Australian Owner Family Business | +(61) 3 9393 1313
2024

Larapinta Trail Tours

Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges in the Red Centre trekking sections of the Larapinta Trail, one of Australia’s most popular wilderness walks. Covering up to 14 km of the graded trail daily, there is plenty of time to relax and enjoy the Australian outback. Discover the magic and mysteries concealed within this ancient environment and be swept away by the dreamtime of the area.

Many expect the region to be a featureless plain of winding red sand hills with a smattering of grasses and bushes. Be prepared for the shock of a lifetime – Central Australia is home to the tallest peaks in the Northern Territory, the oldest dramatic landscape in Australia, full of ravines, escarpments and sensational waterholes, life forms that will excite the curious mind. Above all, a genuinely excellent wilderness experience will remove you to a place filled with peace and tranquillity. You will be left speechless.

Tour Details:

Tour Departs

Alice Springs

(Meet and Greet - 4.30 pm at Olive Pink Botanic Garden day before departure)

Tour Returns:

Alice Springs

Day 5 by 17:00

Maximum Group Size:

15 Passengers

Accommodation Type

Permanent Campsite with Safari Tents (Optional Swag)

(4 Nights)

Pricing & Departures:

Tour Price (1 Apr 2023 – 30 Aug 2023)

$2,980 AUD per person

(Twin Share Camping)

Single Upgrade:

$3,180 AUD per person

Departure Dates (All public departures are on request and subject to minimum numbers):
Book Now

The Tour Inclusions:

  • 4WD vehicle for all transportation
  • Professionally trained and accredited walking guide
  • Professionally trained tour host
  • National Park Fees, Traditional Owners and Camping Fees
  • 4 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 4 Dinners
  • An outback meat tasking platter including buffalo, kangaroo, crocodile and camel (based on availability)
  • An ethically sourced, organic bush food tasting platter straight from the Central Desert
  • Snacks such as fresh fruit, muesli bars and biscuits for the trek
  • Hot and cold drinks excluding alcoholic beverages (BYO alcohol, cold storage will be provided, let your guide know at meet and greet)
  • Fresh drinking water
  • Beautiful private and permanent campsites on indigenous land (no electricity and showers)
  • All camping equipment such as linen, pillows, sleeping bags and permanent safari tents
  • Travelling with a company that has an Advanced Eco Tourism status, supports and works closely with various different indigenous companies, extensive indigenous content and a great reputation for authentic tours away from the crowds
  • Extensive remote first aid kit, satellite phone and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
  • Hotel pick up and drop off on the first and last day of the tour

Our Point of Difference

Stay in our beautiful private and permanent campsites on indigenous land complete with permanent safari tents.

Tour Itinerary

The best of the Larapinta Trail in five days
Arrival
km
Arrival and Meet and Greet pre-tour start (no meals or accommodation included)
Arrival and Meet and Greet pre-tour start (no meals or accommodation included)

Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges in the Red Centre trekking sections of the Larapinta Trail, one of the most popular wilderness walks in Australia. Covering up to 14 km of graded trail per day, there is plenty of time to relax and enjoy the Australian outback. Discover the magic and mysteries concealed within this ancient environment and be swept away by the Dreamtime of the area.

Arrive at the airport and make your own way to your accommodation in Alice Springs.

If you arrive earlier during the day, you might like to enjoy the sights and sounds of the bustling heart of the Red Centre before leaving it all behind for the desolate outback. Browse Aboriginal artworks at Central Australia’s best art galleries. This is also a good time to ensure you have all articles needed for your Larapinta Trail walk.

We meet the day before your departure at 4.30 pm in the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, where you will meet the rest of your group members to discuss the coming days with your guide. Afterwards, head back to your Alice Springs accommodation, retiring early for the night in preparation for the big journey ahead.

Day 1
14 km
Section 1 Alice Springs to Wallaby (Lunch & Dinner)
Section 1 Alice Springs to Wallaby (Lunch & Dinner)

An early start, and its bye bye suburbia – hello wilderness! The majestic and serene West MacDonnell Ranges are rich in natural wonders and traditional culture and are considered the best in Australia. Our first walk is around a 14km ‘leg stretch’ commencing from the outskirts of Alice Springs. Some beautiful views can be seen, particularly at Euro Ridge. Our walk is taken casually, a fitting way to relax and immerse in the wonder of the region and to ponder the coming 4 days.

Our Ground Support Vehicle will meet us at the picturesque Wallaby Gap and transfer us to our remote camping location within the MacDonnell Ranges National Park. Let the true experience begin as we rest in a region synonymous in the Dreamtime (Alcheringa) of the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people. We will enjoy a Kungkas Can Cook Tasting Platter for pre-dinner nibbles. Kungkas Can Cook is an Aboriginal catering company passionate about bush foods and is dedicated to utilising wild harvested produce from around the Central Desert Region and beyond.

Day 2
13.4 km km
Section 8 Serpentine Gorge to Serpentine Chalet Dam (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Section 8 Serpentine Gorge to Serpentine Chalet Dam (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Today we head to the spectacular western half of the Larapinta Trail and onto a 13.4km section of the Larapinta Trail that is only suitable for well-prepared and experienced walkers with a good fitness level. It offers exhilarating views of the high quartzite ridgelines that typify the West MacDonnell Ranges, including Haasts Bluff and Mt Zeil (the highest point in the Northern Territory).

Day 3
11 km
Section 10 Ormiston Gorge to Glen Helen Gorge (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Section 10 Ormiston Gorge to Glen Helen Gorge (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Today we traverse the low-lying regions surrounding Ormiston Gorge, gradually working our way upward into the back reaches of the Finke River. This area is steeped in traditional folklore, with several important sites being viewed, including ‘Yapulpa’, which is part of the Carpet Snake Dreaming legend and the Emu and Kangaroo Man Dreaming. Tonight, relax at our beautiful permanent campsite as the sun sets and the colours of the night desert erupt into million-star accommodation.

Day 4
16 km
Section 12 Mount Sonder Climb (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Section 12 Mount Sonder Climb (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

An early rise is an understatement as we challenge the 8km climb to the peak of Mount Sonder. The vision of sunrise and the 360° view will leave you speechless – a truly unforgettable achievement. Enjoy time at camp for your last evening under the stars of the Milky Way.

Day 5
9 km
Section 9/10 Ormiston Pound Walk to Alice Springs (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Section 9/10 Ormiston Pound Walk to Alice Springs (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Regarded by many as the ‘primo’ small walk of the Larapinta Trail, the Ormiston Pound Walk is full of wow factor, wildlife and flora and a grand finale to our walk. A location inspirational to Albert Namatjira, sensational viewings of the Chewing’s Range and Mount Giles – the entry into the Gorge will leave you dumbfounded.

After another healthy lunch, we will pack and break camp for regrettably the last time and begin our journey back to normality (hot showers and life as you know it awaits).

Tonight, after a well-deserved shower, make your own way to one of Alice’s Outback Restaurants (your guide will confirm the time and location), where you can reminisce about the last 5 days and share some banter over a refreshing ale or cool drink.

Alice Springs accommodation booked directly at own expense.

Why travel with Walking Country

Central Australia is a bucket-list destination, blessed with ancient landscapes, diverse wildlife, and dramatic wilderness. At Walking Tours Country, we offer small group 4-wheel drive tours and multi-day walks that  take you through the best of the Northern Territory and Larapinta Trail.

Enjoy fully guided Larapinta Trail tours, including meals, accommodations, transportation, permits and entry tours, exciting itineraries, and camping equipment. We take care of all the logistics and planning so you can enjoy every step of your journey through the Australian Outback.

 

Book your Northern Territory adventure now

To know more about our tours or to arrange a private group or charter for australian adventure tours, we’d be happy to hear from you. Contact us today and let our team plan your next hike.

Secure your spot on one of our tours with only a $500 deposit. Email admin@walkingcountry.com.au

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