With the help of professional guides and a well-planned schedule, the 5 Day Larapinta Walking Tour lets you explore one of Australia’s most famous long-distance paths. You’ll walk across ancient quartzite hills, spectacular crimson gorges, and wide-open views that define the West MacDonnell Ranges over the course of five unforgettable days.
This trip reflects the true spirit of an outback trek: purposeful, energising, and profoundly connected to Country. You can go on guided walks, stay in beautiful camps, and take your time to enjoy the vast Territory landscapes. It’s a great trip for travellers who want a real sense of Central Australia and a fun challenge.
The fare price is per person, for both adults and children. Children under 7 years old can’t go on the trip. The minimum age is 8.
Arrival & Meet and Greet (welcome before the tour)
When you land in Alice Springs, you will need to find your own way to your chosen accommodation (not included; please make your own arrangements). At 4:30 p.m., the group meets at the Olive Pink Botanic Garden for a casual welcome and trip briefing with your guide. After everyone has introduced themselves, go back to your Alice Springs hotel and get some sleep before the adventure starts.
The morning starts quite early as we say goodbye to city life and head straight into the bush. The stunning West MacDonnell Ranges, known for their natural beauty and cultural significance, set the tone for the days to come. Our first trek is about 14 km long and starts just outside of Alice Springs. It has great views, especially at Euro Ridge. This easy first trek lets you get used to the trail, take in the scenery, and get into its rhythm.
Our Ground Support Vehicle picks us up in the beautiful Wallaby Gap, and then we drive to an isolated campsite in the MacDonnell Ranges National Park. If we have time, we’ll cool off by swimming in one of the area’s beautiful waterholes. This is where the voyage really starts, in a country full of the Western Arrernte people’s Dreamtime legends (Alcheringa). Try a Kungkas Can Cook Tasting Platter before supper. It has bush cuisines from the Central Desert Country, typical of the area.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Private and remote West MacDonnell Ranges permanent campsite; Safari Tents or Bush Swags
Driving Distance: approx. 146 km
Hiking Distance and Grading: 14 km (Section 1), Grade 4 – moderate to difficult
Today, we head west to one of the most beautiful parts of the Larapinta Trail, where we’ll trek 13.4 km, best suited to competent, fit walkers. The West Macs are known for their quartzite ridgelines, which give you vistas that last forever and go all the way to Haasts Bluff and Mt Zeil, the highest peak in the Northern Territory. If we have time after the hike, we’ll relax by swimming at a local natural waterhole.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Private and remote West MacDonnell Ranges permanent campsite; Safari Tents or Bush Swags
Driving Distance: approx. 94 km
Hiking Distance and Grading: 13.4 km (Section 8), Grade 4 – moderate to difficult
The route we choose today goes through the softer areas around Ormiston Gorge and slowly rises toward the old channels of the Finke River. This region is rich in cultural stories, and along the trail you’ll encounter important sites connected to the Carpet Snake Dreaming, the Emu Dreaming, and Kangaroo Man Dreaming. If we have time, we’ll stop again to swim in one of the beautiful waterholes. As evening arrives, settle into our remote campsite and watch the desert transform under a brilliant night sky.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Private and remote West MacDonnell Ranges permanent campsite; Safari Tents or Bush Swags
Driving Distance: approx. 27 km
Hiking Distance and Grading: 11 km (Section 10), Grade 3 – moderate
The route we choose today goes through the softer areas around Ormiston Gorge and slowly rises toward the old channels of the Finke River. This region is rich in cultural stories, and along the trail you’ll encounter important sites connected to the Carpet Snake Dreaming, the Emu Dreaming, and Kangaroo Man Dreaming. If we have time, we’ll stop again to swim in one of the beautiful waterholes. As evening arrives, settle into our remote campsite and watch the desert transform under a brilliant night sky.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Private and remote West MacDonnell Ranges permanent campsite; Safari Tents or Bush Swags
Driving Distance: approx. 27 km
Hiking Distance and Grading: 11 km (Section 10), Grade 3 – moderate
Get ready to wake up very early, at 3 am, to climb the hard 8 km up Mount Sonder. Getting to the top in time for sunrise is a stunning reward, with 360-degree views of the ranges. After the descent, go back to camp for a big Australian breakfast. You can relax, recover at camp, or go back to the spectacular Ormiston Gorge in the afternoon before we spend our last night under the Milky Way.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Private and remote West MacDonnell Ranges permanent campsite; Safari Tents or Bush Swags
Driving Distance: approx. 64 km
Hiking Distance and Grading: 16 km (Section 12), Grade 5 – difficult
The famous Ormiston Pound Walk is on our last day. It’s a favourite among Larapinta fans and is typically called one of the best short walks in the area. Expect to see amazing rock formations, abundant wildlife, and stunning views of Mount Giles and the Chewing’s Range. This is the same terrain that inspired painters like Albert Namatjira. We take down camp after a last picnic lunch at Ormiston Gorge and start driving back to Alice Springs.
After you get back to town and clean up, go to one of the recommended Outback restaurants on your own (your guide will confirm the specifics). There, you may share stories, laughs, and a well-deserved drink with the other walkers after five amazing days.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: N/A
Driving Distance: approx. 156 km
Hiking Distance and Grading: 16 km (Section 9/10), Grade 3 – moderate
The legendary Larapinta Trail takes you across the rough terrain of the West MacDonnell Ranges. It’s one of the best wilderness walks in the country. You’ll enjoy a steady pace that gives you time to relax and get used to the outback’s rhythms.
Each day, you’ll walk on a graded track for up to 14 miles. The Dreamtime stories of the area add depth to every perspective, ravine, and ridgeline, underscoring their cultural importance and geological significance.
People often think of Central Australia as an endless expanse of red sand dunes, but this area is full of surprises, including some of the Northern Territory’s highest peaks, ancient escarpments, and amazing waterholes. This trip gives you a real chance to relax, explore, and get used to the desert’s peace and quiet.
Onboard, sleeping bags may be rented for $40 AUD, which also covers cleaning. If desired, visitors may also bring their own.
With check-in at 6:00 am, our main departure point for this experience is outside the DoubleTree by Hilton, 82 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs.
For your convenience, the complete list of planned pick-up locations and timings is provided below:
To avoid delays or missing the tour departure, please make sure you are ready 5 to 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.
Preserving the Northern Territory’s wildlife and flora is a top priority for our tour operator. We are dedicated to minimising disruption to this environment, which is a World Heritage Site and the species that depend on it. We urge all visitors to travel with understanding and attention, as respect for Traditional Owners and cultural customs is crucial.
Teaching tourists about wildlife safety, low-impact habits, and the long-term sustainability of the amazing places we visit is a crucial aspect of our duty.
Visit https://www.ecotourism.org.au/ to learn more about ecotourism.
First and foremost, we acknowledge the Wurundjeri people as the Traditional Owners of this land. We advise visitors to keep in mind Indigenous groups’ cultural sensitivity and their strong spiritual ties to their homeland.
Respectful and unhindered observation of wildlife is required. Visitors must never touch, approach, or feed wildlife, especially birds, and should refrain from making loud noises or abrupt movements, as they can scare animals. Contact between humans and animals can spread illness, promote abnormal behaviour, or make them hostile.
It is forbidden for anybody other than certified and registered wildlife professionals to handle or feed native animals. Introducing human food may result in disease and disturb normal foraging behaviours.
Please alert your guide or tour leader, a National Park Ranger, or Visitor Centre employees right away if you see any animal that seems hurt, upset, or in danger.
Please obey your guide’s directions, stay within barriers, and stick to authorised walking routes to protect both the ecosystem and tourists. Travellers who stray from designated routes risk encountering dangers, including cliff faces, falling branches, slippery terrain, and unstable rock surfaces, which can disrupt wildlife habitat and harm delicate ecosystems.
Since all natural elements are vital to the surrounding ecology, it is not permitted to remove any of them, including flowers, leaves, fallen timber, or rocks.
There are trash cans in every touring car. Since organic food scraps are not indigenous to the area, they should never be thrown outside where they could harm wildlife, attract pests, or transmit illness.
Additionally, we advise travellers to carry a reusable water bottle, particularly if they are on one of our Grampians trips. Single-use plastic bottles produce needless waste, but our cars have refill facilities for your convenience. It’s crucial to stay hydrated, especially when exposed to intense sunlight.
All of the guides are certified in Level 2 First Aid. If you become unwell, get hurt, or feel uncomfortable while on the tour, please let your guide know right away. Travellers with pre-existing medical conditions should notify the guide at the beginning of the day and bring their prescriptions.
We ask that smokers stay away from other passengers and only smoke in approved areas. All cars and all types of lodging, including permanent campsites, are off-limits to smoking. Regular comfort stops are part of our schedule, but smoking breaks are not always guaranteed. Cigarette waste should be disposed of properly and in the proper bins.
Yes, to make appropriate accommodations, please let us know about any dietary requirements or medical issues when you make your reservation, or at least a few days prior to travel. While some meals are provided by our lodging partners along the way, our guides make the majority of the meals using straightforward camp-style recipes. Visitors are encouraged to assist with cleaning, dinner preparation, and loading or unloading the car, which is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen relationships with other travellers.
Since the itinerary passes through isolated regions of the Northern Territory where access to medical care may be limited, we strongly advise all travellers to purchase personal travel insurance. Please consult a knowledgeable local travel agent or your chosen provider to select the appropriate coverage, as we are not authorised to provide insurance advice.
Activities like bushwalking, camping, and spending a lot of time outside can raise personal risk, and Australia’s fauna, climate, and untamed landscapes also provide risks. The minimum ages for day tours and overnight excursions in the Top End are 6 and 8, respectively. Every participant under 18 must travel with a responsible adult, parent, or guardian. Every visitor, including kids, is required to wear sunscreen, a hat, and suitable footwear at all times.
Although travellers are no longer required to be fully vaccinated under current government requirements, we nevertheless advise vaccination for everyone’s health.
Remote safari-style tent stay.
Bedding, linens, and swags provided.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.
Hot/cold drinks and fresh water.
Guided 14km wilderness treks.
Rugged air-conditioned desert travel.
Courtesy lodging pickup and drop-off.
Land owner and trail costs.
Two-person expert support crew.
Satellite phone and EPIRB onboard.
BYO alcohol (storage provided).
Personal snacks highly recommended.
Post-tour accommodation not included.
Self-arranged travel to dinner.
Fixed central meeting points.
Individual coverage highly advised.
Individual spending not included.
With temperatures ranging from 2°C before dawn to 20–25°C during the day, the walking season (May–August) features cool mornings, moderate days, and cold nights. Because of rapid climate changes, trekkers should prepare for both hot days and cold nights in Central Australia. Thermals and gloves are highly advised because early starts, particularly for Mount Sonder, can be extremely cold.
Depending on the climate and your individual requirements, we advise each person to bring 3–5 litres of water per day. Because they enable hands-free drinking while walking, hydration bladders are perfect. During guided parts and at camp, fresh drinking water is provided; your guides will tell you how much to drink before each walk.
No, there are no electrical outlets or power outlets at the permanent campsite. For phones, cameras, headlights, and other gadgets, travellers should pack at least one completely charged portable power bank (10,000–20,000 mAh is advised). Although they rely on the weather, solar chargers might potentially be helpful.
It’s crucial to have a cozy 5–8 kilogram daypack with a supportive hip belt and padded shoulder straps. Water, food, sunscreen, a cap, additional layers, and your camera are among the personal belongings you’ll bring. Your primary luggage, which may weigh 15–20 kg in a soft duffel, stays in the support vehicle or at camp.
Yes, if time and conditions allow, several waterholes, including Ormiston Gorge and Ellery Creek Big Hole, offer pleasant swimming opportunities. Because temperatures, depths, and access points change throughout the season, always heed your guide’s advice and make sure the water is safe to enter.
