Itinerary
Day 1 Our guide meets you at the Punta Arenas airport. Transfer to Puerto Natales, a three-hour drive through the Patagonian pampa. Lodging in Puerto Natales, dinner, slide show and meeting to discuss trip programme.
Day 2 Transfer by van to Torres del Paine National Park. This two-hour journey through ranch country includes a quick stop in Cerro Castillo, the principal site of wool and meat exportation to Europe during the 1960s. Arrival at Torres del Paine.
Trek to the base of The Towers (7 hours round trip), a spectacular hike to view the three pink granite towers that made the park famous. Lodging and dinner at Refugio Chileno, situated in the Ascencio Valley.
Day 3 Trek along Lake Nordenskjold and below the hanging glaciers of Mount Admiral Nieto, to the base of Los Cuernos (5 hours). Lodging and dinner at Refugio Los Cuernos.
Day 4 Trek to the French Valley (4 hours). This valley, the most beautiful in the park and one of the most unique in the world, is surrounded by hanging glaciers and an amphitheatre of granite walls and spires. Afterward, we trek to the extraordinary turquoise Lake Pehoe (2 hours).
Day 5 Trek along enchanting Lake Grey (3 hours) with magnificent views of Glacier Grey and floating icebergs. Visit to the glacier lookout point and to the lakeshore for upclose views of vibrant-blue icebergs (Paine is a Tehuelche Indian word for "blue"). After lunch we jump into the Grey II boat and spend 2 hours navigating in this magic lake surrounded by ice bergs. Transfer from Hosteria Grey to Tyndall Hostel, lodging and dinner.
Day 6 Afterward, our van will take us to River Serrano, where we will begin our descent in kayaks. In the evening, we camp near a waterfall.
Day 7 Continue paddling toward Mount Balmaceda and Glacier Serrano, where we set up camp amid a beautiful beech forest.
Day 8 In the morning, we paddle through a magical lake replete with icebergs. Return to Puerto Natales by boat through the Last Hope Sound. Arrival time: 5 p.m. Lodging and farewell dinner.
Day 9 Transfer to Punta Arenas airport, with a stop at the Seno Otway penguin reserve. End of services.
Check our Books and Maps section where you will find range of books and maps to help you get the most out of your South American adventure.
What's included: Accommodation and all meals from Puerto Natales-Paine, guide, transfers as listed, kayak equipment, camping gear (not sleeping bags and backpacks), park entrance fees.
You will carry your pack every day, about 10kg. A porter, who carries 20kg and can be shared among two travellers, costs GBP 40 per day extra.
Not included: International or domestic flights, tips, insurance, personal items
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