group resting at french valley viewpoint
torres del paine national park entrance
group trekking in torres del paine
french valley snowy mountain
paine grande lodge
cuernos del paine mountain
boat tour in lake pehoe
1 / 7

French Valley Hike in Torres del Paine

French Valley Hike with professional guide

(2 reviews)

💡 Tour with departure TUESDAY - THURSDAY - SATURDAY 💡

Puerto Natales
1 day
English and Spanish
Starts: From your accommodation in Puerto Natales at 5:30 a.m.
Ends: To your lodging in Puerto Natales at 9:00 p.m.
Free cancellation!

Briefing

Hiking, adventure and even catamaran sailing await you on the French Valley (Valle Francés) Trek in Torres del Paine, the central part of the famous W Trek. The tour starts early in Puerto Natales to take a transport to Torres del Paine. You take a catamaran to cross Lake Pehoé to the Paine Grande refuge. The hike begins until you reach the beginning of the French Valley, through which you ascend until you reach the French viewpoint. Finally, you return by the same way, to take the catamaran and the minibus to Puerto Natales.

Ready for the adventure? Keep reading and we will tell you all the details:

Tour details

Included

  • Local Guide
  • Transport
  • Hiking poles

Not included

  • Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park (approx. USD 35)
  • Pudeto catamaran ticket (approx. USD 50)
  • Travel Insurance
  • Food and drinks

Important information

❌ The minimum age for this tour is 12 years old.

🛥️ The Catamaran ticket must be paid in cash at the destination.

🎟️ The entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park is not included and is purchased online at the following link: https://pasesparques.cl/

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation!

If you cancel at least 24 hours before the tour starts, you will receive 100% of the amount paid. After this time, or in case of no-show, no refunds will be given.

Tour itinerary

French Valley Hike in Torres del Paine

Duration: 15 hours

Distance: 20 kilometers

Difficulty: Medium - High

6:00 am

Pickup and trip to Torres del Paine

We start our adventure in Puerto Natales, where we board a van to Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile. In order to cross the river that separates us from the park, we board a catamaran that will take us upriver to our destination at the Paine Grande lodge.

lake pehoe torres del paine

Hike to the French Valley (Valle Francés) viewpoint

It is time to grab the trekking poles and start walking along the north shore of Lake Pehoé. Under the mountains of the Cuernos del Paine, we will walk the central part of the W circuit for 3 hours until we finally arrive at the French Valley viewpoint.

group at the french valley lookout

Return and catamaran to Pudeto

Sit back and enjoy the views, take pictures, have lunch and above all rest. After the one hour break, we continue our trekking through the French Valley in Torres del Paine, but this time on the way back. We will return to the Paine Grande lodge and set sail back by catamaran to Pudeto. After completing our 20 km crossing, the van takes us back to Puerto Natales where our French Valley Trek will have come to an end.

group hiking in torres del paine

What to bring to French Valley Hike in Torres del Paine tour

  • Trekking clothes
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun protection
  • Hiking boots
  • Cash USD
  • Food & drinks

Where does the tour French Valley Hike in Torres del Paine start

The tour starts in the city of Puerto Natales. If you are traveling from Santiago de Chile the best option is to take a flight to Punta Arenas, and from there you can take a bus that in only 3:15 hours will take you to the bus station in Puerto Natales or hire a private transportation service with us.

If you are traveling from El Calafate (Argentina), there are buses that connect directly to Puerto Natales in a 5 hour trip or you can book a private service with us.

Questions & Answers

  • Do you want to do this tour privately?

    This tour offers the possibility to do it privately for an additional fee, if you are interested please contact us for more details.

  • Do I have to carry all my luggage to the trek?

    No, from Howlanders we recommend you to take only what you need for the trek and leave the rest of the luggage in the luggage room of your accommodation in Puerto Natales.

  • Do I have to bring any documents?

    Yes, it is very important that you carry your passport and the immigration card that you will be given when you enter Chile

  • How difficult is the French Valley Torres del Paine Trek?

    The difficulty of this trek is medium - high. We recommend having experience in mountain hikes and a good physical condition, as some trails can be more complicated.

French Valley Hike in Torres del Paine tour reviews with Howlanders

Loading...

Other tours that might interest you from Chile

Other travelers also booked

from ‌
Trustpilot