An adventure in the stunning great wilderness of Patagonia is an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life. The region is full of possibilities with more than a million square kilometres to explore, and now is the time to start planning for the next hiking season! This remote place of extraordinary beauty is full of natural wonders, and in a small group setting you can experience it safely and sociably. In this article we select some of the best small group tours in Patagonia for this season.
This article contains links to tours we recommend, which we may make commission from at no extra cost to you.
Patagonia small group tours: our standout picks!
In a rush and looking to make a quick decision? These are our two personal favourite small group tours in Patagonia:
🥾 Torres Del Paine W Trek: Patagonia’s most iconic multi-day hiking trail
⛵ Discover Patagonia: see the region’s highlights without the hiking
Why take small group tours in Patagonia?
Many of Patagonia’s greatest natural attractions, like Torres Del Paine and Mount Fitz Roy, are set in remote places that take a lot of effort and organisation to reach. With this in mind, travelling in a small, guided group helps to ensure safety in various ways.
Of course, travelling independently in the region is possible, and can be extremely rewarding. We have travelled extensively in Patagonia both with and without guides. Our articles on backpacking in Patagonia and recommended Patagonia itineraries will help you to explore the region independently, but if you are unsure, then going guided may be a better option.
These are some of the main benefits of taking a small group tour in Patagonia:
- When trekking in remote places, or participating in adventure activities, help and medical assistance is always immediately available if needed.
- Our recommended small group tour operators have safety measures in place with minimum disruption to the experience.
- Travelling with a knowledgeable local guide will give you a deeper, more meaningful learning experience from their expert insights.
- Accommodation, meals and transport are looked after for you with safety measures in place.
- Small groups create a great dynamic for meeting people, sharing travel experiences and making lasting friendships.
We can vouch from our experience that having logistical arrangements covered in Patagonia is a big deal. Especially when it comes to classic hikes like the W Trek, booking individual campsites and bus transfers can be complex and tedious. Taking an organised small group tour removes the hassle.
Our recommended operator for small group tours in Patagonia
Deciding which small group tour company to use is important, as not all have the same standards in safety, hygiene and quality of guides. After travelling with many operators in South America, we recommend G Adventures for small group tours in Patagonia.
On reason we prefer G Adventures is their ‘travel with confidence’ policy, which was first put in place during the pandemic, but has been evolved since to make sure tours have high standards of safety and hygiene.
G Adventures has decades of experience organising small group tours around the world. They work with carefully selected local guides, and have an ethical approach to supporting local staff and community projects. This was the reason we first chose them for our Inca Trail in Peru, and we weren’t disappointed.
Group sizes on G Adventures tours have been capped at 12 for most tours, and are never more than 16. We find this to be just right for fostering a great team dynamic while not feeling at all crowded.
View all G Adventures tours in PatagoniaSmall group tours in Patagonia: the classic hikes
1. Torres Del Paine W Trek
🕒 Length: 6 days
📍 Starts and ends: Puerto Natales
⭐ Highlights: navigating Las Torres, the French Valley and Grey Glacier
🥾 Physical difficulty level: demanding
Prices: view and book
The W Trek is one of the world’s greatest multi-day hikes. Named due to its three-pronged route, it traverses between the dramatic natural landmarks of Las Torres, the French Valley and Grey Glacier in Torres Del Paine National Park. This guided group tour follows the classic trail with all arrangements taken care of.
See the full itinerary2. Torres Del Paine O Trek
🕒 Length: 11 days
📍 Starts and ends: Puerto Natales
⭐ Highlights: a full circuit of Torres Del Paine National Park
🥾 Physical difficulty level: challenging
Prices: view and book
The full circuit trek in Torres Del Paine, often called the ‘O Trek’, incorporates the W Trek and extends into a full loop around the north of the park. It is a challenging trail suitable for more experience hikers. The rewards for completing it are some of the most breathtaking scenery in the remotest sections of the park.
See the full itinerarySmall group tours in Patagonia: multi-stop routes
3. Discover Patagonia
🕒 Length: 14 days
📍 Starts and ends: Buenos Aires
⭐ Highlights: Andean Lakes crossing, Perito Moreno Glacier, Beagle Channel
🥾 Physical difficulty level: average
Prices: view and book
This is the most varied of G Adventures’ Patagonia tours. Starting in the north of the region, it explores the lake districts, featuring the stunning boat border crossing from Bariloche to Puerto Varas. Travelling south, the itinerary includes Torres Del Paine, El Calafate and Tierra Del Fuego, and ends with a day in Buenos Aires.
See the full itinerary4. Patagonia Hiking
🕒 Length: 9 days
📍 Starts and ends: Buenos Aires
⭐ Highlights: Los Glaciares rafting, Cerro Torre and Perito Moreno Glacier
🥾 Physical difficulty level: average
Prices: view and book
This itinerary focuses on the Argentina side of the region, pivoting around Los Glaciares National Park. From the base of El Chaltén, it incorporates a rafting trip and classic day hikes to see Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, before journeying south to the colossal Perito Moreno Glacier and the mountain town of El Calafate.
See the full itinerary5. Hike Patagonia in Depth
🕒 Length: 14 days
📍 Starts and ends: Buenos Aires
⭐ Highlights: hikes including the W Trek and Laguna de los Tres
🥾 Physical difficulty level: demanding
Prices: view and book
An extensive outdoors experience, this tour combines everything featured in the Patagonia Hiking package with the addition of the Torres Del Paine W Trek. Thus, in the space of two weeks, it brings together the most celebrated hiking trails and iconic natural landmarks of Patagonia into one itinerary.
See the full itinerary6. End of the Earth
🕒 Length: 14 days
📍 Starts and ends: Buenos Aires
⭐ Highlights: El Chaltén, Perito Moreno Glacier, Torres Del Paine and Ushuaia
🥾 Physical difficulty level: demanding
Prices: view and book
This two-week tour is similar to Hike Patagonia in Depth, but features shorter day hikes in Torres Del Paine National Park rather than the full W Trek. With the extra time this allows, the route culminates with a journey down to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city and the gateway to Tierra Del Fuego National Park.
See the full itineraryTo find out the optimal times of year to see the region’s wonders while avoiding the crowds, read our guide to the best times to visit Patagonia. If you’re planning a bigger trip, also read our guide to small group tours in South America.
Several of the small group tours in Patagonia we have highlighted include some free time in the region’s towns and cities. Take a look at our ideas on things to do in Ushuaia, El Calafate and Bariloche for ideas on how to spend your time.
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