10 days · Base Torres · John Gardner Pass · Grey Glacier
Guided O Circuit Trek
From US$4,649 per person
Trip at a glance
- Duration 10 days · 8 hiking daysArrival and departure days in Puerto Natales
- Difficulty ChallengingUp to 11 hours a day and the John Gardner Pass at 1,200 m / 3,900 ft
- Accommodation Hotel + camps in the park2 hotel nights, 7 camp nights; refugio beds on request
- Trip style Small group, six at mostOne certified bilingual guide walks the whole loop with you
Inside the experience
Our travelers, on these trails.
Trip overview
The Guided O Circuit Trek is the full loop around the Paine massif in Torres del Paine National Park, Chilean Patagonia: ten days, eight on the trail, with a certified bilingual local guide.
The loop begins at Base Torres, crosses the quiet northern valleys of Serón, Dickson and Los Perros, climbs the John Gardner Pass at 1,200 m and comes down to Grey Glacier, the French Valley and Lake Nordenskjöld.
You sleep one night in Puerto Natales before and after the trek and seven nights in camps inside the park, with refugio beds on request. Meals on the trail, the park entrance and every transfer are arranged, and there is a certified bilingual guide for a group of six at most. You carry your own pack around the full circuit.
Is this trip right for you?
One bar per day: hours on the trail, the climb, and where you sleep.
- 122 km · 76 miin eight days
- 4,700 m · 15,400 ftof ascent in total
- 7 nightsin a tent, 2 in a hotel
- Day 1: Puerto Natales, Arrive, night in a hotelDay 1
- Day 2: Base Torres, 7–8 h, about 700 m (2,300 ft) of ascent, night in a tentDay 2
- Day 3: Serón, 4–5 h, about 300 m (1,000 ft) of ascent, night in a tentDay 3
- Day 4: Dickson, 6–7 h, about 640 m (2,100 ft) of ascent, night in a tentDay 4
- Day 5: Los Perros, 4–5 h, about 530 m (1,700 ft) of ascent, night in a tentDay 5
- Day 6: John Gardner Pass, 9–11 h, about 1300 m (4,300 ft) of ascent, night in a tentDay 6
- Day 7: Paine Grande, 4–5 h, about 430 m (1,400 ft) of ascent, night in a tentDay 7
- Day 8: French Valley, 7–8 h, about 400 m (1,300 ft) of ascent, night in a tentDay 8
- Day 9: Back to Natales, 6–8 h, about 400 m (1,300 ft) of ascent, night in a hotelDay 9
- Day 10: Airport or bus, DepartDay 10
Hours on the trail and elevation gain are estimates and may vary.
Eight days on the trail, carrying your own backpack over the John Gardner Pass, with a local guide and a group of six at most. Check the distance, estimated hiking time and elevation gain for each day above: only you know how that effort will feel.
Prefer the three icons without the northern loop? The Guided W Trek walks the front of the massif in seven days.
The O Circuit, day by day
The trek begins and ends in Puerto Natales, with a hotel night on each side and seven nights in camps inside the park. Choose a day to see its route, distance, hiking time, meals and where you sleep.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Terrain from open elevation data
What’s included
For US$4,649 per person, everything on the trail is arranged before you arrive. Optional extras and what’s not included are listed separately.
Accommodation
- 2 hotel nights in Puerto Natales, with breakfast
- 7 camp nights in Torres del Paine: Central, Serón, Dickson, Los Perros, Grey, Paine Grande and Francés or Los Cuernos
- Pre-set camping gear: two-person tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag
Transport and logistics
- Airport or bus terminal transfers in Puerto Natales, both ways
- Transfers to and from Torres del Paine
- Park entrance fee
- Secure luggage storage in Puerto Natales during the trek
Guiding, meals and field support
- Certified bilingual local guide, for a group of six at most
- All meals on the trail, as listed day by day
- Trekking poles
- Local support before and during your trip
Optional
- Refugio beds instead of tents. A bunk in a shared room at the mountain huts. Bedding varies by hut. Price per night on request.
- Ice hike on Grey Glacier, US$365 per person. Crampons on the ice with a specialist glacier guide, from the Grey camp.
- Kayak on Grey Lake, US$289 per person. Paddling among the icebergs, also from the Grey camp.
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Bus tickets between Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales (we check that your flight and bus times match)
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses and gratuities
What travelers say
Traveler reviews on Google, Tripadvisor and WeTravel
Our guides Felipe and Magda supported the group very carefully and attentively, which made me feel safe throughout the hike. Thanks to the clear instructions provided in advance, everything went smoothly.
Our guides headed by Natalia and Claudia have been awesome. Everything was well planned, thought out and executed! Definitely recommend DoPatagonia for your Patagonia adventure!
Frequently asked questions
The questions we get by email, answered before you ask.
How do I get from Punta Arenas airport to Puerto Natales?
By bus, in about two and a half hours. Several companies run the route through the day, and the timetable changes with the season, so we check the current departures against your flight before you book, in both directions. Bus tickets are not included in the program. Coming from further afield, the airports and connections are laid out in getting to Patagonia.
How fit do I need to be for the O Circuit?
Fit and used to long days: the circuit has days of 8 to 11 hours, a week of walking in a row and the John Gardner Pass at 1,200 m (3,900 ft), all with your own pack. Previous multi-day trekking experience is recommended, and your guide sets a pace the whole group can hold. If you are still choosing between the two routes, we put them side by side in W Trek vs O Circuit.
When is the best time to do the O Circuit?
The O Circuit season is shorter than the W: the northern trail and the John Gardner Pass are open from November to March. December to February bring the longest days and the busiest camps; in November and March there can be snow on the pass and fewer people on the trail. The full year, broken down month by month, is in when to visit Patagonia.
What should I pack?
Waterproof hiking boots, thermal and insulating layers, a waterproof jacket and pants, gloves, sun protection, a 40 to 50 liter backpack, a reusable water bottle and any personal medication. A detailed packing list is sent before departure. The whole list, down to how many pairs of socks, is in what to pack for Torres del Paine.