Paine O Circuit with Oggioni Pass

Day 1: Transfer from Puerto Natales; Trek to Japanese camp

After an early breakfast, we'll depart from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park. We'll start our trek by trekking up Almirante Nieto – a mountain from which we'll have a fantastic view of Lake Nordenskjold and the Silencio Valley. After passing by Refugio & Camping Chileno, we'll hike for an hour through a dense lenga forest. Upon leaving the forest, we'll approach Las Torres Camp where we'll leave our packs before continuing up a steep moraine to a viewpoint of the iconic Las Torres.

After returning to Las Torres Camp, we'll trek to a climber's camp called Japanese camp (or Japonés, in Spanish) – the original camping area where climbing pioneers stopped to shelter from the weather and prepare for their climb to the top of Las Torres. We'll have dinner and overnight here and prepare for tomorrow's big day.

Length of hike: 6-7 hrs,14km

Meals: Picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Japanese camp

Day 2: Trek over the Oggioni Pass; Dickson camp

Following an early breakfast, we'll pack up and start today's trek to cross the Oggioni Pass. This part of the trip is really off the beaten track – very few visitors to the park take this route and the trail is only marked by small stone towers left behind by previous hikers. We'll start by following the trail to the back of Las Torres and where the main trail continues straight we'll detour and hike to a waterfall. We'll pass over this on a stone bridge and then hike over two glacial moraines.

Finally, we'll start ascending to the Oggioni Mountain on the backside of the Silencio Valley. Once safely over the Oggioni Pass, we'll trek through dense forested vegetation and from a distance Refugio Dickson and camp will be visible. When we reach the refugio we'll set up our camp. Today is a long day and we'll be happy to arrive after such an exciting and challenging hike.

Length of hike: 12-13hrs,15km

Difficulty: You need to be in very good physical condition to cross the Oggioni Pass. We recommend people should be able to hike long distances, both uphill and downhill. You should also have keen mental strength and a sense of determination to resist tough elements like strong winds and frozen rain or snowfall (even in the summer). Most of the crossing is along moraine and snow (depending on how much snowfall the area received the previous winter). The weather in Patagonia is very unpredictable, and dealing with different levels of discomfort is one of the biggest challenges of Patagonian trekking. This is a semi-technical route where we will reach 1,585m/5,200ft (1,020m/3,350ft of elevation gain).

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Dickson camp

Day 3: Rest or explore; Dickson camp

Today can be used a rest day in case of bad weather. It can also be used as a day to explore the beautiful area around Refugio Dickson.

Length of hike: Flexible

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Dickson camp

Day 4: Trek through Los Perros Valley; Los Perros camp

After a hearty breakfast, we'll begin today's trek through one of the oldest forests in the park in the Los Perros Valley. The meandering trail leads us past lengas and coigues, both of which grew shortly after the glaciers receded.

Finally, we'll reach a moraine at the foot of Glacier Los Perros and it's here that we'll set up our overnight camp.

Length of hike: 5hrs, 12km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Los Perros camp

Day 5: Trek over the John Gardner Pass; Grey camp

In the morning, after breakfast, we'll start ascending slowly but steadily for approximately 200m. The trail will be very moist beneath the beautiful lenga and coigue trees and after an hour and fifteen minutes we'll reach the end of the forest. It's now that we'll finally begin trekking up rocky slopes towards the John Gardner Pass. After forty more minutes of hiking, we'll reach smaller patches of trees, ascending all the time. From this part of the trail, we'll be able to see Glacier Amistad, Cerro Blanco Sur, Punta Puma and the John Gardner Pass.

From here, we'll begin climbing again until we reach the John Gardner Pass at 1,190m. We'll have a stunning view of Glacier Grey and the Southern Patagonian Icefield. After we've soaked up the views and caught our breath we'll begin hiking downhill for around 2hrs until we reach Campamento Paso where we'll have a short break. Then we'll continue hiking for 4hrs along an undulating trail with views of Glacier Grey, Lake Grey, and Ferrier Hill. We'll need to cross two ravines using metal ladders or hanging bridges, that park rangers have installed before arrive at Guardas camp.

This camp is just 1hr away from Refugio Grey so we'll take a short rest while gazing at the spectacular, up-close view of Glacier Grey. From here we'll continue to Refugio Grey where we'll camp for the night.

Length of hike: 10-11hrs, 17km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Grey camp

Day 6: Trek to Paine Grande; Paine Grande camp

Enjoy this morning at leisure or take an optional 5-hour ice hike on Grey Glacier or a 2.5-hour kayak excursion on Lake Grey. In the afternoon we'll trek to Refugio Paine Grande alongside Cerro Paine Grande, swapping views of Glacier Grey for views of Lake Pehoe. We'll arrive at Refugio Paine Grande before dinner and camp here overnight.

Length of hike: 3-4 hours, 11km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Paine Grande camp

Day 7: Trek to the French Valley; Transfer to Puerto Natales

The final day of the trip will start with a hike to the French Valley. On entering the valley – a glacial moraine surrounded by peaks and hanging glaciers – we’ll scramble over huge boulders and catch our first sight of the hanging glacier atop the valley.

From here we'll ascend for an hour through a dreamlike Japanese garden landscape before arriving at the French Valley viewpoint (the 'Plateau'). Our reward is a stunning bird’s eye view of granite peaks and hanging glaciers. On one side is the French Glacier and Paine Grande (3050m); while on the other, La Espada, La Hoja, La Máscara and the main and north 'horns' of Los Cuernos arch upwards. In the upper section of the valley, Mt Catedral and Mt Fortaleza loom like turrets above the landscape. We'll have plenty of time to rest and have lunch at the viewpoint, surrounded by these imposing peaks and open skies.

Our descent is via the same path to Refugio Paine Grande, by the shores of Lake Pehoe. We'll then take a catamaran across the lake and onward road transport back to Puerto Natales.

Length of hike: 7-8hrs, 21km

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch