grey glacier bridge
pehoe lake views
grey glacier views
Grey glacier viewpoint
grey glacier ice hike
kayak lake grey
Grey shelter dining room
Grey shelter room
Camping Grey
grey glacier suspension bridge
Grey Suspension Bridges
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Tour to the Grey and Paine Grande sectors

3 days in the Grey sector to kayak or walk on the glacier.

🗓️ Limited availability, we recommend booking in advance.

Puerto Natales
3 days
Self-guided
Starts: From your acommodation in Puerto Natales at 6:30 a.m.
Ends: To your acommodation in Puerto Natales at 9:45 p.m.
Free cancellation!

Briefing

This 3-day all-inclusive tour (transportation, lodging, food...) will allow you to get to know the eastern area of Torres del Paine, the Paine Grande and Grey sectors. You will sail on Lake Pehoe, disembark in Paine Grande and walk to the Grey sector, where you will spend two nights. By staying two nights in the Grey sector you will have enough time to walk the route to the glacier viewpoint and beyond, to the hanging bridges next to the Grey glacier. In addition, you will be able to do kayak in front of the Grey glacier wall or walk on the ice of the glacier.

Live the experience of staying in one of the most beautiful areas of Torres del Paine and walk its trails. Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, keep reading and we'll tell you all about it 😉

Tour details

Included

  • 2 nights lodging (according to selected option)
  • Food (full board)
  • Transportation Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine (round trip)
  • Catamaran transportation (round trip)
  • Entrance to Torres del Paine National Park

Not included

  • Activities on Grey Glacier (kayaking or ice walking)
  • Day 1 breakfast
  • Day 3 dinner
  • Guide
  • Porter

Important information

Activities on the Grey glacier are not included, you can book them with us: kayaking or walking on the glacier ice.

This tour is not recommended for children under 10 years old.

The camping accommodation includes all the material (tent already set up, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, sleeping bag). The tents are for 2 people, in case of booking only for one person, you will be assigned a tent just for you.

The "refugio" is a montain hostel and its dorms are shared with 4 to 6 travelers and includes bed linen.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellations!

  • If you cancel at least 90 days before the start of the tour, you will receive a 100% refund of the amount paid.
  • If you cancel between 89 and 60 days before the start of the tour, you will receive an 80% refund of the total cost.
  • If you cancel between 59 and 45 days before the start of the tour, you will receive a 50% refund of the total cost.

After this time or in case of a no-show, no refund will be provided.

*The same policies apply to reservation modifications.

Tour itinerary

DAY 1: Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine - Grey Trekking

Distance Paine Grande - Grey: 7 miles (11 km)

Approximate hiking time: 3-4 hours

Lodging: Grey Sector (camping or "refugio")

Highlights: Grey Viewpoint

Puerto Natales - Pudeto - Paine Grande

The first day starts with the pick up at your accommodation in Puerto Natales, at 6:30 in the morning. You will be taken to the bus station in Puerto Natales to take the shuttle to Pudeto, located within the Torres del Paine National Park. Pudeto is the port from where the catamaran departs and sails for 35 minutes across Lake Pehoé, taking you to Paine Grande sector.

Catamaran pehoe

Paine Grande Sector - Grey Sector

When you disembark at Paine Grande, the route begins. For 7 miles (11 km) you will hike along the path that runs up the valley, with small ups and downs and a difference in altitude that does not exceed 350 meters. You will pass by Laguna Los Patos and little by little you will approach Grey Lake, which carries floating icebergs that falls from the wall of the glacier.

You will reach the Grey sector and, at this point, we recommend you keep hiking up the valley, until you reach the Grey Glacier Viewpoint, with incredible views of the Southern Ice Field.

You will return to the Grey sector, settle into the campsite or "refugio" (depending on the option selected) and between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM dinner will be served, always at the "refugio".

los patos lagoon

DAY 2: Grey glacier activities - hanging bridges

Lodging: Grey sector (camping or "refugio")

✨ Highlights: Activities in Grey glacier or hike to the hanging bridges.

Activities in Grey Glacier

This is your free day in the Grey sector, and you have different possibilities. The most popular is to book one of the two activities we offer on Grey Glacier (not included in the tour):

-Glacier Grey Kayak

-Ice Hike Grey Glacier

💬 Howlanders tip!

We recommend you to book the first shift of the activity, as these excursions are only 10 minutes away from the Grey "refugio", and in case of cancellation due to bad weather, you will have the opportunity to join one of the following groups (subject to availability).

kayak glacier grey

Hanging bridges

You can complete the day walking to the hanging bridges, which are located in front of the glacier, from there you will admire not just the tongue of the glacier, but all the valleys that are forming the Grey Glacier. The first bridge is only 1,2 miles (2 km) from the "refugio" Grey, the second is 2 miles (3.5 km) away and the third is 3,7 miles (6 km) away. Consider these distances and plan your itinerary based on your preferences. Please note that the distances indicated are per way (one way), and you will return to the Grey "refugio" by the same trail, so the distance will be doubled.

Grey suspension bridges

Day 3: Trekking to Paine Grande - Catamaran - Puerto Natales

Distance Paine Grande - Grey: 7 miles (11 km)

Approximate hiking time: 3-4 hours

✨ Highlights: Activities in Grey or route to the hanging bridges.

Activities in Grey sector

On the third day you can do one of the activities listed on day 2: ice walking or kayaking (not included) or the hiking trail to the hanging bridges.

Walk ice grey

Paine Grande - Puerto Natales

At lunch time you will have to start hiking the 7 miles (11 km) back to Paine Grande, doing so by the same route as the first day, but this time with negative slope, which can be completed in just over 3 hours.

You will board the catamaran back to Pudeto at 7:35 PM and, upon arrival, the bus will be waiting for you to take you to the bus station in Puerto Natales. Once at the bus station, a private transport will take you to your accommodation, where you will arrive at approximately 9:45 PM.

Paine Grande Catamaran

What to bring to Tour to the Grey and Paine Grande sectors

  • Passport
  • PDI: Migratory Card (foreign travelers not residing in Chile)
  • Lodging reservation ticket
  • Hiking pants: thin or short
  • Long hiking pants for more warmth
  • First layer: thermal T-shirt
  • Middle layer: fleece or similar
  • Outer layer: waterproof jacket
  • Warm jacket or fleece
  • Cap or hat
  • Hiking shoes (if possible waterproof boots)
  • Slippers for resting
  • Sandals (for showers)
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Flashlight and battery (especially useful in campsites)
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Walking sticks
  • Cash (USD or CLP)
  • Medium trekking backpack (40 liters approx)
  • Long/short sleeve T-shirts

Where does the tour Tour to the Grey and Paine Grande sectors start

The tour starts in the city of Puerto Natales. If you are traveling from Santiago de Chile the best option is to fly directly to Puerto Natales or 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 book a private transfer Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales with us.

If you are traveling from El Calafate (Argentina), there are direct buses to Puerto Natales, it takes 5 hours. If you want a more comfortable service, you can book with us the transfer from El Calafate to Puerto Natales or the direct transfer from El Calafate and Torres del Paine.

Questions & Answers

  • Are kayaking and ice walking activities at Grey included?

    No, they are not included in the tour so you can customize it to your liking. You can book with us both in the following links:

    Grey Glacier Kayak and Grey Glacier Ice Walk

  • What are the Grey campsite and "refugio" like?

    We have created a post in our blog where we tell you all the details: https://blog.howlanders.com/chile/refugio-grey/

  • Is lunch included and where do you eat at lunchtime?

    Yes, the tour includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast and dinner are served at the lodge, even if you are staying at a campsite. A "lunchbox" is provided for lunch that you will pick up at breakfast time and that you will be able to enjoy throughout the tour.

  • What documentation do I need to bring to access Torres del Paine National Park?

    To access Torres del Paine National Park you must present your valid passport, as well as the park entrance fee and the lodging reservation documentation, which will be given to you during the briefing. In addition, if you are a foreign traveler not residing in Chile, you must present at each lodging the migratory card that you will be given upon entering Chile.

  • Do I have to carry all my luggage to Torres del Paine?

    No, from Howlanders we recommend you to take only what you need to do the trek for 6 days and leave the rest of the luggage in the luggage room of your accommodation in Puerto Natales.

  • Do I have to carry my backpack for the entire tour?

    You will have to carry your backpack for the 11 km that separate Paine Grande and Grey both on the way there and on the way back. Then, you can leave your luggage at your accommodation in Grey and carry your backpack only with what you need for that day.

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