Trek the Larapinta Trail

You’re in for a challenging walking trip and an excellent level of fitness is essential. You must be prepared to trek for multiple hours and up to 20km a day with little shade, climbing peaks and ridges over uneven and rocky terrain with a daypack carrying a minimum personal supply of 3 litres of water. The total distance walked on this trip exceeds 60km. We walk different sections of the Larapinta Trail each day, rather than the entire trail from start to finish.

When travelling in Central Australia temperatures can range from very high in the day, to below freezing at night. Please ensure you pack appropriate clothing, including sleepwear. Between June and August, when nighttime temperatures can drop below zero, we highly recommend bringing your own sleeping bag suitable to the conditions for a more comfortable sleep.

On this trip you will be camping under the stars. You will be expected to set up and take down tents at the start and end of the trip. Please bring your own sleeping bag, and remember that between June and August, nighttime temperatures can drop below zero, so we highly recommend bringing a sleeping bag suitable to the conditions for a more comfortable sleep.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL
You’re in for a challenging walking trip and an excellent level of fitness is essential. You must be prepared to trek for multiple hours and up to 20km a day with little shade, climbing peaks and ridges over uneven and rocky terrain with a daypack carrying a minimum personal supply of 3 litres of water. The total distance walked on this trip exceeds 60km.

START & END TIMES
This trip starts at 6pm with a welcome meeting on day 1 at your hotel and finishes back in Alice Springs after breakfast on day 7. Please take this into consideration when booking arrival and onward travel.

ACCOMMODATION
For our camping nights, a tent and stretcher bed with a sleeping mat is provided. Single travellers will be allocated their own tent. You will be expected to help set up and take down tents at the start and end of the trip. A sleeping bag is available to be pre-booked at an additional cost, or you can bring your own. Pillows, towels, and swags are not provided. Between June and August, nighttime temperatures can drop below zero, so we highly recommend bringing a sleeping bag suitable to the conditions for a more comfortable sleep. There is a shared toilet and shower block available at the campsite.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A Single Supplement is bookable on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. The single supplement covers the first and the last night in Alice Springs. For our camping nights single travellers will be allocated their own tent as a default.

SELF ASSESSMENT FORM
A Passenger Self Assessment Form is required for this trip. Your booking agent will provide you with this form when you book to fill out before arrival.

OPERATOR
This trip is operated and run by Inspiration Outdoors, an Intrepid Company. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Inspiration Outdoors customers and Intrepid customers. Intrepid works closely with Inspiration Outdoors to ensure that all of our customers enjoy their time away.

Remember that in winter in the Red Centre the days are typically quite clear and mild (average max 25°C) and the nights can be quite cold (average min 0°C). Please make sure you pack accordingly.

ESSENTIAL:
• Day-pack - one with a waist strap is best to help take some weight off your shoulders
• Shorts or trousers and shirts for walking - lightweight and quick-dry material are best
• Casual clothing for evenings and rest days
• Wind and waterproof jacket
• Socks - whichever thickness you're comfortable in (thick explorer socks can get quite hot)
• Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes or boots (ankle support is strongly encouraged as many surfaces
are rocky and uneven)
• Sun protection - hat, sunglasses, sunscreen (and consider your clothing)
• Toiletries, hand sanitiser and personal medication
• Reliable headlamp with spare batteries
• Any preferred first aid supplies such as blister treatment (Your guides will also carry a first-aid kit)
• Water bottle/s - 3 litre capacity at least
• Insect Repellent
• Beanie and gloves (great for the cool nights sitting around the camp kitchen)
• 1 really good and warm layer (e.g. fleece)
• Sleeping bag (approx. -15 degrees rating)
• Pillow and towel

OPTIONAL:
• Lunch box or beeswax wrap for your sandwich (glad wrap otherwise provided)
• Fly net (especially for walks in warmer weather)
• Camera and charger/batteries (You can use your battery charger back at camp)
• Consider bringing thermals for the cooler nights
• Gaiters (no sweaty plastic ones) for snake bite protection, are recommended unless you are wearing
long pants and long socks. They're also good for keeping rocks and grass seeds out.
• Sock protectors (to keep rocks and grass seeds out of your boots)
• Robust sandals for relaxing around the campsite
• Bathers and small pack towel (there will be a few swimming opportunities)
• Snacks and alcohol (try to minimise glass) - there will be very limited possibilities to restock during the
week. Some people like to have some extra muesli bars, nuts, lollies etc
• Walking pole/s (good for using on some rocky sections if your balance is not good and useful for steep
sections)

Please note that the above list is to be used as a guide only, please contact us if you have further questions

While bedding is provided, between June and August, when nighttime temperatures can drop below zero, we highly recommend bringing your own sleeping bag suitable to the conditions for a more comfortable sleep.

MORE!
If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your group leader or local representative will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination, and if it is, you can simply refill it with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you.

You’re in for a challenging walking trip and an excellent level of fitness is essential. You must be prepared to trek for multiple hours and up to 20km a day with little shade, climbing peaks and ridges over uneven and rocky terrain with a daypack carrying a minimum personal supply of 3 litres of water. The total distance walked on this trip exceeds 70km.

If you’re already exercising regularly, it might be an idea to up your game a little. Run those extra laps, or take few longer walks, ideally with a day pack on your back. If you’re not exercising regularly, it’s important you do so in the weeks leading up to your departure (4-6 weeks prior at least). Your best choice would be to start walking regularly 2-3 times a week including at least one longer walk (up to 15 km). It’s important to not only walk on flat surface, so if you cannot access hilly terrain easily, walking up and down stairs is a good replacement. Top that up with some general fitness exercises and any other cardio related classes and you will see a huge progress in your fitness levels.

Desert Palms Hotel, 74 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Joining Point

Desert Palms Hotel, 74 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Finish Point

Breakfasts included: 4

Lunches included: 5

Dinners included: 6

All meals are included from the evening meal on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 7. Breakfast comprises of cereal, fruit and toast. Lunch is sometimes prepared and brought to you on the track when we can get vehicle access. On days you are walking in a remote section guests will pack their lunch in the morning which consists of cold meats and salad with sandwiches, rolls or wraps. Dinner is a 2 course meal, main and dessert. If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know when you book, we are happy to adapt our tasty, nutritious meals to suit a variety of dietary needs. Certain dietary requests may not be possible due to the remote regions.

During May - August the days are typically clear and mild (average max 25°C) but the nights can be quite cold (average min 0°C), come prepared!

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

In the case of an emergency and family and friends are trying to get in contact with you and are unable to reach you on your personal phone, please ask them to call the office on 1300 544 882. After hours or on the weekend there is an option on the voicemail which will direct them through to the duty mangers personal mobile. On tour in an emergency situation, our guides will be carrying satellite phones.

1300 544 882 or +61 8 6219 5164

So that we maximise time outside of the bus exploring, rather than commuting to Alice Springs each night, this tour involves comfortable camping for 4 nights during the middle of your tour and hotel accommodation on the nights on either side.

For our camping nights, a tent and stretcher bed with a sleeping mat is provided. A sleeping bag is available to be pre-booked, or you can bring your own. Pillows, towels, and swags are not provided.

You will explore the West MacDonnell Ranges in a comfortable bus. Our vehicles are modern, comfortable and are regularly serviced to ensure their safety and reliability. They are also fitted with recovery gear in case of emergency. In the case of breakdown or other unforeseen circumstances affecting the vehicle or guide, we reserve the right to substitute vehicles and guides other than those specified, to ensure the operation of a tour. Seats on tour vehicles are not pre allocated. To ensure all participants get to enjoy window seats we encourage a daily seat rotation system.