The Ultimate Guide To Torres Del Paine National Park

There are some national parks that are in the essential- to-see-before-you-die category: Yosemite (USA), or Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (China), for example. And then, there’s Torres del Paine in Chile’s Patagonia region.

Part of a vast wilderness area, it straddles the ice fields at the foot of the Andes and incorporates immense glaciers, clear turquoise lakes, expansive grasslands and forests, and a dramatic mountainscape so iconic, it probably already feels familiar to you from magazine pages such as these.

The three famous, immense buttresses of rock, the park’s namesake Torres del Paine, are a pilgrimage for hikers the world over. Then there are the big cats, the largest flying animal on the planet and incredibly rare and unusual deer to be photographed. Dust off your boots and get packing!

When to go

Although you may get hit with heavy crowds suring peak season, the best time to visit Chilean Patagonia is in Summer, November to early March.

What to see

Torres del Paine

The centrepiece of the park is the mountain range of the Cordillera Paine (‘paine’ meaning blue and pronounced ‘pine-ay’), flanked by glaciers and crowned with imposing peaks of black granite, the pick of which are the eponymous spires. Hike to their base and take as many photos as you can.

Lake Sarmiento

An impressive view of the entirety of the Cordillera Paine can be had from the shores of this vast lake. Its banks have curious white rocks at the water’s edge, which are in fact thrombolites – colonies of bacteria some 10,000 years old, betraying how ancient this place is.

Grey Glacier

There aren’t many places on the planet that enable you to get this close to the end point of a glacier this size. At six kilometres wide, Grey Glacier is one of the biggest in the Torres del Paine.

You can get near it on foot by walking up the side of Lake Grey (pictured) as part of the ‘O’ Circuit, or take a boat to its blue-and-white face that is slowly disappearing into the lake. If you’re lucky you’ll see the glacier ‘calving’, as house-sized slabs of ice break off and disappear under the water. Book a boat trip with Hotel Lago Grey.

Torres Del Paine Grey Glacier — Grey Glacier in all it’s glory

French Valley

Walking the length of the French Valley and back is a breathtaking stretch of the circum-Cordillera Paine hiking trail, that leads you through forest and grasslands, flanked by some of the park’s tallest peaks, glaciers flowing down their sides. The trail ends at French Lookout, which puts you at the centre of a staggering amphitheatre of mountains. It’s also the base of the range’s highest peak, the point-like Paine Grande, at 2884 metres. Draped on the side of the mountain is the park’s other must-see glacier, the French Glacier.

Hike the peaks

This is what you come to this national park for: hiking around the iconic mountains of the Cordillera Paine. Do a guided trek of the eight-day ‘O’ circuit, or the highlight reel ‘W’ circuit, which takes four days.

Amarga lagoon

Head to this lake to capture Torres del Paine’s knife-like buttresses of rock reflected in its crystal-clear waters. If you’re really lucky, there will be a posse of bright-pink flamingos wading in the shallows to boot.

Salto grande

To get a sense of the power that the glaciers and mountains of the national park are able to generate, walk to this 10-metre-high waterfall that delivers raging meltwater from Lake Nordenskjöld to Lake Pehoé.

Torres Del Paine national park — The wilderness of ice fields of Torres del Paine National Park

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Animal spotting

Up in the Andes and the surrounding wilderness of ice fields of Torres del Paine National Park, there’s a rich menagerie of iconic and unusual wildlife to keep an eye out for.

Guanaco

Herds of these llama-like shaggy beasts provide a staple diet for the resident pumas, and the subsequent leftovers are enjoyed by the condors. If they don’t like your presence they will let you know by spitting at you. Nice.

Darwin’s Rheas

This species of ratite (flightless birds like our very own emu) stands up to a metre tall, making it easy to spot grazing on the steppes. Its name comes from when good ol’ Charles was dining on one and thought it unique enough to send the remains back to London to be studied.

Puma

The best way to spot the king of the park is to look for condors circling overhead, which means one of these elusive animals has made a kill. If you really want to get a good look at this cat, you’re best off coming in winter when they follow the herds of guanaco, which come down from the mountains to feed on the plains.

Andean Condor

A giant of the animal kingdom, the Andean condor is the largest flying bird on the planet when taking into account its wingspan and weight. A member of the vulture family, its wrinkly head ensconced in a fluffy white collar, it’s able to spot the remains of animals from on high.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The ultimate guide to Torres Del Paine National Park