Join us on an exciting adventure to one of the world’s most powerful places: Patagonia. Together with our guide Emma Svensson, you will be part of an exciting expedition where we will carry out three major hikes: We start with the W trek in Torres Del Paine – one of the world’s most beautiful hikes. As if that were not enough, we will also hike the Huemul Circuit. The highlight of the Huemul Circuit is the unparalleled view of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the second largest non-polar ice mass in the world. This hike also offers two Tyrolean traverses. We finish with a tailor-made hike with the best views around El Chaltén: Cerro Torre & Fitz Roy.

You will experience both classic hikes and more unique adventures where few other tourists go.

Between hikes you will stay comfortably in a hotel and can recharge your batteries. This is perfect for those looking for a great adventure without it being too extreme.

Date: January 30 – February 14, 2027 (16 days)
Number of participants: Minimum 4 / Maximum 8
Start/End: El Calafate
Accommodation: Hotel & Tent
Price: €2950

W Trek is the most iconic trek in Patagonia and Torres del Paine National Park.

The Huemul (pronounced wey-mool) Circuit is a challenging, 62+ km trek located in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, just outside Patagonia’s hiking mecca of El Chaltén, Argentina. The trek starts in El Chaltén and ends on the shores of Lago Viedma, traveling through meadows and forests, over rivers and up windy passes, along rocky moraines and beside iceberg-laden bays. The highlight of the Huemul Circuit is the unparalleled view of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the second largest non-polar ice mass in the world. No other trek in southern Patagonia offers such a view — even in the El Chaltén area, the ice sheet is often obscured by the towering peaks of the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre mountain ranges.

Before the trip

Digital meeting where we go through equipment and planning. Chance to ask questions before the trip and meet all participants online a couple of weeks before the trip. Link will be emailed well in advance.

Day 1

You arrive in El Calafate and check into your hotel. In the evening we have a welcome meeting and optional dinner at a local restaurant for those who want. Possibility of last minute shopping during the day. Now the adventure begins!

Accommodation: Hotel, share in double room with breakfast

Day 2

We take the bus in the morning to Chile and Puerto Natales. The bus trip takes about 6-8 hours and when we arrive we check into our hotel. Along the journey the mountains are visible in the background and you are already in Patagonia, although the best is yet to come.

Accommodation: Hotel, share in double room with breakfast

Day 3

We take a bus to Torres Del Paine National Park and then a boat to Grey Glacier where we begin the W trek! The bus ride offers fantastic views and soon we will be in the middle of them. We hike along Grey Lake to Paine Grande where we camp for the night.

Hiking including climbing: 11 km + 400 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Tent

Day 4

Today the hike goes up into Valle del Francis where we have a view of mighty glaciers and peaks. To make it easier, we first hike to our camp and pitch our tents and after lunch we hike up into the valley with a light pack.

Hiking: 20 km + 800 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Tent

Day 5

We hike along Lago Nordenskjöld with its turquoise color to Chileno where we spend the night. This gives us an excellent starting point to walk up to Mirador Torres at sunrise and catch when the sunlight colors the pointed peaks red.

Hiking: 16 km + 770 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Tent

Day 6

We set the clock early, before sunrise for an alpine start. We want to time it to be at Mirador Torres just in time for sunrise to have the chance to witness something incredible: When the first light hits the peaks of Torre Sur & Norte. The landmark of Torres del Paine. The beautiful glacial lake in front of the peaks makes for fantastic pictures.

We then hike down to the entrance of Torres del Paine where we take a bus back to Puerto Natales and check into the hotel.

Hiking: 14 km + 650 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Hotel, share in double rooms with breakfast

Day 7

It is time to travel further, back to Argentina and El Calafate by bus. We then hope to catch an evening bus to El Chaltén, the small village that will be our base for the rest of the trip. Climbing history has been written here when skilled climbers have climbed peaks such as Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy. When we arrive, we check into a hotel where we spend the night.

Accommodation: Hotel, double occupancy with breakfast

Day 8

It is time to begin the next adventure: the Huemul Circuit. The highlight of the Huemul Circuit is the unparalleled view of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the second largest non-polar ice mass in the world. After a little filling up on snacks and other purchases, we set off on a four-day tour around Cerro Huemul. Today’s stage goes to Toro where we camp for the night.

Hiking: 16 km + 750 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Tent

Day 9

Today’s hike leads us to the foot of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and along the way we pass several glaciers. We camp by a small lake at Paso del Viento where we have a mile-long view of the ice field. Along the way we will have to cross a river via a Tyrolean Traverse – where we are attached to a steel cable in our harness while we pull ourselves across to the other side.

Hike: 11 km + 800 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Tent

Day 10

We hike along the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and down to Viedma Lake where we camp for the night. If we are lucky, the beach is filled with blocks of ice from the glacier. Something that will be incredibly cool to photograph at sunset.

Hike: 13 km + 450 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Tent

Day 11

We hike further along Viedma Lake to approach El Chaltén again and camp by the beach for another night.

Hike: 12 km + 350 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Tent

Day 12

We hike back to El Chaltén where a long-awaited shower at our hotel awaits. But before that, it’s time to tackle our second Tyrolean traverse! We’ve now completed two of the most exciting hikes in Patagonia. It deserves to be celebrated with a dinner at a restaurant for those who want to!

Hike: 13 km + 300 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Hotel, part in a double room with breakfast

Day 13

After a morning of sleep and a new supply of snacks, it’s time to start the last stage of this expedition’s hikes: A best of El Chaltén where we mix classic trails with more hidden gems. Today’s hike goes to Laguna Torres which has an absolutely magical view of Cerro Torre – one of the world’s most beautiful mountains. Here we camp so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the sunset in front of the glacial lake.

Hiking: 9 km + 350 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Tent

Day 14

The hike continues along green lakes to the Poincenot campsite where we have lunch and set up our tents before hiking on with a light backpack to Laguna des Los Tres – a fantastic view of a glacial lake and the iconic Fitz Roy mountain. We then head down to our campsite where we spend the night.

Hiking: 15 km + 800 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Tent

Day 15

Extra weather day. If we have already managed to complete the entire program, this will be an extra hiking day.

Accommodation: Tent

Day 16

It is time to hike back to El Chalten. We make an early start so that we can catch a bus in the afternoon to El Calafate where we then check into a hotel and have an optional joint closing dinner and round off the adventure. You book your return trip the next day or continue the adventure on your own!

Hiking: 10 km + 150 meters of elevation

Accommodation: Hotel, shared double room with breakfast

Please note that the program may be adjusted due to weather and conditions.

You have previous experience of hiking and camping and are in good shape so you can hike 4-8 hours per day, several days in a row with a backpack packed for up to 5 days (about 15-18 kg). You have good balance and are used to moving in nature in different weather. This trip is not for a beginner. The level is intermediate/advanced hiking.

Contact us if you need more info: info@topotravel.se

The following is included

16 days of experience with expedition leader Emma Svensson
Hiking W Trek
Hiking Huemul Circuit
Hiking in El Chalten
Assistant guide during Huemul Circuit if there are more than 6 participants
Loan of equipment for Tyrolean Traverse (harness, loop, carabiners)
Bus trip El Calafate – Torres Del Paine round trip
Bus trip El Calafate – El Chalten round trip
Boat trip over Lago Grey
6 nights of hotel accommodation with breakfast (shared double room)
Permits and fees for National Parks
Camping fees
Online meeting before the trip with a review of equipment and the opportunity to ask questions
16 weeks of training plan
Documentation by a professional photographer and pictures from the adventure
Climate compensation
Topo T-shirt

The following is not included

Travel to and from El Calafate
Travel insurance
Own equipment
Food and drinks in addition to breakfast on the nights we stay at the hotel

Full booking terms and conditions can be found here

Topo Travel AB holds a travel guarantee with Chamber of Commerce.

You will fly to El Calafate from Sweden. Use a search engine to find the best route. Most often it is via Buenos Aires.

Accommodation

We live in tents during the expedition and cook in our own kitchens. We stay in a hotel (some in double rooms) between the hikes so you have a chance to get a good night’s sleep and take a shower, recharge your batteries and prepare for the next stage. When we are off hiking, you can leave your luggage at the hotel.

• Hiking boots
  Shoes for wading / camping
  Warm hat
  Underwear, sweater and pants (synthetic or wool, not cotton)
  Thinner fleece sweater
  Thicker fleece sweater or thin down jacket
  Hiking pants
  Wind and waterproof jacket & pants (preferably a shell jacket without lining)
  T-shirt
  Thick gloves & thin gloves
  Sunglasses & sun protection factor
  Backpack, approximately 50-75 L
  Hydration bladder, water bottle or other hydration system
  Pole (telescope that can be folded and attached to backpack)
  Sun hat or cap
  Socks & underwear
  Handkerchief / buff
  Food and snacks
  Tent
  Sleeping bag & sleeping pad (preferably both cellophane and inflatable)
  Stove / jetboil with fuel and lighter for boiling water / cooking (can be shared in the group)
  Mug, spoon, knife and plate
  Headlamp
  Personal hygiene items
  Personal first aid kit (patches, painkillers etc)
  Water cleaning
  Garbage bag
  Power bank
  Wettex cloth