Fitz Roy, Torres del Paine and Autumn Colours
Ten days photographing autumn colours, glacial lakes and the iconic peaks of Fitz Roy and Torres del Paine.
Join Max Rive for a 10-day photography adventure through Patagonia during its spectacular autumn season. We’ll explore both Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina and Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. After 14 years of exploring the region, Max will take you beyond the famous viewpoints to hidden forests, little-known waterfalls, secret lakes and carefully selected mountain locations. You’ll camp close to the best photography spots, balanced with comfortable hotel stays, while receiving personal guidance in the field and post-processing lessons throughout the tour.
You’ll be picked up from El Calafate Airport or your accommodation before driving three hours to El Chaltén, where our porters and mountain guide will join us.
After storing non-essential gear in our backup apartment, we begin a one-hour uphill hike to our beautiful lakeside base camp, with Mount Fitz Roy rising in the distance.
You’ll be picked up from El Calafate Airport or your accommodation before driving three hours to El Chaltén, where our porters and mountain guide will join us.
After storing non-essential gear in our backup apartment, we begin a one-hour uphill hike to our beautiful lakeside base camp, with Mount Fitz Roy rising in the distance.
Day 2 begins with our first sunrise over Monte Fitz Roy, photographed from a special riverside location near camp. After breakfast, an easy one-hour flat hike takes us to our second base camp, closer to Fitz Roy and surrounded by several unique photography locations.
We will photograph sunset from the lake and a nearby waterfall. If conditions allow, there will also be an optional Milky Way session with Fitz Roy in the background.
On Days 3 and 4, we continue exploring the many incredible locations around base camp. Highlights include Laguna de los Tres, the highest lake in the area directly beneath Mount Fitz Roy, a haunting graveyard of dead trees, Laguna Sucia, a secret viewpoint, and several other unique spots. For the true die-hards, there will also be opportunities for night photography!
After our morning shoot at Monte Fitz Roy on Day 4, we hike just over two hours along a mostly flat trail to our base camp near Lago Torre. The route offers beautiful views of the mountains and autumn-coloured forests.
Around camp, we will explore countless compositions of Cerro Torre, its glacial lake, powerful river and vibrant trees. Reaching some of the best viewpoints requires a fully secured rope-and-harness river crossing, supervised by our guide, who arranges all equipment and permits. You can scout with us or independently, and if conditions allow, we will photograph Cerro Torre beneath the night sky.
On Day 5, we hike back to El Chaltén, check into our hotel and freshen up. We may also photograph the surrounding peaks directly from town.
On Day 5, after another morning shoot around Cerro Torre, we hike back to El Chaltén and check into our comfortable four-star accommodation. For sunset, we photograph Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre together, with a river leading toward the mountains. This location also offers excellent opportunities for drone photography.
On Day 6, we head out for sunrise, choosing the best location based on the weather and the previous evening’s conditions. Afterwards, we begin our journey toward Torres del Paine in Chile. Along the way, we’ll look for guanacos, often seen in the fields with Mount Fitz Roy behind them—perfect for photographing with a telephoto lens.
From Days 7 to 9, we explore Torres del Paine, Chile, with only short hikes to spectacular viewpoints. The terrain is more open than in Argentina, with steep mountains, windswept forests and trees shaped by a historic wildfire. The park offers some of the best sunrise photography in the world, including many compositions rarely visited by other tours.
During the day, you can relax in our luxury hotel, while Max remains available for editing tips and critique sessions.
After our final sunrise on Day 9, we cross back into Argentina and spend the night in El Calafate. On Day 10, we visit the impressive Perito Moreno Glacier, stretching 30 km (19 miles), before heading to the airport. We aim to photograph it beneath dramatic skies, framed by the surrounding trees. Airport drop-off will be no later than 1:00 PM.
It’s not only where we take you.
It’s how we spend our time there.
Find fresh compositions among Patagonia’s autumn trees, glacial lakes and mountain peaks. Max’s years of returning have revealed quiet viewpoints and foregrounds beyond the familiar photographs. From Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre to Torres del Paine, we take time to explore those possibilities.
Make the most of autumn’s branches, colours and changing mountain light. Max and Madison help you refine your composition, work through focus stacking and choose exposures, with practical feedback while you develop the photograph you have in mind.
Save energy for photography with porter support between camps. Our local team carries the camping equipment and tripods when we move campsites, while you carry your own camera gear.
For photography sessions from camp, you’ll carry your own equipment, including your tripod.
Enjoy a welcome shower, a good meal and time to rest between the camping stages. Our hotel and apartment stays, including Río Serrano Hotel & Spa, give you space to recharge, review your photographs and enjoy a quieter part of the journey.
Your tour includes all 16 editing videos, all 9 Lightroom preset packs and 4 in-the-field tutorials, so you can keep learning after you return home.
You can also choose one photograph from the tour for an optional start-to-finish edit by Max. See how he works with your image and explore ideas to use in your own editing.
Max Rive & Madison McCardle
Max has personally scouted this route through Argentina and Chile, from Los Glaciares National Park to Torres del Paine. His knowledge of Patagonia’s light and fast-changing weather helps us choose the strongest locations.
Throughout each shoot, he’ll help you find original compositions and return with outstanding images and greater confidence.
Madison is a landscape photographer and writer with an eye for original compositions. She helps scout our locations and offers practical guidance, making sure you get the most from each shoot.
Ask questions, try an idea, or spend a little time finding your own angle. The guidance is there when you need it.
From photographers
who have been there.
Max's tour are among the best I’ve ever attended, largely because Max is so down-to-earth and approachable. During the Tour, we went above and beyond to capture something truly unique. I returned home with stronger images, a wealth of new photography knowledge from both trips and, most importantly, real friendships that will last a lifetime.
BilalAutum Tour '18Max and Madee are the best guides on the planet Their tours have a genuine human element and personal touch because they truly care about you and your photography. Their passion is infectious, and they work incredibly hard to create the best possible experience. You’ll return home with outstanding photos, expert instruction and lifelong friends.
Derek IkedaAutumn Tour '26Patagonia had long been a dream destination for me and my camera, and Max’s tour exceeded every expectation. Camping was the perfect way to maximize our time in Los Glaciares National Park, followed by a luxurious lodge stay in Chile. An incredible tour in every respect—I highly the Patagonia Tour recommend it to everyone without hesitation!
Andrew RobertsonAutumn Tour '21Not sure whether the tour is right for you? Ask Max about the walking, equipment or anything else on your mind.
Ask Max a question ↗Yes. We do not require a minimum number of participants, so the tour will go ahead even if the group is smaller than expected. For small hiking tours such as Patagonia, which are limited to six participants, last-minute cancellations may simply result in an even smaller and more personal group.
A tour would only be cancelled in exceptional circumstances, such as a serious geopolitical situation that makes it impossible to operate safely. Otherwise, you can book with confidence, knowing the tour will take place on the scheduled dates.
A moderate level of fitness is required for this Patagonia photo tour, especially during the hiking and camping days in Argentina. The complete daily distances, elevation changes and difficulty levels are included in the tour PDF, so you’ll know exactly what to expect.
The itinerary is active, but you may choose to skip certain shoots and rest when needed. The walks in Torres del Paine are generally shorter and easier. If you’re unsure whether your fitness level is suitable, please contact us to discuss the tour before booking.
We’ll spend four nights camping at official campgrounds inside Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. When moving between camps, our team of porters will carry the camping equipment, non-photography gear and tripods, making the hikes more comfortable.
The campgrounds have toilet facilities but no showers. For all other nights, we’ll stay in comfortable apartments and hotels, including our accommodation near Torres del Paine.
Yes! While drones are not permitted inside Los Glaciares National Park or Torres del Paine, we’ll visit one carefully selected location just outside the national park where flying is allowed. It offers an excellent opportunity to capture Patagonia’s mountains and landscape from the air.
Before each shoot, Max will brief the group on the location, possible compositions, expected conditions, and which gear and clothing to bring. Whether we’re photographing the autumn forests beneath Monte Fitz Roy or the dramatic peaks of Torres del Paine, you can explore independently or work closely with Max.
We’ll have plenty of time to explore each location and find the strongest compositions. Max will share ideas and offer hands-on guidance with camera settings, focus stacking, framing and adapting to Patagonia’s rapidly changing light—helping you return home with distinctive images rather than the usual viewpoints.
Yes—when opportunities arise. Our best chance is to photograph guanacos, particularly along the road to El Chaltén and throughout Torres del Paine National Park. We may also encounter Andean condors soaring above Los Glaciares National Park during the first part of the tour.
Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, and the chance of seeing a puma is very small. Whenever we encounter animals, we’ll photograph them with telephoto lenses from a respectful distance, following park guidelines and avoiding any disturbance.
I’ve now visited Patagonia 16 times. My first trip was during the autumn of 2016, and I’ve returned almost every year since—sometimes twice in the same year to photograph and scout the region in both autumn and summer. This experience has given me an in-depth knowledge of Patagonia’s locations, compositions and constantly changing conditions.
10 days exploring Patagonia. A small group of photographers. And a view worth the journey.
Talk to Max before you bookPatagonia · Up to 6 people
Reserve with a €1,500 deposit
If you’d like to join the Patagonia Autumn Tour, send me a message below. Whether you’re ready to reserve a place or still considering the adventure, I’d love to hear from you.
Have a question about the photography, walking or how to book? I’m happy to help you decide whether the tour is right for you. I’ll get back to you personally.
info@maxrivephotography.com
