W TREK 3 Valleys / Base, French & Grey - 3 Nights / 4 Days
- Duration
- 3 Nights / 4 Days
- Total Hike Distance
- 56.9km / 35.6mi
- Style
- Self Guided
- From
- USD 1,450 PP
From USD 1,450 Per Person
All Inclusive
Introduction
The Full W Trek encompasses three, different valleys. Running east to west, these are: The Ascensio Valley, the end of which is the TORRES BASE; the FRENCH VALLEY (in the middle of the trail), and on the western arm, the GREY LAKE and GLACIER GREY.
This itinerary will allow you to do a full day hike to the Torres Base and the French Valley, with an option to get to the Grey Look out. However, Experience Chile can adapt this so that you do not have two nights at Frances/Cuernos, but that you have one night here and then a night at Paine Grande. In this event you would have time to go from Paine Grande to Grey and back, or depart from Grey on the Navigation Grey. The point being that by taking at Night at Paine Grande you will be able to hike all the way to Refugio Grey and on to Glacier Grey.
Also, we can add in a night at Grey. Alternativey we can arrange the reverse, start at Grey and end at Central or Chileno. Ask us for a custom W!
Accommodation is in Torres del Paine in either a refugio or equipped, serviced camping.
Torres Base, French Valley & Grey Glacier Valley
Total hike time to the Torres Base and back: 21.8 km / 13.6 mi – 9 hrs hiking
Paine Grande – French Valley:
Total hike time if to the French Valley Viewpoint and out is: 17.7 km / 11 mi – 8 hrs hiking.
Total hike time if to the French Valley Camp Britanico and out is: 24.1 km / 15 mi – 10 hrs hiking.
Paine Grande – Grey: 11 km / 6.8 mi – 4 hrs hiking.
Your Day-By-Day Itinerary
Depart from Puerto Natales on the regular bus at 07:00hrs. Note: You have an option to book with Experience Chile a private transfer to take you into Torres del Paine, for which an extra cost will be applied, but please ask. Arrive to Laguna Amarga in Torres del Paine and board the shuttle to the Welcome Centre. Hike to the Torres Base and back, allowing around 9hrs for the total return trek.
From Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine.
NIGHT: Return to your accommodation at Central or Chileno (Premium camping only at Chileno). Night and dinner here.
After breakfast you will be handed a box lunch. The hike to Frances will pass by Lake Nordenskjold offering great views of the undulating landscape on your left.
NIGHT: Dinner and night at Frances (but this may be changed to Cuernos depending on availability).
After breakfast you will be handed a box lunch. Your hike today will take you to the French Valley entrance, which is beside the camp spot called Camp Italiano and a CONAF ranger hut. From the entrance to the French Valley it is a steady incline up to the French Valley viewpoint, which is usually a 2.5hrs hike. Many people get to here and call it a day and then head back. However, if you continue you will get the a place called Camp Britanico, which is the end of the path, and from here return back. This hike will bring you into the heart of the Torres del Paine W Trek and at the base of a valley surrounded by hanging glaciers and dramatic mountain walls.
NIGHT: Arrive back to Frances. Dinner and night here.
After breakfast you will be handed a box lunch. On the basis that you completed your French Valley hike yesterday (and if you didn't, you have the option to do it on the way to Paine Grande today), the direct hike to Paine Grande is straight forward. Lake Nordenskjold will be on your left. Upon arrival to Paine Grande, if you have time, you can continue to the Grey viewpoint from where there is a magnificent view, on a clear day, over Grey Lake and Glacier Grey in the distance. Behind Refugio Paine Grande the path is, initially, a steep meandering trail which takes about 45mins to navigate to the top where you enter a wooded glen. Here, the trail is flat and after about 15min it opens up to where the Grey View point is. Make sure you have enough time to get back to Paine Grande to take the catamaran across to Pudeto. Here, you board the regular bus back to Puerto Natales.
Summary:
Total hike time from the Welcome Centre to the Torres Base and back is: 21.8km / 13.6 mi – 9hrs hiking.
Total hike time from the Welcome Centre to Frances is: 16.6km / 10mi – 6hrs hiking.
Total hike time if to the French Valley Viewpoint and out is: 7.4km / 4.6mi – 4hrs 30mins hiking.
Total hike time if to the French Valley Camp Britanico and out is: 13.8km / 8.6mi – 6hrs 30mins hiking.
Frances to Paine Grande: 8.9km / 5.5mi – 3hrs 30min hiking.
NIGHT: Puerto Natales (Ask Experience Chile to arrange this, and your pre hike Natales accommodation, cost as per your budget)
