French Valley + Grey - Independent

Day 1: Arrive to Torres del Paine National Park- Catamaran- Refugio Paine Grande.

Accommodation: Refugio or Camping Paine Grande / Meals: Dinner and packed lunch.

Take the 2:30pm public bus departure straight to Torres del Paine National Park. Journey amongst the vast Patagonian plains before arriving to the entrance at Laguna Amarga, where it is required to register with CONAF (park rangers). Continue on the same bus until reaching the Pudeto boat dock. At 6:00pm, you’ll board the catamaran for a 35-minute journey across Lake Pehoe. The catamaran will leave you at the foot of Refugio Paine Grande, where you’ll spend the night. After checking-in at the Refugio, relax and soak up the beautiful views before a delicious dinner. 

OPTIONAL: If you would like to start your day earlier, please ask us about the 7:00am public bus departure to Torres del Paine National Park.

Day 2: Explore the French Valley.

Distance: 11.8 miles / Time: 7-8hrs / Level of Difficulty: Moderate / Accommodation: Refugio or Camping Paine Grande / Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner.

Today’s hike will be round trip starting and finishing at Refugio Paine Grande. Travel to the heart of the park through barren landscapes and by bordering the enchanting blue waters of Lake Skottsberg. After approximately 2.5hrs of hiking, you’ll arrive to the Italiano Ranger Station where you will begin your journey up the valley. 

Climb through a massive boulder field and follow a tree-lined ridge until reaching the French plateau (Mirador Frances). Here, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Los Cuernos (the Horns), turquoise glacial lagoons and gorgeous blue hanging glaciers cascading down the east face of Paine Grande (3,050mts). If you’re lucky, you’ll hear the thundering sound of water and ice crashing down, as it is a common spot to witness avalanches. Enjoy your packed lunch and a well-deserved rest. Descend on the same trail to the Italiano Ranger Station and back to Refugio Paine Grande. 

Day 3: Trek to Refugio Grey + Optional hike to suspension bridges.

Distance: 6.8 miles / Time: 4-4.5hrs / Level of Difficulty: Easy-Moderate / Accommodation: Refugio or Camping Grey / Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner.

After breakfast, start the hike through a narrow, winding valley that leads to Laguna de Los Patos. As you continue, you’ll start to get glimpses of the immense Southern Patagonian Ice Field as well as the iceberg marked Grey Lake. After passing through Glacier Grey’s sometimes (very) windy viewpoint, the trail descends through a hilly forest until you are left standing face to face with the majestic Grey Glacier.

OPTIONAL: For an unforgettable panoramic view of Grey Glacier, set off for an extra 3-4hrs (round trip) past Refugio Grey to the famous suspension bridges. After crossing the second suspension bridge, look down at the immeasurable ocean of deep blues and small turquoise lagoons sitting atop of the magnificent Grey Glacier. If luck is on your side, you may catch ice calving into the deep, freezing waters of Grey Lake.

Distance: 2.4 miles / Time: 3-4hrs / Level of difficulty: Moderate.

Day 4: Trek to Refugio Paine Grande + Catamaran + Return to Puerto Natales.

Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch

There are two options for your last day in the park: 

Option 1: Follow the same trail back to Refugio Paine Grande to catch the 11:30AM catamaran to the Pudeto boat dock, where you will board the 1:00pm public bus back to Puerto Natales. Approximate arrival time to Puerto Natales: 16:00hrs.

Option 2: In case you didn’t get a chance to visit the suspension bridges the previous afternoon, take the morning to explore the spectacular panoramic views of Grey Glacier. Afterwards, continue the same trail back to Refugio Paine Grande to catch the 6:30pm catamaran to the Pudeto boat dock, where you will board the 7:00pm public bus to Puerto Natales. Approximate arrival time to Puerto Natales: 10:00pm.