THE ULTIMATE
PATAGONIA CHALLENGE!
SELF-GUIDED O CIRCUIT (8 DAYS)
It includes the world famous W trek, but it also goes around the Paine Massif exploring the wildest areas of the park. Definitely an adventure for the brave and the nature lovers!
SEASON: NOVEMBER TO MARCH / DURATION: 8 DAYS / LEVEL: HIGH FITNESS / START AND FINISH POINT: PUERTO NATALES
SEASON: NOVEMBER TO MARCH
DURATION: 8 DAYS
LEVEL: HIGH FITNESS
START AND FINISH: PUERTO NATALES
ITINERARY
Welcome to your self-guided trek trip.
Afternoon briefing at Hello Patagonia ́s office (schedule to be confirmed) we will give you a great waterproof map, your printed documents for the trip and a delicious lunch for the next day.
Difficulty: Low to Medium
Trekking: 3.5 to 4 hrs, 13 km
Highlights: Paine Hill, Paine River.
Meals Included: Box Lunch by Hello Patagonia, Dinner at Seron Campsite
Accommodation: Refugio or Full equipped camping options. Hot showers and toilets available
At 7:00 am, you will take the bus (2,5 hrs) to Torres del Paine National Park, (Check in at Bus Terminal at 6:30 am, Transportation from accommodation to the terminal not included) which was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978. The entrance fee to the park is included. From Laguna Amarga, you can take a shuttle to Las Torres information center (not included) From this point, you will start your incredible adventure to the Paine Circuit. You will have the hole day to trek from Las torres to Seron Campsite. This is a soft trail that goes next to Paine River trough plains and forests.
Difficulty: Medium
Trekking: 6 hrs, 19 km
Highlights: Oggioni and “Cabeza de Indio” mountains, Dickson Lake
Meals Included: Breakfast, Box Lunch at Seron, Dinner at Dickson RefugioAccommodation: Refugio or Full equipped camping options. Hot showers and toilets available
The trail to Dickson goes next to Paine River on the first section. You will have beautiful views of the backside of Paine Massif including: Oggioni Mountain and “Cerro de Indio”. The campsite is located on a nice plain very close to Dickson Lake. Depending on the time of the year, it is very likely to see many different types of wild flowers including orchids on the way.
Difficulty: Low to Medium
Trekking: 4.5 to 5 hrs, 12 km
Highlights: Los Perros Glacier, Native Forests.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Box lunch at Dickson Refugio, Dinner at Los Perros Accommodation: Refugio or Full equipped camping options. Hot showers and toilets available.
Today you will have a soft trek to gain back your strength and prepare for the John Gardner ́s pass for the next day, which will be one of the most demanding days in the circuit. So, you will be able to enjoy this amazing trail that goes through some of the biggest native forests in the park. Ancient trees that will make you feel tiny. Before getting to camp, you will get to Los Perros Glacier, which hangs from the mountain to a lagoon.
Dificulty: Medium to High
Trekking: 9 to 10 hrs, 17 km (738 m altitude gain)
Highlights: Southern Patagonian Ice field, Grey Glacier, Olguin Range.
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch box at Los Perros, Dinner at Grey Refugio
Accommodation: Refugio or Full equipped camping options. Hot showers and toilets available.
Today you will have a long but rewarding trek! The trail goes across some native forests, then the forests end and you will trek on a moraine. (rocks). The trail is very well marked all the way to The John Gardner’s Mountain Pass. Maybe you can find some snow and mud so, the use of gaiters and trekking poles are recommended. The view from the top is just stunning: Grey Glacier and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. After this, the trail goes down to Grey Refugio which is very close to Grey Lake.
Difficulty: Low to Medium
Trekking: 3.5 to 4 hrs, 11 km (298 m altitude gain)
Highlights: Grey Glacier, Paine Grande, Grey Lake, and Icebergs
Meals Included: Breakfast, Box lunch at Grey Refugio, Dinner at Paine Grande RefugioAccommodation: Refugio or Full equipped camping options. Hot showers and toilets available
Hike to Paine Grande. The trail goes along Grey Lake, which has huge blue icebergs floating on its waters. There will be many viewpoints to the Glacier and to Paine Grande Mountain along the way.
Difficulty: Medium to High
Trekking: 9 to 10 hrs 21 km to the British lookout (500m altitude gain)
Highlights: Pehoe Lake, Paine Horns, Paine Grande Mountain, French Glacier.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Box Lunch at Paine Grande Refugio, Dinner at Frances DomesAccommodation: Refugio or Full equipped camping options. Hot showers and toilets available.
Today you will discover the stunning French Valley. You will be able to see the French Glacier and its constant avalanches. These names refer to famous climbing expeditions that set up base camps when they came to climb the various granite faces in this Valley. You will get to an incredible lookout, which offers a panoramic view of the western sector of the French Valley and the mountains such as the North Peak of Paine Grande, Castillo (Castle), Cota 2000, Catedral, Aleta del Tiburon (Shark’s Fin) amongst other granite peaks. After exploring the valley, you will get to Frances Domes/camping.
Difficulty: Medium
Trekking: 5.5 to 6 hours, (14 km)
Highlights: Nordenskjold Lake, Paine Horns, Almirante Nieto Mountain
Meals Included: Breakfast, Box Lunch at Frances Domes, and Dinner at Central RefugioAccommodation: Refugio or Full equipped camping options. Hot showers and toilets available
This lovely trek goes next to Nordenskjold Lake with beautiful views of Almirante Nieto Mountain. After a couple of hours, you will get to Central Refugio, with a beautiful view of the Paine Towers.
Difficulty: Medium / High
Hike: 7 to 8 hrs round trip, 19 km (700m altitude gain)Highlights: Wildlife, Almirante Nieto Mountain, Paine Towers.
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch box at Central Refugio.
You will finish the trek with the most famous trail of the park: The Base of the Paine Towers! The trail goes up the Asencio Valley along native forests. The last section of the trail is a Moraine with loose rocks. The view up there is simply stunning. Trek back to Las Torres information center. Our private transportation will be waiting for you to take you back to Puerto Natales at 16:00 hrs.
End of services.
SERVICES
• Bus Transportation one way (Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine)
• Private transportation one way (Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales)
• Food and Accommodation provided
• All the activities mentioned on the itinerary
• Luggage Storage at Puerto Natales
• Torres del Paine National Park entrance tickets• Personalized travel guide
• Personalized briefing at our offices
• Luggage storage while you hike!
• Shuttle from Laguna Amarga to Hotel Las Torres ($4,000 Chilean Pesos OW per person) This service can be paid directly only
• Insurance
• Extras
• Everything not mentioned on the program
Our self-guided O Circuit is the ultimate Patagonia challenge!
O CIRCUIT MAP
“We have backpacking experience and didn’t need a guide, and Hello Patagonia gave us the flexibility to do the self-guided O circuit we wanted but took care of all the details. It was cost efficient and money very well spent.”
Make your W or O treks unique! Customize them with our amazing add-ons:
KAYAKING
Kayaking gives you a more intimate experience! Paddle in front of Grey Lake, surrounded by icebergs.