Easiest
Boat
From Hotel Lago Grey
- Length3 hours
- EffortBeach walk
- AgeWith an adult
Help with your choice
Grey Glacier hike in Torres del Paine, the boat or a kayak
The 3-hour boat to Grey Glacier
★ 4.5 · 366 ratings
Two questions, your way to the ice
Sail, walk or paddle to Grey
Say how active you want to be and how you are travelling, and a bookable option appears with its starting price.
The right fit for you
The Grey sailing
from $120
3 hours on Lago Grey with no fitness needed beyond the beach walk.
The right fit for you
Grey with a van from Natales
from $276
Pickup in Natales, the beach walk and 3 hours on Grey Lake, 8 hours in all.
The right fit for you
Grey from Punta Arenas
from $296
An 18-hour day in a group of up to 10, with the Grey catamaran included.
The right fit for you
W trek with Grey
from $1,190
5 days for up to 4 with the Grey viewpoint and a catamaran ride; the ice hike and kayak start near the Grey refuge on the way and are booked with their operator.
The right fit for you
Park day with a lake stop
from $114
1 hour at Grey Lake inside an 11-hour park day from Natales.
Editorial team, greyglaciercruise.click · Updated November 12, 2026 · Reading: 8 min
Quick look
- The boatA 3-hour sailing from Hotel Lago Grey, from $120.
- Ice hikeAbout 2.5 hours on the glacier itself, for ages 14 and up.1,2
- Kayak2 to 2.5 hours paddling towards the east face, by the operator's two figures.3,4,5
- FitnessThe ice hike needs good physical condition; the boat needs a beach walk.6,7
- Where they startIce hike and kayak start near the Grey refuge, not at the hotel.8,9
Several ways to meet the same glacier
Grey is unusual among the glaciers of Patagonia because you can approach it in several completely different ways inside the same park. Chile Travel notes that its walls can be seen up close either from a boat or by walking on the ice with expert guides, and a kayak trip on the lake adds a third, quieter angle.10,3
The choice is less about which is best and more about who you are. The boat suits almost anyone who can manage a beach walk. The Grey Glacier hike in Torres del Paine, done on the ice with crampons, suits fit adults with a night in the park. The kayak suits people comfortable in a small boat on cold water who want to feel the scale of the icebergs from water level.
There is also an option that costs nothing beyond the park pass: the Grey section of the W trek, which passes viewpoints over the glacier on the way to the refuge. This page compares all of them on fitness, age limits, time with the ice, price and logistics, and then suggests how to combine them if your stay allows it. Read it with your own legs, your group and your number of nights in the park in mind.
Side by side
Boat, ice hike and kayak on Grey compared
| Detail | Boat | Ice hike | Kayak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 3 hours | 5 hours | 2 to 2.5 hours |
| Minimum age | With an adult | 14 | 14 |
| Group size | Up to 98 | 2 to 20 | 2 to 16 |
| Starts at | Hotel Lago Grey | Grey refuge | Grey refuge |
| Price | From $120 | CLP 265,000 | CLP 195,000 |
Operator prices in pesos and the boat from-price, not quotes; the park pass is extra on all.14,1,15,2,3,16,9
The boat: the easy way to the walls
The boat is the gentlest option. The sailing lasts 3 hours from Hotel Lago Grey, starts from $120 with guiding in Spanish and English. The only exertion is the walk across Grey Beach to the boarding area, which the operator reckons at between 30 and 45 minutes on foot.7 After that you are seated, sheltered or out on deck, and the boat does the work.
Ages are not a barrier. Nobody under 5 pays, a lower child rate covers 5 to 12, and at 13 the adult fare applies; an adult must come along.13 The boat carries a cabin for 98 seated passengers, so you can shelter inside and step out on deck when the ice is close.14 That makes it the obvious choice for mixed groups, where grandparents, children and keen photographers all want something different from the same few hours.
Its limits are the mirror image of its strengths. You see the ice from a fixed distance and never touch it, and the trip stops when the wind rises, since the operator can suspend a sailing for safety at any time. For some visitors that is all they want from Grey; for others it is a taste that makes them wish they had booked the ice.
The Grey Glacier ice hike in Torres del Paine
The Grey Glacier ice hike in Torres del Paine is the most demanding option. The operator describes a day of 5 hours overall, with 2.5 hours or more spent on the glacier, with the route chosen according to the weather and the access available.1 Before stepping onto the ice the guide gives a safety talk on how to move on it and use the equipment, and the walk then passes crevasses, meltwater streams, small lagoons, tunnels and ice caves.12
Gear is provided: a helmet, ice axe, backpack, crampons and harness come with the trip.15 Your own clothing matters as much. The operator asks for good physical condition and for sunglasses, a hat, gloves, waterproof clothing and boots with firm ankle support.6 Groups run from 2 to 20 people, the minimum age is 14, and departures fall between 08:30 and 14:30 in the season from October 2026 to April 2027.2
Prices differ by source, so read both. The operator lists the ice hike at CLP 265,000 per person, while Chile Travel quotes tours on the ice at CLP 190,000 to 220,000 and advises choosing an operator registered with Sernatur.15,19 The operator states that its price leaves out the park pass, transport and a bed for the night.15
Pick your way
Sail, walk or paddle to Grey
Most active
Ice hike
Crampons on the glacier
- Length5 hours
- Age14 and over
- GearIncluded
Closest to water
Kayak
Paddling among icebergs
- Length2 to 2.5 hours
- Age14 and over
- SuitWetsuit included
Grey Glacier kayaking in Torres del Paine
Grey Glacier kayaking in Torres del Paine trades height for intimacy. The operator's description gives a paddle of about 2.5 hours, while the summary box on the same page lists 2 hours; departures are daily at 08:00, at 11:00 or at 16:30.3,4 The route heads towards the imposing east face of the glacier while always keeping a safe distance from it, then visits a waterfall of meltwater and a bay where Grey icebergs collect, their number depending on recent calving.5,17
The cold is managed for you. At the base camp the guides hand out a neoprene wetsuit, a waterproof jacket and boots, kayak gloves, a spray skirt and a life jacket.20 Groups run from 2 to 16 people and the minimum age is 14.9 Under the wetsuit, wear thermal layers of your own; the gear keeps the lake out, but it is your clothing that keeps you warm once you stop paddling.
The operator lists the kayak trip at CLP 195,000 per person, again without the park pass, transport or accommodation.16 It sits between the boat and the ice hike in both price and effort. It does not require the fitness of a glacier walk, but it does require being at ease in a small boat on cold water, and it runs only when the lake is calm enough.
Group total
Cost of a Grey day for your group
Pick a bookable Grey option and your group size.
Compare 3 alternatives
Cost of a Grey day for your group
Pick a bookable Grey option and your group size.
- Grey boat3 hours · per person, from $120
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View - Grey boat with vanFrom Natales · per person, from $276
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View - W trek with Grey5 days, up to 4 · per person, from $1,190
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View
GetYourGuide's starting prices, converted at the ECB reference rate; exact pricing appears when you book.
An ice hike day
From the refuge to the glacier and back
Morning
Walk to the base
The base camp is 15 minutes on foot from the Grey refuge.8
Crossing
Zodiac to Nunatak
A zodiac crosses to Nunatak Island in 15 minutes.11
Before the ice
Safety briefing
The guide explains moving on ice and the equipment.12
On the ice
Crevasses and caves
About 2.5 hours on the glacier itself.12
Afternoon
Back to base
The whole trip lasts 5 hours from the base.1
Getting to the start near the Grey refuge
This is the catch with the active options: they do not start at Hotel Lago Grey. The ice hikes begin at the operator base camp, about 15 minutes on foot from the Grey refuge on the lake shore close to the ice, and the kayak trips leave from the same base.8,9 Chile Travel adds that a zodiac then carries ice hikers 15 minutes across the water to Nunatak Island, where the walk to the safest access onto the glacier begins.11
Reaching the refuge is a trip in itself. From the Hotel Lago Grey sector it is 14 km on foot or a crossing by boat over Lago Grey.21 The Grey III sells one-way tickets for that crossing at CLP 110,000 for an adult, and its morning and midday sailings call at the refuge first before going on to the glacier.22,23
Trekkers on the W arrive from the other side. CONAF lists the trail between the Grey ranger post and Paine Grande at 11 km and 3 hours 30 minutes, rated medium.24 Because of these distances, Chile Travel says the ice walk needs at least one night inside the park and suggests adding a spare day to a W or O trek for it.18
Video
Kayaking at Grey Glacier on the W trek
Alicia & Michael - Lovers Get Lost on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.
Once on board, we will sail towards the imposing east face of the glacier, always keeping a safe distance.
Get ready
What each Grey trip asks of you
For the ice hike3
- Good fitness for a long day on uneven ice
- Sunglasses, hat, gloves and waterproof clothing
- Boots with firm ankle support
For the kayak3
- The operator age limit for every paddler
- Comfort in a small boat on cold water
- A choice of morning, midday or late departures
For both3
- A park pass bought online in advance
- At least one night booked inside the park
- Budget in pesos: both trips are priced in CLP
Fitness, ages and safety on each option
Age limits rule out families with young children for the active trips: both the ice hike and the kayak require participants to be at least 14.2,9 The boat has no such limit, though small children must manage, or be carried across, the beach walk, and prams cannot be used on it.25 If your group spans several generations, the boat is the one experience everybody can share, and the active trips can be added for the older members on another day.
Fitness is the second filter. The ice hike requires good physical condition and a long day on uneven ice, while the kayak asks for comfort on cold water more than strength.6 The boat asks least of all, yet even its approach on foot is ruled out by the operator for anyone with limited mobility.26 Be honest about your group before booking, because none of the operators can shorten the distances on the day.
Respect the remoteness on every option. CONAF reminds visitors that the park is a protected wild area where help in a mountain emergency can take several hours to arrive.27 It also requires any boat brought into the park, kayaks included, to arrive with proof of disinfection, issued by an independent firm in Natales and valid for 48 hours, so paddling your own kayak is not a casual plan.28
Combining them in one stay
With one day and no night in the park, the boat is the only realistic choice: it leaves from a hotel you can drive or bus to, and it fits inside a day from Natales. The active options need you to be at the Grey refuge early, which means sleeping in the park the night before.18 A day trip from Puerto Natales simply cannot reach the refuge, finish a long trip on the ice and get back in daylight.
With more days, combinations open up. One pattern is to ride the Grey III one way to the refuge, sleep there, do the ice hike or the kayak the next morning, and walk out along the W towards Paine Grande.22,24 Another is to do the boat on arrival day and keep the following day for the hike or paddle if the weather holds; for foreign adults one park pass of CLP 48,500 covers a stay of 2 days or more.29
Packaged treks can do the planning for you. A 5-day W trek for a small group of up to 4 includes a trek to the Grey Glacier viewpoint and a catamaran ride, and starts from $1,190. Whatever you choose, keep one day free for the wind, because all of these depend on the same weather, and a calm morning on Lago Grey is worth waiting for.
FAQ
Short questions, short answers.
Can you hike on Grey Glacier?
What is the minimum age for the ice hike and kayak?
How much does the Grey ice hike cost?
Where does the kayak trip start?
Near the Grey refuge.
It leaves from the operator base in the Grey refuge sector, not from Hotel Lago Grey.9
Do I need a night in the park for the ice hike?
Yes, at least one.
Chile Travel says the timing means staying inside the park, ideally on a W or O trek.18
Is the boat suitable for children?
Yes, with an adult.
The youngest sail free and a lower child rate covers ages 5 to 12.13
Sources
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Ice Hike, Grey Glacier ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Ice Hike, Grey Glacier ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Kayak Lake Grey ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Kayak Lake Grey ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Kayak Lake Grey ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Ice Hike, Grey Glacier ↩
- Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Ice Hike, Grey Glacier ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Kayak Lake Grey ↩
- Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Grey Glacier ↩
- Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Caminata en el Glaciar Grey (walking on Grey Glacier) ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Ice Hike, Grey Glacier ↩
- Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
- Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Ice Hike, Grey Glacier ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Kayak Lake Grey ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Kayak Lake Grey ↩
- Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Caminata en el Glaciar Grey (walking on Grey Glacier) ↩
- Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Caminata en el Glaciar Grey (walking on Grey Glacier) ↩
- Big Foot Patagonia, ice hike and kayak operator on Lago Grey, for its own excursions (bigfootpatagonia.com) · Kayak Lake Grey ↩
- Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Caminata en el Glaciar Grey (walking on Grey Glacier) ↩
- Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
- Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
- CONAF, the National Forest Corporation of Chile, park authority of Torres del Paine (conaf.cl) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine ↩
- Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
- Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
- CONAF, the National Forest Corporation of Chile, park authority of Torres del Paine (conaf.cl) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine ↩
- CONAF, the National Forest Corporation of Chile, park authority of Torres del Paine (conaf.cl) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine ↩
- Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, the park administration site (parquetorresdelpaine.cl) · Tarifas y horarios 2026 (fees and hours) ↩
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