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.

Prices From $7695 / £6256.035 per person

Dates: May 2024

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: 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.

Prices From $2920 / £2373.96 per person

Dates: From October 2024 to April 2025

Duration: 4

Capacity: 5 per person

More on Hotel Las Torres, Paine, Chile

Start your journey in Punta Arenas or El Calafate from where you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel in the Torres del Paine.

All your meals, open bar and daily excursions, walking, horse-riding, wildlife watching, boat trips, are included.

There is also a special ‘Puma spotting tour’ or you can choose to relax in the hotel’s lovely surroundings. Read more about Hotel las Torres’ environmental work, too.

More about Paine

Paine features 180,000 hectares of diverse scenery and wild landscape on the edge of the southern ice fields of Patagonia.

Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978, Paine is one of the largest sources of temperate-zone glaciers in the world and lies 120kms / 75 miles north of Puerto Natales, the gateway town for the park.

The name ‘Paine’ (pronounced ‘pie-nee’) 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.

These dramatic peaks are part of the Cordillera del Paine, the youngest mountain range on earth.

Other notable peaks include Paine Grande at 3,050m and Los Cuernos (the Horns) that range from 2,200-2,600m / 7,218-8,530ft.

Forests, steppe lands, lakes and valleys surround them.