Patagonia Multisport (Self-Launched)
10 days · Patagonia, Chile
G Adventures charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£760 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself version of G Adventures' 10-day Patagonia Multisport trip: Santiago, then a budget flight south to Punta Arenas and onward to Puerto Natales, a half-day bike loop out to Laguna Sofía, then the full 62km 'W' Trek in Torres del Paine (Las Torres, French Valley, Grey Glacier) with refugio/campsite nights, a guided kayak on Lago Grey, and the catamaran across Lago Pehoé to finish. You book the W yourself through CONAF/Vertice Patagonia, paddle with a local operator in Puerto Natales, and use Bus Sur / Buses Pacheco and the public catamaran instead of a private van. Costs are approximate 2025 backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Land at Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) and take the Turbus/Centropuerto bus to the city centre (~2,100 CLP, £1.80) rather than a £25 taxi. Stay in a Bellavista or Barrio Lastarria hostel. Use the afternoon to sort a Chilean eSIM, draw cash (ATMs on Av. Providencia are reliable) and pick up any last-minute trekking gear on Calle San Antonio or in Patronato. Eat dinner at a mercado-style spot in Bella Vista.
🚌Airport bus ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm in Bellavista/Lastarria, £15
- →Airport bus into Santiago
- →Wander Bellavista & Lastarria
- →Gear and SIM shopping
Fly Santiago – Punta Arenas, bus to Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales, Chile
Book a Sky Airline or LATAM low-cost flight SCL–PUQ in advance (roughly £70–110 one way, more in high season; bag fees add on — keep to 15kg). From Punta Arenas airport, take the local bus or shared transfer into town, then Bus Sur or Buses Pacheco to Puerto Natales (~3 hrs, ~4,500 CLP / £4). Confirm your W Trek reservations and catamaran ticket tonight, and pick up fuel canisters and food for the trek.
🚌Domestic flight ~£90 + bus ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse in Puerto Natales, £16
- →Low-cost domestic flight to Punta Arenas
- →Bus Sur/Pacheco bus to Puerto Natales
- →Confirm CONAF/Vertice W Trek bookings
Cycle to Laguna Sofía
Puerto Natales, Chile
Rent a mountain bike from one of the shops on Calle Eberhard (roughly 12,000–18,000 CLP / £10–15 for a half day) and ride the gravel route out to Laguna Sofía and back — about 30–40km of rolling Patagonian steppe with the Sierra Dorotea behind you. The afternoon is free: prep your 30L daypack, leave your big bag at the guesthouse, cook a big pasta dinner and get an early night.
🚌Rental bike ~£12
🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse in Puerto Natales, £16
- →Half-day mountain bike rental to Laguna Sofía
- →Trek prep and gear check
Bus to Torres del Paine — trek to Base Las Torres
Torres del Paine National Park
Take the 7:00 Bus Sur (or María José) from Puerto Natales to the Laguna Amarga/Central entrance (~2 hrs, ~10,000 CLP / £8; pay the park fee on arrival, ~32,000 CLP for foreigners). Drop your big pack at the Central sector, then hike the classic out-and-back to Mirador Base de las Torres: 19km, ~700m of climb, roughly 7–8 hours. Camp or take a dorm bed at Refugio Chileno/Central (book well ahead via Vertice Patagonia/Fantástico Sur — dorm ~£45–60, camping ~£15–20 plus a simple set-menu dinner).
🚌Bus Sur to park ~£8
🛏Refugio dorm or campsite at Chileno/Central, £45
- →Base Las Torres hike (19km)
- →Torres del Paine park entry ~£26
W Trek day 2 — to Los Cuernos / Francés
Torres del Paine National Park
Break down camp and walk west along Lago Nordenskjöld past the hanging glaciers on the Cuernos ridge — roughly 16km, 5–6 hours — to the Francés sector. Camp at Camping Francés or Italiano (book in advance; ~£15–22/night, with a small shop for beer and snacks by the Cuernos end). Refill water at streams throughout — it's drinkable.
🚌On foot
🛏Campsite at Francés/Italiano, £20
- →Hike Nordenskjöld lakeshore (16km)
- →Cuernos viewpoints
W Trek day 3 — French Valley
Torres del Paine National Park
Leave your pack at camp and hike up into the Valle del Francés to Mirador Británico, the amphitheatre of granite peaks, then return — around 16–17km total, 6–7 hours. Alternately you can move camp to Paine Grande the same day if you're fit. Stay at Camping Paine Grande (Vertice) so tomorrow's Grey leg is shorter; the refugio restaurant and bar here takes cards.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping Paine Grande, £15
- →French Valley / Mirador Británico hike (16km)
W Trek day 4 — Grey Glacier & kayak
Torres del Paine National Park
Walk the 11km along Lago Grey to Refugio Grey with the glacier ahead of you. In the afternoon, join the guided kayak out toward the ice wall with Grey Kayaks/Vertice (approx. 4 hours, ~£65–75 — book ahead in season; the group operator charges far more for the same paddle). Camp at Refugio Grey (dorm ~£50, camping ~£15).
🚌On foot
🛏Campsite or dorm at Refugio Grey, £20
- →Hike to Refugio Grey (11km)
- →Guided kayak on Lago Grey toward the glacier ~£70
Free day at Grey — ice hike or rest
Torres del Paine National Park
Optional morning on the Big Ice / Grey Glacier trek with Grey Glacier guides (roughly 230,000 CLP / £190 per person — only if it's a priority for you; add it to the total). Otherwise hike up to the Británico or Mirador Ferrier for free views, sit by the lake, dry your gear and enjoy a slower day. Extra night at Refugio Grey.
🚌On foot
🛏Campsite or dorm at Refugio Grey, £20
- →Mirador Ferrier hike (free)
- →Optional Grey Glacier ice hike ~£190
Hike out to Lago Pehoé and catamaran
Puerto Natales, Chile
Walk back to Paine Grande (11km, ~3 hrs) and take the public catamaran across Lago Pehoé (Hielos Patagónicos, ~28,000 CLP / £23 — buy in advance online or at the kiosk), timed to meet the 14:30 or 18:00 bus back to Puerto Natales (~£8). Check into your guesthouse, shower, and celebrate with a proper lamb roast and a Calafate sour in town.
🚌Catamaran ~£23 + bus ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm or guesthouse in Puerto Natales, £16
- →Pehoé catamaran crossing
- →Bus Sur back to Puerto Natales
- →Cerro Dorotea / town evening
Depart Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales, Chile
Depending on onward plans, take a Bus Sur/Pacheco bus back to Punta Arenas (~£4, 3.5 hrs) for flights, or cross the border by bus to El Calafate in Argentina (~6 hrs, ~£20, leave early and don't book a flight before 4pm). Check luggage weights if you're continuing onward by air.
🚌Bus to Punta Arenas ~£4 or El Calafate ~£20
🛏None (departure day)
- →Bus to airport or border crossing
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£760 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,590 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£760
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Patagonia Multisport (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £760 per person for 10 days in Patagonia, Chile. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £760 — a saving of roughly £1,590 (68%) per person.
How long is the Patagonia, Chile trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Patagonia, Chile.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, backpacker trip through Patagonia, Chile, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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