length
6 Days
difficulty
Introductory
trip cost
From $4895pp ( varies)
Highlights
Get ready for
- Understand the connection between the landscapes and the Luritja and Anangu people during a cultural experience in Karrke
- Experience Uluru from your Feature Stay hotel, fantastic service and stunning views
- Enjoy multi-course dinners under the stars and creative meals made with locally sourced, native ingredients
- Explore Kings Canyon as your local leader introduces you to a world of sandstone formations, rare plants and native wildlife
- Marvel at the ‘Field of Lights’ outdoor art installation with a sunset tour
Unique experiences
The Experience
This trip includes two sensational dinners under outback skies. The renowned ‘sounds of silence’ dinner at Yulara where you dine under the stars, watching the beautiful sunset colours and then the Milky Way opening up above you as the skies darken. A similar experience awaits you at Kings Canyon. There is also a visit to the Field of Lights art installation at Uluru, a nighttime experience you’ll never forget.
The Karrke cultural experience is led by members of the local indigenous community who will take your on a journey of their ancient culture and connectedness to the land through their weapons, musical instruments, bush tucker and medicines and the evolution and meaning of their language. We visit the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs and pay a visit to the grave of First Nations artist Albert Namatjira.
Itinerary
daily details
Welcome to Australia’s Red Centre! On arrival at Alice Springs Airport, you’ll be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel. A welcome meeting will take place at 2pm today where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. Begin with an Acknowledgment of Country, then your leader will introduce you to the sights of Alice Springs. Start with a visit to the Araluen Arts Centre, then head out to the historical Telegraph Station, the site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs. Pay a visit to the grave of First Nations artist Albert Namatjira, finishing with a deeper understanding of the town and its history. In the evening, head out for a dinner celebrating local bush foods.
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton (or similar)
Meals: D
Please advise us of your flight details at the time of booking so we can organise the arrival transfer for you. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting.
After breakfast, drive up to Anzac Hill and take in panoramic views of Alice Springs and the surrounding landscape. Continue to the Aboriginal settlement of Hermannsburg, where Albert Namatjira once lived. Learn a little more about his life while taking a look around the historic site – you’ll be seeing much of the landscape that inspired him over the coming days.
Hit the road once more and enjoy splendid views of the Western MacDonnell Ranges before eventually stopping at Ormiston Gorge. With a beautiful waterhole as its centrepiece, the gorge is the perfect place to stop for a relaxing lunch. Savour a meal of unusual, delicious, ethically sourced and organic bush foods enjoyed for over 60,000 years by the local Aboriginal communities in the area. Take a short walk to a lookout point to appreciate the landscape from a different perspective, then drive on to Ellery Creek Big Hole, where rugged cliffs plunge into a water-filled gorge below. There will be time for a swim here if you’d like to cool off (or just dip your toes if the water is too cold), then pay a visit to the Standley Chasm, a dramatic geological formation that is culturally significant to the Arrernte people. Return to Alice Springs for an optional dinner at the Northern Territory institution, Hanuman.
Accommodation: Double Tree by Hilton (or similar)
Meals: B, L
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4.5 hours. There are a number of shorter walks today, adding up to approximately 3 hours in total.
Rise bright and early to begin the journey south towards Kings Canyon, one of the Northern Territory’s most spectacular sights. On arrival, get to know the incredible landscape on foot as your leader takes you on the iconic Kings Canyon rim walk, taking approximately 3 to 4 hours. First, climb the stairs to the top of the canyon (there’s plenty of places to stop for photos or to catch your breath!) then things get a bit easier. Walk through Priscilla’s Crack, made famous after featuring in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, a classic Australian film. Continue to the sandstone domes of the Lost City, resembling the remains of ancient civilisation. From here you can continue to explore the top of the canyon, or descend into the Garden of Eden, where a waterhole gives life to abundant flora and fauna.
In fact, Kings Canyon is home to over 600 unique species of native plants and animals – your leader will point out some interesting examples as you walk. Return to your accommodation in the afternoon to get ready for dinner this evening – you’re in for a real treat! Dine under the stars for a true outback experience, and tuck into a fabulous 5-course meal made with seasonal and locally sourced products paired with complimentary wines.
Accommodation: Kings Canyon Resort
Meals: B, L, D
Today’s total driving time is approximately 5.5 hours. Please note that the rim walk at Kings Canyon is a more demanding walk, rated by national parks as Grade 4 (Moderate – Difficult). The 6km loop takes about 3-4 hours to complete.
Say goodbye to Kings Canyon and make the short drive to Karrke on the edge of Watarrka National Park. Here you’ll gain a unique insight into First Nations culture as you join a guide to learn about the landscapes, bush tucker, bush medicines and how they are used for healing and their spiritual significance to the Luritja people. Then, carry on to Mt Conner and stop at a viewpoint where you can admire the flat-top mountain’s unusual shape. Stop off at an ancient salt lake then carry on to Yulara, your gateway to the enormous sandstone monolith of Uluru.
Tonight’s Feature Stay accommodation is really something special. Modern, bright and airy, the hotel combines first-class service with a relaxed atmosphere, providing a perfect base for your explorations. After settling in, get out to experience the big rock for yourself – your leader will guide you on a 10km walk around its base, explaining the cultural significance of the landscape as you go. Seeing this iconic formation for the first time is a memory that will stay with you. Enjoy a restful afternoon, then make the most of your first night near Uluru. Sample canapes and sparkling wine, while watching the sun set over the majestic Field of Lights. Seeing the colours of the landscape change as day turns into night is really something else. The Field of Lights is an art installation of more than 50,000 artificial lights which illuminate the landscape as far as the eye can see.
Accommodation: Sails in the Desert (or similar)
Meals: B, L
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3.5 hours. The base walk around Uluru is flat, approximately 10km in length and will take about 2–3 hours to complete. Please note that there is no shade for the duration of the walk
This morning, drive to Kata Tjuta, an impressive series of massive red domes. Here you’ll embark on a fascinating 2-hour walk into the Walpa Gorge, alive with pink flowers and native wildlife. Your leader will be on hand to point out rare plants, and if you’re lucky, you may see wallaroos hopping around the rocks! Head back to your accommodation to relax and get ready for a dinner experience like no other, the Sounds of Silence. Sit down to a fantastic meal created with native bush ingredients. Set beneath a sky full of stars and to the sounds of the didgeridoo, this is the perfect finale to your premium Red Centre adventure.
Accommodation: Sails in the Desert (or similar)
Meals: B, D
Today’s total driving time is approximately 1.5 hours. The walk into Walpa Gorge is an easy 3km return hike.
Map
Explore the Red Centre
Length: Approx 28 km (varies with day options)
Duration: 6 days
Grade: 3–4 depending on the section
Route type: Day walks
Start: Alice Springs
End: Yulara
Location: Northern Territory
Closest town: Alice Springs
West MacDonnell National Park:
- Standley Chasm
- Ellery Big Creek Hole
- Ormiston Gorge
King’s Canyon Rim Walk and resort
Walpa gorge walk
Uluru base walk
Yulara resort
Inclusions
What's Included?
- Local leader
- Karkke Cultural Experience at Kings Canyon
- Uluru sunset and Field of Lights experience
- 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners including:
– Sounds of Silence dinner at Uluru
– Dining Under a Desert Moon Experience, Kings Canyon
– Ormiston Gorge & Bush Foods Lunch
- 5 night’s hotel/resort accommodation
- Airport arrival transfers
- Private vehicle transfers
- Campsite and national park fees
- Tipping
- Trip fully carbon offset
- 10% GST
- Transport to Alice Springs
- Transport from Yulara to Alice Springs at trip conclusion
- Meals not listed
FAQ's
Need to Know
This trip is operated by our partner Intrepid Travel and their local supplier. Travellers on Intrepid operated trips are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Read details here. A Passenger Self Assessment Form is required for this trip. You will be provided with this form when you book to fill out before arrival.
Food and dietary requirements
If you have any dietary requirements please advise us at the time you make your booking. Please also advise your leader at the time of the group meeting.
Hot weather
- Temperatures in the Red Centre can be extreme. During the day the weather can be very hot (and the Australian sun is very strong) so please bring appropriate clothing, use sun protection and drink plenty of water. In the evenings temperatures really drop, so bring base layers and warm clothing.
- From October to March it is likely that you will experience temperatures over 35C/95F. These extreme temperatures place stress on the air-conditioning units within our vehicles which can make travelling uncomfortable. Your leader will assist with regular breaks and information to assist keeping cool and hydrated.
- On some days of the trip, you’ll spend several hours driving through very sparse areas of Australia. Sit back and enjoy landscapes that you would miss in any other form of travel. Think of it as a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie.
- This trip includes walks and hikes around the major landmarks of this area. Please read the daily itinerary carefully for details. Walking is the best way to explore these stunning geological features in this otherwise flat landscape, so make sure you bring along comfortable walking shoes.
Joining point
DoubleTree by Hilton
82 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs
Finishing point
Sails in the Desert
163 Yulara Drive,Yulara
Positive impacts
Social and environmental
All our adventures are fully carbon offset so that you know your travel has minimal impacts. Hiking itself is a low impact activity but we offset the cost of all our office operations and food production as well, so you can be satisfied that you have chosen a form of travel that is both good for you and good for the planet. Each year we also plant trees on behalf of every customer who has travelled with us, aiming to build towards a carbon positive effect with our operations.
TRIP date selection
when would you like to travel?
Please select your preferred dates for on-demand trips or select a scheduled date for group departures. If you have booked a self-guided trip please understand that because your trip date is on demand and we must check availability of all properties on your chosen dates before it can be fully confirmed