Winter W trek in Torres del Paine from £986

Day 1 Starting from Puerto Natales at 12 noon or from Cerro Castillo at 1pm, we drive all the way to Torres del Paine National Park. We will drive through the open pampas and past huge ranches (estancias), and the chances are that we will be able to observe one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu, (rare South American ostrich). We will follow an unpaved road heading to Las Torres ranch where we camp. Today’s hike is on a gentle trail following the border of the park and offers opportunities to see guanacos (llamas) and the Andean Condor. (2 hours by private transfer, 2 hours soft hike) (D) (Night basic camp) (No bathrooms or hot showers)

Day 2 We will start our first day trekking to the base of the Towers, following the Ascencio River to enter the Ascencio Valley. Our walk will be uphill for one hour before stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley surrounded by unbelievable beech forests (Nothofagus family), glaciers and waterfalls. We’ll continue through the valley for another hour and a half before ascending a huge terminal moraine to a lookout (900 M), excellent for picture taking. At this point we will be surrounded by three giant granite towers (2850 M) and a lagoon with slurry waters due to erosion produced by glaciers. This amazing view will be accompanied by lunch to add to the enjoyment. After being awed by the towers we’ll start our descent, following the same path back to the camp, where we will prepare our dinner. (7-8 hours round-trip, 18 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night basic camp) (No bathrooms or hot showers)

Day 3 We will start early in the morning to enjoy, (weather permitting), a magnificent dawn filled with orange-pink colors. As we leave the campsite we will arrive at Inge lagoon. Chances are, on this path, we may see the flight of an Andean condor or eagles hunting hares or small rodents. We follow a well marked trail ascending around (200 mts.) from the base of Almirante Nieto Mountain (2750 mts.), crossing the Bader River to arrive at Camp Los Cuernos where we will stay overnight. (500 mts. difference of level, 6 hours, 17 kms.) (B-BL-D) (Night basic camp) (No bathrooms or hot showers)

Day 4 We will start our day with a 2-hour walk along an undulating path until we reach the French River for our first glimpses of the hanging glacier. Then we will ascend (300 M) for one hour through a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech forests, to reach the French valley viewpoint gifting us with a magnificent view of both mountains and lakes. We will lunch here with good possibilities of seeing avalanches from the hanging glacier or simply observe the west side of the Cuernos (2600 M), Espada (2400 M) and Fortaleza (2800 M). Our way back will be the same until we reach the entrance of the valley where we will continue on a different path around the South-West side of Paine Grande, the highest peak in the Park, through native forests of Chilean fire bush and evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the shore of the Pehoe Lake where we stay in a modern mountain lodge! (6 hours hiking, 18 KM). (B-BL-D) (Night basic camp)

Day 5 We will begin early morning with our hike to the Grey Glacier. Initially we will ascend 200mts up a winding narrow path leading us to Laguna Negra, and our first glimpses of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field with its many unclimbed mountains. We will advance through forests and crossing rivers, with possible sightings of spectacle and flying steamer ducks, up to the glacier view point. We will enjoy lunch at this place and if we are lucky, witness ice calving from the huge glacier wall into Lake Grey. We return, following the same path, with views of Cordon Olguín and Paine Grande, to reach the same hut at the Shore of Pehoe Lake to spend our second night there. (7-8 hours walking, 22 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Paine Grande Lodge) Day 6 We start a hike following the shore of the Pehoe Lake, and later on the course of the Grey River, all the way to the administration area where a private transfer will be waiting to drive us back to Puerto Natales. We stop by the Administration area of the park, located on the edge of Lake Toro, an impressive lake of incredible colors to enjoy our picnic lunch and a short walk around the grounds before returning to Puerto Natales. (5 hours hike, 1.5 hours transfer) (B-BL)