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Alice Springs · Northern territory · Australia
6 Days The Ultimate Larapinta Walk
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From $2,314.04 per person
Current Project Expedition rate
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Project Expedition
The Experience
What your day looks like
A guided 5-day Pack-Free walk in comfort: Our Larapinta Trail walk in the Northern Territory is one of our most popular walks. Drawing upon our extensive years of expertise in organizing Pack-Free walks along the Larapinta, we’ve crafted an exceptional 5-day itinerary that our guests just absolutely love. Throughout the journey, you’ll spend four nights at our centrally located campsite nestled by the breathtaking Ormiston Gorge, allowing you to take a leisurely stroll to the waterhole and enjoy a rejuvenating swim at the end of each day. Here, walk-in tents will be readied for your arrival, complete with off-ground beds, camping mattresses, and pillows. This, combined with the boundless knowledge of our guides, results in an ideal guided pack-free walk, seamlessly blending adventure with creature comforts. Notably, this trail has been recognized by National Geographic, earning a spot among the top 20 trekking adventures worldwide. It’s astonishing how this ancient landscape is abundant with natural beauty including magnificent gorges, lofty ridges with breathtaking views, and tranquil waterholes. The Larapinta Trail Walk showcases a repertoire of over 600 plant species, teems with diverse wildlife, and offers glimpses into the world’s longest unbroken cultural heritage – the Arrente People, who have inhabited this region for an astonishing 50,000 years.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- 6Day PackFree Adventure
- Comfortable Camping at Ormiston Gorge
- Rejuvenating Swims in the Waterhole
- Guided by Expert Hosts
- Stunning Natural Scenery
- Cultural Heritage of the Arrente People
- National Geographic Recognition
- Seamless Blend of Adventure and Comfort
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
Alice Springs
Welcome to Australia! Today is an arrival day. Book your own flight to arrive anytime in Alice Springs and make your own way to the Doubletree Hilton Alice Springs Resort – your accommodation has been booked for the night.
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Alice Springs
Accommodation.
Day 2
Alice Springs
Hiking at Standley Chasm. Standley Chasm: The adventure commences in the heart of Alice Springs, at the welcoming Doubletree Hilton Alice Springs. Here, you will rendezvous with your knowledgeable guides. From there, you’ll venture towards the awe-inspiring Standley Chasm, known by its indigenous name Angkerle Atwatye. Prepare to embark on a captivating walk through this natural wonder, as towering rock formations and breathtaking scenery envelop you in a spectacle of nature’s grandeur.
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Darwin
Eco Tour at Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park. Ormiston Gorge: Afterwards we travel to Ormiston Gorge which is one of the main highlights of the West MacDonnell Ranges National Park. Enjoy a beautiful and spectacular walk up to a high escarpment overlooking the pound and then we descend into the pound, and across the gorge. The walk takes you through a spinifex covered landscape. You will be amazed at the extensive population of wildlife surrounding the many waterholes along the way. Upstream as you walk through the gorge rising spectacularly on either side are cliff faces that look like Red Lego blocks.
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Darwin
Swimming at Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park. Explore and swimming time: You will see ancient pines, river red gums and you may even see the famous Sturt Desert rose. Towards the end of today’s walk is a refreshing water crossing so you may want to pack your swimmers.
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Darwin
Leisure at Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park. Leisure time before dinner: We are very lucky to be able to take advantage of a campsite at beautiful Ormiston Gorge. Today we walk directly into our campsite to find our stand-up touring tents with off-the-ground beds and camping mattresses and pillows erected and your overnight bags waiting in your tent. Take a dip in the refreshing waterhole before dinner, a great way to refresh after your day’s walk.
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Alice Springs
Enjoy a hot shower and then relax as a delicious dinner served with Australian wine is prepared for your enjoyment.
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Alice Springs
Accommodation.
Day 3
Alice Springs
Hiking at Mount Sonder. Mt Sonder: We have carefully planned your journey so that the most challenging day to Mt Sonder (the highest point of the trail) is at the start of the tour when you are fresh and more energetic, then day by day we alternate difficulty. We start the day early so we can enjoy a glorious walk to Mt Sonder. Europeans were first acquainted with the mountain in the watercolour painting of the famous Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira. This section’s walk to the summit showcases the stunning colours of the range and amazing views for hundreds of miles into the distance. Initially, we climb through bushland, then the trees gradually become more stunted as the track rises on open spinifex-covered slopes. At the top, we will enjoy sweeping views of where we have been and record our achievement in the Visitors Book. The trip to the peak of Mount Sonder comprises a 7.5km walk from the gorge over rocky and steep terrain suited to fit bushwalkers.
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Alice Springs
Leisure. Leisure time: We return to our campsite with time to have a relaxing swim in the waterhole before dinner.
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Alice Springs
Tonight enjoy a wonderful dinner featuring local produce and Australian wines.
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Alice Springs
Accommodation.
Day 4
Alice Springs
Hiking at Larapinta Trail. Ochre Pits to Serpentine Chalet Dam: We enjoy breakfast at camp before and making our way to the start of our walk. Today we hike an easy 4 km track along the Song Line of the Arrente track from Ochre pits which connect to Inarlanga Pass. The traditional landowners, Arrente people, still use the Ochre pits. The track follows high ground to some of the best views of the whole Larapinta trail. We enter into the Inarlanga Gorge the smoking green fronds of the McDonald ranges Cycads stand out against the glowing red walls of the gorge formed 300 million years ago. The gorge has been a ceremonial place and an important watering point for the Western Arrente people for thousands of years. We walk the descent back through spinifex foothills over a low saddle through mulga back to our starting point.
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Alice Springs
From here we travel to the Doubletree Hilton Alice Springs for our next 2 nights.
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Alice Springs
Leisure. Enjoy an early dinner at the hotel in the charming Saltbush restaurant, featuring contemporary Australian-style produce in an innovative menu, served with wonderful Australian wine. After dinner, embark on the Nocturnal Tour at Alice Springs Desert Park, where you’ll experience the desert’s vibrant night life and encounter its fascinating nocturnal creatures under the stars.
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Alice Springs
Accommodation.
Day 5
Alice Springs
Hiking. Counts Point: Enjoy breakfast in the restaurant before we head out. Today we walk section 8 of the Larapinta Trail. We climb to Eagles landing which in the Aboriginal Dreamtime tells the story of an Eagle ancestor who patrolled the range from Ochre pits to Serpentine Gorge. After a morning tea stop at Eagles Landing, we then continue to Counts Point. This vantage point offers a wonderful opportunity to see the overall geology of the ranges. Views along this straight Quartz ridge lines give a spectacular view of Mt Sonder. To the right in the distance is the highest peak in the Northern Territory Mt Zeil. In our opinion the best view along the whole length of the trail. After lunch, we descend the range into the plains to the end of our walk at Serpentine Gorge chalet.
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Alice Springs
Leisure. We then transfer back to the Doubletree Hilton Alice Springs. Enjoy dinner in the award-winning Hanuman restaurant featuring delicious Thai and Indian-inspired menu and Australian wine.
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Alice Springs
Accommodation.
Day 6
Alice Springs
Hiking at Simpsons Gap. Enjoy breakfast in the restaurant. Our way today is on Section 1 of the Larapinta Trail close to Alice Springs. Setting off from Wallaby Gap, the trail unveils its charms as it traverses the Scorpion Pool, a serene oasis nestled amidst the rugged terrain. The path then leads you to the enchanting Hat Hill Saddle, where sweeping vistas await, rewarding your ascent with panoramic views that stretch across the vast expanse. The undulating trail meanders through this picturesque setting until we reach Simpsons Gap, a breathtaking natural wonder adorned with towering red rock walls that frame a narrow gorge and a serene waterhole nestled within the gap. Eucalyptus trees and native vegetation cling to the rocky outcrops, adding touches of green to the striking red and orange palette.
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Alice Springs
Helicopter Tours. Afterwards, we finish our journey with an afternoon scenic helicopter flight from Alice Springs. We take to the air and follow the Todd River to the Telegraph Station and get a bird’s eye view of Mt Gillen and Heavitree Gap before making our way to marvel at the breathtaking Simpsons Gap From the air, you will also see stunning views of the East and West MacDonnell Ranges, parallel ridges spanning out 644kms into the distance from Alice Springs. This flight is a truly remarkable way to finish our Larapinta experience.
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Alice Springs
A truly inspiring experience. Afterwards, we drop our guests off at the Doubletree Hilton, the end of a fantastic journey
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
Pack-free fully supported walk with your overnight luggage transported to the campsite Professionally guided Return transfers from Alice Springs on day 1 and 5 of your trip National Park Pass
Not Included
Tips and gratuities
What to Bring
Hiking shoes Comfortable clothes
Meeting & Pickup
Doubletree Hilton Hotel, Alice Springs
Languages Offered
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Optional Add-ons
FLEXI-WALK ADD-ON - 279.00 Per Person | SINGLE SUPPLEMENT - 145.00 Per Person
Planning Notes
Hotel pickup offered: No Confirmation: Manual By Business
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