W Trek in Winter

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