Patagonia: Torres del Paine Full O Circuit
Patagonia: Torres del Paine Full O Circuit
Patagonia: Torres del Paine Full O Circuit
11 Days Starting and ending in Puerto Natales
Visiting: Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine, Paine Massif, Dickson Lake, Perros Glacier, John Garner Pass, Grey Glacier, Grey Lake, French Valley, Lake Nordenskjold
Tour Overview
It’s clear why the pristine and remote Torres del Paine National Park is Patagonia’s crown jewel. On this 11-day trekking trip, you’ll explore one of the most stunning wilderness areas in the world from the perspective of the Paine O Circuit. This trail highlights the best features of the park, hitting most of the sites of the famous W-Trek but on the longer road, less travelled. Circumnavigate the whole mountain massif as you take in dramatic granite towers, glacial lakes and electric blue icebergs. Witness the Southern Patagonian Ice Cap, climb the mighty Grey Glacier with trained experts, hike through grassland towards turquoise lakes, kayak through ice floes on Lake Grey and stay in comfortable backcountry huts (or Refugios) when you’re not camping under an untouched sky .
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Puerto Natales
Location: Puerto Natales
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: dinner
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Puerto Natales in Chilean Patagonia. Please arrive before 4 pm into Puerto Natales. If arriving on day 1 you’ll be picked up from Puerto Natales airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in. This quaint city, backdropped by snow-capped mountains, is the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park – the home of your 11-day hiking expedition. This afternoon, meet your group at a welcome meeting and learn more about the exciting days ahead. Tonight, you’ll feast at a group dinner of Patagonian classics.
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Torres Del Paine
Location: Torres del Paine
Accommodation: Refugio
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, wake up with the sun and drive to Torres del Paine National Park. Your group will have breakfast on the road, stopping for a coffee break on the way. Your trip leaders will brief you on some effective trekking techniques and provide an overview of the natural and cultural history of the area. When you arrive at Ascencio Valley, your trek will begin! Enjoy views of the Ascencio River as you head toward Refugio Chileno, where you’ll take a snack break and rehydrate. Then, continue through a beautiful forest of native lenga trees (or beech trees) until you reach a glacial moraine – a ridge made from earth that has been pushed by the glacier. From the moraine, hike towards an incredible view of the Torres del Paine rock towers. The granite towers and glacial lake make for a breathtaking landscape – the perfect spot to round out your first day of trekking. Head back to the Refugio – your accommodation (and dinner spot) for the night.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Paine Massif
Location: Paine Massif
Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, load up on gear and head out across the ancient glacial moraines. Here, you’ll begin your hike around the Paine Massif – the jagged mountain peaks that stand tall between blue and green lakes, rivers and forests. At the base of the massif, grab a snapshot of the group by the turquoise waters and take in some truly breathtaking scenery. Trek through a forest of beech trees and look out for austral parakeets, varied species of geese and the Patagonian fox. After a few hours, you’ll arrive at your accommodation at camp Seron. You’ll have some free time until dinner to explore the campsite, have a drink or get to know your fellow trekkers as you pitch your tents.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Dickson Lake
Location: Dickson Lake
Accommodation: Refugio
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Wake for an early breakfast at the campsite and begin your hike to Dickson Lake, which sits on the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Cap. The lake is fed by the glacier of the same name and now runs into both Chile and Argentina. You’ll be hiking past bright, blooming notro bushes (also called Chilean fire bushes after their bright red colour), endemic to the Patagonian region, and crossing a small stream beside the lake. Continue the trek along the winding river until you reach your Refugio for the night. Nestled in grassy hills with a high horizon of peaks, the Dickson campsite will be a welcome respite. Here, you’ll have the chance for a hot shower before a group dinner is served. Dickson is known as a magical place, with a truly unique surrounding landscape and otherworldly feel. Make sure to stargaze tonight (if the clouds permit)!
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Perros Glacier
Location: Perros Glacier
Accommodation: Camping
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Today, you’ll pack up your gear and have breakfast at the campsite, before heading out on one of the best days of the trek. Your trail will bring you through pristine, old-growth beech forests that feel completely untouched by human steps – this is where the incredible red-headed Magellanic woodpecker can often be seen (keep your eye out, birdwatchers!). Your hike will also bring you up close and personal to the Perros Glacier, which spills over the surrounding rocks, giving the impression of ice-blue lava stuck in time. Take in fantastic views of the nearby lake and the glacier backdrop as you take some time to rest and recharge. From here, head to Los Perros, where your camp site among the bending trees will be set up and waiting for you. You’ll have some free time until dinner.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: John Garner Pass
Location: John Garner Pass
Accommodation: Refugio
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Today, get ready for one of the longest and toughest (but rewarding) days of the journey. Start the day’s trek by climbing up to John Garner Pass – named after the British mountaineer in 1976. This is arguably the most famous pass on the trek, as it boasts an altitude of around 1,200 metres above sea level. Here, you’ll have amazing views of glaciated peaks and on a clear day – the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Head down the pass through a thick forest, directly above the massive Grey Glacier. Along the way, you’ll have lunch and then begin the trek down to Lake Grey. The glacier stretches out below, like a huge white highway. Upon arrival on the valley floor, trek to the Grey Refugio for the night, where you’ll have free time to relax until dinner is served.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Grey Glacier
Location: Grey Glacier
Accommodation: Refugio
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning is free for you to relax and recharge after yesterday’s monumental hike. After lunch, your guides will brief you on today’s route and the extra gear needed. Take a Zodiac boat across the lake until you reach the west side of Grey Glacier. When you arrive at the glacier, disembark on the land in between the ice (called a glacial island, or nunatak) and hike across the small island until you reach the ice. After a safety briefing, begin an exploration of Grey Glacier (for approximately 3 hours). Observe crevasses, rivers, lagoons and tunnels in different tones of blue and have an unavoidable I’m-so-far-from-home moment. Return to the Zodiac and ride back to the docking point. When you arrive back at the Refugio, you’ll have some free time before dinner.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Grey Lake
Location: Grey Lake
Accommodation: Refugio
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast, head to the northeast side of Lake Grey. Here, you’ll have the opportunity of exploring the icebergs and the Grey Glacier by kayak. Your trip leaders will provide a thorough safety briefing and introduction to the gear and then you’ll be on your way, winding through the electric blue icebergs that dot the lake. After kayaking, head back to the Refugio and pack up your gear to begin your trek for the day. Cross a high plateau that overlooks Lake Grey on your way to Lake Pehoe. Take in the expansive views until you reach your accommodation for the night – a comfortable lodge where you’ll have the afternoon to relax until dinner. You may want to try the local Chilean drink, a pisco sour, while overlooking the Paine Grande and Los Cuernos mountains.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: French Valley
Location: French Valley
Accommodation: Refugio
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast, begin your trek to the French Valley. The French Valley is one of the most picturesque valleys in Torres del Paine National Park. It is unique because of the hanging glaciers and towering granite walls and spires. You may even witness the glaciers calving (dropping giant icebergs), which creates a natural symphony perfectly suited to the granite amphitheatre. Get closer to the granite spires and eventually see the unique turquoise colour of the glacial Lake Pehoe. Pehoe translates to ‘hidden lake’ in the Tehuelche Indian language, but the immensity of this blue expanse is not to be misjudged. After a pitstop to take in the stunning scenery, trek out of the valley and continue walking to the extraordinary Lake Nordenskijold. There, you’ll check in to your Refugio and have time to set up and settle in before dinner.
Included Activities:
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Day 10: Lake Nordenskjold
Location: Lake Nordenskjold
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Today is the last full day of adventure, so make sure to take it all in. Begin the day by trekking along the beautiful Lake Nordenskjold (named after Swedish geoscientist Otto Nordenskiold, who discovered the lake at the beginning of the 20th century), which sits below the hanging glaciers of Mount Almirante Nieto. The mountain rises to an elevation of 2,640 metres and is one of the most impressive views along your trek home. Have lunch on the way before reaching Hosteria Las Torres, where you’ll meet your awaiting private shuttle. Say goodbye to the national park as your driver takes you back to Puerto Natales. Check in to your hotel and reflect on your monumental journey with a warm shower and a quick rest. Meet back up with your group for the final celebratory dinner out on the town of Natales. What a trip it has been!
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Puerto Natales
Location: Puerto Natales
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning after breakfast you are free to depart at anytime. If you are departing today your shuttle driver will take you back to the bus station or airport in Puerto Natales. If you would like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent.
Included Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights), Refugios (6 nights), Camping (2 nights) -
Puerto Natales airport to hotel arrival transfer
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Ascencio Valley guided trek
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Torres del Paine - Base las Torres guided hike
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Paine Massif guided trek
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Dickson Lake guided trek
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Perros Glacier guided trek
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John Garner Pass & Lake Grey guided trek
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Zodiac boat across Lake Grey
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Grey Glacier guided hike
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Grey Glacier guided kayak trip
Transport
- Private vehicle , boat
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
- On this trip we will stay in Refugios, hiking hotels dotted along Torres del Paine’s trails. Refugios provide all bedding and meals, shared dorm rooms with shared facilities (bathrooms and shower blocks are separated by sex) and spectacular views of the mountains and lakes that make the park famous.
- Tent camping is in premier 2-person, 4-season tents. Solo travellers, and anyone else who opts for the single supplement, will be issued single tents as long as they are available (we can confirm availability of 1-person tents when you register). Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Important Information
- 1. This trip is operated and run by Wildland Trekking, an Intrepid company. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Wildland Trekking customers and Intrepid customers.
- 2. Full passport details are required at the time of booking in order to purchase entrance permits to Torres del Paine National Parks.
- 3. Flight details and travel insurance details are required no later than 56 days prior to departure (or within 24 hours of trip confirmation if booking less than 56 days prior to departure). Please read the Travel Insurance requirements in the Essential Trip Information carefully. Field evacuation (minimum coverage of at least 30,000USD), repatriation, and medical trip insurance is required on this trip as a condition of partnership terms with our Chilean vendors.
- 4. During the trek you will need to carry all of your belongings. We provide backpacks. You can leave extra luggage/belongings you don't need at the hotel in Puerto Natales.
- 5. This trek utilizes the Torres del Paine Refugios. Each refugio is unique, with dorm style accommodations where guests share mixed gender bunk rooms, typically 4-8 guests per room. Men’s and women’s bathrooms are down the hall. You’ll have great local cuisine, served in a communal eating area with shared tables and drinks available for purchase.
- 6. Occasionally we are not able to reserve one or more nights in the Refugios, in which case accommodations will be in tents that are provided and set up by the Refugios. In these cases, we will still have access to the Refugios for meals, relaxation and showers. The price of the trip remains the same.
- 7. Solo travellers who opt for a single supplement will be provided a single tent. For travellers sharing a room, sharing a tent may also be required. All camping equipment is provided, including 2-person, 4-season tents, top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and sleeping bags professionally laundered after every trip.
- 8. A single supplement applies to days 1 and day 10 only in Puerto Natales (and when camping in a tent). Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 9. Tour leader gratuities are optional and at the discretion of each customer. A suggested guideline – not an expectation – is to reward outstanding service with a tip of 5-10% of the total trip cost.
Mode of Transport
- Private vehicle , boat
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This trip is operated and run by Wildland Trekking – an Intrepid company. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Wildland Trekking customers and Intrepid customers.
This is a hiking trip, and it gets from one point to the other. Once you set off, you must hike to the next overnight stop with no option to opt-out. During the trek you will need to carry all of your belongings. Extra belongings you don't need for the trek can be stored at the hotel in Puerto Natales. Please familiarise yourself with all hikes carefully beforehand.
Please read the packing list carefully and come prepared, as you may not have a chance to buy any missing parts of equipment or trekking clothing.
We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however, occasionally trips are subject to itinerary changes based on a variety of circumstances. These include extreme weather, availability of Refugios, political or bureaucratic obstacles, earthquakes, fires, flooding and more.
The kayaking and glacier hiking days on this trip are weather dependent and not guaranteed. We will substitute alternate activities in the case that kayaking and/or glacier hiking are not possible. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions