The Larapinta Trail End to End Trekking 16D15N, Fully Guided

Arrive in Alice Springs (Guest's own arrangement) and make your way to the hotel. Alice Springs is known as the capital of Australia's Red Center, and it is a great base for exploring the natural wonders of the Northern Territory's outback, including Uluru, Kings Canyon, the West MacDonnell Ranges and their iconic Larapinta Trail.

In the afternoon, you are required to attend pre-walk brief.

Walking distance: 20 km

We pick you up from your accommodation between 7:00 and 7:30am. Your walking begins at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station which also marks the beginning of the Larapinta Trail itself. The stone buildings here date back to 1872 and housed the first Europeans to live in Central Australia.

You start today's 20km walk to Simpson’s Gap. This walk features superb views over Alice Springs and the surrounding lowlands and traces part of the historic Overland Telegraph Line route. Visitors also follow the Aboriginal Dreaming Track of an ancient euro (hill kangaroo), ancestor of the modern species of euro, also known as wallaroo along with superb bird watching opportunities. The trail passes through Witchetty bush and Mulga scrub, over exposed hills and shady woodlands before we arrive for lunch at Wallaby Gap. From Wallaby Gap, you follow the trail west through magnificent, shady Bloodwoods and tall Ironwoods, the dominant trees on this narrow alluvial flat.

Walking distance: 24.5 km

Section 2 is a 24.5km section of the Larapinta Trail. Some of the highlights for this section include passing through the home of one of the few brushtail possum colonies in central Australia and exploring a landscape of rock outcrops that is over 2,000 million years old. From Simpson's Gap you walk through pleasant, grassy flats and low, rocky hills bearing the scars of early cattle grazing, evidence of the fragility of this arid environment. Graceful Ghost Gums are also to be seen on this section, coated in a white powder with powerful antiseptic properties used by Aborigines. One of the most peaceful parts of the trail is Spring Gap. You observe a wide variety of plant life and watch for birds at the waterhole.

Walking distance: 13.6 km

Leaving Jay Creek you are on sacred ground, where the Aboriginal custodians ask that we walk only in the creek bed. Today you tackle the Section 3 of the Larapinta Trail, a 13.6km section that is quite challenging and covers some of the steepest and most rugged country in the ranges. Continue on through varied terrain dotted with Mulga and Witchetty Bush to Tangentyere Junction. Here the track diverges to follow the ridgeline above the Finke River. We trek to our lunch spot at Millers Flat, from which we climb through rocky terrain before descending into Standley Chasm from the north.

Walking distance: 17.7 km

Section 4 is a 17.7km section of the trail that follows the high quartzite ridges of the Chewings Range to the summit of Brinkley Bluff where walkers are rewarded with breathtaking views in all directions. From Standley Chasm, trek along the spectacular Bridle Trail, an old trading route used by the early settlers in the region. Steeply descending from the bluff the trail enters Stuart’s Pass, an upper branch of the Hugh River. It then follows the river valley to Birthday Waterhole.

Walking distance: 16 km

Section 5 is a challenging 16km section of the Larapinta Trail that passes through Spencer Gorge before negotiating the spine of Razorback Ridge and then down narrow Linear Valley to the junction with the Hugh River. The trail then follows natural watercourses and it may be necessary to negotiate pools of water within Hugh Gorge.

Rest in the spectacular surrounds of the Hugh Gorge and Hugh River with opportunities for short walks in this spectacular location. Time to recharge the batteries before the next day’s big walk.

Walking distance: 31.2 km

The Section 6 of the Larapinta Trail is a 31.2km. This long and challenging section traverses across the Alice Valley from Hugh Gorge in the Chewings Range to Ellery Creek Big Hole in the Heavitree Range. It is one of the longest and most difficult sections of the Larapinta Trail. Staying on the south side of the range whose soaring presence dominates your vista of this stage, moving through lower level woodlands and spinifex where you could chance upon painted firetails and different wren species.

Walking distance: 14 km

Section 7 of the Larapinta Trail is a 13.8km section that includes some steep ascents with sharp rocks on the first part of the trail which can be hard on tender feet. The trail is again through woodlands and spinifex. Today you are walking through the vertical-spined dolomite country of the Bitter Springs formation. This walk presents an opportunity to learn something of the long and fascinating geological history of the West MacDonnell Ranges. These 800 million year old rocks contain fossilised stromatolites, the cyanobacteria that were amongst the first life on this earth. Another highlight is the abundance of birds including the elusive spinifex bird, a unique species of warbler found only in Australia.

Walking distance: 13.4 km

Head to the spectacular western half of the Larapinta Trail and onto a 13.4km section of the Larapinta Trail that is only suitable for well-prepared and experienced walkers with a good level of fitness. It offers exhilarating views of the high quartzite ridgelines that typify the West MacDonnell Ranges, including Haasts Bluff and Mt Zeil (the highest point in the Northern Territory).

Walking distance: 28.6 km

Today is one of the highlights of the trip. The Section 9 of Larapinta Trail is 28.6km long and is one of the more difficult sections taking us into the rugged heart of the range country. This trek takes you into the rugged heart of this country on a track only opened as recent as 1997. This section is a little more difficult as we ascend to 1088 metres, but is well worth the reward of the clear views across the Alice Valley to the wow factor of Mt. Giles. There is no reliable surface water along the way, so you must be prepared to carry a considerable amount of drinking water for the walk.

Walking distance: 9.9 km

Traverse the low lying regions surrounding Ormiston Gorge gradually working your way upward into the back reaches of the Finke River. This area is steeped in traditional folklore with several important sites being viewed including ‘Yapulpa’, which is part of the Carpet Snake Dreaming legend as well as the Emu and Kangaroo Man Dreaming. This section has some steep ascents and is one of the shorter sections of the Larapinta Trail. Finke River is one of the world’s oldest river systems. Tea-tree bushes grow in abundance here, and there are dense stands of reeds and bullrushes on the western edge of the river.

Walking distance: 25.2 km

Today, you will trek the Section 11 of the Larapinta Trail. The section is 25.2km long and begins meandering across low spinifex-covered hills with the spectacular backdrop of Mount Sonder in the background. It then crosses the Davenport River and climbs to a hilltop lookout before descending to shady, tranquil Rocky Bar Gap at the foot of Mount Sonder. We then pass through this gap and travel along the southern flank of Mount Sonder to Redbank Creek.

Walking distance: 16 km

Today you will tackle one of the primary goals of the Larapinta Trail, the 16km return climb to the summit of Mount Sonder (1,380m) - known as the pregnant lady by the local Anangu Aboriginal people. The arduous climb to the peak is well worth the effort and walkers are rewarded with breathtaking views in all directions. To sight the views of the country from the top and knowing we have just climbed one of the highest peaks west of the Great Dividing Range is a memorable moment of the trip is ample reward for the effort involved in getting there. Ranges, plains, valleys and salt lakes all combine to create magnificent vistas. This is a great place to experience the grandeur of the desert landscape.

Walking distance: 9 km

Travel to Ormiston Gorge where you spend your final morning on the Ormiston Pound circuit walk. Regarded by many as the best small walk of the Larapinta Trail, the Ormiston Pound is a great place for a cool dip, to see the towering red walls of the gorge and pound, and local plants and wildlife. Starting from the Visitor Centre the trail winds around some low peaks before descending into the ‘pound’, a flat area enclosed by mountains all around. There are numerous species of birds and mammals such as wallabies that can be seen in the gorge. It takes about 3 – 4 hours to complete the circuit and we finally return to the Visitor Centre via the main waterhole.

After another healthy lunch, you will pack and break camp for regrettably the last time and return to normality (hot shower and life as you know it awaits). Tonight, you will reminisce the past 14 days and share some banter over a refreshing ale or cool drink at one of Alice’s classic outback restaurants (own expense).

After breakfast, it's time to say farewell to the Red Centre. Please check out hotel and settle any personal expense. You will reminisce the past 14 day trekking on the Larapinta Trail - one of the most spectacular multi-day hiking experiences in the world.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.