Prices From $3280 / £2666.64 per person

Dates: From November 2024 to January 2025

Duration: 7

Capacity: 5 per person

Alternative Torres del Paine Hiking W Trek

We save the granite towers that give Torres del Paine National Park its name until the last. Our journey to reach these iconic mountains is one of South America’s finest.

The icy glacier giants of Serrano and Balmaceda set the perfect tone. We stretch our legs through a stunning southern beech, or Nothofagus forest, replete with diverse fauna and flora. Our wilderness Lake Brush campsite delivers unbelievable panoramic views of Torres del Paine and the Tyndall glacier.

Another half-day walk takes us to Hotel Lago Grey, a spot of luxury after the wilds. The next day, once more, we board a boat to sail us up close to the calving Grey Glacier, an unforgettable experience. A gentle half-day walk to our campsite follows; the Torres del Paine W trek has begun.

Starting the Torres del Paine W Trek

The Torres del Paine W trek’s name comes from its route up three valleys, creating its W shape and appellation. These are the iconic valleys and highlights which form that W hike:

• The Grey Glacier and the walk alongside the iceberg-flecked Lago Grey.
• Valle Francés, The French Valley, is the central spur.
• The base of the Towers of Paine lies at the end of the Ascencio Valley.

We head east along the shores of Lago Nordenskjöld, then up into the Paine Massif’s heart, the French Valley. The views are superb; hopefully, we’ll get the weather for a picnic. Heading back down the Valley, we continue east and rest sleep at the Francés campsite.

Another day brings another marvel: the Horns of Paine, Los Cuernos, dramatic guardians of Torres del Paine National Park. Tonight, we’ll enjoy the comfort of the famous eco camp Patagonia and its domes.

Trek to the Base of the Towers

Fully rested, a full day’s hike to the Torres del Paine towers is today’s crowning challenge. For many, the view from the base of the Towers is the highlight of their Torres del Paine W trek.

It’s a full-day trek with some steep pulls. Your rewards are the mountain ridge views, beech forests, and rivers that line the walk. Furthermore, the last hour involves clambering over moraine, boulders whose release created the Towers. Finally, your efforts are rewarded with the towers and its glacial lake, a perfect lunch spot.

We retrace our steps to the eco camp to celebrate completing Patagonia’s iconic Torres del Paine Hiking W Trek. Our final day is a travel one; choose to return to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas, or take a public bus over the border to El Calafate, Argentina.

Duration: 10

Capacity: 5 per person

More on photography safari

Starting in San Pedro in northern Chile, we explore the Atacama desert.

We have to spend a couple of days in San Pedro de Atacama taking it easy and letting ourselves get acclimatised to the high altitude.

Here we concentrate on capturing the wonderful colours of the desert at dawn and dusk as we acclimatise.

Heading to Bolivia

We head nextto the vast southern deserts of Bolivia in our four wheel drive vehicle to enjoy the starkly beautiful landscapes of this dramatic desert wilderness.

The immense Salar de Uyuni is a natural marvel of South America.

Deep blue skies, clear skies and and the brilliant white salt create a fantastic spectacle.

More about the safari

Bruce Percy is an internationally-travelled and published photographer.

He has visited and photographed South America many times and has the knowledge to help you make the most of this trip, which is limited to 8 people.

Anyone who has a passion for photography can join, as it is designed to allow everyone quality time at some fabulous locations, with accommodation, food and logistics all taken care of.

We use hotels built by and in the traditional style of the local Aymara communities, providing an income in this, one of the poorest parts of Bolivia.

Discover More Enquire about booking

Duration: 15

Capacity: 5 per person

More on Bolivia, Chile and Argentina

We start in Salta in northern Argentina. We explore this stunning part of the country, passing colourful cultures and rock formations including Purmamarca, a rainbow mountain of seven colours.

Towns such as Humahuaca – with frequent street music – Tilcara, Uquía and Purmamarca thrive among the amazing multi-coloured mountains, salt plans and lakes.

Next, it’s Bolivia – Uyuni and its famous alt lakes and volcanoes. From Uyuni, we head out into the vast southern desert to enjoy the starkly beautiful landscapes of this dramatic desert wilderness.

Lakes that change colour, geysers and bizarre rock formations are just some of the highlights of this enormous salt plain.

Atacama desert

From here, it’s to Chile and San Pedro de Atacama desert.

One day you are floating around in the salty Laguna Cejar, the next, gazing at the awesome scenery from atop an Andean peak.

Duration: 8

Capacity: 5 per person

The lower mountain slopes, between icy summits and the shorelines of deep glacial lakes, are thickly covered in ancient lichen draped lenga (southern beech) forests with small flowers and blooming bushes of native fuchsias (chilco) and fire tree (notro). The high peaks, often lost in the clouds, are ice-covered. This a land rich in wildlife, Magellanic woodpeckers, soaring Andean condors, roaming pumas, rhea, foxes, skunk, eagles and much more.

Very few people travel here. Some tourists pass through, on self-drive trips, some on bikes pedalling the 2,450 km of the Carretera Austral. Towns are few and far between. This is a land of adventure.

The local people are warm and friendly, loving to sit and have a good old chat over a mate or cup of tea.

As you drive south along the iconic Carretera Austral, every couple of hours there is a village or small town. Often this is little more than a hamlet. Wooden shingle-roofed houses often flaking apart have small untended gardens, testament to long cold snowy winters and a very short growing season. Some towns are bigger with a few bars and shops.

Villa Cerro Castillo, is a typical north Patagonia town, with a few shops and bars. Local people from far and wide congregate to eat, chat and watch football.  Typical rural Chilean food is basic but always plentiful. Most typical seems to be the  giant burger with chips, with not much variety in the way of fresh fruit or vegetables. But everyone you meet will be welcoming and more than happy to stop for a chat.

We include some walking days allowing you to trek into the mountains. Away from the towns you are unlikely to cross paths with anyone else. The impact of man here is seemingly negligible.   In this part of Patagonia, in contrast to further south, you are well and truly off the beaten track.

Driving through Aysen in Chile is like travelling back in time 15 or 20 years. You will see and experience the very best of Patagonia, the wilderness, stunning scenery, the isolation, and above all the hospitality of the local Chilean  people.

Duration: 5

Capacity: 5 per person

More on trekking the guided and self-guided Torres del Paine W trek, Patagonia

Walk to the famous granite towers that give the park its name — Torres del Paine — with fantastic views of hanging glaciers, green lakes, and mountains.

The name Paine comes from a Tehuelche Indian word meaning blue. The Torres – or Towers – are named after three spectacular granite peaks, the highest reaching 2,900m/9,514ft, that form the centrepiece of Torres del Paine.

Next, you’ll trek along the shore of the magnificent Lake Nordenskjöld, which offers stunning views over the Patagonia landscapes.

The park’s heart is the French Valley, where forests line rushing streams overlooked by the hanging glaciers of nearby mountains. Finish at Glacier Grey, whose crystal blues are made more striking when enormous chunks of its ice calve to form icebergs in the lake below.

Torres del Paine National Park Logistics

We make all the Torres del Paine W trek reservations for you: campsites, mountain hostels, and meals, so you need only enjoy the sights. Your only decision is if to trek with a guide or go self-guided.

This Torres del Paine W trail route goes anti-clockwise, but we can run it the other way, too. You will carry your own belongings in your own back pack – we suggest 15kg max.