Day 1: Alice Springs or Yulara to Kata Tjuta & Uluru Sunset

Your Red Centre adventure begins with an early morning departure from Alice Springs at 6:00 am, followed by a scenic 4.5-hour drive through the Outback to Yulara, where you’ll stop for an early lunch. If you’re joining the tour from Yulara or Ayers Rock Airport, you’ll be picked up between 1:45 and 2:00 pm. Please ensure you’ve eaten beforehand and are ready to go with walking shoes, sun protection, and a refillable water bottle.

The group heads straight to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), a striking collection of 36 domed rock formations rising from the desert floor. You’ll explore this incredible landscape on the Walpa Gorge Walk, weaving between towering rock walls. As the afternoon winds down, travel to the Uluru sunset viewing area where you’ll enjoy light snacks while watching the colours of the rock change with the setting sun – a truly unforgettable moment. Back at camp, a hearty dinner awaits, followed by an evening under the stars if weather allows.

• Accommodation: Permanent Eco Tent

• Meals Included: Dinner (plus lunch for Alice Springs departures)

• Driving Time: Approx. 6 hrs (from Alice Springs) or 1 hr (from Yulara)

• Walking Distance: Approx. 3 km / 1 hour

Day 2: Uluru Sunrise & Base Walk to Kings Canyon

Rise early this morning to witness a spectacular Uluru sunrise, as the first light of day casts golden hues across the desert landscape. Your guide will lead you to a culturally significant site, where you’ll learn about ancient Anangu rock art and hear one of the region’s rich Tjukurpa (creation) stories. Afterward, embark on a self-guided base walk around Uluru – a 10-kilometre loop offering changing perspectives of this sacred monolith. Following lunch, visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, where you can view locally handcrafted art and gain a deeper understanding of the culture and traditions of the Western and Central Desert First Nations peoples.

In the afternoon, travel to a private campsite near Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon). After settling in, enjoy a well-earned dinner with your group and, if the sky is clear, unwind beneath a canopy of stars.

• Accommodation: Permanent Eco Tent

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Driving Time: Approx. 4 hours

• Walking Distance: Approx. 10 km / 3 hours

Day 3: Kings Canyon to East MacDonnell Ranges

Today is all about exploring the dramatic landscapes of Kings Canyon, the crown jewel of Watarrka National Park. This massive sandstone gorge is renowned for its towering cliffs, lush gullies, and hidden waterholes – a sanctuary for over 600 species of native flora and fauna. On a guided 8-kilometre trek, you’ll take in breathtaking sites such as the Lost City, with its weathered domes resembling ancient ruins, the tranquil Garden of Eden, the natural Amphitheatre, and the soaring North and South Walls of the canyon. Your guide will share insight into the geology, ecology, and cultural significance of the area throughout the walk.

After a well-earned lunch, settle in for a scenic afternoon drive towards the East MacDonnell Ranges, where you’ll arrive at your bush camp for the night. Enjoy a hearty dinner and unwind in a traditional swag under the stars, surrounded by the peace of the Outback.

• Accommodation: Swag (bush camp)

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Driving Time: Approx. 5.5 hours

• Walking Distance: Approx. 8 km / 3 hours

Day 4: East and West MacDonnell Ranges

Often overshadowed by their western counterpart, the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges are one of the Outback’s best-kept secrets – rich in natural beauty and cultural significance. This region is the homeland of the Arrernte people, the Traditional Custodians of the land. Begin the day with a visit to Emily Gap, a sacred site featuring ancient rock art and the caterpillar Dreamtime story, a central part of Arrernte spiritual belief. Continue to Jesse Gap, another culturally significant location, before heading to Trephina Gorge. Here, enjoy a guided one-hour walk among striking quartzite cliffs and keep an eye out for the area’s abundant birdlife.

After a full morning of exploration, travel westward toward the West MacDonnell Ranges, where you’ll settle in at another remote bush camp. As the sun sets, roll out your swag, enjoy dinner with your group, and soak up another peaceful night under the stars.

• Accommodation: Swag (bush camp)

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Driving Time: Approx. 3 hours

• Walking Distance: Approx. 3 km / 1 hour

Day 5: West MacDonnell Ranges

Spend the afternoon exploring the breathtaking Outback scenery of the Western MacDonnell Ranges. Visit Ormiston Gorge, one of the most photographed spots in the Red Centre. Keep your eyes peeled for wallabies as you admire the vibrant, sweeping cliffs that surround its waterhole. Continue to Redbank Gorge and Ellery Creek Big Hole, both popular locations for a refreshing swim.

After a rewarding day discovering the West MacDonnell Ranges, return to Alice Springs where our epic five-day adventure comes to an end.

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
• Driving Time: Approx. 3 hours
• Walking Distance: Approx. 3 km / 1 hour

Please confirm exact departure time with Adventure Tours Australia. Sleeping bags are required on Swag Camping tours or if outlined in the ‘Important Information’ section of the trip’s webpage. It’s up to you whether you bring your own, or purchase one from us in advance via your travel agent. Sleeping bags cannot be purchased once the trip has begun. CANCELLATION BY THE TRAVELLER If you cancel, some or all of your tour/s, cancellation fees may apply. A cancellation fee will only be effective when we receive written confirmation of the cancellation. If you cancel your tour: – 30 days or more prior to departure, we will retain the deposit; – between 8 and 29 days prior to departure, we will retain 50% of the total booking cost – 7 days or less prior to departure, we will retain 100% of the total booking cost Note that different cancellation conditions apply to third party-operated tours and additional services. You will be advised of the different cancellation charges at the time of booking. You are strongly advised to take out travel insurance which covers you for cancellation, at the time of booking. If you leave a tour for any reason after it has commenced, we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services. If you fail to join a tour, join it after departure, or leave it prior to its completion, no refund will be provided. If you have booked through a travel agent, which may also include other travel components, please contact them directly. CANCELLATION BY US We may cancel a trip at any time prior to departure if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability, relevant government advice, or other external events if it is not viable for us to operate the planned itinerary. – If we cancel your trip due to reasons other than a force majeure event you will receive a full refund. – If we cancel your trip due to a force majeure event you will receive 100% credit to use for a future trip or a refund, less unrecoverable costs. BOOKING AMENDMENTS If you wish to transfer from one tour to another or transfer your booking to a third-party you must notify us at least 30 days prior to the proposed departure date. A fee of $200 per person per change may apply (in addition to any charges levied by providers such as third-party operators). If you notify us less than 30 days prior to the proposed departure date, the cancellation policy will apply. Transfers to a third party are only permitted, where the transferee meets all the requirements in relation to the tour. Transfers to another departure can only be made to a departure within the current validity period i.e. departures operating between April 1 – March 31. No amendments are permitted to your booking within 7 days of departure. AGE & HEALTH REQUIREMENTS Minimum Age: For the majority of our tours, the minimum age is 8 years of age at the time of travel. All travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or in lieu of a legal guardian, by a responsible adult over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. The legal guardian will be responsible for the traveller under the age of 18 for their day-to-day care. Please note we cannot guarantee triple or adjoining rooms/tents for families; accompanying adults may be required to share with others in the group. Maximum Age: For the majority of our tours we have no upper age limit. Please be aware that our tours can be physically demanding and passengers must ensure that they are suitably fit to allow full participation. Passengers aged 70 years or older at the time of departure are required to review and sign our medical form. Due to the remote locations and challenging nature of our extended camping tours, it is essential that older travellers consider their health and ability to participate for the safety and the benefit of the whole group.

You will receive a check-in link 7 days before your departure. This is how you can reconfirm your booking, your pickup location, and update any details such as dietary requirements or special needs.

You may either re-schedule directly with the supplier or you can email our support team on [email protected] and include your voucher number, name of product you booked, planned departure date and your contact details. Once you’ve emailed us, you can drop us a line at +61 2 5633 1149.

Yes, we do have open dated/flexible tickets available. Most tour vouchers are valid for 12 months from date of purchase, however please be aware that you may be subject to supplier price fluctuations. All ticket validity is specified on the tour voucher. If you are unsure of the validity of your voucher, just ask one of our wonderful staff.

Some tours have extra costs and you should be aware that there may be added expenses. These expenses will differ for each service provider, but some of the more usual extras are: EMC tax, stinger suit hire, luggage storage, sleeping bag hire, linen hire, national park fee, food, insurance, accommodation, equipment hire, petrol levy, etc. We will alert you to extra costs to the extent reasonably practicable. However, you must also check with each individual service provider when you re-confirm your booking.

We endorse the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that all travellers take out travel insurance. If you already have travel insurance, please understand that it is your responsibility to ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all of the adventure style travel you have booked with us.

Absolutely, we understand that paying off a big trip in one go isn’t always that easy. We offer flexible payment plans to suit all types of travellers with zero interest or fee’s (minimum $100AUD deposit required).