The Original Torres del Paine W Trek

Day 1: Trek to Las Torres lookout; Refugio Torres Central

Leave Puerto Natales at 7am for the drive to Torres del Paine National Park, passing flat pampas and lagoons where you can see guanacos, Darwin's Rheas, Chilean flamingos and black-necked swans. After arriving at the Refugio Torres Central you’ll have time to relax before we begin our first hike of the trip, up to Las Torres lookout.

An initial ascent follows the Ascencio River into the Ascencio Valley. At a lookout point, about an hour into the trek, we’ll pause to take in the beauty of the valley's rich beech forests, glaciers and waterfalls.

After this point, the path continues climbing through lush beech forests before ascending a gigantic terminal moraine (the ridge formed at a glacier’s endpoint). It's here, at an altitude of 900m, where we’ll be rewarded by the stunning sight of Las Torres and stay a while to soak up the amazing views, take photos and have lunch. We'll then retrace our steps back to the Refugio where we’ll have dinner and rest for the evening.

In the event that fewer than 4 people are booked on your W Trek, the itinerary will change slightly. Today, you will meet your guide at the coach station and take the public coach into the national park to begin your trek. 

Group transfer: 2hrs 
Length of hike: 8-10hrs, 20km/12.4 miles
Meals: Picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Refugio Torres Central

Day 2: Trek to Los Cuernos lookout; Refugio Los Cuernos

Today we'll hike to Los Cuernos lookout, where monumental horn-shaped black twin granite peaks shoot skyward. This route is the best on the trek for all-around panoramic views where you can take in not only the Andes mountains, glaciated valleys and stunning lakes, but also the wind-swept rolling hills of the steppe which stretches eastwards to the Atlantic.

We'll leave behind the crowds who are entering the park just to see Las Torres and will follow a route via Inge Lagoon – condors and other birds of prey may be circling the skies above us. The well-marked trail climbs 200m from the base of Mt Almirante Nieto (2750m) and crosses the Bader River with the magnificent turquoise-hued lake a constant to our left until we reach our finishing point and accommodation for the night – Refugio Los Cuernos or Domos Frances.

Length of hike: 4-5hrs, 13km/8 miles
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Refugio Los Cuernos or Domos Frances

Day 3: Trek to the French Valley; Refugio Paine Grande

A challenging trek to the heart of the Paine massif awaits us today. After breakfast, a meandering path leads us to the French River, a 1-2 hour hike depending on whether we stayed at Refugio Los Cuernos or Domos Frances the night before. On entering the French Valley – a glacial moraine surrounded by peaks and hanging glaciers – we’ll scramble over huge boulders and catch our first sight of the hanging glacier atop the valley.

From here we ascend for an hour through a dreamlike Japanese garden landscape before arriving at the French Valley viewpoint (the 'Plateau'). Your reward is a stunning bird’s eye view of granite peaks and hanging glaciers. On one side is the French Glacier and Paine Grande (3050m); while on the other, La Espada, La Hoja, La Máscara and the main and north 'horns' of Los Cuernos arch upwards. In the upper section of the valley, Mt Catedral and Mt Fortaleza loom like turrets above the landscape. We'll have plenty of time to rest and have lunch at the viewpoint, surrounded by these imposing peaks and open skies.

Our descent is via the same path until we reach the valley’s entrance, from where we’ll continue around the southwest side of Torres del Paine’s highest peak, Paine Grande. This final stretch passes through native firebush and evergreen beech forests to Refugio Paine Grande, by the shores of Lake Pehoe. We'll have dinner and rest here for the night.

Length of hike: 8-9hrs, 23km/14.3 miles
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande

Day 4: Trek to Glacier Grey; optional kayaking; Refugio Grey

We’ll start early, ascending 200m on the winding trail to Laguna Los Patos. It's here where we’ll see sections of the massive Southern Patagonian Ice Field, a geological phenomenon that still guards many unexplored peaks.

Continuing on to Glacier Grey’s lookout point, we pass forests and rivers, with possible sightings of the spectacled and flightless steamer ducks. Lunch is at the lookout point with the monumental Glacier Grey at our feet. We might catch sight of ice calving from its huge walls into the freezing waters below.

There is a fantastic opportunity to go on a 2.5-hour kayaking excursion in the afternoon where you'll 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 - please see the 'Additional Notes' section below.

Accommodation for the night is at Refugio Grey, on the shore of Lake Grey.

Length of hike: 4hrs, 11km/8.6 miles
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Refugio Grey

Day 5: Boat trip to the face of Glacier Grey; optional ice hiking

The final day starts with a free morning to relax and take in the landscape or go kayaking. There's also an excellent option to ice hike on Glacier Grey which would be great if you had already kayaked the day before. Following a safety briefing 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 5 hours. You must be in very good physical shape for this excursion as the hike to the glacier is challenging. Advance booking and payment is required - please see the 'Additional Notes' section below.

After lunch, we’ll take a boat across Lake Grey to the massive facade of Glacier Grey. There will be plenty of time to study the wall’s textures, lines and colours and of course, watch for ice calving. The return journey passes blue icebergs and you’ll also see the wind-sculpted 'ice mushrooms' atop the massive peaks of Paine Grande. Due to the highly temperamental weather in the region, boat trips across the lake may occasionally be cancelled. If this is the case, your guide will instruct you and you will trek from Refugio Grey to Refugio Paine Grande (11km) and take a catamaran boat to be picked up elsewhere and driven back to Puerto Natales.

Once back on dry land, we’ll hike 20 minutes along Grey Beach to rendezvous with our group transfer. This takes us back to Puerto Natales where our journey ends.

If you are trekking in a group of 2 or 3 hikers, today you will trek from Refugio Grey to Refugio Paine Grande (11km) and take a catamaran boat across Lake Pehoe, and take the public coach back to Puerto Natales.

Boat trip: 2hrs
Group transfer: 2hrs
Length of hike: 20 minutes
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch