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W Trek in Winter

Our expert guides make it possible to follow the majority of the W Trek and experience its highlights even in the winter months, despite of chillier conditions and limited services. You'll have the snow-covered Torres del Paine National Park almost all to yourself – something that few people ever experience.

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W Trek in Winter

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Trip type

Guided Activity

Trip length

5 Days

From

$2,095

Location

Torres del Paine

W Trek in Winter - 5 - $2,095

Trip Summary and Itinerary Map

Day 1: Arrive in Torres del Paine; Hike the Carretas Trail

Day 2: Hike to Grey Glacier

Day 3: Hike to the French Valley

Day 4: Hike the Carretas Trail; Transfer to Serrano Area

Day 5: Hike to Las Torres (The Towers) viewpoint; Transfer to Puerto Natales

Start from Puerto Natales and end at Puerto Natales

Landmarks visited on W Trek in Winter

Operator's Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Torres del Paine; Hike the Carretas Trail

Your private transfer will pick you up early in the morning from your hotel in Puerto Natales and drive you to Torres del Paine National Park’s administration area, where your first hike will begin.

This is a six-hour hike along the Carretas trail to the shores of Lake Pehoé, at the base of the Paine Massif. The Grey River will be a constant feature along the way and you’ll have a picnic lunch before arriving at Refugio Paine Grande.

Once there, you’ll settle into your dorm before enjoying a hearty dinner.

Transfer duration: 2hrs

Length of hike: 6hrs, 16km/10 miles

Meals: Picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande


Day 2: Hike to Grey Glacier

Today, your destination is the Grey Glacier. This is a stunningly beautiful ice giant ending abruptly in the glacial lake of the same name. You’ll start out early in the morning with the trail involving a 200 metre ascent up to Laguna Negra.

Here, you’ll see sections of the expansive Southern Patagonian Ice Field, a geological phenomenon that still has many unexplored sections. You’ll then continue on to a viewpoint for Grey Glacier, passing through forests and rivers, with possible sightings of the spectacled and flying steamer ducks that call this place home.

You’ll have lunch at the viewpoint with the huge Grey Glacier below you. If you're there at the right time, you might see ice calving from the huge walls of the glacier into the freezing lake.

You'll return along the same path, with views of Paine Grande and the giant granite walls of Cordon Olguín, to the Refugio where you’ll spend a second night.

Length of hike: 8hrs, 22km/13 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande


Day 3: Hike to the French Valley

Today’s hike follows a challenging route to the heart of the Paine massif. Your destination is the French Valley - a spectacular natural basin surrounded by peaks and hanging glaciers.

After breakfast you’ll start a two-hour hike through firebush and beech forests to the suspension bridge over the French River. At the entrance to the French Valley – a glacial moraine – you’ll scramble over huge boulders and catch the first sight of the hanging glacier atop the valley.

From here, you’ll ascend for an hour through a dreamlike Japanese garden landscape before arriving at the French Valley viewpoint (the 'Plateau'). Your reward is a breath-taking view of granite peaks and hanging glaciers. To one side, the French Glacier and Paine Grande (3,050m); while to 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, Cerro Catedral and Cerro Fortaleza loom like turrets above the landscape.

You’ll have lunch at this viewpoint, surrounded by these imposing peaks and open skies, before returning to the Refugio via the same route.

Length of hike: 7-8hrs, 18km/11 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Refugio Paine Grande


Day 4: Hike via Las Carretas Trail; Transfer to Serrano Area

Today you’ll make your way back across the park, once again hiking the Carretas Trail to the park’s administration area. Here, you'll take a transfer to Serrano village where you’ll stay the night in a cosy cabin.

Transfer duration: 30mins

Length of hike: 6hrs, 16km/10 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Cabin at Serrano village


Day 5: Hike to Las Torres viewpoint; Transfer to Puerto Natales

In the morning, you'll take a transfer to Las Torres area to begin your hike to the towers viewpoint. The trail takes you through incredible deciduous beech forests, with views of glaciers and waterfalls.

The final section of trail involves ascending a huge terminal moraine up to the Las Torres viewpoint (900m) with excellent photo opportunities. From here you'll be surrounded by three giant granite towers (2,850m) and a lagoon fed by waters from glacial erosion. You'll have a break and enjoy lunch in front of the breathtaking view.

The descent follows the same path back down to the estancia Las Torres, from where you'll take a transfer back to Puerto Natales.

Transfer duration: 1.5hrs to Las Torres area; 2hrs to Puerto Natales

Length of hike: 8-10hrs, 22km/13 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch

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What our customers think of W Trek in Winter

W Trek in Winter trips scored 4.8/5 from 3 reviews

The Winter W-trek was a truly unique experience, and part of our bucket list of places around the world to go hiking. The highlight of my trip was reaching the Grey Glacier after a long distance hike and having lunch facing the glacier in silence - a moment of pure tranquility. The landscapes we saw varied day to day and we were lucky to see a herd of guanacos, condors and even a wild puma! We got on very well with the other people in our group (from the USA and China) and learned a lot from them - they inspired us and gave us more locations to add to our holiday bucket list! The guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. I have some amazing pictures and have been showing them to everyone at home and at work. We hope to visit Patagonia again in the future, perhaps to experience it in the Summer.

Travelled: March 2021

Ruby -

The highlights were the beauty of the nature and wildlife We met some very interesting and kind travelers from Germany, South America and North America

Travelled: March 2021

Samantha Hastie -

Our trip was great - Mauricio was extremely knowledgeable about everything we were seeing, Refugio Paine Grande and Darwin were both great, and the hikes were lovely. We were snowed out completely of our last day (Torres) which was of course a bummer but we understood why the decision had to be made and knew this was a risk of an outdoor adventure.

Travelled: March 2021

Jasmine -

Review:

Torres del Paine Winter Adventure

Prices, Departures and Inclusions

Prices per person for the 2023 season are:

4-8 people: USD $2,095

3 people: USD $2,418

2 people: USD $2,918

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You may be interested in our Winter Highlights of Torres del Paine trip.

2023

Start date Price (pp)
June 2023
7-Jun-2023 $2,095* Provisional Date Enquire
14-Jun-2023 $2,095 Provisional Date Enquire
July 2023
5-Jul-2023 $2,095* Provisional Date Enquire
19-Jul-2023 $2,095 Provisional Date Enquire
August 2023
9-Aug-2023 $2,095* Provisional Date Enquire
23-Aug-2023 $2,095 Provisional Date Enquire

* Note: Prices are per person. Paid in USD ($) - figure above is based on today's exchange rate. Actual cost $2,095

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.

Group size – Minimum two, maximum eight.

Single supplement – For those wishing not to share accommodation, there is a USD $100 supplement for the trip.

Includes

  • All meals indicated in the itinerary
  • Three nights in refugios (dormitories with bunk beds), sleeping bags, heating, showers and hot water
  • One night in a cabin (two-room cabin with shared bathroom)
  • All the private transportation indicated in the schedule
  • Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park
  • English- and Spanish-speaking guide

Excludes

  • Meals not included in the itinerary
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Any additional nights
  • Personal equipment (see our recommended kit list)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Porters to carry personal belongings (available upon request, cost of USD $150 per day with a maximum of 15 kg per porter, usually good to share one between two hikers)
  • Gratuities/tips
  • International and domestic/in-country flights
  • Any visa, passport and vaccination expenses

Questions about this Trip?