Uluru & Kings Canyon Express

4 days54 reviews
Explorer
From
AUD $1,480

Go on an Outback adventure to the spiritual heart of Australia

Experience the wonder of the Red Centre’s most significant sites on this four-day action-packed adventure. Not a moment is spared as you start in Yulara, then head straight into Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park for a captivating sunset. Explore the wonders of Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park, learning about bush tucker, dot painting and more from local Luritja and Pertame (Southern Aranda) guides. See Kata Tjuta up close on the Walpa Gorge walk, then finish with a sunrise over Uluru and a guided walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole. Who knew a four-day adventure could be this awe-inspiring?

Map of Uluru & Kings Canyon Express including Australia
Trip code: PZRE
Start
Uluru , Australia
End
Uluru , Australia
Destinations
Australia
Meals
3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle
Accommodation
Semi-permanent tents with shared facilities (3 nights)
Days
4
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Ages
Min 15
Theme
Every trip caters to specific interests and activities, such as wildlife or family.
Explorer
Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: 4+ star accommodation, exclusive premium inclusions, our most experienced leaders
Basix
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
This trip generates 14 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip

Watch the ever-changing colours of Uluru, one of Australia’s most spiritually significant sites, as you view the epic sandstone monolith at both sunrise and sunset.

Understand the connection between the landscapes of Watarrka National Park and the Luritja and Pertame people during a special Aboriginal cultural experience.

Take a guided walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole to see more of the incredible landscape and learn about its connection to the Anangu people.

Explore Kings Canyon’s breath-taking scenery of soaring red cliffs, sandstone domes and tranquil gardens, then wind through two of the Kata Tjuta’s domed rock formations on the Walpa Gorge Walk.

Deepen your connection to Country during a visit to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre.

Itinerary

Map of Uluru & Kings Canyon Express including Australia

Inclusions and activities

Meals

3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Semi-permanent tents with shared facilities (3 nights)

Included activities
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Uluru Sunset Viewing
  • Watarrka National Park - Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience (except Nov-Jan)
  • Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Rim Walk
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge Walk
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Uluru Sunrise Walk
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Kuniya Walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Cultural Centre

Is this trip right for you?

  • Your accommodation on this trip is at private semi-permanent tented campsites. However, this isn't the most basic camping experience, as you'll have stretcher beds to sleep on. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Alternatively you can hire a sleeping bag at an additional cost. Please ask your booking agent to request a sleeping bag for you if you like to take advantage of this option. Please note that facilities are shared with other nearby campsites, including toilets and shower blocks, which are a short walk from where we camp.
  • Temperatures in the Red Centre can be extreme. During the day the weather can be very hot (and the Australian sun is very strong) so please bring appropriate clothing, use sun protection and drink plenty of water. In the evenings temperatures really drop (in winter temperatures can be below zero at night!) so make sure you check the forecast and have a suitable sleeping bag and warm clothes for the climate.
  • This trip involves some early mornings and on some days of the trip, you’ll spend several hours driving through very sparse areas of Australia. Sit back and enjoy landscapes that you would miss in any other form of travel. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. Think of it as a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. The days can be long, but we want to fit as much of this amazing place in as we can in 4 short days!
  • As this is a camping trip, we rely on group participation to give everyone the best experience. You won't need to pitch your own tents as these are semi-permanent at our campsite, but you will need to help with loading and unloading our bus and with the preparation of meals and cleaning up. When everyone lends a hand, everything is much more enjoyable!
  • As sunrise and sunset times as well as weather conditions vary throughout the year, the order of activities may change to ensure you have the best experience possible. On occasion, the First Nations experiences may not be available should our guides have other cultural commitments, in which case we will include alternative activities. 
  • If you’re looking for a longer, non-camping trip in the Red Centre, you might like to consider the 6-day Red Centre & Uluru Adventure. Search trip code PZSR on our website. Alternatively, if it is even more comfort you are after, search for Best of Uluru & Kings Canyon (PZKR) or Premium Red Centre (POPR).

Dates and availability

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Important notes

START POINT LOCATION & TIME
This trip starts with a welcome meeting in Yulara at 4:30pm. It is very important that you are on time. Please let us know if you plan on arriving on the Virgin flight landing at 3:30pm (from Melbourne) or 3:40pm (from Brisbane) as we can pick you up from the airport. Please note that if your flight is delayed beyond 4pm you will need to make your own way to the starting point hotel (with the free resort shuttle bus) and your leader will pick you up from there after sunset. You may want to consider arriving a day early. Alternatively, you have the option to join the trip in Alice Springs instead, at no additional cost. Departure from Alice Springs will be at the Stay at Alice Springs hotel at 9:00am on day 1 of the trip. Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this option.

END POINT LOCATION & TIME
You have the option of finishing your trip either at Yulara Resort (approx 12pm), at Ayers Rock Airport (approx 12:30pm) or back in Alice Springs (approx 6:30pm). Please note that if your flight from Yulara (Ayers Rock Airport) departs before 1:30pm you will miss today's activities and you will need to make your own way to the airport via the free Resort shuttle bus. Accommodation is not included on Day 4. If you wish to stay longer in Yulara, post-tour accommodation will need to be booked directly with your preferred property.

CAMPING
Your accommodation on this trip is at private semi-permanent tented campsites. However, this isn't the most basic camping experience, as you'll have stretcher beds to sleep on. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Pillows are provided. Alternatively you can hire a sleeping bag at an additional cost. Please ask your booking agent to request a sleeping bag for you if you like to take advantage of this option. Please note that facilities are shared with other nearby campsites, including toilets and shower blocks, which are a short walk from where we camp.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a tent on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Please note that all tents have single beds. No double beds are available.

LONG TRAVELLING DAYS & EARLY MORNINGS
This trip involves some early mornings and long travelling days. Please see the daily itinerary for more information. Take into consideration the weather when you are thinking of travelling and ensure you and your family are well hydrated in the desert heat.

ITINERARY VARIATIONS
Depending on the time of year the order of the itinerary may vary slightly to take into account sunrise and sunset times.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 4 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Samantha · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 02 Nov 2024

susan · Traveled August 2024
Review submitted 04 Sep 2024

robert · Traveled August 2024
Review submitted 04 Sep 2024

Andrew · Traveled July 2024
Review submitted 21 Jul 2024
Uluru & Kings Canyon Express
From
AUD $1,480