Hiker descending from the John Gardner Pass toward Grey Glacier on the self-guided O Circuit, Torres del Paine

10 days · Base Torres · John Gardner Pass · Grey Glacier

Self-Guided O Circuit Trek

From US$3,796 per person

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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 Self-guided, fully arrangedCamps, meals, transfers and poles booked before you land

Inside the experience

Our travelers, on these trails.

  • Base Torres viewpoint on the W Trek, with the three granite towers of Torres del Paine above the glacial lagoon
  • Dickson campsite on the O Circuit in Torres del Paine
  • Los Perros Glacier in Torres del Paine
  • Hiker on the John Gardner Pass section of the O Circuit in Torres del Paine National Park.
  • Hikers on the rocky trail into the French Valley on the W Trek, Torres del Paine, with the Paine Grande glaciers above
  • The W Trek trail along the turquoise Lake Nordenskjöld, Torres del Paine National Park

Trip overview

The Self-Guided O Circuit Trek is the full loop around the Paine massif in Torres del Paine National Park, Chilean Patagonia, walked on your own: ten days, eight on the trail, with every camp booked before you land.

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. A briefing in Puerto Natales, the park entrance, every transfer and all meals on the trail are arranged by our local team. You set the pace and walk the full circuit on your own.

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 hotel
  • Day 2: Base Torres, 7–8 h, about 700 m (2,300 ft) of ascent, night in a tent
  • Day 3: Serón, 4–5 h, about 300 m (1,000 ft) of ascent, night in a tent
  • Day 4: Dickson, 6–7 h, about 640 m (2,100 ft) of ascent, night in a tent
  • Day 5: Los Perros, 4–5 h, about 530 m (1,700 ft) of ascent, night in a tent
  • Day 6: John Gardner Pass, 9–11 h, about 1300 m (4,300 ft) of ascent, night in a tent
  • Day 7: Paine Grande, 4–5 h, about 430 m (1,400 ft) of ascent, night in a tent
  • Day 8: French Valley, 7–8 h, about 400 m (1,300 ft) of ascent, night in a tent
  • Day 9: Back to Natales, 6–8 h, about 400 m (1,300 ft) of ascent, night in a hotel
  • Day 10: Airport or bus, Depart

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 and walking at your own pace. Check the distance, estimated hiking time and elevation gain for each day above: only you know how that effort will feel.

Prefer to hike with a local guide? The Guided O Circuit Trek follows the same loop with a certified bilingual guide and a group of six at most.

The Self-Guided 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 of the Self-Guided O Circuit Trek in Torres del PaineThe eight hiking days of the O Circuit drawn on the real geography of Torres del Paine National Park: the Ascencio Valley to Base Torres, the northern trail to Serón, Dickson and Los Perros, the John Gardner Pass down to the Grey sector, then Paine Grande, the French Valley and the shore of Lake Nordenskjöld back to the Welcome Center. Every distance, duration and overnight is listed as text next to the map.Lake PehoéLago GreyLake NordenskjöldLago DicksonLago PaineLago del ToroAscencio ValleyPuerto NatalesAirportCentral campBase TorresSerón campDickson campLos Perros campJohn Gardner PassGrey campGrey GlacierPaine Grande campFrench ValleyFrancés campPuerto NatalesAirportCentral campBase TorresSerón campDickson campLos Perros campJohn Gardner PassGrey campGrey GlacierPaine Grande campFrench ValleyFrancés camp

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Terrain from open elevation data

What’s included

For US$3,796 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

Briefing, meals and field support

  • Pre-trek briefing with a local specialist in Puerto Natales
  • 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 headed by Natalia and Claudia have been awesome. Everything was well planned, thought out and executed! Definitely recommend DoPatagonia for your Patagonia adventure!

Robert Q.Tripadvisor · November 2025

Our experience with Do Patagonia was perfect. Natty was so helpful and thought of all the details for us. Her itinerary was thoughtful and worked for us perfectly.

Riya A.Tripadvisor · December 2024

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. The rest of the journey, airports and border crossings included, is in getting to Patagonia.

Do I need experience for the self-guided O Circuit?

Yes. The circuit is for hikers with multi-day trekking experience: 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. The trail is marked, the camps are booked, and the pre-trek briefing in Puerto Natales goes through the loop day by day. Still deciding between the short loop and the full one? W Trek vs O Circuit compares the two, day by day.

Can I start the O Circuit on any date?

Start dates depend on campsite availability and the park’s seasonal rules. The camps on the northern side have few places and fill up first. Tell us your preferred dates and we will check what is possible. Daylight, wind and crowds change a lot between October and April. Our month-by-month guide spells out the difference.

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. Everything we tell people to bring is in what to pack for Torres del Paine.