W TREK French Valley 1 Night / 2 Days

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W TREK French Valley 1 Night / 2 Days

W TREK French Valley 1 Night / 2 Days

Duration
1 Night / 2 Days
Total Hike Distance
French Valley: 27.2 km / 17 mi – 5 hrs 10 min hiking (return distance and time)
Style
Self Guided
From
USD 546 PP

From USD 546 Per Person

All Inclusive

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W TREK French Valley 1 Night / 2 Days

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 FRENCH VALLEY.

Post hike accommodation is in Torres del Paine in either a refugio or equipped, serviced camping, or we can arrange a pre and a post hike accommodation in a hotel in Puerto Natales.

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Your Day-By-Day Itinerary

Depart from Puerto Natales on the regular bus at 07:00hrs. Arrive to Pudeto in Torres del Paine and board Catamaran to Paine Grande. Check-in to accommodation. Dinner included.

Breakfast served and box lunch handed to you

Begin the hike to the French Valley entrance: 7.8km / 4.8mi – 2hrs 40min hiking.
French Valley Entrance to the French Valley Viewpoint: 2.6km / 1.6mi – 1hr 30mins hiking.
French Valley Viewpoint to the Camp Britianico (end of the valley): 3.2km / 2mi – 1hr hiking.
Camp Britanico to the French Valley Viewpoint: 3.2km / 2mi – 1hr hiking.
French Valley Viewpoint to the French Valley exit: 2.6km / 1.6mi – 1hr 30mins hiking.
French Valley exit to Paine Grande: 7.8km / 4.8mi – 2hrs 40min hiking.

Summary:

Paine Grande to the end of the French Valley and back: 27.2km / 17mi – 5hrs 10min hiking.

Paine Grande to the French Valley Viewpoint and back: 20.8km / 13mi – 4hrs 10min hiking.

Return to Paine Grande and board the catamaran to Pudeto. Here, board the regular bus back to Puerto Natales.

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

Trustpilot
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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CUSTOM MADE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES

We are distinguished partners with the Australis, Skorpios and Navimag ship companies. In each case we offer accommodation on board their vessels as stand-alone reservations or as part of your wider travel itinerary. Each ship offers the opportunity to experience Patagonia from the sea and see exactly what the pioneer sailors saw when they ventured upon these parts hundreds of year ago: pristine forests, snow-covered mountains, fiords, glaciers, marine fauna and uninhabited islands.
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