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Strapped for cash? This trip starts at Alice Springs and finishes at Uluru, while getting you to the Outback’s biggest drawcards.
The Outback and its attractions may be big, but that doesn’t mean you need heaps of time to see them. This trip makes it possible to see the region’s best-known attractions in a short amount of time, but with the flexibility of starting and finishing in two different, but great destinations; Alice Springs and Uluru. Get to know Uluru guided or on your own, navigate the boulder-strewn landscape of Kata Tjuta on a Valley of the Winds Walk and discover lost cities and a Garden of Eden on the Rim Walk through Kings Canyon. The Outback’s never been so accessible.
- Start
- Alice Springs, Australia
- Finish
- Yulara, Australia
- Destinations
- Northern Territory,The Outback,Uluru
- Style
- Swag Camping
- Theme
- New trips
- Code
- RTC4AY
- Physical rating
- Ages
- Min 8
- Group size
- Min 8, Max 24
Why you’ll love this trip
- Witnessing an Uluru sunset is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Have your camera ready when taking in this spectacular sight.
- Visit the Outback town of Alice Springs before your trip, then save time and accommodation after your trip by flying out of Yulara Ayers Rock Airport (very close to Yulara), which is only minutes away from Uluru. By finishing your tour at Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort), you’ll save five (5) hours of driving-time compared to a tour that finishes in Alice Springs. By finishing your tour at Yulara you will save one night accommodation at Alice Springs too.
- Wander through the iconic domes of Kata Tjuta, gaze in awe at the sacred rock of Uluru and hike through natural amphitheaters, rocky chasms, and lush oasis in Kings Canyon.
- Eat under the stars and camp within privately owned sites on the red earth of the Outback and experience the true magic of the Red Centre.
Is this trip right for you?
- This is a basic camping experience sleeping in a swag. A swag in an Australian invention. It’s a bed roll with a thinner mattress and a canvas cover. You hop inside with your sleeping bag then zip yourself up, only allowing enough space to view the amazing stars above you.
- Temperatures in the Red Centre can be extreme. During the day the weather can be more than 40 degrees Celsius in the shade (the Australian sun is very strong) so please bring appropriate clothing, use sun protection, and drink plenty of water. During the months of June, July and August, the evening temperatures can drop below zero degrees Celsius, so bring some thick socks, layers and a warm jacket.
- This trip requires a moderate level of fitness as it involves a lot of walking, allowing you to really get among nature. Please bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes and comfortable clothing.
- On most days of the trip, you’ll spend several hours driving through very remote areas of the desert. Crank up the tunes and sit back to enjoy landscapes that you would miss in any other form of travel.
- Group participation is important on this trip, so you’ll be required to help with the preparation of meals and cleaning up. These are the kind of tasks that bring a group closer together.
Gallery
Itinerary
Alice Springs is really where you need to go to understand the heart and soul of Australia. Meet your leader and fellow travelers at the Alice Springs pick-up point this morning and set off to explore the Red Centre. Shortly after you arrive, the unmistakable Uluru will emerge from the earth as one giant boulder. After a short drive, walk–off your lunch at Kata Tjuta (The Olag’s). With its 36 various-sized domes, it provides quite a contrast to Uluru. You’ll get to know the landscape pretty well on an afternoon hike between the domes. As the evening unfolds, enjoy a light snack as the sun slowly sets, casting a variety of earthy tones across Uluru. The perfect end to a remarkable day is awaiting you back at camp, as you enjoy a delicious spread of food with your group. If the weather permits, sit outside under the stars.
Accommodation
Swag camping (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
Uluru & Kata Tjuta National Park Entrance Fee
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special information
The total driving time today is around 7 hours. Total walking time is approximately 2 hours.
An early start this morning is rewarded with an Uluru sunrise as the sun hits the icon like a beacon, before the light floods the surrounding landscape. Your guide will take you to one of the significant cultural sights of Uluru, outlining Anangu rock art and passing on one of the creation stories of the site. While the morning is fresh, the time is yours to enjoy the self-guided, full base walk of Uluru, taking in all of the textures and valleys up-close, which isn’t evident from afar. Once you’ve had lunch, perhaps purchase some art at the Cultural Centre, hand-crafted by local First Nation Peoples of the Western and Central Deserts. Travel onto our exclusive campsite near the Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon), where the group will have dinner and enjoy the stars.
Accommodation
Swag camping (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Uluru & Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre
- Uluru Base Walk
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
The total walking time is approximately 2.5 hours (or up to 3.5 if you do the full 10km base walk). Total driving time today is around 3.5 hours.
Uluru is considered a living cultural landscape and home to the spirits of the ancestors making it a sacred place for the Anangu peoples. The Anangu people have dissuaded visitors from climbing Uluru for decades; as traditional owners of the land they feel a deep responsibility for everyone who travels to the area. In 1998, Adventure Tours Australia were among the first tour operators to stop climbing Uluru. We are proud to be involved with local communities in Uluru, and to have an ongoing commitment in contributing to employment for the Anangu people.
The main attraction of Watarrka National Park is undoubtedly Kings Canyon – a humungous gorge enclosed by sheer rock walls many meters high. With its porous sandstone, deep gullies and hidden rock pools, it provides shelter to more than 600 species of native plants and animals. Your guide will point these out on a trek that takes in the canyon’s most famous locations, such as the Lost City, the Garden of Eden, Amphitheatre, and of course North & South Walls. After lunch, we hit the road again for a three-hour drive to Yulara in the late afternoon. This evening, you have choice to enjoy one of the following optional activities; a Sunset Camel Cruise, the Field of Lights, Sounds of Silence, the Wintjiri Wiru Drone display; or if you’d like to experience the Uluru sunset from a different perspective (and free of charge), tonight is the opportunity to do it! After dinner, relax at your camp for a night under the stars.
Accommodation
Swag camping (with shared facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kings Canyon Rim Walk
- Ewings Lookout, sunset viewing area
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
The total driving time today is around 3 hours. Total walking time is approximately 3.5 hours. For the Kings Canyon Rim Walk it is a requirement that you have a minimum of three litres of water with you. Please consider bringing your own refillable water bottles. If you would like to do one of the optional activities we highly recommend booking this directly in advance.
After a short sleep-in, enjoy a hearty breakfast at our exclusive camp. Depending on your departure time, choose to take our free 10-minute transfer direct to Yulara’s Desert Gardens Hotel, or Uluru Airport (Ayers Rock Airport, airport code: AYQ). If you have plenty of spare time before your flight, you have the opportunity to leave your luggage at the Desert Gardens Hotel, and spend some time in Yulara Resort shopping at your leisure. Please note: There’s regular free airport shuttles from the Desert Gardens Hotel to the Ayers Rock Airport.
Meals included
Breakfast
Special Information
The total driving time today is around 15 minutes.
Dates & availability
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Important notes
1. Trip commences in Alice Springs on day 1 at 6am and finishes in Yulara (Uluru) on day 4 at approx 9am.
2. You can also join this trip in Yulara (Uluru) on Day 1; see tour code RTC4YY
Essential trip information
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