Torres del Paine O Circuit

DAY 1: PUERTO NATALES --> BASE TORRES

22Km (13,5 Miles) - Elevation Gain: +/-770m (+/-2550ft) - Hiking Time: 7-8 hrs

Departing Puerto Natales early in the morning we travel to Torres del Paine National Park via unpaved accompanied by jumping guanacos, elusive grey foxes and black-necked swans. Our first challenge is the ascent to Base Torres lookout, following the Ascencio River into the Ascencio Valley. After our first hour-an-half trek we'll pause to observe the magnificent valley filled up with beech forests, glaciers and waterfalls. We'll then continue uphill for another 90 minutes and prepare to ascend a gigantic terminal moraine. At the top, we'll be rewarded by the arresting sight of the Towers themselves. At this lookout point 900 meters above sea level, the three granite spires appear to burst dramatically out of the rocky landscape, while at their base a green-blue lake provides a counterpoint of stillness. Here, we'll have lunch and take pictures before beginning our descent down the same path and to our mountain lodge: Refugio Torre Central.

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DAY 2: TORRE CENTRAL --> SERON

14Km (8,7 Miles) - Elevation Gain: +/-250m (+/-850ft) - Hiking Time: 4-5 hrs

Depending on the weather, our early morning start will be lit up by orange-tinged views of the Towers. Our path takes us through a very old forest of beech trees where we may hear woodpeckers or the noisy Austral Parakeets feeding on the fruits of the trees. Today's 14 km hike is the Circuit's easiest and takes us via a well-marked, slightly sloping trail. Along the way, an exceptional view of Paine Chico Mountain will accompany us. Our destination is Serón Campsite, where we'll set up camp and enjoy a replenishing dinner.

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DAY 3: SERON --> DICKSON

19Km (11,5 Miles) - Elevation Gain: +/-200m (+/-660ft) - Hiking Time: 6-7 hrs

Today's leg shows off the Park's hidden backside and its less known although equally impressive craggy peaks marking the border with Argentina; gorgeous and colourful flowers as orchids, calceolarias, and violets will accompany our steps. After a bit more than an hour we'll reach the Horseshoe Lake, thus the only climb of the day which won't take us more than half an hour and will gift us with a m arvellous view of Paine Lake and the surrounding mountains like Cerro Diente, Agudo, Cerro Onhet and Stokes. From this vantage point the trail slightly descends towards the valley of Paine River till reaching our lunch break, Camping Coiron after almost 3 hrs. From Coiron campsite we follow the river upstReam alongside grassy meadows and boggy marshes till reaching a lateral moraine which it'll give us sight of the geometrical peak of Cerro Cubo, as well as Lake Dickson and its glacier. Right below us Dickson refuge and Campsite for the night.

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DAY 4: DICKSON --> LOS PERROS

12,5Km (7,5 Miles) - Elevation Gain: +450m (+1480ft) - Hiking Time: 4-5 hrs

Today is a day to train our muscles with a nice hike uphill before tackling the John Gardner Pass that awaits us the next day. Often touted as one of the most beautiful sections of this wilder side of Torres del Paine, we'll hike through ancient beech forests, wander undulating trails and follow Los Perros River. Mountains, waterfalls and lush vegetation will never be far away, as our trail crosses the river via suspension bridge and arrives at the base of another terminal moraine; this time belonging to Glacier Los Perros, a hanging glacier that feeds the glaciar-flour-fed lake at its base. A final half hour hike takes us to today's destination, Los Perros Campsite. Tonight's campsite is the only one on the Circuit without hot showers and standard bathroom facilities such as flushing toilets.

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DAY 5: LOS PERROS --> GREY GLACIER

19Km (11,5 Miles) - Elevation Gain: +650/-1100m (+2140/-3600ft) - Hiking Time: 10-11 hrs

The most strenuous day of the Paine Circuit has arrived, bringing demanding trails and variable weather conditions. Of course, your efforts will be more than rewarded with some of Torres del Paine's most heart -stirring landscapes, experienced by very few visitors to Torres del Paine. We'll begin along a muddy and swamp-like section of the trail through the forest very early in the morning; after about an hour an half we should be clearing out of the tree line and start to ascent through boulders and scree towards the John Gardner Pass, which we should be reaching after 3-3,5 hours of good hiking pace. At this Pass, 1200 meters above sea level, Patagonia's famous winds are strong and the views across Grey Glacier and of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field still unexplored peaks are astonishing. The trail now steeply descend back to the beech forest and takes you alongside the glacier, ascending and descending through the woods and going across three spectacular hanging bridges that gift you with the view of the almost muscular granite walls of Cordon Olguín. As we come closer to Grey Glacier Eastern front we may see an ice calving (where chunks of ice break off a glacier's edge). Tonight we'll recharge at Grey Campsite.

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DAY 6: GREY --> PAINE GRANDE

11Km (6,5 Miles) - Elevation Gain: +/-250m (+/-820ft) - Hiking Time: 3,5-4 hrs

Depending on your energy level and weather conditions, we give you the option to choose from completing an ice hike with the aid of crampons across the central section of Grey Glacier or kayaking on Grey Lake, paddlingg around icebergs and in front of the glacier. Later, we'll have lunch at the Refugio and hike to Pehoe Lake for about 3,5 hours leaving behind us the immensity of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and approaching the monstrous-like granitic walls of Cuernos del Paine. Night at Paine Grande Campsite.

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DAY 7: FRENCH VALLEY --> PUERTO NATALES

26Km (16,2 Miles) - Elevation Gain: +/-600m (+/-2000ft) - Hiking Time: 8-9 hrs

Today's destination, the French Valley, is a spectacular natural basin surrounded by peaks and hanging glaciers. This is a return hike, so we will be able to leave our packs behind and trek lightly. We start by walking around Paine Grande, the highest peak in Torres del Paine, through native Patagonian firebush and evergreen beech forests. At the suspension bridge over the French River, the arresting hanging glacier atop the valley will come into sight . From here, we'll walk for another hour, ascending 300m through a section of an old moraine before arriving at the lookout point (the "Plateau"). Your reward is the bird's eye view of granite peaks and hanging glaciers. To one side, the French Glacier and Paine Grande (3050 m ); while to the other, La Espada, La Hoja, La Máscara and the main and north "Horns" of Los Cuernos arch upwards.. If weather and time are on our side it's worth proceeding for another hour an half uphill until reaching the British Lookout where an amphiteather of granitic peaks like Cerro Fortaleza, Catedral, Castillo and the sharp Shark's Finn await for us. We'll take our time to have lunch at the viewpoint, surrounded by these imposing peaks and open skies. Our return hike is along the same track, and the catamaran will take us back across Pehoe Lake to meet our private transfer back to Puerto Natales.