6-Day Winter Trek in Torres del Paine with Grey Glacier and Base Torres

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Enjoy the tranquility of Torres del Paine almost all to yourself, with nearly empty trails and refuges
• 02 Trek to the impressive Grey Glacier, where you can admire its majestic ice and winter landscapes
• 03 Explore the beautiful French Valley, known for its panoramic views and hanging glaciers
• 04 Reach the iconic Mirador de las Torres, a highlight of the trek with spectacular views of the granite towers

Explore Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia on a winter trek that combines nearly empty trails with some of the park's most iconic landscapes. Visit the majestic Grey Glacier, admire the hanging glaciers and panoramic scenery of the French Valley, and trek to the impressive Mirador de las Torres for wonderful views of the granite towers. Along the way, you may also spot local wildlife such as guanacos and condors.

Explore Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia on a winter trek that combines nearly empty trails with some of the park's most iconic landscapes.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Hard

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Puerto Natales City, Torres del Paine National Park

Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival in Puerto Natales and Trip Briefing

• A member of our team will be waiting for you at the airport or bus terminal to welcome you to Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine. You will then be taken to your accommodation to settle in and rest.
• In the afternoon, you will meet your guide for the next five days. This briefing will take place at the hotel, where we will go over the itinerary and all the details. The guide will introduce himself and provide relevant information about his experience, knowledge of the area, and the guidelines to follow during the trip.
• It is very important to attend this briefing and coordinate your arrival before this time.

2

Day 02

Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine via Las Carretas

• We depart from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine, a journey of approximately two hours. During the trip, we will enjoy the sunrise as we make our way to the park administration, which will be our starting point.
• Our transfer will leave us at the beginning of the old cattle trail known as Las Carretas. This 17-kilometre route crosses gentle hills and basins that separate us from Lago Grey and Lago Pehoé, with views of the imposing Paine Massif.
• We will pause at the old Las Carretas post before continuing on to the Paine Grande Camping and Refuge, where we will spend the night.

3

Day 03

Paine Grande Camp to French Valley

• After breakfast, we will head towards the French Valley.
• It will be an extensive 28 km round trip, where we will contemplate the majestic Cuernos del Paine, an iconic formation with its distinctive rocky colourations.
• The trail will take us over hills that rise and fall, allowing us to enjoy views of the turquoise green waters of Lake Pehoé and Lake Skottsberg.
• We will observe the aftermath of the 2011 fire and its recovery, as well as the hanging glacier of Paine Grande and the French Glacier, along with the river that gives its name to the valley.
• We will walk through forests of lengas and coihues, and we will see waterfalls and streams.
• We will return to the campsite by the same path, where we will have lunch and rest to prepare for the next day.

4

Day 04

Paine Grande Camp to Grey Glacier Viewpoint

• On our third day, our objective will be the Grey Glacier. We will complete the journey to the other valley to appreciate the immensity of this glacier from a medium altitude, revealing its majesty from the last glaciation.
• It will be a 24-kilometre round trip, returning to our camp in Paine Grande.

5

Day 05

Paine Grande Camp to Pehoé Camp

• After breakfast, we will dismantle our camp and, once we are ready, return along the Las Carretas trail.
• There, our transport will be waiting for us to take us to the next sector, where we will spend the night.

6

Day 06

Base las Torres Trek and Return to Puerto Natales

• We start the day with a good breakfast and pack our belongings, because today is the day of the big adventure: the trek to the Base las Torres viewpoint.
• We will head to the Central and Welcome Centre of Cerro Paine, where our driver will drop us off. We will cross the Ascencio River and, after about an hour and a half of walking along the slopes of Mount Almirante Nieto, we will arrive at Camping El Chileno, located in the shade of an impressive lenga forest and surrounded by the slopes of the majestic mountain.
• After a short break to recharge our batteries, we will continue to the viewpoint, located at an altitude of more than 800 metres. The path becomes steeper, but the reward is incomparable.
• We will pass through deciduous forests of lengas and ñirres, cross rivers and streams, and if we are lucky, we may spot a huemul, a native southern deer.
• Finally, we will return along the same trail to the starting point, where our transport will be waiting to take us back to Puerto Natales.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Bilingual guide for the entire tour
• Entrance fees to Torres del Paine National Park
• Private transport during the tour
• Accommodation according to the itinerary
• Meals (breakfast, box lunch, and dinner)
• Trekking poles
• Complete camping equipment (4-season tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, liner)

What's Not Included

• Tips
• Drinks
• Airline tickets
• Optional excursions and any other service not mentioned in the travel program
• Buses Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales: if you want this service, you must request it at the time of booking, and an additional charge will apply
• Travel insurance covering accidents and force majeure cancellations

What to bring

• First layer: Thermal underwear that wicks away perspiration.
• Second layer: A fleece or fibre jacket that provides thermal insulation.
• Third layer: A windbreaker or waterproof jacket, preferably with Gore-Tex technology.
• Trekking trousers: Trousers that allow mobility.
• Accessories: Hat and gloves.
• Sun protection: Sunglasses with high UV protection.
• Footwear: Waterproof trekking boots.
• Ideal dates: The best time to visit Torres del Paine and trek is during the austral summer months, from November to March. During this period there are more daylight hours and temperatures are more pleasant. However, it is also the high season, so it is advisable to make reservations in advance.

Know before you go

• Passport: Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after your date of entry to Chile.
• VISA: Depending on your country of origin, a visa may be required to enter Chile. It is important to check with the Chilean embassy or consulate.
• Travel insurance: It is highly recommended to take out travel insurance that covers adventure activities such as trekking, including medical assistance and emergency evacuation.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Puerto Natales, Natales, Chile

Tour start

Puerto Natales, Natales, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Chile

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.