W Trek from a Luxury Lodge

This itinerary is an example of how you could spend your time on this all-inclusive experience. Please see the full list of day excursions on the excursions page.

Day 1: Transfer to Torres del Paine National Park; Explora Torres del Paine

Upon arrival in Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales, you'll be picked up by a hotel-exclusive transfer and taken to your luxury lodge, the Explora Torres del Paine – the only one of its kind located within the Torres del Paine National Park. If arriving from El Calafate, Argentina, you will be met at the border.

You may not even notice your hotel until you're standing at the front door. It's nestled out of sight, blending in to its surroundings and overlooking the stunning turquoise River Paine. The jaw-dropping views towards the Torres del Paine massif are undoubtedly the star of the show, but as you'd expect from a first-rate lodge, the service is second to none, the food is fantastic and the rooms ooze class and elegance.

You may have time on arrival to use the spa, set away from the main building and surrounded by nature, or you might prefer to relax in the bar area where all drinks and snacks are included in your stay. 

Meals: Dinner 

Accommodation: Explora Torres del Paine

Day 2 - Trek to Glacier Grey; Explora Torres del Paine

We'll leave the lodge by Explora's catamaran, crossing Lake Pehoé. The challenging hike commences when disembarking at Paine Grande as you trek the westerly trail which follows the immense Lake Grey. You gradually get close to Glacier Grey which feeds the lake. Arriving at a great vantage point after a few miles of hiking, you'll be able to truly grasp the size of the glacier stretching off into the distance.

The trail descends to the Lake Grey refuge after approximately 13km. From here we'll board the afternoon Grey-Catamaran, a specialised boat, which will take us as close to the face of the glacier as possible. Toast to an incredible experience with whisky, chilled by millennial ice from the very glacier you have been sighting all day.

The boat trip finishes at Grey Beach from where a short walk brings you to the Explora van which returns you to Explora Torres del Paine in 30mins.

Length of hike: 6hrs,15km/9 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Explora Torres del Paine

Day 3 - Trek to the French Valley; Explora Torres del Paine

We'll leave the hotel by catamaran for a 30min journey, then trek from Refugio Pehoé along the trail that borders Lake Pehoé and Lake Skottsberg on the way to the French Valley. On this section, there are numerous climbs of less than 150m (500ft) and spectacular views of the two lakes, Paine Mountain, and the Cuernos (horns). We'll cross the bridge over the French River for a view of the French Glacier, the principal peak of the Paine Grande and the Cuernos.

After a picnic lunch we'll walk back to Refugio Pehoé and then return by catamaran to Explora Torres del Paine.

Length of hike: 7hrs, 16km/10miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner 

Accommodation: Explora Torres del Paine

Day 4 - Trek to the Towers; Explora Torres del Paine

We'll leave the lodge by van for a 1hr drive to Estancia Cerro Paine. From here we'll trek through the Ascencio River Valley, ascending 350m (1,100ft) to the Chileno campground. We'll walk through century-old forests of beech and past gorges until reaching the Torres campground.

From here we'll climb a glacial moraine until reaching Las Torres (The Towers) viewpoint at the lake (a 350m/1,100ft climb) – quite possibly the best view in Patagonia. After a picnic lunch we'll return via the same trail, admiring the views of multicoloured lakes in the distance. Our Explora van will return us to Explora Torres del Paine.

Length of hike: 8hrs, 18km/11 miles

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner 

Accommodation: Explora Torres del Paine

Day 5 - Transfer to Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or El Calafate

After breakfast, you will take a transfer to Punta Arenas (5hrs), Puerto Natales (1.5hrs), or the Argentine border (1.5hrs) for onward travel to El Calafate. Please ask us for more information.

Meals: Breakfast