Dare to enjoy a unique experience in one of the leading hiking circuits in the world: the tour of the Paine Massif, where nature invites you to challenge your body and mind. For 8 intense days you will be amazed by the granite towers that give the park its name, the legendary Francés Valley, or the striking Grey Glacier seen from the John Garner mountain pass where the ice blends into the clouds on the horizon. An experience that will take your breath way.
Day 01: Arrival to Punta Arenas – Puerto Natales
Upon arrival, welcome you at the airport, where you will be given a detailed itinerary, a welcome kit, and assistance with your luggage. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel. Today you will meet our SGV Travel representative where a full Itinerary briefing will be provided.
Day 02: Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park
Transport to Torres del Paine National Park + Trek to Camping Serón (4 – 6 hours, 8.9 Km, approx. 200m elevation gain)
At 7.30 AM in the morning, we will depart to Torres del Paine National Park, once we arrive to the Main entrance in Laguna Amarga, and acquire the Entrance ticket to the Park; afterwards, we take the shuttles that lead to Las Torres sector, where the trekking begins.
In Las Torres Sector we will meet our porters and hand them your duffle bags (Please be aware that duffle bags don’t weight more than 7,5kg each. Thank you in advance for your understanding, that for own health porters need to protect themselves from any luggage excess).
From Las Torres sector we might be able to enjoy impressive views of the Torres del Paine and the peak of Almirante Nieto before we start hiking.
Our trail will guide us across ancient glacial moraines and walk through a tall deciduous beech forest, where we may spot the Magellanic woodpecker. On our way to Camp Serón we hike through the foothills of Cerro Paine and grassland areas. On this hike, we might also be able to spot Austral parakeets, several species of geese and the occasional guanaco such as foxes.
Day 03: Camping Serón to Refugio Dickson
Trekking from Camping Serón to Refugio Dickson (6 – 8 hours; 18,5 Km, approx. 204m elevation gain)
Recommended hour to start: 8.30 AM.
We will have another early start, as this is going to be a long hiking day. Our path will lead us through ups and downs, but the terrain is going to be mostly flat today. Our hike continues along the foothills of Cerro Paine and skirting Lago Paine. Today we might catch some incredible views of the northeast peaks of the Paine Massif, including Cabeza del Indio (Indian Head), Escudo, Cubo, and Dickson.
Tonight we camp at Lago Dickson, a glacial lake on the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Cap.
Day 04: Refugio Dickson to Campamento Perros
Trekking from Refugio Dickson to Campamento Perros (5 – 7 hours 1/2; 8,7 Km, approx. 350m elevation gain)
Recommended hour to start: 8.30 AM.
Today we’ll hike west toward the Paso John Garner and the immense Patagonia Ice Cap. Along the way the Dickson Glacier might be visible, pouring into Dickson Lake from the Southern Patagonian ice cap above. We enter into pristine, old-growth beech forests and hike up the Río de Los Perros. Just before we arrive at our camp we will trek past glacier Perros with fantastic close-up views of the glacier and its lake. From here we continue hiking for about half an hour to reach the Perros campsite, located in a peaceful old-growth forest.
Today’s hike through primeval beech forest will give us a good chance to get to see the incredible red-headed Magellanic
woodpecker.
Day 05: Camp Los Perros to Grey Glacier
Trekking from Camp Los Perros to Grey Glacier (10 -12 hours, 22 Km, approx. 1000m elevation gain)
Recommended hour to start: 6.30 AM.
Today, we probably face the most exhausting but most impressive part of the tour. We leave the Camp Los Perros early in the morning and hike uphill to the Paso John Garner. Once on top, we can admire a striking view over rugged, glaciated peaks and the Southern Patagonian Ice Cap.
Afterwards, we scale down to the tree line and enter the forest along the left bank of the Grey Glacier. This part of the hike is very strenuous; we’ll have to pick our way carefully over numerous fallen logs and descend steep, slippery trails that can get very muddy at times. We’ll continue along Grey Glacier descending towards Lake Grey.
*Today’s hike is the most challenging one, encountering buttresses, climbing and descending steep and slippery trails, crossing avalanche gullies, and fording some fast-moving streams. Trekking poles are warmly recommended especially for today’s hike!
Day 06: Relaxing day at Grey Glacier
Today we have an easy-going day with a lot of free time to enjoy the area as well as to relax and recover from yesterday’s hike. After breakfast, we start a short hike (about 30 minutes) to the pretty lookout in front of Grey Glacier. A truly spectacular spot, to sit down and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of grey glacier and the floating icebergs in our front, such as the mountains around us. If we are lucky we even might see the calving of an iceberg from the glacier into Lago Grey.
The afternoon will be free to relax and enjoy the area at Sector Glacier Grey or Sector Lago Grey.
Day 07: Refugio Grey to El Francés
Refugio Grey to El Francés (8 hours, 21,6 Km, approx. 183m elevation gain). Recommended hour to start: 8.30 AM.
Trekking from Refugio Grey to El Francés (8 hours, 21,6 Km, approx. 183m elevation gain)
Recommended hour to start: 8.30 AM.
Today we continue hiking south, skirting Lago Grey with pretty lookout points to Grey Glacier and overlooking Grey Lake with its floating icebergs. Reaching Laguna de los Patos we start descending to the Camp Pehoe, which is beautifully located at the turquoise coloured Lago Pehoe, “hidden lake” in the Tehue lche language. From here on the hike takes us towards the French valley along the splendorous Lago Skottsberg to the entrance of French Valley. After two and a half hours we reach “Campamento Italiano” from where we have about an hour more to go to tonight’s accommodation.
Day 08: Trekking into French Valley
Trekking into French Valley (8 hrs, 17 Km, approx. 579m elevation gain).
Today’s hike takes us into French Valley, one of the most spectacular cirques in the Paine Range. After about one hour we get to “Campamento Italiano” at the entrance of French Valley. From here we subsequently move inside French valley and towards its viewpoint “Mirador” where we gain deep insight into the mountains. After another hour and a half of ascent, we get to French Glacier lookout, where we’ll be able to observe its hanging glacier. With a bit of luck, we witness ice cracking off the Paine Grande (3,050m) sounding like a roaring thunder. After that, the trail continues through beech forest until reaching “Campamento Británico” and after another 20 more minutes we will reach the lookout point “Mirador Británico”, considered by many as one of the most overwhelming spots in the Circuit.
This valley is the most beautiful in the park and one of the most unique in the world; hanging glaciers and an amphitheatre of granite walls and spires surround it. After a good rest we trek back the same way we came, towards to the extraordinary turquoise Lake Nordenskjöld, passing “Campamento Italiano” till we get back again to Domos El Francés.
Day 09: Trekking to Sector Las Torres (Estancia sector)
Trekking to Sector Las Torres (Estancia sector) (5,5 hours, 13,5 Km, approx. 200m elevation gain). Recommended hour to start: 9.00 AM.
Today’s Hike goes with Ups and downs along the extraordinary turquoise Lake Nordenskjöld to our right and the Cuernos Peaks such as Mount Almirante Nieto, with its hanging glaciers, to our left.
Today it’s time to say good-bye to our porters. Arriving at Refugio Torre Central we pick up our belongings from the porters.
Day 10: Trekking to “BASE TORRES” (8 hours; 19 Km)
Recommended hour to start: 8.30 AM.
Today we start our last day of hiking, which by the way is one of the most famous hikes in the National Park and one of the highlights of our Trekking trip. The first hour and a half walking is steep with fantastic views of the lake Nordenskjöld and Almirante Nieto Mn (2.670 m.s.n.m), with it’s hanging glacier until you reach Refugio El Chileno to recover energies. Then we will continue the trail through a millenary Lenga forest (1 hour) until the base of “the moraine” which challenging ascent (45 min), will take you to one of the most impressive lookouts in the park: “Base of Torres del Paine” where you will have the view of Torre Sur (2,850 m.s.n.m.), Torre Central (2.800 m.s.n.m), Torre Norte (2.600 m.s.n.m) and Cerro Nido de Cóndor. After enjoying the breath-taking view from the lookout point, we return back the same way until Las Torres sector to take a shuttle to the bus that will bring us back to Puerto Natales.
Estimated time of arrival to Bus Station in Puerto Natales: 22.00 PM
Transfer from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas to airport for flight back to home.
| City | Night (s) | Hotel / Camp |
| Punta Arenas | 02 | Factoria Patagonia |
| Refugio Dickson | 01 | Hotel Las Torres Patagonia |
| Campamento Perros | 01 | Camp |
| Refugio Grey | 02 | Refugio Grey |
| Domos El Francés | 02 | Domos El Francés |
| Refugio Torre Central | 01 | Refugio Torre Central |
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
– 09 Nights accommodation
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– Local English-speaking guide
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by private vehicle.
– Entrance fees activities as per mentioned in the program.
– Transport, Parking, Gasoline & Toll ways.
– All present government taxes.
WHAT TO BRING
Recommended Backpacks:
– 1 Big Back Pack for the Circuit
– 1 Small for Day Hikes (French Valley & Base Torres)
– Waterproof jacket and trousers (GORE TEX).
– Warm clothes (Polar Tec).
– Comfortable trousers for trekking.
– T – shirts.
– Long Sleeved Shirts.
– Trekking boots.
– Sandals (for showering, resting and crossing streams).
– Flash lamp.
– Enough batteries supplies
– Trekking Poles
– Sunglasses.
– Towel.
– Padlock.
– Earplugs.
– Gloves / Sunscreen.
– Camera / Binoculars.
– Bottle for water (Nalgene).
– Ziploc bags (for taking your trash back).
– Warm Hat.
– Hat for sun protection.
– Personal Items (shampoo, soap, etc)
– Sleeping bag
– International Airfare.
– Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
– Visa fees, personal insurance.
– Any item not specified under cost includes.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.