ITINERARY

ABORIGINAL CULTURE AND HIKING IN THE RED CENTRE

Uluru/Ayers Rock – Kings Canyon –

Located in the southern part of the , Uluru (Ayers Rock) is home to World Heritage-listed natural wonders, iconic wildlife and ancient Indigenous culture rich in story, dance and art. North-east of Uluru lies Kings Canyon, a majestic destination featuring 300-metre-high sandstone walls, palm-filled crevices, and views that stretch across the desert. From here, continue on to the famous outback town of Alice Springs, departure point for the Larapinta Trek. Walk the high ridgelines of the West MacDonnell Ranges witnessing the magnificent scenery of vast flood plains and razorback rocky outcrops on a 6 day walk with Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort.

AT A GLANCE » THE JOURNEY » 2 nights Uluru/Ayers Rock » Nearest Major City: Alice Springs » 1 night Kings Canyon » Duration: 12 days » 2 nights Alice Springs » Mode of Transport: On Foot, Touring Vehicle » 5 nights Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort SEIT Australia, Uluru Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Tours, Watarrka National Park

DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 Arrive Yulara (Ayers Rock) Airport and Depart early on the Desert Awakening Tour - Today make your way to Kings Canyon Resort. transfer to Sails in the Desert Hotel. Voyages. At Curtin Springs Wayside Inn, take a desert Join a Maruku Arts Dot Painting Workshop. Watch the amazing transformation of colours grass paper making workshop and enjoy and life as the desert awakens with Uluru and morning tea. A local Anangu artist will teach you the Kata Tjuta as your backdrop. Enjoy an Aussie ancient symbols of the desert, then create Next, stop for lunch at Kings Creek Station, a breakfast before a guided tour at the base your own artwork to take home as a memento working camel and cattle station. of Uluru. of your experience. After lunch, visit Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Return to your accommodation and grab This evening, enjoy the alluring Field of Light Tours for a one-hour Aboriginal Cultural Tour. some lunch. exhibition. Watch spear and boomerang displays, learn After lunch depart on a SEIT Australia As darkness falls and Uluru is thrown into about bush tucker, bush medicine and local PATJI tour* silhouette, Field of Light illuminates the languages, then take the opportunity to surrounding desert. Accompany the Traditional Uluru Family to purchase local arts and crafts. their homelands called Patji and spend time Highlights: Continue to Kings Canyon Resort and check in. learning about the oldest living culture in » Create your own dot painting masterpiece the world. This is a unique and exclusive 4WD Enjoy a drink on the sunset platform before with Maruku Arts. touring experience with Aboriginal guide. the Kings Canyon Resort’s signature dining » Experience the epic Field of Light experience, Under a Desert Moon. Savour a *Afternoon departures Apr-Oct only. art installation. menu of native bush food and modern cuisine Choose from one of Ayers Rock Resort’s under a canopy of the stars in the southern restaurants for dinner this evening. night sky. Highlights: Highlights: » Witness the changing colours of sunrise » Join a desert grass paper making workshop. over Uluru and Kata Tjuta with breakfast » Relax over lunch at a working camel and and base tour. cattle station. » Hear the stories of the Traditional Uluru » Learn about the culture and practices of the family and their Patji homelands. local Aboriginal people on a one-hour tour. » Enjoy a unique outdoor dining experience at Kings Canyon Resort.

Maruku Arts, Uluru Rim Walk, Kings Canyon RT Tours Australia, West MacDonnell Ranges

DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 Make your way towards Kings Canyon Today enjoy Food, Country and Culture on the Check out of your hotel and depart on the to embark on the Rim Walk. Traverse the Mbantua Gourmet Bush Lunch Tour with Bob Australian Walking Holidays 6-day Classic towering red rock cliffs and take in views of Taylor from RT Tours Australia. Larapinta Trek. the forest of palms below. The tour departs at 8 am. Journey to the Day 1: Telegraph Station to Wallaby Gap Check out of your accommodation, then make West MacDonnell Ranges ghost gum country (13.5km) and optional walk to Nick’s campsite your way to Alice Springs. and take a short walk in the bush with owner, (8.5 km) Bob (Penunka) Taylor, a descendant of the Check in at the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Begin at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, Arrernte. Bob draws on his years as a world- Lasseters Hotel. pass through witchetty bush and mulga scrub, travelled chef and his family’s heritage to over exposed hills and shady woodlands to This evening dine at Hanuman Alice Springs host a unique lunch (or dinner) experience.. Wallaby Gap. Camp in the exclusive semi- or Tali Restaurant, Lasseters. Highlights: permanent Nick Murcutt’s camp, nestled Highlights: » Sample bush food including kangaroo, emu, amongst the hills. » Hike the iconic Kings Canyon Rim Walk. wattle seed, quandong and more. Highlights: » Explore the exciting entertainment hub » Gain an insight into Dreamtime and how » Climb Euro Ridge for expansive views over of Lasseters. Aboriginal culture has adapted since Alice Springs and surrounding landscape. European settlement. » Stay at the exclusive Nick’s Camp, with stunning views across the Heavitree Range and Alice Valley.

DAY 7 Day 2: Nick’s Camp to Simpson’s Gap (7km) plus Standley Chasm Lookout Walk (2km) Follow the trail west through magnificent, shady Bloodwoods and tall Ironwoods to Simpson’s Gap, then make a visit to Standley Chasm. Highlights: » View one of the most important waterholes of the area, Simpsons Gap. Walk the magnificent Standley Chasm. Simpson’s Gap, Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort » Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort Sunrise on Mt Sonder, Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort

Inarlanga Pass, Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort Ormiston Gorge, Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort

DAY 8 DAY 10 DAY 11 Day 3: Serpentine Gorge to Counts Point Day 5: (16km) Day 6: Walk (8km) (16.5km) Take the spectacular sunrise walk up Mt Enjoy extraordinary scenery and wildlife A day of hiking over high ridgelines, through Sonder. Relax with a drink in the afternoon at Ormiston Pound then explore the upper forests, and along dolomite limestones toward or take an optional helicopter fight over reaches of the Gorge before heading back to our exclusive Charlie’s Camp for a relaxing the West MacDonnell Ranges. Overnight at Alice Springs. afternoon amongst the hills. Fearless Camp. Return to Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Highlights: Highlights: Lasseters Hotel and check in.

» Witness spectacular views from the crest of » Ascend Mount Sonder for a spectacular Tonight, you may like to arrange a celebratory the high ridge leading to Counts Point. sunrise. dinner at one of Alice’s great eateries. » View the rainbow of colours on the wave- » See the huge comet crater of Gosse Bluff. Highlights: like wall of an original ochre quarry. » Enjoy the best sidewalk of the entire » Take a helicopter ride over the West Larapinta Trail: Ormiston Pound. DAY 9 MacDonnell Ranges. » Explore the upper reaches of the Gorge Day 4: Charlie’s campsite to the Ochre to look out for Rock Wallabies pits (8km) and native birds. Walk out of camp to the stunning Inarlanga (Echidna) Pass. Take in the quietness and the vibrant colour of the Aboriginal quarry at the Ochre Pits. Retire in the early afternoon at the or at Glen Helen Resort. Spend the night at Fearless Camp. Highlights: » View the breathtaking Inarlanga (Echidna) Pass » Absorb the tranquillity of Inarlanga (Echidna) Pass.