7 day Guided W-Trek (Eco Camp)
7 Days
Are you ready to tackle the incomparable W trek? It's one of the world's best adventures, taking you deep into beautiful Torres del Paine National Park. The visually stunning W Trek highlights the best of Torres del Paine including Grey Glacier, French Valley and the Tower base - a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Team up with our highly experienced and knowledgeable guides and head off on one of the most famous treks in the world. Spend your evenings at cozy refugios and EcoCamp Patagonia, an award-winning hotel that combines revolutionary eco-living with delicious food, yoga and great company.
from AUD $2939pp
Home » 7 day Guided W-Trek (Eco Camp)
Itinerary Highlights
- Trek on some of Patagonia’s best trails and pass by picturesque landscapes, such as the French Valley or base of the Paine Towers.
- Take a relaxing boat ride to Grey Glacier, one of the park’s top attractions.
- Spend some of your nights at EcoCamp Patagonia, the world’s first geodesic dome hotel. It’s a chance to snack on tasty food made from local ingredients, mingle with new friends from around the world and sleep in your own cozy eco-dome.
- Enjoy the trek by only carrying your daypack while our porters take your backpack with your personal belongings.
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: The Patagonian Adventure Starts
- Day 2: Los Cuernos Trek
- Day 3: The Paine Massif's Heart: Valle Frances
- Day 4: Glacier Grey
- Day 5: The Big Challenge: Trek to the Towers Base
- Day 6: Eastern Lakes
- Day 7: Adiós Torres del Paine!
Day 1: The Patagonian Adventure Starts
Let’s begin the trip of a lifetime! We’ll start with a morning pick-up from your hotel or the airport in Punta Arenas and drive to EcoCamp Patagonia, located in the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park. On the way to EcoCamp, we’ll make a stop in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of Last Hope Sound (Ultima Esperanza) where we can enjoy a hearty lunch of local food. This scenic journey ends with our arrival at EcoCamp Patagonia, nestled in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park with a prime view of the majestic Paine Towers.
Day 2: Los Cuernos Trek
We’ll dive into our Patagonian adventure with a pleasant walk along the Cuernos Trail which leads to the beautiful Lake Nordenskjold. During this warm-up walk, we will have the opportunity to admire the park’s exquisite flora and fauna and take in the views of the horn-like peaks of slate that sit atop the gray granite of the Paine Massif. The trek may end at Refugio Los Cuernos, a small and cozy mountain guesthouse located on the shores of Lake Nordenskjold. Or it will end at Domo el Francés, located between Cuernos and Italiano camping sites, with an amazing view of Nordenskjöld Lake. The evening is at your leisure.
Day 3: The Paine Massif's Heart: Valle Frances
Get your boots ready for today’s challenging, yet rewarding, trek. After breakfast at Refugio Los Cuernos, we'll begin hiking along a steep trail leading into the very heart of the Paine Massif - the famed French Valley. How far we’ll go depends on our group's trekking rhythm. A swifter walk will lead us to the French River’s hanging bridge, located at the foot of the south-eastern face of the Massif. We will then continue to ascend towards the upper section of the valley to marvel at the extensive mass of the valley's geological formations: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark’s Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (Fortress). After our upward trek, we will pause for a tasty picnic and relax for a while. The day's trek will end with a descent through an undulating terrain of mixed grassland and light forest to Refugio Paine Grande.
Please note: An optional trek to Mirador Britanico is also possible with previous coordination with the guides.
Day 4: Glacier Grey
Today we will hike from the Paine Grande Refugio along the shores of Lake Pehoe to the northern side of Lake Grey. We will feast on a picnic lunch before boarding the boat that sails to the huge, crystalline facade of Glacier Grey. From the southern end of Glacier Grey, we will transfer to EcoCamp. Due to the temperamental weather of the region, boat trips across the lake may occasionally be canceled or if the required minimum of 15 passengers is not reached. If this is the case, we will trek up to the sightseeing point to enjoy wonderful, panoramic views of Grey Glacier instead. Afterward, it is time to return on foot to Paine Grande and take a catamaran to the dock, where we will be picked up and driven to EcoCamp.
Day 5: The Big Challenge: Trek to the Towers Base
Today is the big day -- the walk to the base of the famous Paine Towers. We will walk from the campsite towards Hostería Las Torres before ascending to Ascencio Valley on the Tower’s eastern face. Mountain ridges, beech forests, and small rivers line the scenic walk towards the valley. Our big challenge is the steep moraine, a huge mass of boulders that lead to that iconic base of the Towers, the three gigantic granite monoliths that are the remains of a great cirque sheared away by glacial ice. After a tough uphill climb, the Towers eventually come into full view, rising majestically before us with the glacial lake visible below. Is there any better place in the world to have lunch? After feasting on the view,we backtrack along the same trail through Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp for a well-deserved dinner and some tasty Chilean wine.
Day 6: Eastern Lakes
On the sixth day, we'll opt for a less strenuous trail in order to counter our exhausting efforts of the previous day. After breakfast, we will make a leisurely car journey towards Laguna Azul, home to many wild guanacos and ñandús. We will pause occasionally to admire the views of the Patagonian steppe and the Towers from its many perspectives. At Laguna Azul, we will hike to the lookout point where we will be treated to a gorgeous view of both the lagoon and the granite towers. After lunch, we will drive to the northern shore of Sarmiento Lake where the Fauna Trail begins. As we hike northbound, we will spot an impressive range of Patagonian fauna on the vast plains, and maybe even the occasional puma print! We will pass the charming Goic lagoon and, after approximately 5 km of relaxed walking, we will reach the Laguna Amarga ranger station where we will be picked up and driven back to Ecocamp to celebrate with a farewell dinner.
*Please note: if there are more than 6 travelers in the group, there is an option to split into two groups, with one group (or the whole group if everybody's in the mood!) cycling to Laguna Azul!
Day 7: Adiós Torres del Paine!
On to the next adventure! Today we will board an early morning vehicle, sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Punta Arenas in time to catch an evening flight onwards. If you are heading to Argentina, please have in mind that you have to book an early transfer with extra costs.
Dates | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|
30 Sep 2024 - 31 Oct 2024 | AUD $2939pp | Contact us |
01 Nov 2024 - 14 Dec 2024 | AUD $4970pp | Contact us |
15 Dec 2024 - 14 Jan 2025 | AUD $5636pp | Contact us |
15 Jan 2025 - 31 Mar 2025 | AUD $4970pp | Contact us |
01 Apr 2025 - 28 Apr 2025 | AUD $2939pp | Contact us |
- Tour departs every Monday between 30 SEP 2024 and 28 APR 2025 (last departure)
Suggested Accommodation
City | Accommodation |
---|---|
Torres Del Paine | EcoCamp or similar |
Torres Del Paine | Refugio Los Cuernos or similar |
Torres Del Paine | Refugio Paine Grande or similar |
Whats included?
- All ground transport - private and domestic - as indicated in the itinerary.
- Boat crossing on Grey Lake.
- 4 nights accommodation in EcoCamp (dome of your choice).
- 1 night accommodation at Camping Paine Grande.
- 1 night at Camping Los Cuernos or Camping El Francés (depending on availability).
- Park fees for Torres del Paine National Park.
- One expert English speaking trekking guide.
- Sleeping bag for refugios if needed.
- Transportation for your luggage within the park (while trekking you will carry just your day pack).
- Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches/Box Lunches, 6 Dinners.
- Transportation to/from El Calafate (This includes bus tickets and van transportation between hotels and the bus terminal).
What’s not included?
- Flight tickets
- Insurance (it is mandatory you purchase appropriate insurance for this trip)
- Voluntary tipping of guides and staff
- Soft drinks or snacks not served with the meals included at the EcoCamp. Bringing US$ in cash for buying extra drinks/snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine NP is recommended
- Items of a personal nature
- Any items not mentioned as included
Notes
- Price is based on double occupancy in Standard Domes for nights 1, 4, 5 and 6. Please asks us if you would like to upgrade to a Superior or Suite Dome.
- If you choose a Standard Dome and you are traveling alone, you can share the dome with another person of the same gender and pay the double base price. If you want the dome to yourself, you need to pay a Single Supplement.
- During Low and Shoulder Season (October and April), the Towers Trek excursion and the boat trip to Glacier Grey might be canceled due to weather conditions and safety concerns. if this is the case we will offer you a comparable alternative within the park.
- The campsite provides satisfactory bathroom facilities. Meals will be served inside the refugio.
Departures
- Tour departs every Monday between 30 SEP 2024 and 28 APR 2025 (last departure)