FS 4 Nights / 5 Days W Trek 3 Valleys Base & French & Grey

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FS 4 Nights / 5 Days W Trek 3 Valleys Base & French & Grey

FS 4 Nights / 5 Days W Trek 3 Valleys Base & French & Grey

Duration
4 Nights / 5 Days
Total Hike Distance
Torres Base, French Valley & Grey Glacier Valley
Style
Self Guided
From
USD 1,640 PP

From USD 1,640 Per Person

All Inclusive

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FS 4 Nights / 5 Days W Trek 3 Valleys Base & French & Grey

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 each of the three valleys.

Accommodation is in Torres del Paine in either a refugio or equipped, serviced camping.

Torres Base, French Valley & Grey Glacier Valley

  • Total hike time from the Welcome Centre to the Torres Base and back is: 21.8 km / 13.6 mi – 9 hrs hiking.
  • Total hike time from the Welcome Centre to Frances is: 16.6 km / 10 mi – 6 hrs hiking.
  • Total hike time if to the French Valley Viewpoint and out is: 7.4 km / 4.6 mi – 4 hrs 30 mins hiking.
  • Total hike time if to the French Valley Camp Britanico and out is: 13.8 km / 8.6 mi – 6 hrs 30 mins hiking.
  • Frances to Paine Grande: 8.9 km / 5.5 mi – 3 hrs 30 min hiking.
  • Optional Paine Grande to Grey is 4 hrs.
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Your Day-By-Day Itinerary

Depart from Puerto Natales on the regular bus at 14:00hrs. Arrive to Laguna Amarga in Torres del Paine and board the shuttle to the Welcome Centre.

NIGHT: Check-in to our accommodation at Central. Dinner and night here.

Breakfast served and box lunch handed to you.

Begin the hike to the Torres Base. Welcome Centre to Chileno: 6.1km / 3.9mi – 2hrs 30mins hiking.
Chileno to Torres Base: 4.8km / 3mi – 2hrs hiking.
Time at the base to rest and take pictures 30min.
Torres Base to Chileno: 4.8km / 3mi – 2hrs hiking.
Chileno to the Welcome Centre: 6.1km / 3.9mi – 2hrs 30mins hiking.

NIGHT: Return to your accommodation at Central. Night and dinner here.

After breakfast you will be handed a box lunch. The hike today will be to Frances.

Welcome Centre to Frances: 16.6km / 10mi – 6hrs hiking.

NIGHT: Dinner and night at Frances (but this may be changed to Cuernos depending on availability).

After breakfast you will be handed you box lunch for the day. The hike is to the French Valley and then on to Paine Grande.

Frances to the French Valley Entrance: 1.1km / 0.7mi – 45mins hiking.
French Valley Entrance to the French Valley Viewpoint: 2.6km / 1.6mi – 1hr 30min hiking.
French Valley Viewpoint to Camp Britanico (the end): 3.2km / 2mi – 1hr hiking.
Camp Britanico (the end) to the French Valley Viewpoint: 3.2km / 2mi – 1hr hiking.
French Valley Viewpoint to the French Valley Exit: 2.6km / 1.6mi – 1hr 30min hiking.
French Valley Exit to Paine Grande accommodation: 7.8km / 4.8mi – 2hrs 40mins hiking.

Total hike time if to the French Valley Viewpoint and out is: 13.1km / 8mi – 5hrs hiking.

Total hike time if to the French Valley Camp Britanico and out is: 19.5km / 12mi – 6hrs hiking.

 

NIGHT: Arrive back to Paine Grande. Dinner and night here.

Your options today are:

Call it a day, take the catamaran across Pehoe Lake to Pudeto and wait for the bus back to Puerto Natales.
Hike past Paine grande to the Grey viewpoint to see over Grey Lake and Glacier Grey in the distance and then head back to Paine Grande. Once here, you will board the catamaran across Pehoe Lake to Pudeto whereupon you can then board the regular bus back to Puerto Natales.
Hike all the way to Grey (4hrs), even on to the hanging bridges and back to Grey, then take the Navigation Grey across the lake to Hotel Grey. In this scenario we will need to add on the cost of a regular bus back to Natales or provide a private transfers back to Natales.
After visiting Grey you can also hike all the way to Paine Grande 4hrs and take the included catamaran to Pudeto and regular bus back to 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.

Optional Paine Grande to Grey is 4hrs.

W Trek : FAQs

It should be said that the majority of people trek the trail self-guided. The routes are sign-posted clearly with orange-painted poles and are also well-trodden paths and, in the summer season (Dec – Jan – Feb) there will be numerous other hikers about. Nevertheless, this is wilderness country, very remote and subject to sudden changes in weather that can make conditions tough.

Take Note

Do NOT go off the trail because even if you have the slightest incident like a twisted ankle, you may find that no one will find you. It is essential that all walkers have the right clothing and food and know what to do it they are caught out in extreme, unpredicted bad weather.

However, if you are a group, you should take a guide to comply with the Park regulations, or if you are unsure of doing the trek on your own. The guide will also be able to inform you of valuable information during the trek, about geological features, vegetation, and wildlife, as well as handle the check-in.

Porters are available to carry one, back-pack style bag (NOT a suitcase) up to 15kg in weight.

For both a guide and / or porter there is, of course, additional cost.

People coming from Santiago will inevitably pass by Puerto Natales, either coming from Punta Arenas or on a direct flight to the village. Therefore, Puerto Natales is the ideal stop-off for a night or two pre and / or post your visit to Torres del Paine.

Based in Natales

Also, here at Experience Chile, we operate W Trek programs based from Puerto Natales, whereupon you can avoid the dorm-room sleeping situation in the refugios and, instead, enjoy a decent hotel or top-end hotel as well as restaurants and “vibe” of a village.

Alternatively, the other place to stay pre and / or post the W Trek is in El Calafate, over the border in Argentina, which is a 6hr transfer away. Moreover, over at El Calafate you will be able to visit the impressive Perito Moreno Glacier and / or go trekking at El Chalten (3hr transfer).

The W route is called so because the path you walk forms a pattern in the shape of a “W”, when viewed down from above.

For most of the time walking the footpaths in TDP you will be staring at the ground a few paces in front and looking up occasionally, and then stopping to take in the breath-taking views all around.

However, a number of people ask which way is better.

Is There Any Advantage?

In reality there is really no specific advantage over the other, but the main differences are that going West to East means that from Paine Grande you will have the Cuernos del Paine in view for most of the way, hanging glaciers on your left, and lakes on your right as well as the prevailing wind, which, if blowing, will be on your back.

If you go East to West you will have the beautiful view of the lakes to your left and hanging glaciers on your right and the prevailing wind against you, if it is blowing.

Ultimately, it is better to plan the route around the reality of travel logistics and connections you will require.

There is an entrance fee to pay to enter Torres del Paine and this will need to be paid in Chilean Pesos or in USD– equal to approx USD50 per person. Experience Chile will pre-arrange entry tickets for all our clients and have them sent to your cel phone or email.

Extras

Payment for all extras at the refugios can be paid in USD or in Chilean Pesos

Chile has a modern network of ATM machines called Red Bank located in many areas (banks, supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations) in villages, towns and cities.

It is easy to use a debit or credit card to get local currency cash out BUT NOT within Torres del Paine so ensure you have enough CASH with you before entering the park. More refugios are now accepting credit cards too (but do not rely on this).

Torres del Paine offers visitors various accommodation alternatives ranging from camping, to refugios (these are hostels), to hotels and luxury lodges.

For those walking the W Trek, the question for you is what type of person are you and how much money do you have to spend?

Some of Our Testimonials

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Group 88

“All in all one of the best holidays we have ever had, if not the best, so thank you for putting together such an enjoyable itinerary for us.

With best wishes for the new year.”

Joe

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Group 88 (1)

“Our 60th birthday trip has been so amazing because of your fantastic help. We both turned 60 years old in 2018 so we wanted to celebrate by proving to ourselves we were still fit enough to do this kind of trip.

Your help made this easy, so THANK YOU!!!!!!”

Randy and E

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Group 88 (2)

“We are getting ready to leave and I just wanted to thank you for helping us along the way. We had a great time and the weather was perfect. On the “O circuit” all your arrangements went smoothly.“

Marc

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MEET EXPERIENCECHILE.ORG DIRECTOR, CHARLES HALLIFAX

Our philosophy is to offer you an experience. Not just a holiday, not just a travel plan, but a life experience. We do this by creating travel itineraries that incorporate destinations, hotels and services that are special, that we know will offer you a memorable travel memory.
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