AAT Kings Outback Contrasts Small Groups (Single)

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Six days in a small group of no more than 24, from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, Uluru and Kata Tjuta and back, with bush tucker from chef Rayleen Brown, a five-course dinner with paired wines under the desert sky and time with the Wanmarra Community. This fare is for a single room.

Days

6 days, 5 nights

Group size

Small group, up to 24

Start / finish

Alice Springs / Alice Springs
Alice Springs on day 6

Return

Alice Springs on day 6

Accommodation

5 nights in hotels in Alice Springs, Kings Canyon Resort and Uluru

Transport

Air-conditioned coach with a driver guide

Meals

5 breakfasts and 2 dinners

Route

Map of AAT Kings Outback Contrasts Small Groups (Single)

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Included experiences

Alice Springs — Overland Telegraph Station
Alice Springs — bush tucker tasting with chef Rayleen Brown
Kings Canyon — Under a Desert Moon five-course dinner with wines
Kings Canyon — sunrise Rim Walk or creek bed walk
Wanmarra Community — Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience
Kata Tjuta — walk through Walpa Gorge
Uluru — base tour and sunset drinks
West MacDonnell Ranges — Simpsons Gap

AAT Kings Outback Contrasts Small Groups (Single)

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

DAY 1: ALICE SPRINGS

Fly into Alice Springs before midday and meet your driver guide. The town sits almost 1,500 km by road from Darwin, right in the middle of the continent. Your first stop is the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, built in 1872 as a repeater post on the Overland Telegraph Line that joined Adelaide to Darwin and, by undersea cable, to London. The waterhole beside it was named after Alice Todd, wife of Charles Todd, the man behind the line, and the town took its name from it. Later you sit down with Rayleen Brown, an Aboriginal chef whose recipes appear in Australian cookbooks and who has judged television cooking shows, for a tasting of wild-harvested bush foods. Ask her about the plants behind each flavour.

Overnight: Alice Springs

DAY 2: ALICE SPRINGS TO KINGS CANYON

Head south down the Stuart Highway to Erldunda, the roadhouse known as the Centre of the Centre, about 200 km from Alice Springs where the Lasseter Highway turns west toward Uluru. From there the road swings north-west into Watarrka National Park, its name taken from the Luritja word for the umbrella bush that grows here, and on to Kings Canyon Resort. As the light goes, dinner is Under a Desert Moon: five courses of local produce with matched Australian wines, served in the open air. With no town for hundreds of kilometres, the stars come out thick over the table.

Overnight: Kings Canyon (Kings Canyon Resort)

DAY 3: KINGS CANYON TO ULURU

Set out at sunrise on the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, a 6 km circuit that climbs to the top of walls about 100 metres high, winds through the weathered sandstone domes of the Lost City and drops down to the Garden of Eden, a permanent waterhole ringed by cycads and rare plants. Prefer something gentler? The creek bed walk follows the canyon floor. Next comes the Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience with the Wanmarra Community, where Luritja and Pertame hosts talk about their country and the bush foods and medicines they still use. The drive to Uluru passes Curtin Springs Station, a working cattle station on the Lasseter Highway, and ends at the Uluru Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, whose two buildings take the shape of the ancestral snakes Kuniya and Liru.

Overnight: Uluru

DAY 4: ULURU AND KATA TJUTA

Early risers can add the Field of Light, Bruce Munro's 50,000 solar-powered stems glowing across the dunes before dawn. Then it's west to Kata Tjuta, Pitjantjatjara for "many heads": 36 domes, the tallest standing about 550 metres above the plain. The Walpa Gorge walk follows a creek bed between two of the biggest, and walpa means windy, which you'll feel as the air funnels through. After free time for lunch, your guide takes you around the base of Uluru, 348 metres high and 9.4 km around, and explains why it matters to its Anangu Traditional Owners. Sunset drinks follow as the rock deepens from orange to red. The evening is free, or you can pre-book the Uluru barbecue dinner.

Overnight: Uluru

DAY 5: ULURU TO ALICE SPRINGS

The long road back passes Atila (Mt Conner), a flat-topped mesa so often mistaken for Uluru that locals call it Fooluru. Then it's cattle and camel country: Australia's wild camels descend from animals brought in to carry supplies across the inland in the 1800s. There's a break at Stuart Wells, the roadhouse about 90 km south of Alice Springs. Before town you turn into the West MacDonnell Ranges for Simpsons Gap, Rungutjirpa to the Arrernte people, where a waterhole sits in a break in the ridge. Watch the rocks for black-footed rock-wallabies, which come out in the cooler hours. Then it's back into Alice Springs for your last night.

Overnight: Alice Springs

DAY 6: FAREWELL ALICE SPRINGS

The tour ends in Alice Springs in the morning, and your flight home can leave at any time of day. With a few hours to spare, you can add a hot air balloon flight at dawn, drifting over the red plains and low ridges that ring the town as the sun comes up over the MacDonnell Ranges, which stretch more than 600 km east to west across the centre. It's a quiet way to say goodbye to the outback before the airport.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Alice Springs. Book flights to land at Alice Springs Airport before 12 noon on day 1.
Finishes: Alice Springs on day 6; flights can leave at any time that day.
Fitness: The activity level is rated dynamic. The Kings Canyon Rim Walk is a 6 km circuit; the creek bed walk is the easier choice.
Suits: Travellers who want the Red Centre's big sights with Aboriginal culture and good food, in a smaller group than a standard coach tour.

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes
Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
Water bottle
Warm layers in cooler months
Camera

What is included

5 nights in hand-picked hotels, including Kings Canyon Resort (single room)
5 breakfasts and 2 dinners, including the Under a Desert Moon degustation with wines
Expert driver guide and small group of up to 24
Bush tucker experience with Rayleen Brown
Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience
Sunset drinks at Uluru
Air-conditioned coach and porterage where hotels offer it

Not included

Flights to and from Alice Springs
Lunches and the other dinners
Optional extras: Field of Light, Uluru barbecue dinner, hot air balloon flight

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.