| Day 1: | Upon arrival at the Punta Arenas airport take a taxi to the Hotel Terra Sur. Join your guide and fellow adventurers at 7:30 PM for dinner at local restaurant. The taxi transfer and dinner tonight are at your own expense. |
| Day 2: | Morning collection from the Terra Sur Hotel in Punta Arenas after breakfast. A drive an hour and a half from Punta Arenas brings guests to the Seno Otway penguin colony where the Magellanic penguin is found. Known as the jackass penguin for its characteristic braying sounds, these penguins are naturally curious and tame and are a joy to watch. After ample time to photograph the penguins, begin the scenic drive across the Patagonian Steppe where riders have the first glimpses of the unusual plant and animal life that exists in this area. After a short lunch stop in Puerto Natales we will continue on to our campsite situated close to a working estancia on the edges of the beautiful Laguna Verde. Enjoy a stroll down to the lakeside and marvel at the variety of birdlife and spectacular views of the Horns while dinner is prepared. No showers tonight. Transfer time approximately 6.5 hours. |
| Day 3: | After breakfast meet the horses and the charismatic baqueanos who care for them. After the assignment of horses, there is a quick safety check and short familiarization ride. Pack the saddle bags with cameras, waterproofs, and a picnic lunch before setting off around the shores of this beautiful lake through ancient southern beech forests towards the Sierra del Toro. A steep ascent through forests takes you right up on top of this mountain. The last section of the ride will often be through snow. Stop to marvel at the views of the entire Park below before winding down to an authentic ‘puesto’ manned by one of the cattle ranchers from Estancia Lazo to have lunch. Afternoon return to the stunning campsite at Laguna Verde. No showers. Riding time about 5-6 hours. |
| Day 4: | After breakfast pack up camp and make an early start eastward to the heart of the Park. The morning ride is fairly relaxing as we wind our way through a pretty valley passing a number of lakes and mountain views. There is plenty of time to take photographs before ascending to a lookout with fabulous views of the pampas and lakes below. After a quick stop to let the horses rest start the steep descent of the Sierra del Toro to the pampas below. Lunch will be taken in the valley and we will have a chance to visit the Park Headquarters to look at their relief maps of the park. Enjoy the faster pace as you head towards the campsite beside the Serrano River. River-chilled wine and snacks are available while dinner is prepared. Showers available. Riding time about 6-7 hours. |
| Day 5: | After breakfast pack up camp and make an early start across the pampas to the immense Grey Glacier and Lake. This is open pampas riding at its best as there will be lots of opportunities for long canters as you ride toward the huge granite peaks of the Paine Massif. Dismount and cross the wooden footbridge which leads onto a small trail through the forest. This trail takes you onto Grey Beach for a walk along the grey sands admiring the huge icebergs that have caved off the nearby glacier. For those who are interested there is an optional boat ride across the iceberg choked lake to the walls of this spectacular Glacier (weather permitting, cost $60.00 pp for the 3 hour boat ride). For those who prefer to stay ashore there is plenty of opportunity for hiking, taking pictures or walking the short distance to Hosteria Lago Grey to enjoy some fireside pisco sours. Afterwards mount the horses for an exciting ride across the pampas back to the campsite at Rio Serrano. Showers available. Riding time about 5-6 hours. |
| Day 6: | Today enjoy beautiful trails in the heart of the park. This trail also known as the “up and over” crosses a variety of changing landscapes. Ride through verdant green valleys and southern beech forests passing turquoise lakes and crossing wide open plains. Watch
magnificent condors hovering high above mountain peaks whilst down on the plains herds of guanaco scatter upon approach. Cross over 30 kilometres of this amazing country dominated by the Paine Horns and Towers after which the park is named. Finally, after a truly memorable ride a short vehicle transfer will take to you to the beautiful campsite nestled in a small valley with only a gaucho “puesto” (small wooden hut) and awsome views of the Towers. No showers tonight. Riding time about 7-8 hours. |
| Day 7: | After enjoying breakfast with one of the best views in the world set off on an exciting and unique adventure into the hills and forests of the Sierra Contreras. Your destination is the waterfall known as Cascada Zamora. Receiving almost no visitors it is likely that we will have the entire place to ourselves to relax and enjoy this magnificent spot. After lunch ride out to a remote “puesto mercado” high over the pampas with views of Las Chinas Valley and the Sierra Baguales in the distance. Return to our camp at “puesto Tercera” for dinner and overnight. No showers. Riding time about 5-6 hours. |
| Day 8: | After packing up camp and loading the packhorses, set off on an exciting ride towards the Torres and Lago Paine. Just before reaching Laguna Azul head north towards Laguna Stokes where a large natural vega or pasture exists which attracts wild criollos from the surrounding hills to graze in the summer. Camp will be made riverside at Lago Paine. No showers tonight. Riding time about 6-7 hours. |
| Day 9: | After breakfast ride out to Lake and Glacier Dickson. Dickson is one of the more remote and rarely visited glaciers in the park due to its inaccessibility. Ride past the northerly peaks of the Pain chain where one of the peaks is topped by a black, craggy rock in the shape of a Tuhuelche Indian face and the headband is created by snowdrifts. Head north passing by forests and scattered lakes before reaching the lunch spot above this beautiful lake and glacier. In the afternoon ride back to Lago Paine. No showers tonight. Riding time 6-7 hours. |
| Day 10: | Today continue on to Laguna Azul via a different route. Ride through forests and flower filled meadows. Enjoy the many long canters before reaching the edge of the aptly named Laguna Azul. Upon arrival at the campsite wine will be chilled in the river and canapes are served before dinner. Enjoy your final view across the Towers and the lake. Hot showers and a quincho for inside dining available tonight. Riding time about 6-7 hours. |
| Day 11: | Camp is packed up after breakfast and riders are returned to Punta Arenas late afternoon. A stop for lunch is made in Puerto Natales, which offers a chance to shop for souvenirs. You will be returned to the Hotel Terra Sur in Punta Arenas about 6:00 PM. |
| Day 12: | Taxi (at your own expense) to the airport in time for your departing flight or onward journey. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
