Best of Uluru & Kings Canyon

G’day and welcome to Alice Springs – or ‘Mparntwe’ in the language of the Arrernte people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which Alice Springs is located. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel where you’ll meet your local leader and group. After a quick intro, drive to Earth Sanctuary where you’ll get to know each other over a delicious Outback barbeque while the sun sets over the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges. Then, watch the Southern Sky come alive with constellations and stories on a guided star gazing experience with an astronomer. You’ll also get the chance to look through Earth Sanctuary’s Deep Sky Telescopes to spot a range of celestial objects.

Hit the road to Simpsons Gap in West MacDonnell Ranges National Park (Tjoritja). Keep an eye out for rock wallabies on a guided walk through this spiritual site with a First Nations guide. They’ll share insights on the local flora and fauna and the story of the great Tjunba (Perentie) totem that protects the gorge. The walk will also take you along the riverbed that marks the boundary between the Eastern and Northern Arrernte tribes. Next, drive along the Stuart and Lasseter Highway and through the colourful semi-desert to Watarrka National Park, home to Kings Canyon. Your leader will take you along the Kings Creek Walk, following the trail between huge cliffs and ethereal rock formations. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more magical place! Tonight enjoy an included dinner before an optional visit to the Light Towers – an immersive visual and aural display.

Spend the morning exploring the rugged Kings Canyon and do the famous rim walk up and across the Kings Canyon plateau. From the sandstone domes of the 'Lost City' to the oasis of the 'Garden of Eden', you’ll walk across red rock cliffs that protrude from the land and take in views of the palm forest below. Then hit the road again for a scenic drive across the sprawling landscape to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Arrive at Kata Tjuta (formerly known as The Olgas) – a collection of 36 towering rock domes – and walk to a popular lookout to admire the formations. After, head to one of Australia’s most spiritually significant and iconic sites, Uluru. Enjoy the view from a prime location as the sun sets over the epic sandstone monolith – watching the landscape shift in colour is a sight you won’t soon forget!

Start the day early in one of the best ways imaginable: watching sunrise over Uluru. Then, walk across the rust-coloured landscape to a nearby waterhole where you'll see some traditional art sites. Your leader will shed light on the history and nature here and explain how the Anangu people are deeply connected to the lands. After, stop by the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to continue learning about First Nations culture. After some time here, stop by Yulara for any travellers flying out of Uluru to catch the free airport shuttle. Then, for those finishing the trip in Alice Springs, hit the highway just after lunch. Arrive in Alice Springs in the evening, where your Outback adventure will come to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent.