. The group we had was great. Everyone had wit and humor that make the hike all the more enjoyable.

Travelled: March 2021

Elizabeth -

An unexpected highlight was the other hikers in my group. We had a wonderful time getting to know one another during our walks. The landscapes and wildlife were breathtaking. John Gardner Pass was probably my favorite day. This trip will be highly recommended to any family/friends interested in a wild, wonderful adventure

Travelled: March 2021

Katrina Sesline -

-3 towers was amazing & we loved hiking through John Gardner’s pass. - we had 2 others in our group that loved wildlife so we ended up learning and seeing a lot of wildlife. Everyone we met on the hike was great. Super friendly, helpful and upbeat. - our guides were incredibly knowledgeable and always knew exactly the right time to bring out the warm tea! Great treat on a cold rainy hike.

Travelled: March 2021

Chrystina -

Having been there, met others, spoken to lots of people on the ground, the itinerary that Swoop pulled together looks perfect. We were v lucky with the temperamental weather - which helped a lot - and the local partners were excellent. Best parts were the more arduous days and the rewards of the views gained.

Travelled: March 2021

Steve Haigh -

Gorgeous landscape, fantastic guides, great food (which I certainly wasn't expecting).

Travelled: March 2021

Olivia Reynolds -

Day 2 - although it wasn’t the most memorable hike (Day 7 was the winner there), it was the first day with a full pack and we got to camp on the early side. Got to sit by the river and reflect on everything. It was honestly so amazing to be out there without any distractions, doing something I never thought I’d be able to do.

Travelled: March 2022

Amy -

Review:

Classic Full Circuit

Prices, Departures and Inclusions

Prices for the 2023/24 season are:

4-8 people: USD $2,995 per person

3 people: USD $3,395 per person

2 people: USD $3,795 person

2023

2024

Start date Price (pp)
October 2023
31-Oct-2023 $2,995* Fully Booked Enquire
November 2023
7-Nov-2023 $2,995 Fully Booked Enquire
14-Nov-2023 $2,995* Fully Booked Enquire
19-Nov-2023 $2,995 Fully Booked Enquire
23-Nov-2023 $2,995* Fully Booked Enquire
28-Nov-2023 $2,995 Fully Booked Enquire
December 2023
5-Dec-2023 $2,995* Provisional Date Enquire
12-Dec-2023 $2,995 Fully Booked Enquire
19-Dec-2023 $2,995* Fully Booked Enquire
25-Dec-2023 $2,995 Provisional Date Enquire
January 2024
2-Jan-2024 $2,995* Provisional Date Enquire
9-Jan-2024 $2,995 Guaranteed Date Enquire
16-Jan-2024 $2,995* Provisional Date Enquire
23-Jan-2024 $2,995 Provisional Date Enquire
30-Jan-2024 $2,995* Provisional Date Enquire
February 2024
6-Feb-2024 $2,995 Guaranteed Date Enquire
13-Feb-2024 $2,995* Provisional Date Enquire
20-Feb-2024 $2,995 Guaranteed Date Enquire
27-Feb-2024 $2,995* Provisional Date Enquire
March 2024
5-Mar-2024 $2,995 Provisional Date Enquire
12-Mar-2024 $2,995* Provisional Date Enquire
19-Mar-2024 $2,995 Provisional Date Enquire
26-Mar-2024 $2,995* Provisional Date Enquire

* Note: Prices are per person. Paid in USD ($) - figure above is based on today's exchange rate. Actual cost $2,995

Additional Notes

Joining & departure instructions – Please arrive in Puerto Natales on the afternoon before for your trip starts for your group briefing. It is also recommended that you plan to stay in Puerto Natales when you finish your trek. If you would like help booking your pre/post-trek arrangements please just let us know.

Route – This is a slightly shortened version of the Full Circuit, missing the 4/5-hr hike along Lago Nordenskjöld.

Equipment – All camping equipment is provided, except for sleeping bag and mat which you must bring with you, or rent in Puerto Natales. You will need to carry your own sleeping bag, mat and personal possessions.

Single tent supplement - There is a single tent supplement of USD $295 per person for six nights. Solo travellers who are willing to share a tent with another group member will not be charged a single supplement if another solo traveller, of the same sex, is not available.

Private Porters – These are available for USD $825 for five days (Days 2-6) and can carry up to 15kg (usually enough for 2-3 people). They must be booked in advance.

Camping Facilities – Las Torres, Dickson, Grey and Paine Grande Campsites all have shared bathroom facilities and a hot shower (hot water available from 6-9pm). Serón Campsite has shared bathroom facilities and showers. At Los Perros Campsite facilities are limited – only one cold shower.

Optional excursions – On the morning of Day 6 you can choose between a 5-hr ice hike on Grey Glacier (USD $240 per person), or a 2.5-hr kayak excursion on Lake Grey (USD $180 per person). Both excursions are subject to availability and must be booked and paid for in advance as they are not included in the trip price.

Christmas and New Year trips – The trip starting on the 27th December will incur and extra fee. Please contact us for more information.

Includes

  • Meals: 6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners
  • Accommodation: 6 nights camping
  • 4-season tent (double occupancy tent)
  • Cooking equipment
  • Torres del Paine entrance fee
  • English and Spanish speaking guide (ratio 1:6)
  • All private transport included in the itinerary
  • Catamaran across Lago Pehoe
  • Porters to carry group camping equipment and food (you still need to carry your sleeping bag, mat, clothing, etc)

Excludes

  • Meals not indicated in itinerary
  • Drinks other than those included in the meals
  • Backpack (day-pack/65ltr minimum size)
  • Sleeping bag and mat (can be hired)
  • Any extra/optional excursions such as ice-hiking and kayaking
  • Porters to carry personal belongings
  • Personal equipment (see our recommended kit list – hiking poles can be hired)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Gratuities/tips
  • International and domestic/in-country flights
  • Any visa, passport and vaccination expenses

Questions about this Trip?