Top 5

  1. The 'W'
The W trek through Torres del Paine national park is Patagonia's most celebrated walk, and it's easy to see why. The route leads you right across the park via its eponymous three towers, Lago Grey and the Cuernos del Paine, and is manageable for anyone in reasonable health. After walking for between five and eight hours a day, you can stay in comfortable guesthouses or even the more luxurious Eco Camp Patagonia.

I recommend starting on the east side of the park, which will bring you to the famous towers within a day. Don't miss out on going all the way to the top from the French Valley, where you'll be surrounded by pillars, glaciers and a vast amphitheatre of rock.

  2. Day trek from El Chaltén
From the Argentinean town of El Chaltén you can walk straight into the wilderness of Los Glaciares national park. Unlike Torres del Paine this is a compact park and the main sights are all close together, allowing you to feel completely immersed in the spectacular scenery, and to see the best of it within just an 8-hour return walk. You'll get right up close to the Fitzroy massif and its shimmering glacial lake, and then be able to come back to a comfortable hotel and a great meal, perhaps washed down with a beer from the local brewery.

You can enjoy this hike on our Charito small group tour.

  3. Ferrier lookout point
The Ferrier mirador, or viewpoint, is one of my favourite hidden gems. The beauty of this steep, exhausting uphill trek is that very few visitors undertake it, meaning that once you reach the top and look out over the whole of the southern ice field, you'll reap the rewards of being well away from the crowds. The views are unbelievable: you can see right across the Patagonian steppe to glaciated Lago Grey and the peaks and horns of the Paine massif. On a clear day you can see right to the Magellan Straits.

  4. Huerquehue trek, lake district
Chile's lake district is in northern Patagonia and the landscape is vastly different to the far south: greener, more alpine and lushly forested. My favourite trek here is the day walk through Huerquehue national park. Starting at the park's tranquil lakes, you climb for seven km through Valdivian rainforest and monkey puzzle trees, catching occasional glimpses of Villarica volcano through the openings in the foliage. On the way back to your hotel, stop at the thermal springs for a relaxing wind-down.

This walk is available as a day-trip on the Nandu small group tour.

  5. Trekking in Tierra del Fuego
Go trekking at the end of the world and you'll be rewarded with near-Antarctic scenery and a thrilling sense of isolation. The best short trek here is to Lake Fagnano, on a trail that meanders through beech tree forests beside the Beagle Channel, but if you have more time and are in fairly good shape you could try completing the tougher 3-day trek through the national park.

Given the desolate Patagonian desert steppe on the northern side of the Magellan Straits, people are always surprised by the greenery and dramatic landscapes of Tierra del Fuego, with its steep mountain valleys, glaciers and temperate forests. This really does feel like 'The Uttermost Part of the Earth'. However, once you've completed the descent into Ushuaia, the world's most southerly city, you can enjoy a slap-up meal in one of the excellent local restaurants as a well-deserved welcome back from the wilds - you really must try the local king crab or Fuegian lamb!