W Trek Glamping Highlights

Day 1: Transfer to Torres del Paine National Park; EcoCamp Patagonia

The trip begins in the morning with you being picked up from either Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales and transferred to your accommodation in Torres del Paine National Park. Alternatively, you can start your trip in El Calafate and enter Chile by public bus (included) or private transfer.

If travelling from Punta Arenas, we'll stop en route in Puerto Natales, a small, lively town on the shores of Last Hope Sound (Ultima Esperanza), where we'll enjoy a local lunch. This journey is through a very picturesque region – look out for wildlife.

The day ends with your arrival during late afternoon at EcoCamp Patagonia, nestled in the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park and with a prime view of the majestic Torres. This evening you'll meet your guide and a small group of like-minded travel companions as you're briefed on your upcoming adventure together.

Enjoy a sumptuous dinner in the communal dome and admire the sunset across the Patagonian steppe and Torres del Paine massif – usually around 11pm during the summer months.

Meals: Lunch, dinner

Accommodation: EcoCamp Patagonia

Day 2: Trek the French Valley; Camping at Refugio Paine Grande

After breakfast we'll transfer by vehicle through the national park to board our catamaran boat at Lake Pehoé. The short boat ride etches ever-closer to the immense Paine Grande mountain before docking near the refugio where you can leave your overnight items, if you wish.

You'll begin the challenging, yet rewarding, trek into the French Valley (Valle Francés) by first bordering Lake Nordenskjöld and then entering the vast glacial terrain at the heart of the Paine Massif. How far we go will de dictated by the pace of the group as a whole, but a faster walk will lead us to the hanging bridge over the French River, located at the foot of the south-east face of the Massif. From here there are fantastic views of the valley.

We'll then continue our hike, uphill to the upper section of the valley where we'll take in the extensive views over the beautiful granite peaks of the Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedrál (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark's Fin) and the stunning Fortaleza (Fortress) – truly an amazin sight.

After all this ascent, we'll begin our descent and arrive back at Refugio Paine Grande.

Note: The trek to the French Valley varies throughout the season, depending on the catamaran connecting Pudeto and Lake Pehoé. In October and April the catamaran times mean the hike reaches the Italian Camp at the entrance to the French Valley. From November to March the boat departs earlier, allowing trekkers to reach further up the valley.

Length of hike: 10hrs, 26km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Suppported camping  (in double tents) Refugio Paine Grande

Day 3: Trek to Glacier Grey; EcoCamp Patagonia

Today we'll hike from Refugio Paine Grande along the shore of Lake Pehoé to the northern side of the beautiful Lake Grey. Here we'll tuck into a picnic lunch before taking a boat trip to the huge facade of Glacier Grey where there will be plenty of time to watch the calving glacier. From here, we'll sail to the southern end of Glacier Grey, where we'll transfer to EcoCamp Patagonia.

Due to the highly temperamental weather in the region, boat trips across the lake may occasionally be cancelled. This can also happen if the required minimum of 10 passengers is not reached. If either is the case, we'll trek up to the sightseeing point and from there will have superb, panoramic views of the Glacier Grey. From here we'll return on foot to Refugio Paine Grande and take a catamaran to the dock at Pudeto, where we'll be picked up and driven to our camp.

Length of hike: 4hrs, 11km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: EcoCamp Patagonia

Day 4: Trek to the Towers; EcoCamp Patagonia

The goal of our fourth day will be to complete the most famous trekking trail in all Patagonia – the trek to the Towers, or Las Torres! Departing from EcoCamp Patagonia on foot, we'll enter the Ascenio Valley before following the river through scenic forest, along an undulating trail.

Our main challenge comes in the form of the steep moraine (a huge mass of boulders) which lead us to the base of the Towers – three gigantic granite monoliths, the remains of a great cirque sheared away by the forces of glacial ice.

After a tough final ascent, the Towers eventually come into full view, soaring majestically before us. Here we'll stop at probably the best lunch spot in the world! After soaking up the view, we'll backtrack along the same trail through the Ascencio Valley and return to EcoCamp Patagonia for a well-deserved dinner.

Length of hike: 9hrs, 22km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: EcoCamp Patagonia

Day 5: Transfer to Punta Arenas

In the early morning you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a scenic ride back to Puerto Natales (2hrs) or Punta Arenas (5hrs) to catch an afternoon flight to Santiago. Alternatively, you can continue your trip to El Calafate (Argentina) by public bus (included) or private transfer (additional cost).

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch