Kimberley Trail

On some days of the trip, you’ll spend several hours driving through very sparse areas of Australia. Sit back and enjoy landscapes that you would miss in any other form of travel. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. Think of it as a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie.

Our leaders know the best spots to watch the sunset, can drive you to your next destination, take you on a guided hike or even whip up dinner for the group on some trips. While they won’t always do all these jobs on every trip, be aware they will be juggling many things on your tour and may have less time to spend with you. They will always be working hard to ensure you and your group have a fantastic time exploring Australia.

This trip involves plenty of walking over varied terrain, including wading through water and clambering over rocks, and is best suited to travellers with a great level of fitness and mobility. Good footwear and comfortable clothing are recommended.

This is a camping trip for those who are looking for the basics. Simple facilities and lack of emphasis on creature comforts make this an authentic experience of the Australian outback.

Temperatures in Western Australia are extreme. During the day the weather can be hot (and the Australian sun is strong) so please bring appropriate clothing, use sun protection and drink plenty of water. In the evenings temperatures really drop, so ensure you have base layers and warm clothing.

START & END TIME
This trip starts in Broome with an early pick-up at 7:00am on day 1 at our default pick-up location, unless you request an alternative pick-up location well ahead of departure. The trip finishes at around 6:30pm on the last day. We recommend you arrive a day prior to the trip's departure date and onward travel should not be booked until the following day.

TRIP STYLE & SLEEPING BAG
Accommodation on this trip is twin share and is a combination of pop-up tents and permanent tents with basic beds. Each traveller will also get a swag (Australian bedroll), so you can opt to sleep under stars, a true Australian experience. Please bring your own sleeping bag or purchase one from us in advance. A pillow, pillowcase, bottom sheet and a swag/canvas bed roll are always provided.

SINGLE TRAVELLERS
A Single Supplement is not available on this trip. You will be paired up with another single traveller of the same gender.

LUGGAGE
Be ready to manage your own luggage, including loading it on and off our vehicle and taking it from the vehicle to and from your tent or accommodation in each location. We recommend no more than 15kg for your main luggage in a soft-sided bag and no more than 7kg for your day pack.

Below are some suggestions for packing for this trip. Check online for the expected weather to ensure you pack appropriately for the time of year you are travelling.

ESSENTIALS
It is essential that you bring a torch, shoes you don’t mind getting wet – and we mean fully immersed in water: ideally, wet shoes, sandals or old runners, a broad-brimmed hat with a sun visor for all-round protection, sunscreen, swimming costume and towel, good walking/trekking shoes and a personal water bottle.

SLEEPING BAG
You will also need to bring a good sleeping bag suitable to potential cold desert conditions. Sleeping bags are available for sale – these must be requested with your sales agent prior to travel and can be kept following your trip or we can donate them to local Aboriginal communities on your behalf.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Other recommendations include warm clothes for the evening (particularly if travelling May-Aug), personal toiletries and first aid, with any personal medication required.

CHECKLIST
- Sleeping bag suitable to the conditions (either bring your own or request to purchase one through us for an additional cost)
- A pair of shoes/sandals that you don’t mind getting wet - and we mean fully immersed in water. Ideally, wet shoes or sandals.
- A torch (ideally a head torch)
- A broad-brimmed hat with a sun visor for all-round protection
- Swimming costume and towel
- Light weight, quick dry towel.
- Comfortable, closed-in shoes to protect your feet from cuts, scratches, bites and stings when walking through bush or grasslands.
- Refillable water bottle (minimum 2 litres)
- Small day pack
- Personal toiletries
- Insect repellent & sunscreen
- Long shirts and pants are important to protect against the harsh Australian sun, wind and insects at night. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry.
- Warm jumper and/or windproof jacket (particularly in May-Aug)
- Battery pack/power bank for recharging your phone or camera
- Earplugs to get a good night's sleep when camping
- Personal toiletries and first aid, with any personal medication required

Note: Maximum bag weight limit is 15kg - no suitcases

MORE!
If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list., https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list

Fitness Level: Advanced

This itinerary involves some clambering over rocks, wading in water by torchlight, walking on rocky creek beds that are unstable underfoot and ascending/descending into gorges. The ability to swim and a reasonable level of fitness and being sure on your feet is required to participate.

Kimberley Travellers Lodge departing 07:00am, 9a Bagot Street, Broome, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Joining Point

The default pick up location for this trip is at 7:00 am at Kimberley Travellers Lodge.

The default pick up point is where we will meet you for your tour, unless you or your travel agent requests an alternative location (contact our Reservations team for more information). It is your responsibility to contact us with your preferred pick up point well ahead of departure. We do not take responsibility for missed tours if we have not been advised of an alternative in advance and you are not at the default location on time.

Broome, , Broome, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Finish Point

Breakfasts included: 13

Lunches included: 13

Dinners included: 10

On most days, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included. Your leader will prepare most of the meals whilst on tour. Please read the daily itinerary to find out what is included. Due to the often remote nature of our trips, food is basic but plentiful and delicious.

PARTICIPATORY CAMPING
Our tours are activity and participation based. During your travels with us you will have the opportunity to assist with daily activities such as setting up camp, helping prepare meals and clearing dishes. None of this is difficult however many hands make light work and any assistance provided to crew is always much appreciated. Most people agree that this type of activity helps you feel like less of a tourist and more of an explorer.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
All food for this trip is purchased and packed prior to your group leaving on day one. After we’ve left town it can be very difficult to source special dietary requests. Travellers with special dietary requirements or food allergies are required to advise us at the time of booking. You may be asked to pay for any additional food if you have not advised us of any special dietary requirements. Please don’t hesitate to contact u if you have any specific dietary concerns.

The Kimberley has a Wet Season (DEC to MAR) and a Dry Season (APR to NOV). During ‘the Wet’ most 4WD roads and National Parks are closed. Our tours operate during ‘the Dry’ when it can get surprisingly cold overnight, depending on where you are – in Broome, it can get down to 12ºC, while in Purnululu, it can fall as low as 5ºC! During the day, we usually enjoy 28 to 30ºC. Note: in September and October, as ‘the Wet’ approaches, temperatures increase accordingly and it can be very hot during the day. It is essential that you are prepared for this!

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

ALL general enquiry must be directed to our reservations team. In case of a GENUINE EMERGENCY, or concerns about a missed pick-up on the day of departure ONLY, please contact our local Operations Team on the number listed below:

GENUINE EMERGENCIES ONLY: 1300 544 882 or +61 8 6219 5164

Nights 1, 4, 5, 6, & 13 Camping in National Parks and on Cattle Stations involves dome tents (single/twinshare), swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. Some on site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets however on those nights in which we are camping in National Parks, the ablution facilities can be relatively basic.

Nights 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 & 10 Camping in one of our private KWE Safari Camps features tourer-style tents on platforms with twin beds and share ablution facilities nearby.

Nights 11 & 12 In the heart of Purnululu National Park, our eco safari tents at the Bungle Bungles Safari Camp boast views of the Bungles Massif from your door. The camp features modern facilities, a covered dining deck with panoramic views and an open air campfire around which you can relax beneath a sparkling Kimberley night sky: chatting, star-gazing and sharing the adventure with like-minded travellers.

SLEEPING BAG
This trip requires a sleeping bag.

SINGLE TRAVELLERS
A Single Supplement is not available on this trip. As a single traveller you will have a tent to yourself on most camping nights. In the permanent tented camps you will be paired up with another single traveller of the same gender.

BEDDING
All accommodation will be provided with twin bedding. If you would prefer double bedding please advise Intrepid as early as possible. Double bedding is on request and is determined by the availability at the accommodation on your trip.

We operate our 4WD Kimberley trips in custom-built, 21-seat 4WD trucks with a PA system and built-in storage (no risky trailers!). These comfortable, strong remote area vehicles allow our small groups extra space (including standing room), are fully air-conditioned and fitted with adjustable air vents, reclinable seats, map pockets and footrests. It is important that when booking a 4WD outback adventure in the Kimberley, you understand that the roads we travel on can be heavily corrugated. Rest assured, these are the conditions for which our 4WD trucks are designed.