Hiking the French Valley

Average

Someone else planned the trip so I didn't have specific expectations, but for $16K I found it wildly overpriced. Obviously you've found a pricepoint that the international market supports and you have a prime property inside the park, but I know that isn't trickling down to the guides doing the work. They were knowledgeable, had great training, and were very supportive; the staff were great, the rooms were adequate (which doesn't match the price), and the spa was nice. We extended our trip half a day in order to hike the French Valley, and the manager was compelled to charge us extra for the guide (on a hike that someone else was going on) and on a shuttle. I'm sure he was following policy, but after being there much of the week is it really necessary to now act like Explora needs to recover a couple hundred dollars because we haven't paid enough already and it needs to maximize its margin? I felt this policy tarnished the brand.

Beautiful, amazing spires. Never go there during prime season, it would be hours of walking in a mile line of people. Unique mix of mountains, lakes and glaciers. Weather is volatile and so not reliable--not too surprising at that latitude.

What changed my perspective is looking out the window at the flight north from Puerto Natales and seeing hundreds of miles of ice fields. That was amazing. I am lucky enough to live in the Rocky Mountains, so I found the spires beautiful and the hiking great but crowded, and it would be intolerable in high season. It definitely felt like a (unique) tourist attraction.

No

No