Classic Patagonia Treks (2025)

Enjoy unforgettable treks in Torres del Paine and the Fitzroy Massif

Experience the breath-taking landscapes of two classic Patagonian trekking regions on both sides of the Chile-Argentina border. Challenging walks are rewarded with majestic views of lagoons, mountains and glaciers. See guanacos grazing and Andean condors soaring overhead, visit the spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier, and find sheer tranquility in the beautiful wilderness of Torres del Paine National Park. This is an essential trip for trekking enthusiasts that reveals the stunning glory of nature’s southern American wonderland. For 2025 and beyond,  our “Classic Patagonia Treks” itinerary will start and end in the culinary and architectural capital of Buenos Aires – Bienvenidos (Welcome)!

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible. We stay at a family-owned hosteria in Chalten, Hosteria Don Atilio. Our hosts are happy to share their culture.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used to upkeep and develop these important sites.
• We visit national parks on this trip: Los Glaciares in Calafate and Park Torres del Paine in Chile. Fees collected fund conservation initiatives.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices regarding wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• With our partners, Rewilding Apennines, we rewild 100 square meters (1,075 sqft) of land per passenger who travels with us.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Walking trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low-impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 5 (Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

It is preferable to have experience of long walks in varied and irregular terrain. The walking is not dangerous or technically difficult, but you must be a confident walker with good fitness levels to manage the sections of ascent and long duration of the treks.  There are four days where you have to carry all your belongings with you on the W trek (see What to Take section in the Trip Notes and the daily itinerary for details) so it is recommended you pack lightly and are happy walking with a backpack.

Due to the unpredictability of the climate in southern Patagonia, you need to be prepared for walking in all conditions. The weather can change extremely rapidly, making clothing and footwear choices important. There is a rest day scheduled in the itinerary for the day in El Calafate.

The regions we visit on the trip are very remote so prepare to spend time in areas where facilities and services are limited. Roads are mostly unpaved and although well-maintained they can be bumpy and dusty.

Internal flights are included, normally with Aerolineas Argentinas. The flight times can be erratic and there can be last-minute schedule changes. Depending on flight availability, there may be a supplement to pay.

Walking hours stated are given as approximates only. Timings stated include lunch and photo stops and vary depending on the group’s pace.

You may find our Fitness Training Guide a useful reference.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

Argentina

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, and yellow fever (strongly recommended if you intend to visit the Iguazu Falls due to a recent outbreak in the Misiones province). Please check all vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

Bilharzia is known to occur in some lakes or rivers in Argentina; follow advice from your guide or leader locally before venturing for a swim.

Dengue and zika, both mosquito‐borne viral diseases, are known risks in Argentina. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available; therefore, the best form of prevention is to take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Chile

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid.

Dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Visa

Argentina

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Argentina. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/argentina
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/argentina
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Argentina.html

Please note, if you are crossing the border into Argentina from Chile on your trip, we will need to know your profession to provide when entering Argentina.

Chile

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Chile. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/chile
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/chile
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/chile/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Chile.html

Please note, a PDI tourist card will be given to you by migration at Santiago airport, upon arrival to Chile, and asked for upon departure from Chile (please retain this important slip of paper). The PDI certifies that you are a visitor and must be given back to migration upon departure from Chile.

Food & Drink

Hotel breakfasts are normally buffets and are included. The accommodation in Torres del Paine arranges packed lunches for our trekking days. There is a variety of good quality food in local restaurants and cafes that can cater to a variety of restricted diets (although the refugios we stay in for the standard itinerary in Torres del Paine is the exception, as facilities and food options here are limited due to remote access).

Please advise us at the time of booking if you have any special dietary requirements. Vegetarians can be accommodated throughout the trip, but gluten-free diets or other restricted diets can be hard to cater for in this part of the world – you may wish to bring supplementary, pre-packaged food items (energy bars, etc..).

Weather

We schedule our Patagonia trips between October and April to take advantage of the longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures. During these months, daytime temperatures in Buenos Aires reach a maximum of 30C (86F); in El Calafate and Torres del Paine around 15C (59F).  The nights in Patagonia  can drop to freezing point, but often remain just above. Patagonian summers tend to be dry although rain cannot be ruled out, particularly in the mountainous regions along the Chile-Argentina border, you might experience all four seasons in one day!  Patagonia is renowned for being windy…and sometimes very windy (dress accordingly and watch your step).  In Patagonia the changing weather is part of the adventure, however in extreme wind/weather conditions our Tour Leader may modify the days itinerary in favor of passengers safety.