Larapinta Hiking Adventure

Larapinta Hiking Adventure

Join your walking mates for a peaceful desert hike

This is a private trip and not open for public bookings. Please enquire here if you'd like to arrange a similar trip for your group. 

Come along and be part of the breathtaking Larapinta Hiking Adventure into the heart of the Australian landscape.

Join us as we meander through some beautiful sections of the Larapinta Trail in Tjoritja, the West MacDonnell Ranges and enjoy stunning natural beauty, expansive desert views, beautiful gorges and pristine waterholes with your hiking mates. 

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Larapinta Hiking Adventure

5 days

Group Size 10

Trek Grading Moderate

Trip Dates

19-23rd May 2022

Available

$1995 per person

$600 deposit to secure your place

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Overview

Accommodation:
  • 3 nights camping under the stars at bush campsites on the Larapinta Trail
  • 1 night at 4.5 star hotel Alice Springs (twin-share)
Food:

On the trail – 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners, 3 Breakfasts, hot drinks and snacks

We provide delicious, healthy fresh food and cater for all dietary requirements. 

Alice Springs – Celebratory restaurant dinner, Hotel buffet breakfast.

Transport:
  • We will have two 4WD support vehicles with a trailer to transport your gear and the group between campsites. You will only need to carry a daypack!

This 5-day Larapinta Adventure is designed to give you:

  • an invigorating and challenging hiking journey in a stunning Australian landscape
  • a chance to connect with your teammates away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life
  • a powerful fitness goal to inspire and motivate you towards better health

Itinerary

DAY 1 – ALICE SPRINGS TO SERPENTINE CHALET RUINS VIA OCHRE PITS
(2-3 hours hiking)

We’ll pick you up from Alice Springs Airport, have some lunch and drive to the start of our first hike which begins at the Ochre Pits. After a Welcome to Country, you will follow the Arrernte Walk to the start of the ancient Inarlanga Pass. You can have a wander around this area, where stands of Cycads stand out in contrast to the glowing red of the gorge walls. 

You will then head through the spinifex foothills across a low saddle and into Mulga woodland. After a meandering hike you will reach Serpentine Chalet Dam, where you can have a refreshing dip if you are keen. It’s then a short walk to the campsite, all your gear will be waiting as your delicious dinner is being cooked. You will enjoy the quiet sounds of the desert and watch the million stars above.  LD

DAY 2 – SERPENTINE CHALET RUINS TO SERPENTINE GORGE
(5-6 hours hiking)

After a hearty breakfast, you will begin the days hike through undulating Mulga woodland towards Lomandra Gully. Today is considered an ‘moderate – difficult’ section which heads up a steep spur to a plateau in the Heavitree Range with expansive views. From the higher section of Counts Point Junction at 1140m, you will get superb 360 degree views.

From Eagle Landing at the eastern end of the plateau, you will descend steeply, and across the foothills. You can then choose to head up to take a look at Serpentine Gorge, or be transported straight to your next campsite at Ormiston Gorge. Another relaxing nights camping awaits, with hot showers, and a beautiful Gorge to swim in! BLD

DAY 3 – ORMISTON GORGE TO GLEN HELEN GORGE
(5-7 hours hiking)

You can either join in the 9km hike around Ormiston Pound, ensuring that you have enough stops to enjoy the waterhole and admire the views. Alternatively, you can rest up at Ormiston Gorge between big days on the trail and have a refreshing swim in the beautiful waterhole. 

It’s a meandering trail with some incredible views between Ormiston Gorge and Glen Helen Gorge, and a great opportunity to see much of the unique plant life that inhabits this area. You may even spot an Echidna or a Long-nosed Dragon. 

We’ll stop at Glen Helen Gorge for lunch, then transport you to our next campsite at the base of Mt Sonder. Redbank Gorge is another place you can swim, enjoying the cooling effects of the water on tired muscles. BLD

DAY 4 – REDBANK GORGE TO MT SONDER AND BEYOND
(5-6 hours hiking) 
 

We will begin early yet again, to enjoy the sunrise from the summit of Rwetyepme Mt Sonder at 1379m. It will be a solid climb to the top from a start at 700m, and if that doesn’t take your breath away, the views certainly will! Enjoy a quiet moment at the top to reflect on your achievements of the previous few days.

We will find a great spot for lunch on our way back into Alice Springs where you can have a swim to wash away the mornings exertions! We will then head on to the Crowne Plaza Hotel Alice Springs. Settle in, take a dip in the pool, or explore Alice township. After some well-deserved rest and relaxation, we will meet up for a celebratory dinner at a local restaurant.  BLD

DAY 5 – ALICE SPRINGS AND ONWARDS

On our last day of the trip, we can arrange for you an exciting dawn balloon ride from Alice Springs (this is an optional extra and not included in the price). What a way to see the sunrise over the desert! We’ll have a sumptuous buffet breakfast, and you will have a chance to see some beautiful aboriginal art at one of the many galleries.

We will then transport you to the airport for a lunchtime flight, or you can continue on to explore more of incredible Central Australia. What an adventure you will have shared! B

You will be guided by Helen Cooper, and a local assistant guide. Guides are trained in Wilderness First Aid, and the group will have a satellite phone, personal locator beacon and first aid kits. The assistant will be cooking all meals, and transporting gear between campsites.
We will be hiking for between 3-8 hours each day. You will be carrying a day pack. Moderate fitness levels required (speak to us if you want to know whether this is suitable for you). Some uneven track surfaces.

Central Australia experiences very hot days and cold nights. It is necessary to prepare for all conditions and to have good-quality outdoor clothing. Jeans and cotton clothing are not suitable for hiking.

Essential Items
  • hiking shoes or boots, trail runners
  • duffel bag
  • day pack – 20-30 litre
  • 3-4 season sleeping bag
  • waterproof raincoat (Gore-tex or similar)
  • warm fleece/down jacket (not cotton)
  • hiking shirt (quick dry material)
  • hiking pants
  • polypro/thermals – top & long-johns
  • 2 pairs of hiking socks – preferably wool
  • warm beanie
  • sun hat/cap
  • sunscreen and sunglasses
  • hydration pack & extra drink bottles (minimum 3 litres)
  • head torch & spare batteries
  • insect repellent
  • spare set of warm clothes for camp
  • shoes for camp
  • travel towel
  • personal medication
  • whistle

Optional items: swimmers, inflatable pillow, binoculars, earplugs, trekking poles, camera.

We supply: inflatable mattresses, tents, cooking equipment, plates/cutlery, first aid kit, safety equipment and maps. 

We will travel between Alice Springs and our campsites in two 4WD Land Cruisers with a trailer.
All the meals as indicated above are included in the price. The food is based on nutritious, healthy, wholefood recipes. We will also have a celebratory dinner at a quality Alice Springs restaurant on the final evening (drinks not included), and buffet breakfast on the final morning. Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements.
The trip starts at Alice Springs Airport on Thursday Day 1 at 12.30pm. We will return to Alice Springs airport at 12.30pm on Day 5. We will make recommendations on the best flight options so that you have the option of travelling with the rest of the group.

***$1995per person***

Includes 5-day guided adventure, 3 nights camping accommodation , 1 night 4.5-star hotel accommodation, transport in two 4WD vehicles with trailer between Alice Springs and the trail heads, all meals as stated above together with healthy snacks, restaurant dinner, hotel buffet breakfast, National Parks Permits, first aid kit, safety equipment and cooking equipment.

Excludes sleeping bags, travel insurance (compulsory) and flights

You can choose to go hot air ballooning on Day 5. You will be picked up from the hotel at around 5.30am, and transported back to the hotel at around 9.30am. It is an additional $395pp for 1 hour flight, or $305pp for 30 min flight. You will need to let Primal Adventures know at least 2 weeks prior to the trip. You pay the Hot Air Balloon operator directly.

Hot air ballooning is weather dependent, and may be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. You will not be charged if cancelled.

A deposit of $600 per person is required to secure your place.
Full payment is required 8 weeks before the date of your trek.
More than 20 days prior to departure – 70% refund of full ticket price
20 to 10 days prior to departure – 50% refund of full ticket price
Less than 10 days prior to departure – NO REFUND
Deposits are not refunded.
Comprehensive personal travel insurance is required for this trip. We will also ask you to fill out a disclaimer before you begin the adventure. You must follow the instructions of your guide at all times.
When you book you must notify us of any medical condition, medical history, or medications that you are on. In particular, asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, allergies to wasp/ bee stings and food allergies.

With any outdoor activity, there is an element of risk. Primal Adventures operates in remote and mountainous areas. Risks in undertaking this activity could include hypo/hyperthermia due to adverse weather conditions, personal injury, or property damage from hiking/running over rugged and uneven terrain.

Please see Booking Conditions at the footer of this page for further info