All Prices:
5 - 14 guests
Activity Level 3
Earn Your Lunch
I stay active on vacation and love the feeling of relaxing after a busy day on the go. I season my trips with a little fresh exercise.
Read more about the Active Range
Price
USD $7299/per adult
Next available departure
23 Apr - 6 May
Operated by our sister brand Active Adventures
Activity Level 1
What's The Rush?
I'm active and in decent shape and not looking to experience a place just through a bus window. I'm happy to slow down on the trail, soak it in and breathe in the fresh air.
Walking: 2-3 hours per day on gentle-gradient trails.
Other activities: On these trips, you'll be taking part in a range of other activities that focus less on building up a sweat and more on enjoying the finer things in life.
Activity Level 2
On the Move
Sure, I own some hiking boots, they're even worn in, but they don't go on long trips. I like my creature comforts and I like to give a range of activities a go.
Walking: 2-4 hours per day on gentle to moderate gradient trails. No multi-day hikes.
Biking: 1-3 hours, cruisy rides achievable by anyone, even first-timers. Kayaking: 1-3 hours, entry-level sea kayaking with specialist guides and stable boats.
Other activities (i.e. snorkeling): Always optional and very little exertion required. A highlight for many!
Activity Level 3
Earn Your Lunch
I stay active on vacation and love the feeling of relaxing after a busy day on the go. I season my trips with a little fresh exercise.
Hiking: Typically, 3-6 hours per day on well-formed backcountry trails. Expect some significant gradient inclines and declines.
Altitude: Your trip may include some moderate altitude areas, though these don't form the focus of the trip and are generally manageable.
Biking: 1-3 hours on well-formed paths or roads where you can expect some hills with moderate climbs and descents.
Kayaking: 1-3 hours, entry-level sea kayaking with specialist guides and stable boats.
Other activities (i.e. caving): Always optional and very little exertion required. A highlight for many!
Activity Level 4
Challenge Accepted
I'll let my trusty guides sweat the small things, so I can focus on my goal. Getting to the top, reaching the end, achieving my dreams! Sure, it'll be tough, but the views will be worth it.
Hiking / Trekking: Typically, 4–6-hour hikes with options for more, sometimes with limited or no vehicle support and nearly always with ascents and descents.
Altitude: Some trips at this level will reach a significant altitude. We are here to help you manage that and make your experience one to cherish for a lifetime.
Biking & Kayaking: If one, or both, of these activities are 'your thing,' there are trip options in this range, allowing you to be on two wheels or with a paddle in your hand for most of the day.
Activity Level 5
The Upper Limit
I'm ready to put in the hard work to reap the rewards. I'm a seasoned adventurer, not afraid to get my boots wet.
Trekking & Altitude: This is classic trekking, at altitude. Some might even call it 'expedition-style.' We've had folks from all walks of life achieve their dreams on our grade 5 trips, so if you're in for a challenge get in touch to find out if this is for you.
Find out why everyone raves about the W-Trek and take your own enviable photos of Monte Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre as you hike, bike and kayak some of the most incredible landscapes in the world on our 14-day Patagonia Hiking Adventure. Starting in Punta Arenas, you'll first explore the Chilean side of Patagonia, where the iconic W-Trek is located. With options to hike from Refugio to Refugio or stick to day hikes, you'll make your way through Torres del Paine National Park taking in French Valley, Grey Glacier, and Lake Grey. From here, you'll cross the border into Argentina. After an afternoon of wandering El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, you'll leave the city behind to witness the Perito Moreno Glacier, hike up to Mirador Laguna Torre, where dramatic views of Fitz Roy Valley and Cerro Torre sit waiting, and spend time in the charming mountain village of El Chalten. There's no better way to tick off these bucket list landscapes than on our Patagonia Hiking Adventure.
This trip is operated by Active Adventures.
The W-Trek Backcountry Hiking trek will take you past sheer granite peaks, snow-clad mountains, glacial lakes and through thick Magellanic forest, and you’ll be spending the four nights in rustic mountain lodges, known locally as refugio’s. While it might be a bit of a challenge, the rewards are well and truly worth it!
The W-Trek Comfort Hiking Experience is five days exploring the incredible Torres del Paine National Park with amazing day trips that will take you from sheer granite peaks and snow-clad mountains, to glacial lakes and thick Magellanic forests. You’ll spend all four nights at Rio Kau Serrano, a comfortable lodge from where you’ll head out each day to explore some of the best sights this park has to offer.
Day 1
Welcome to Chilean Patagonia! The windswept plains of this southern region stretch on for miles, joining Chile’s rugged coastline and majestic mountain peaks into one of the world’s most awe-inspiring mountain environments, perched on the edges of the icy isthmus and fiords of the southern Pacific Ocean. This evening you’ll meet your trip leader and head out to a local restaurant for your first taste of Patagonian cuisine.
Hotel Almasur, Punta Arenas (Dinner)
Day 2
This morning we’ll take a cruise, weather permitting, across the Magellan Strait to Magdalena Island. The Island is protected, and uninhabited by humans, and is home to the largest penguin colony in Southern Chile, with around 60,000 breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins. Alternatively, if the Magellan Strait, which is subject to high swells, is uncrossable, we’ll head instead to Cueva del Milodón (Cave of the Mylodon). In this case, after breakfast, we’ll take a scenic drive through the fertile Patagonian lowlands to Puerto Natales, and on to the cave system. Alongside a local guide, we’ll explore all three caves, spread across an area of a few square kilometers, culminating in the lair of the mystical mylodon – a gigantic, and now an extinct member of the sloth family, which survived in the region up until around 5,000 years ago. You’ll want to get your photo taken next to the life-size replica of this ancient beast at the cave entrance! Afterward, we’ll explore the nearby interpretation center, then head back to Puerto Natales for dinner together.
Hotel Natalino, Puerto Natales (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: Peguin Colony Hiking Distance: 1.6 kilometers (1 mile), 1-2 hours, elevation +/- 200 (60 feet)
Hiking: Cueva del Milodon Hiking Distance: 3 kilometers (1.8 miles), 2 hours, flat
Day 3
Today we'll head off for our various activities.
Day 3 Option A
Today we’ll begin the legendary four-day ‘W’ hike, an amazing trek among sheer granite peaks, snow-clad mountains, glacial lakes and the thick Magellanic forest. We’ll follow the Rio Ascensio Valley as it winds its way up to the park’s namesake. As we reach the top of the boulder field near the end of our hike, we’ll come face to face with one of the most famous mountain landscapes in the world – above you, three mammoth granite peaks rise like tombstones from the rugged hills and snow-coated mountains of Patagonia to pierce the sky – Torres del Paine (‘Towers of Blue’). At a height of about 900 meters (3000 feet), they are believed to be the highest natural cliff faces in the world. Tonight you’ll sleep well at a cozy refugio (mountain lodge), a welcome sight after a full day’s hike. Only a light day pack is required as it's a return hike. There are shorter options available.
Refugio Chileno Torres del Paine (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 22 kilometers (13.7 miles), 7-9 hours, elevation +/- 770 meters (2,524 feet)
Day 3 Option B
Today we’ll begin the four-day exploration of Torres Del Paine, with amazing day treks among sheer granite peaks, snow-clad mountains, glacial lakes and the thick Magellanic forest. Our first hike will take us to Azul Lagoon, where we’ll circumnavigate the lagoon with views of the Torres del Paine towers just south of us. After lunch we’ll head back south and journey further into the park, stopping off along the way for views of Lake Nordenskjold and Lake Pehoe before arriving at Kau Rio Serrano Refugio, our accommodation for the next 4 nights.
Kau Rio Serrano, Torres del Paine (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 5 kilometers (3.1 miles), 2-3 hours, elevation +/- 50 meters (164 feet)
Day 4
Day 4 Option A
It’s an easier hike today, as we contour around the northern shore of Lake Nordenskjold, a glacial lake in the heart of the national park. As we head around the lake, we’ll start to see glimpses of Los Cuernos – Spanish for ‘The Horns’ – three fantastically sculpted grey and white sedimentary and granite peaks rising 244 meters (800 feet). The intense turquoise hue of the lake and the starkness of the mountains make for spectacular photo opportunities. This evening, we’ll stay in the shadow of the mountains at Refugio Los Cuernos.
Refugio Los Cuernos, Torres del Paine (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 13 kilometers (8 miles), 4-6 hours, elevation + 60 meters (196 feet), elevation - 410 meters (1,345 feet)
Day 4 Option B
After a scrumptious breakfast, we’ll head back to Lake Pehoe where we’ll hop on a catamaran across to Refugio Paine Grande. Our hike today takes us toward the French Valley for a closer look at Los Cuernos, and at the base of the French Valley, we’ll have incredible views of ravines. It is probably one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever see, with multiple glaciers cascading down its steep sides, creating a patchwork of ice and rock. We may catch a glimpse of the impressive French Glacier, the Paine Massif and Cuernos granite towers in the background. We’ll enjoy lunch along the way before hiking back down on the same trail, making our way back to the refugio and onward on the catamaran to the refugio with time to relax before dinner.
Kau Rio Serrano, Torres del Paine (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 16 kilometers (10 miles), 4-5 hours, elevation +/- 146 meters (477 feet)
Day 5
Day 5 Option A
We’ll rise with the sun this morning to begin our hike up French Valley for a closer look at Los Cuernos. This ravine is probably one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever see, with multiple glaciers cascading down its steep sides, creating a patchwork of ice and rock. The track steepens as we ascend a ridge line to the upper French Valley past waterfalls and mountain tarns. At the top, we’ll have incredible views of a massive natural amphitheater, filled with the awesome French Glacier, the Paine Massif and Cuernos granite towers. This afternoon, we’ll hike to Refugio Paine Grande.
Refugio Paine Grande, Torres del Paine (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: Refugio Paine Hiking: 13 kilometers (8 miles), 4-6 hours, elevation +/- 80 meters (262 feet)
Hiking: French Valley Lookout Hike: 6 kilometers (3.7 miles), 2-3 hours, elevation +/- 660 meters (2,165 feet) - OPTIONAL
Day 5 Option B
You’re in one of the most beautiful locations on the planet, so take your time today and take it all in – enjoying breakfast at your leisure. There’s an opportunity to go for a hike this morning or you can simply relax at the refugio and enjoy the views from the river’s edge. Lunch will be at Kau Rio Serrano Refugio before the afternoon’s activity. After we regroup, we’ll walk from our refugio down to the Serrano River’s edge where we’ll hike east along the winding riverside. The trail will take us to a lookout point where we’ll have views of the Grey and Tyndall glaciers. Tyndall Glacier, also known as Geike Glacier, is one of the largest in southern Patagonia, named after the Irish glaciologist John Tyndall. The hike will take most of the afternoon, then we’ll return by vehicle to the lodge in time for dinner.
Kau Rio Serrano, Torres del Paine (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Kayaking: 2-3 hours
Hiking: 12 kilometers (7.5 miles), 2-3 hours, elevation +/- 436 meters (1,430 feet)
Notes: Optional: Kayak Lake Grey (extra fee applies): We’ll meet our specialist kayak guides at the inlet of Serrano River, and they’ll match you with a kayak and provide all the necessary equipment for a unique way to explore Lake Grey. We’ll enjoy the magic of paddling around the icebergs that have broken away from the glacier and you’ll be in awe of the unique views of the Paine mountains and their impressive granite walls. After we return to shore, we’ll head back to the refugio for lunch before our afternoon hike.
Day 6
Day 6 Option A
Grey Glacier is a 200-meter (650 feet) high wall of ice that marks the northern end of Lake Grey. This is one of the largest calving glaciers in the world, with giant ice cliffs that plummet into the depths of the lake. Our hike finishes at the lake, where we’ll meet our specialist kayak guides. They’ll match you with a kayak and provide all the necessary equipment for a unique way to explore Lake Grey and enjoy amazing views of the glacier and icebergs. When we return to shore, we’ll head to Refugio Grey, where we spend our last night in Torres del Paine National Park.
Refugio Grey, Torres del Paine (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 11 kilometers (7 miles), 3-5 hours, elevation + 250 meters (820 feet), elevation - 210 meters (688 feet)
Kayaking: 3 hours
Day 6 Option B
After breakfast, we’ll make our way to Weber Bridge, which crosses the confluence of Lake Pehoe and Lake Del Toro, where we’ll start our hike up to Mirador Condor. We’ll hike through a small valley on the Lazo-Weber trail, crossing an ancient Lenga Forest on our way up to a lookout point. The Lenga tree, nothofagus pumilio, is a member of the beech family and has been staked amidst fierce winds and a tough climate. Along the exposed subalpine slopes that mark the upper reaches of its habitable range, the Lenga tree sometimes grows into wild, twisted, wind-blown shapes. At the top, we’ll have incredible views of the entire Torres del Paine mountain range as well as Lakes Honda, Sarmiento & Verde. We’ll head back down, enjoying lunch along the way and once we reach the end of the trail, we’ll travel north toward Lake Nordenskjold. Our afternoon hike will take us to Mirador Cuernos, lying in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, which is the best spot to view Los Cuernos, ‘The Horns’. We’ll stop off at Salto Grande along the way, a very picturesque waterfall that flows out from Lake Icefield, it is part of the world’s third largest reserve of fresh water and forms a natural dam connecting Lakes Nordenskjold and Pahoe through the Paine river. The water level on the southern side of the lake can rise up to 30 meters (90 feet) above the level of the main lake. We’ll make our way back down the trail and on to Nash Refugio for our last night’s dinner on the W trek.
Kau Rio Serrano, Torres del Paine (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: Los Condores Lookout Hike: 6 kilometers (3.7 miles), 2-3 hours, elevation +/- 305 meters (1,000 feet)
Hiking: Los Cuernos Hike: 4 kilometers (2.5 miles), 1-2 hours, elevation +/- 68 meters (222 feet)
Day 7
Day 7 Option A
This morning we’ll hike a bit further up the valley to a magnificent lookout over the Grey Glacier. After we’ve finished our morning’s activities catch the boat across Lake Grey, taking in views of the surrounding mountains. When we complete our boat trip, we’ll head back to Puerto Natales, where we started our hike four days ago, to re-group with the W Trek day hikers, and enjoy a well-earned rest and another tasty meal together.
Hotel Natalino, Puerto Natales (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 4.8 kilometers (3 miles), 1-3 hours, elevation +/- 100 meters (328 feet)
Notes: Optional 'Touching the Ice' Hike (extra fee applies): A 3 hour package including return boat transfers to Grey Glacier, where you'll explore along Nunatuk Island and see the face of the Grey Glacier.
This option is available nearly all the time, though if the weather is too unpleasant and this trip is cancelled, you'll do the normal itinerary and we'll provide a full refund after your trip has finished. This option must be reserved at time of booking only.
Day 7 Option B
We’ll depart Nash Refugio for the last time this morning, making our way north toward Lake Grey. We’ll stop off at Rio Pingo where we’ll begin our morning hike, Mirador Ferriera! The hike is challenging with a short, steep climb up though you’ll be rewarded with a tremendous view of the Grey glacier and the small icebergs you may have paddled amongst a few days prior. After we’re back down from the hike, we’ll catch the boat across Lake Grey, taking in views of the surrounding mountains before docking at Grey Hotel to pick-up the W-trek hikers! Once we’ve re-grouped, we’ll return across the lake and head back to Puerto Natales, where we started our journey four days ago, for a well-earned rest and another tasty meal together.
Hotel Natalino, Puerto Natales (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 9 kilometers (5.6 miles), 3-5 hours, elevation +/- 650 meters (2,148 feet)
Day 8
Welcome to Argentina! Today we’ll cross the border to the home of Tango, Evita Peron and Diego Maradona. We’ll journey north to El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park, one of the greatest wilderness areas in South America. It’s also one of the most diverse – in addition to the vast mountain ranges and glaciers, it’s home to forests of guindo, lenga (a type of beech tree) and ñirre scrub, as well as a multitude of lakes and rivers. We’ll arrive in El Calafate in the afternoon, so you’ll have the rest of the day to chill out on the shores of Lago Argentino, South America’s third largest lake, with a surface area of over 1,600 square kilometers (617 square miles). You can relax and enjoy your surroundings, or you can head off on one of the many hikes in the area. A particular favorite of ours is the short walk to Laguna Nimes, a renowned bird sanctuary where geese, ducks and flamingos make their home. For dinner tonight we find that most people want to explore their options or have an early dinner, though of course, you’re welcome to join your guide for dinner too!
Patagonia Queen Hotel, El Calafate (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Notes: NOTE: The 8-day trip option ends today in Puerto Natales. We can arrange a transfer back to Punta Arenas if required (additional cost applies).
Day 9
If you thought the glaciers in Chile were amazing, today will take your breath away. We’ll get right up close to the base of Perito Moreno Glacier with a local specialist guide to watch blocks of ice crack off the glacier’s imposing terminal face and fall into the pastel-blue waters of Lago Argentino. This icefield is part of the world’s third largest reserve of fresh water and forms a natural dam to the opposite shore that separates the two halves of Lago Argentino. With no escape route, the water level on the southern side of the lake can rise up to 30 meters (90 feet) above the level of the main lake.
Patagonia Queen Hotel, El Calafate (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10
This morning we’ll travel to El Chalten, a charming and remote mountain village, known for its amazing hiking and mountaineering opportunities that quite literally begin on your doorstep. From the heart of this rapidly-growing outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, you can see the tips of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre peaks, as well as the lovely Rio de las Vueltas winding its way past town. We’ll hike through Patagonian dry lands and dramatic boulder fields to Mirador Laguna Torre (Spanish for ‘Tower Lagoon Lookout’) for heart-stopping views up the Fitz Roy valley to Cerro Torre, a spectacular granite spire looming over a sprawling mass of ice. Today is a relatively relaxing day, in preparation for tomorrow’s big hike into the heart of Los Glaciares National Park!
Hotel Posada el Barranco, El Chalten (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 6 kilometers (3.7 miles), 1-3 hours, elevation +/- 200 meters (656 feet)
Day 11
Today we’ll journey a short way to the start of an incredibly scenic hike to Campamento Poincenot. From here we can look directly up to the towering Monte Fitz Roy. You’ll find it hard to imagine that the views of the brooding Fitz Roy massif could get any better, and you can choose to stay here and take in the views or make the steep climb up to Laguna de Los Tres, at the foot of the glacier. All of a sudden, if you’ve chosen to go on ahead, you’ll reach the crest and be greeted by stunning close-up views of Monte Fitz Roy looming above a glacial lake. Today is a real highlight and the views are amazing, no matter how far you get!
Hotel Posada el Barranco, El Chalten (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 22.8 kilometers (14.2 miles), 7-9 hours (flexible), elevation +/- 800 meters (2,624 feet)
Day 12
Today we’ll journey north from El Chalten to Laguna del Desierto. We’ll take a great walk to a lookout beside the Lagoon to warm up the legs, and maybe get another view of Fitz Roy, before saddling up for an awesome bike ride that descends gently back toward El Chalten along an unpaved road. We’ll be riding in the valley basin of the River de las Vueltas and in several spots, the road runs alongside the river and past spectacular waterfalls. After regrouping for lunch at Los Huemules Reserve, we’ll switch back into our hiking boots for this afternoon and hike to the Blue & Green Lagoons.
Hotel Posada el Barranco, El Chalten (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: Lago del Desierto Hike: 1 kilometer (0.6 miles), 0.5 hour, elevation +/- 30 meters (90 feet)
Biking: 25.7 kilometers (16 miles), 2-3 hours, mostly flat
Hiking: Blue & Green Lagoons Hike: 5 kilometers (3 miles), 2 hours, elevation +/- 200 meters (656 feet)
Day 13
Today’s hike will give you a new appreciation for the incredibly huge and beautiful steep peaks of Southern Patagonia. We’ll begin our hike on the Loma del Pliegue trail bright and early, embarking on a 900-meter (3000 feet) hike to the top of the rounded lomo (hill). First, we’ll pass through the Patagonian beech forest then ascend onto the wide plateau, where the views start getting seriously beautiful. Upon reaching the summit, we’ll be greeted by one of the most incredible sights you’re ever likely to see – the towering peak of Monte Fitz Roy rising high above the Torre Glacier and Laguna Torre. Just make sure you’ve packed your wide-angle lens to take in all of this view! Later, we’ll descend the trail back down to El Chalten and head onwards to El Calafate, where over dinner we’ll celebrate one of the best hikes anywhere in the world.
Patagonia Queen Hotel, El Calafate (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 22.4 kilometers (14 miles), 7-9 hours (flexible), elevation +/- 915 meters (3,000 feet)
Day 14
This is the end of your Ultimate Patagonia trip and you’ll go home knowing you’ve kayaked, biked and hiked your way around one of the most spectacular alpine regions on Earth. Your trip leader will arrange transport to the El Calafate airport for you, if you’re flying out today, and if you’re staying on, we can help you arrange extra hotel accommodation.
No Accommodation (Breakfast)
Looking for a shorter trip? Ask our Adventure Travel Consultants about the 8-day option for this trip, which is days 1 to 8 of the itinerary.
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By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable.
We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.
T+Cs Apply.
With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you’ll enjoy a highly personalized experience with the perspective of an insider.
It’s so much easier to relax and enjoy your adventure when you have fun, caring guides who know the land, are experts in motivation, sweat all the details and whip up incredible meals, too!
When we say all inclusive, we mean it! Meals and snacks, activities, lodging, transportation, guiding services and more. Every detail is handled; all you need to do is show up!
Every aspect of your trip is thoroughly considered for your safety, from highly vetted vendors and well-maintained equipment to extensively trained guides and our seasoned operations team at headquarters.
Family travel and North American National Parks are our specialty. We’ve perfected our itineraries and sustained relationships for decades, ensuring you'll experience your destination to the fullest.
For us, the extra mile is never extra, it’s part of the way! Count on special touches throughout your trip that will amplify your experience. If we’ve done our job, they’ll have you saying “wow!”
