Tour overview

Three days, two nights, and roughly 1,100 km of driving on a loop that starts and finishes in Alice Springs. You travel in an air conditioned 4WD coach with a maximum of 16 guests, and sleep in permanent camps with beds, linen and hot showers.

The order matters. We stay at Yulara on night one so Uluru sunrise is a 40 minute drive rather than a five hour one, and we position at Kings Creek on night two so the rim walk starts at first light instead of mid morning. Most three day itineraries do it the other way around and lose both.

Highlights

• Full 9.4 km Uluru base walk, including Mutitjulu Waterhole and the rock art at Kulpi Mutitjulu
• Sunset viewing at Uluru with sparkling wine and a proper cheese board, not a plastic cup at a car park
• Valley of the Winds circuit at Kata Tjuta, both the Karu and Karingana lookouts
• Kings Canyon rim walk, the Garden of Eden and the domes of the Lost City
• Two nights in permanent camps with real beds, hot showers and a fire
• Guide commentary on Anangu law, Tjukurpa and the photography restrictions at sensitive sites

Day by day itinerary

Expand a day to see stops, distances and where you sleep.

What is and is not included

Departure information

Accommodation

Night one is at our permanent camp near Yulara, night two at Kings Creek. Both have twin share cabins with real beds and linen, hot showers, flushing toilets and a covered kitchen area. Solo travellers share with someone of the same gender unless you request a private cabin, which carries a supplement.

Meals

Five meals in total. Breakfast is continental with hot options cooked at camp, lunch is packed and eaten at the walk, dinner is cooked over the fire, usually a camp roast or barbecue with vegetarian and gluten free alternatives prepared separately. Tell us about allergies at booking, not on the morning.

What to bring

• Closed walking shoes with grip, already worn in
• Wide brim hat, sunglasses and 50+ sunscreen
• A refillable water bottle of at least two litres
• Fly net between September and March, sold at every roadhouse
• Warm layer for early mornings, desert nights drop below zero in July
• Small daypack, torch, and any personal medication

Fitness requirements

Moderate. You need to be comfortable walking up to 10 km on uneven ground in warm conditions, and to manage a steep climb of around 500 steps at Kings Canyon. Shorter alternatives exist at every site, so one person opting out does not affect the group. If you have a heart or respiratory condition, speak to us before booking rather than at the trailhead.

Important information

Uluru and Kata Tjuta are living cultural landscapes. Certain sections of the base walk are sacred sites where photography is not permitted, and signs mark them clearly. Your guide will point them out. Drone use is prohibited across the national park.

Itineraries can change for weather, road closures or track closures declared by Parks Australia. When that happens we substitute an equivalent walk rather than cutting the day short.

Cancellation policy

Cancel more than 30 days out for a full refund less the booking fee. Between 30 and 7 days, 50 percent of the fare is retained. Inside 7 days the fare is not refundable, although a date change is usually possible if seats exist on the new departure. If we cancel a departure for any reason, you receive a full refund or a transfer of your choice.

Tour FAQ

Can I do this tour from Yulara instead?

Not this one, it is built as a loop from Alice Springs. If you are staying at Yulara, our one day Uluru and Kata Tjuta tours and the two day Kings Canyon extension cover the same ground.

Is camping compulsory?

You sleep in a cabin at a permanent camp, not a tent. Swags are available on request for anyone who wants to sleep outside.

What if the Valley of the Winds is closed for heat?

Parks Australia closes the section beyond the first lookout when the forecast reaches 36 degrees. We walk it earlier on hot days, and if the closure still applies we do the Walpa Gorge track instead, which stays open.