Uluru & Kata Tjuta Express

Trip Code: PZSS

Why we love it

Watch the sun set and rise over Uluru – a massive sandstone monolith in the heart of the Northern Territory’s arid Red Centre and Australia’s most iconic site. In the evening, watch the landscape change from a prime viewing area, then at sunrise, walk around the rock’s base as it lights up., Take the Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge walk with your local leader, where Kata Tjuta (Mount Olga) towers on one side above the track below., Walk to the Mutitjulu Waterhole and soak in the incredible Outback landscape as you learn about its importance to the Indigenous Anangu people., Look up – this area of Australia’s Outback is pretty incredible for stargazing! With minimal light pollution, you’ll be able to see the Milky Way in all her glory.

Is this trip right for me?

Temperatures in Australia's Red Centre can be extreme, so you will need to be well-prepared with clothing for the weather. Depending on the time of the year, daytime can be very hot (and the Australian sun is very strong year-round) so always use sun protection and drink plenty of water. In the evenings temperatures can really drop, so bring sufficient warm clothing - in winter temperatures can be below zero at night.

As sunrise and sunset times as well as weather conditions vary throughout the year, the order of activities may change to ensure you have the best experience possible. On occasion, the First Nations experiences may not be available should our guides have other cultural commitments, in which case we will include alternative activities.

Important information

START & END TIME & LOCATION
The trip starts on day 1 either in Alice Springs with a pick up from Stay at Alice Springs Hotel at 8:30 am or with a Welcome Meeting at 4pm in Yulara at our joining point hotel. Please advise us of your preferred start location at the time of booking. On the last day, you have the option of finishing your trip either at Yulara Resort (arriving at about 10.30 am), at Ayers Rock Airport (arriving at about 12 pm) or back in Alice Springs (arriving at about 5.30 pm). If your flight from Yulara (Ayers Rock Airport) departs before 1 pm, you’ll need to miss the last day's activities and make your own way to the airport via the resort shuttle bus.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A Single Supplement can be booked if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability.

What to bring/pack

Below are some essential items for this trip. Please review the ‘Climate and Seasonal Information’ to ensure you pack appropriately for the weather at the time of year you are travelling.

- Lightweight clothing. You will need to bring a mixture of lightweight clothing and layers. Long shirts and pants are useful to protect against the harsh Australian sun. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry. Maybe bring a change of smart clothes for dinner in larger cities. Australia is pretty casual, shorts or a skirt and a top, with sandals, is our usual warm weather wardrobe.
- Comfortable, closed-in shoes. These will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through bush/grasslands and will act as a protective barrier in the rare case of a bite or sting. A pair of sandals or thongs/flip flops are great for the beach.
- Sun protection. Wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses.

VALUABLES
Try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables and use your hotel safe. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

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

Physical rating

 
2

This trip can be enjoyed by just about anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Some trips may have individual inclusions that may be of a higher physical rating compared to the overall rating of the trip. Please read the day-to-day itinerary carefully to find out more details on each day's activities, and whether they are suitable for you. Activities can be opted out of if you don't want to participate.

KINGS CANYON, ULURU & KATA TJUTA
This trip includes walks and hikes around the major landmarks of this area. Please read the daily itinerary carefully for details. Walking is the best way to explore these stunning geological features in this otherwise flat landscape, so make sure you bring along comfortable walking shoes.

Joining your group

Outback Hotel & Lodge, Yulara Drive, Yulara, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Joining Point


Joining instructions

This trip's default start location is the Outback Hotel & Lodge in Yulara at 4pm, where you will meet your group and your leader. Flights into Yulara (Ayers Rock Airport, airport code AYQ) are met by the free resort shuttle bus which will drop you at your accommodation.

If you are flying into Alice Springs you can opt to start your trip there instead with a pick-up at 'Stay at Alice Springs Hotel' at 8:30 am in the morning of day 1 at no additional cost. Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this option.

Finishing your trip

Outback Hotel & Lodge, Yulara Drive, Yulara, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Finish Point


Meals & dietary information

Breakfasts included: 2

Lunches included: 1

Dinners included: 

Climate & seasonal information

In case of emergency

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 CRISIS OR EMERGENCY, or concerns about a missed pick-up on the day of departure ONLY (if applicable), you can reach our local office on the numbers listed below. When calling, select option 4 then option 2 from the phone menu to speak to our local Operations Team:

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

Accommodations

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

BUSH TENTS AT KINGS CREEK STATION
Your accommodation at Kings Creek Station is in simple bush tents, set against the spectacular backdrop of the George Gill Ranges. Although small and basic in design, the tents feature air conditioning units, light and power, and are twin share with all linen provided. There are shared toilet and shower facilities, a camp kitchen with a fire pit, and a nearby grassed picnic area and swimming pool.

Transportation