4 Day Uluru Safari

My partner and I have just come back from the 4-day Rock to Rock tour which covers King's Canyon, Uluru and Kata tjuta. We're not normally one for organised trips, but having booked flights into Uluru, doing a tour seemed like the cheapest and best way to see everything in the area. I'm so glad we did! 

Our guide Dave, or Disco, was very knowledgeable and did an incredible job of keeping 22 people happy and fed for 4 days. It's not an easy job but he did it with enthusiasm and fun. His in-promptitude talk about the stars was definitely a highlight of the trip for us. He was also fantastic about the fact we were vegetarian and we were more than catered for with yummy stuffed mushrooms and veggie Thai curry.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the tents and camp facilities. It was much more permanent than I had imagined and the beds were okay to sleep on for a night or two.

Did the 4 day Uluru & Kings Canyon trip which was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Hilly, the Tour Guide, really made this experience the best it could be. Starting in Alice Springs we headed for camel rides before the incredible Uluru sunset. Food & wine was amazing although I think the vegetarian options could be a little better. The night at camp is complete fun with the amazing night sky. Remember to bring marshmallows!! Next day was Uluru sunrise and base walk with cultural info before he drive to Kings Canyon for sunset and another great night camp with swags or tents as an option. The walk around Kings Canyon next day is a real highlight before heading back to Alice Springs for a major night out. This trip is real "once in a lifetime" experience that caters for all tastes and age ranges. It brings the group together. Hilly was fantastic as a guide. His knowledge and fun approach made the trip one of the best experiences I've had. The music during the driving and as an alarm clock was the best. Thanks Joey!

Had an awesome experience on the 4 Day Uluru Safari including King's Canyon + Uluru in the permanent tents.
Justin was an awesome guide- he had such great energy + kept everyone positive + excited even when we were hot + whiney :) He was definitely passionate ab the region + ab his job.
It's definitely an intense tour- lots of traveling/physical activity/heat/bugs, but totally totally worth it.
Would definitely love to do another tour with Justin next visit!

We did the 4 Day Uluru Safari ex Yulara.

We have been on a few of these types of tours and what made this one fantastic was without doubt the guide, Joe. Joe was one of the nicest and funniest guys you will ever meet. It's clear that he loves his job and because of this he is very good at it.

The food was basic but still tasty and plenty of it. Some of the meals we had were hamburgers, sausages, kangaroo, steak with potato bake and coleslaw, chicken satay with steamed rice and veg. The meals include red and white wine and are prepared for you and washing up is also done for you. This is different to some other tours where guests are expected to prepare and clean at meal times and one of the reasons we chose this tour. The Yulara camp has a long dining table that was too small for the 22 guests on our tour however the Kings Canyon camp is two large tables which are perfect for the job.

The permanent tents were adequate. They are just small square tents with 2 single beds along with a small lamp and fan. It was very hot when we were there so the fan was very welcome at night.

Best of all is the experience. The small touches like Aboriginal Guide and Champagne Sunset at Ayers Rock make this tour great. The rim walk at Kings Canyon is nothing short of amazing.

My tip, fly to Yulara and pickup the tour there like we did. Everyone we talked to on the bus said the 5hr bus trip from Alice Springs is boring.

We undertook a 4 day trip to Uluru and Kings Canyon, stayed in 2 luxurious tents ( Dreamtime escarpment) in the Outback. It was an exceptional wildlife experience. Don’t miss the King’s Canyon Rim Walk! Our guide Asha was extremely knowledgeable, professional and warm- hearted. If you can spend time with her during your time in the Outback, you won’t be disappointed.

I took this tour with Niall as my tour leader starting Dec 6, 2018. I was picked-up at my hotel on time; that said there had been confusion caused by an email I should not have received, which required a number of frustrating emails to get it all straightened out. It all worked out. There were 8 of us from Alice Springs to the Ayers Rock airport, where we picked-up the rest of the group. The drive from Alice springs to the airport was in a very comfortable vehicle with plenty of leg room and overhead storage. The leader, Niall, was outstanding in knowledge, humor, personality and driving ability. (A leader of a tour I took later in Tasmania knew Niall and spoke really well of him, too.) I really did not know what to expect on this trip and was pleased and surprised all the way. Our tent and bathroom facilities, as well as the food situation, were all fine and most acceptable---after all, we were in the outback! We were at Uluru for both sunset and sunrise (requiring getting up at 3:45!) but it was totally worth it. We had champaign for the sunset! To me, pictures of Uluru from a distance looked like something dropped into the middle of nowhere; but, when you get up close and really see the structure, it becomes amazing! The 10-km walk around it was amazing; one can see why it was such an important place for the aborigines. The short hike among rocks in a canyon of Kata Tjuta was great. We got to Kings Canyon before sunrise and took the rim hike. Sure, the 500 steps at the start are not easy but certainly worth it in order to see the Garden of Eden, among other sights. An interaction with an aborigine woman (along with a translator) who spoke about various aspects of their lives and culture was really worth while. The group ranged in age from probably mid-20s to 75. It was a good group. Over all, this was a wonderful tour and I highly recommend it to anyone who has a positive attitude for the living situation on the tour. Keep in mind that there is quite a bit of driving. And, most important: get up and look at the incredible southern sky! Any photographers who read this should take a 14mm lens with them; I used my airplane neck-rest to steady the camera during 30-sec exposures and got great pictures!

Initial disclaimer - I am not a camper, it has never been my style. I like my bed, showers and toilets. 
We were met in Alice Springs at our hotel and picked up for an amazing adventure. We went to other areas and picked up other travellers. It was a nice small group of 8. Four people from Australia and four from overseas. It was a great group of people and we had a fantastic guide - Joey, who helped us get to know Central Australia and each other.
We headed out to Yulara camp grounds for the night and hit the highlights. A visit to Kata Tjuta and sunset at Uluru. The next morning a walk around Uluru while we watched the sunrise, a talk from one of the local ladies, introduction to some Indigenous culture and the trip continued. 
During the week we hit all the highlights of the centre, Kings Canyon; East Macdonnell ranges and the west Macdonnell ranges.
Three of the nights we slept in tents, not always my style, but I did it. I even enjoyed the time around the camp fire, communal cooking and the time the group spent together.
The fourth night was under the stars, it was beautiful, although cold, given it was in winter, I am not sure what I expected but it was very cold. I would still do it again.
Our guide - Joey, was patient and respectful with all of us. He willing answered all our questions and encouraged us to think about our views. He taught us great things about Indigenous culture and challenged any views that may have been held. He ensured that our visitors from overseas understood exactly what he was talking about so that they got to enjoy everything as much as we did.
During the walk around Kings Canyon, Joey had to take on some extra travellers due to some illness within a different group. He took this in his stride and helped us all to feel supported, safe and engaged with what we were seeing and learning.
I would do this again in a heart beat.

That was an unforgettable and beautiful experience! We visited Uluru, Watarrka National Park and King's Canyon. Trecks were sportive but not exhausting and the tour with an Aboriginal in Uluru was interesting. The group was nice, the guides fantastic, the tents confortable (and I am not the backpacking style), the food was very good (vegeterian option was surpisingly tasty). I really recommend this adventure which I will remember forever!

We booked this tour through Intrepid as their Red Centre Adventure Original (with linen) tour, but it was actually run by Adventure Tours Australia and they also offer tours direct. Our stops were Yulara (Kata Tjuka and Uluru), Kings Canyon and Glen Helen (West McDonnell Ranges). Our Driver/Guide - Locky - was fantastic, growing up in Alice Springs he has a wealth of knowledge to share. He gave a very informed, interesting and at times funny commentary throughout the whole tour - both on the bus and on the walks which he did with us. He was very accommodating and helpful with the group and had a lovely way of waking us up with some music. Locky was assisted by our lovely Camp Host/Cook - Danni. Was fantastic to walk into camp and our meals were ready to go, heaps of food and very yummy. The permanent camp sites are very well maintained, clean and comfortable with hot showers and flushing toilets. We got the linen package but you can purchase a sleeping bag and some of our group took up the offer of a swag to sleep under the stars, but still had a tent to put their gear or move back into during the night. We also enjoyed the nightly campfires. The drink offered with the evening meal is wine, so if you want beer maybe speak to the tour company prior. We bought some at one of the stops and were able to put it into the bus esky and then the camp fridge.

The trip itself was amazing. Be prepared the days are long - we were up at 4.30 or 5.00am to catch the sunrises and not back at camp for the end of the day until about 7.00pm after the sunsets. This also worked well for us as most of the walks were completed in the cool of the morning. The walks range from 3-4kms to the 15kms we did around Uluru. If you can't manage the 15kms Locky would meet us as several spots for a talk and you could jump back on the bus. I am 52 and not overly fit and managed all of these. The one around Uluru is flat, the majority of the other walks are over uneven ground with some up/down hill but nothing overly strenuous. We never felt rushed and Locky would give clear shouts out as to what time he wanted us ready.

There is a lot of sitting on the bus, but this is because of the distances to get to these areas and the landscape is beautiful and easy to see as the bus had very large windows with really good vision. Locky made lots of toilet stops, usually no more than 2 hours apart. Don't pack a huge bag as the bus had limited space and you only need the basics. 

Day 4 to Glen Helen and the Western McDonnell Ranges was fantastic. The stops are a lot closer together and a completely different landscape to the first 3 days. Highly recommend that you add the extra day or do as a separate day tour.

Only two minor little criticisms, some of the tabs for the canvas windows were broken, this was okay for the first two nights as you can drape them over the side beam, but at Glen Helen the tents are slightly different and we couldn't drape them open. End of day 3 we transferred to a smaller vehicle as there was only 4 of us continuing to Glen Helen and Locky. The vehicle supplied was a little uncomfortable with 3 adults in the back and poor Locky was driving with his knees resting on the dashboard. 

A sensational trip, very well planned and professionally executed. Would highly recommend.

So glad did a tour of this rather than going at it alone/couple to Uluru, Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon. Was great to meet like-minded others and for evening drinks. Plenty of good food catered for all (inc. Veg and Gluten frees). Two-person cabins/tents were very basic but better than expected. Showers and power on all sites. Niall was our awesome guide and always had facts and stories about the areas and culture which made doing the tour so worthwhile. Niall even booked a table for dinner and drinks for when back in Alice Springs after the trip for all those that wanted to join which was another great night.

This was a private trip for our group from the USA. Overall a great experience. Adventure tours was timely and reliable through out the planning and organization process. Everything handled through email with our travel agent. We booked over 6 months in advance. The trip was excellent. The sites are spectacular. Tent, Beds, and Food were decent enough. Including options for our Gluten free guest. Ross and Jen our Adventure Tour Guide and Camp Host worked hard to take good care of us. We even adjusted the itinerary so we could spend an afternoon swimming and relaxing with some VB Stubbies. The Desert is hot this time of year. For the hiking, make sure you bring some good powder. If you know what I mean :). Bucket List Items included Riding a Camel, Helicopter Tour, and eating Kangaroo for Dinner.