Larapinta Trail
Described by Australian Geographic as “one of the world’s best long- distance arid-zone walks”, the Larapinta trail weaves through the spectacular backbone of the West MacDonnell Ranges from Alice Springs to one of the highest peaks in Australia’s Red Centre, Mt Sonder.
This vast and spectacular section of the MacDonnell Ranges is an outstanding example of an ancient landscape sculptured over time by climatic extremes. High exposed ridgelines with exhilarating views, lush gorges, dry river valleys and secluded waterholes provides walkers with endless scenic pleasure. Our private campsite, located within the National Park is the perfect base from which to walk and explore this awe inspiring country. We offer the option of luxury swags and /or touring tents set on elevated platforms, while our bush shower and composting toilet are welcome comfort in this remote area. After a day of walking the trail there is nothing better than indulging in the renowned culinary delights from our outback kitchen. Record rains hold promise of an outstanding array of birdlife and flora in 2011 offering walkers a once in a lifetime experience.
We offer two options - our classic six day "Larapinta Trail" which we have been running for 7 years covering the highlights of this magnificent trail and now if you're short on time or would like just a taste of this breathtakingly beautiful landscape and the ultimate bush camping experience our new tour in 2011 - "Taste of the Larapinta Trail" is a great choice. This is a three day trip.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LARAPINTA TRAIL
- Walk through an ancient landscape of rugged beauty and astonishing mystique
- Sleep under the stars in ultimate comfort
- Enjoy sensational gourmet food cooked on an open fire
- Walk the narrow cleft into Standley Chasm
- Swim in hidden gorges and cool waterholes
- See the rare plants and stunning wildlife of the desert
- Climb to the top of Mt Sonder, the highest point in the West MacDonnell Ranges
What makes our Larapinta Trail tours unique?
Right from the time you commence this journey with us the quality is evident.
- Comfort and space in our Mercedes Sprinter bus or Toyota Landcruiser
- Sensational food using predominantly organic produce - home made cakes, soups, stocks and snacks. We use the freshest and best quality raw materials available
- A choice of high quality wines from delicious flinty rieslings, to elegant sauv blancs, earthy pinots and rich dark cherry shiraz
- A nice cold beer or G&T for sundowners
- Great coffee to get you going in the morning and a beautiful selection of Larson and Thomson teas – no tea bags on site!
- Luxury fully enclosed swags with mattresses, woollen underlays, cotton sheets and pillowcases.
- The option of being in a tent offering both privacy and standing room.
- A solar shower with eco friendly toiletries
- A composting toilet
- Guides with many years experience who are adept at wearing many hats. They are your hosts, interpreters of the landscape, cooks, carers of blisters and friends for the journey. They may be environmental scientists, chefs or outdoor ed specialists. Above all they’re fun - the kind of fun that makes you want to sit around the fire and chat with them or share a beer with at the end of a day on the trail. They are passionate about their work and the environment.
- We genuinely love and care for the environment in which we are fortunate enough to work in and make sure we recycle our bottles and cans, return all our vegetable and fruit scraps to hungry little chooks in Alice each week and all our human waste is removed from the site. At the end of the season we leave no trace of our presence and in fact we work to improve the site through things like our buffel grass eradication programme.
Photograph of Larapinta Trail by Peter Dwyer
