W TREK 3 Valleys Option from Natales - Torres Base, French & Grey - 4 Nights / 5 Days - Private Transfers
- Duration
- 4 Nights / 5 Days
- Total Hike Distance
- 56.9km / 35.6mi
- Style
- Self Guided
- From
- USD 1,950 PP
From USD 1,950 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 each of the three valleys, but being based at your hotel in Puerto Natales. What does this mean? This means that you get to return to the comfort of your own, private hotel room, with en suite bathroom each night and have the option to enjoy the services of Puerto Natales village.
Torres Base, French Valley & Grey Glacier Valley
Total hike time to the Torres Base and back: 21.8km / 13.6 mi – 9hrs hiking
Paine Grande – French Valley:
Total hike time if to the French Valley Viewpoint and out is: 17.7km / 11mi – 8hrs hiking.
Total hike time if to the French Valley Camp Britanico and out is: 24.1km / 15mi – 10hrs hiking.
Paine Grande – Grey: 11km / 6.8mi – 4hrs hiking.
Your Day-By-Day Itinerary
Arrive to your hotel in Puerto Natales.
NIGHT: Puerto Natales
After breakfast, depart from your hotel in Puerto Natales to the Welcome Centre in Torres del Paine 2hr private transfer. Begin hike to the Torres Base. From the Welcome Centre the hike will be flat until Hotel Las Torres. Just past the hotel the trail will begin a meandering ascent to the entrance to the Ascensio Valley. At times, at this point the winds can be very fierce. However, once past this corner, you will enter the valley and it is more or less downhill to Chileno. From Chileno the trail will cross the Ascensio river, and enter a forest. Where there are openings behind the trees the view is of hanging glaciers and dramatic mountain peaks. Once through the woods you will be met by a mass of millenial glacial morain covering the montain from left to right at a relativey steep angle. The trail will not go over this scree, but rather it will bend left and go up hill, beside the morain. Considering that there is glacier morain here, the path will, at times, be narrow, meandering around the larger boulders and over the smaller ones as well as passing trees that are growing up from cracks in rocks. This, 1hr duration of hiking is considered the most difficult part of the W. However, at the top the sky fills the area ahead and then, all of a sudden, the view is of the three, giant, vertical, towering needles called the Towers of Torres del Paine, at the foot of which is a lagoon. If you get to here you have made it! After a rest, start the return hike back to the Welcome Centre from where you will be met and taken back to the comfort of your own hotel room for a hot shower.
NIGHT: Puerto Natales
After breakfast, depart from your hotel in Puerto Natales to Pudeto in Torres del Paine. This is a 2hr private transfer. Upon arrival to Pudeto you will have the option to enjoy a coffee in the cafe before boarding the catamaran to cross Lake Pehoe to Paine Grande. From Paine Grande the hike will be direct to the French Valley entrance. This sector of the trail is relatively flat, passing Lake Nordenskjold on your right. 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. Once you have done your French Valley incursion, when you get back to the entrance, which is now your exit, you will turn right and continue to Paine Grande. At Paine Grande you will board the catamaran for the return crossing to Pudeto where your driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel room in Puerto Natales where you can enjoy a hot shower in the privacy of your own bathroom.
NIGHT: Puerto Natales
After breakfast, depart from your hotel in Puerto Natales to Pudeto in Torres del Paine. This is a 2hr private transfer. Upon arrival to Pudeto you will have the option to enjoy a coffee in the cafe before boarding the catamaran to cross Lake Pehoe to Paine Grande. From Paine Grande the hike will be direct to refugio Grey. Initially, for about 45mins the trail is steep and meandering up to a wooded glen, where it flatens out. Once the other side of the glen the trees give way to a view over Grey Lake. A little further on is the designated Grey viewpoint from where there is a panoramic view over the lake and on a clear day, the Glacier Grey in the distance. The trail will descend from this point to a level more or less at lake level and then follow the lake all the way to Refugio Grey. From Paine Grande to Refugio Grey it takes between 3.5hrs to 4hrs hiking. Once here, you will have the option to continue on to the glacier and even to the hanging bridges and back. However, you will need to be back at REFUGIO GREY before 13:30hrs in order to board the Navigation Grey boat which will take you past the face of Glacier Grey. The navigation will end on the southern side of Lake Grey and from the Pingo car park your driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Puerto Natales, where you can relax under a hot shower in the privacy of your own bathroom.
NIGHT: Puerto Natales
After breakfast you will transfer to the airport or bus terminal.
