Uluru & Kings Canyon Express

Your accommodation on this trip is at private semi-permanent tented campsites. However, this isn't the most basic camping experience, as you'll have stretcher beds to sleep on. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Alternatively you can hire a sleeping bag at an additional cost. Please ask your booking agent to request a sleeping bag for you if you like to take advantage of this option. Please note that facilities are shared with other nearby campsites, including toilets and shower blocks, which are a short walk from where we camp.

Temperatures in the Red Centre can be extreme. During the day the weather can be very hot (and the Australian sun is very strong) so please bring appropriate clothing, use sun protection and drink plenty of water. In the evenings temperatures really drop (in winter temperatures can be below zero at night!) so make sure you check the forecast and have a suitable sleeping bag and warm clothes for the climate.

This trip involves some early mornings and 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 days can be long, but we want to fit as much of this amazing place in as we can in 4 short days!

As this is a camping trip, we rely on group participation to give everyone the best experience. You won't need to pitch your own tents as these are semi-permanent at our campsite, but you will need to help with loading and unloading our bus and with the preparation of meals and cleaning up. When everyone lends a hand, everything is much more enjoyable!

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. 

If you’re looking for a longer, non-camping trip in the Red Centre, you might like to consider the 6-day Red Centre & Uluru Adventure. Search trip code PZSR on our website. Alternatively, if it is even more comfort you are after, search for Best of Uluru & Kings Canyon (PZKR) or Premium Red Centre (POPR).

START POINT LOCATION & TIME
This trip starts with a welcome meeting in Yulara at 4:30pm. It is very important that you are on time. Please let us know if you plan on arriving on the Virgin flight landing at 3:30pm (from Melbourne) or 3:40pm (from Brisbane) as we can pick you up from the airport. Please note that if your flight is delayed beyond 4pm you will need to make your own way to the starting point hotel (with the free resort shuttle bus) and your leader will pick you up from there after sunset. You may want to consider arriving a day early. Alternatively, you have the option to join the trip in Alice Springs instead, at no additional cost. Departure from Alice Springs will be at the Stay at Alice Springs hotel at 9:00am on day 1 of the trip. Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this option.

END POINT LOCATION & TIME
You have the option of finishing your trip either at Yulara Resort (approx 12pm), at Ayers Rock Airport (approx 12:30pm) or back in Alice Springs (approx 6:30pm). Please note that if your flight from Yulara (Ayers Rock Airport) departs before 1:30pm you will miss today's activities and you will need to make your own way to the airport via the free Resort shuttle bus. Accommodation is not included on Day 4. If you wish to stay longer in Yulara, post-tour accommodation will need to be booked directly with your preferred property.

CAMPING
Your accommodation on this trip is at private semi-permanent tented campsites. However, this isn't the most basic camping experience, as you'll have stretcher beds to sleep on. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Pillows are provided. Alternatively you can hire a sleeping bag at an additional cost. Please ask your booking agent to request a sleeping bag for you if you like to take advantage of this option. Please note that facilities are shared with other nearby campsites, including toilets and shower blocks, which are a short walk from where we camp.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a tent on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Please note that all tents have single beds. No double beds are available.

LONG TRAVELLING DAYS & EARLY MORNINGS
This trip involves some early mornings and long travelling days. Please see the daily itinerary for more information. Take into consideration the weather when you are thinking of travelling and ensure you and your family are well hydrated in the desert heat.

ITINERARY VARIATIONS
Depending on the time of year the order of the itinerary may vary slightly to take into account sunrise and sunset times.

LUGGAGE
Be ready to manage your own luggage, including loading it on and off our vehicle and taking it from the car park to and from our accommodation in each location. We recommend no more than 20kg 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 
- Sleeping bag (either bring your own or request to hire one through us for an additional cost)
- Long shirts and pants are important to protect against the harsh Australian sun and wind. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry. 
- Comfortable, closed-in shoes to protect your feet from cuts, scratches, bites and stings when walking through bush or grasslands.
- A pair of sandals or thongs/flip flops for around camp or on the bus
- Sun protection, including a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Wind & waterproof jacket.
- Light weight, quick dry towel.
- Headlamp or torch for around camp at night.
- Sleep sheet (for warmer months) or extra sleeping layers (for colder months)
- Battery pack/power bank for recharging your phone or camera
- Refillable water bottle minimum 2 litres

RECOMMENDED
- Earplugs to get a good night's sleep at our campsite.
- Binoculars for spotting wildlife.

VALUABLES
Try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables with you on holiday. Take a photo of all important documents (tickets, passport, vaccination certificate etc to keep on your phone). 

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.

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.

Desert Gardens Hotel, 1 Yulara Drive, Yulara, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Joining Point

This trip's default start location is at the Desert Gardens Hotel in Yulara, where you will meet your group and your leader. If you are flying into Ayers Rock Airport you can take advantage of the free shuttle bus service to Yulara Resort. This service does not need to be pre-booked. Store your luggage and return in time for the group meeting.

If you are flying into Alice Springs you can opt to start your trip from there, with a pick-up in Alice Springs on the morning of Day 1. This is available as an optional service at no additional cost. Your departure from Alice Springs will be at 9:00am from Stay at Alice Springs Hotel. Please let us know if you would like to take advantage of this option.

Desert Gardens Hotel, 1 Yulara Drive, Yulara, AUSTRALIA

Alternate Finish Point

Breakfasts included: 3

Lunches included: 2

Dinners included: 2

All breakfasts are included and will be eaten at camp before setting off for the day. Lunches are typically picnic-style and will be eaten in a scenic location during or between activities. For the included dinners we usually head to the local pub or a nearby restaurant, while on the nights where dinner isn't included you can choose yourself where you would like to dine, with or without the group. Your leader will be able to advise of options. Please consult the daily itinerary for details on which days have meals included.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
If you have any dietary requirements please advise your booking agents at the time you make your booking along with your leader at the time of the group meeting. While most dietary requirements can be catered for, you may also like to bring along some of your own supplies to ensure you can enjoy your favourite foods as these may be limited in remote locations.

CENTRAL AUSTRALIA WEATHER
Central Australia, which includes Alice Springs, Uluru and the surrounding desert, has a semi-arid climate. The area experiences large variations in temperature from season to season. Temperatures can be extreme on either side of the scale. They can rise above 40C/104F in summer and can drop below 0C/32F overnight in winter. Make sure you are well prepared no matter the season!

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:

1300 544 882 or +61 8 6219 5164

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.

PARTICIPATORY CAMPING
Our camping trips in Australia stay in a variety of campsites, from powered sites with permanent tents and shared bathroom facilities, to bush camping in remote locations. Check your daily itinerary for more details. On all camping trips you will be expected to lend a hand to ensure your experience is a comfortable one for everyone, whether it is helping to bring equipment from the bus, gathering firewood, making your beds up in a tent, putting together your picnic lunch or helping to wash up. Your leader will let you know how you can contribute as well as ensure that we leave all our campsites ready for the next visitors when we depart.

DRIVING DISTANCES IN AUSTRALIA
Australia is a BIG country! In fact, the whole of Europe fits into Australia with plenty of room to spare. Australians are accustomed to driving long distances on holiday, but you may not be. Perth to Broome is roughly the length of Portugal. Driving from Alice Springs to Darwin is about the length of the UK, and Perth to Adelaide is about the same distance from Spain to Poland. However, that's why we think seeing Australia from the ground is better. We live in a country that has it all; stunning coastline and beaches, the outback, tropical rainforests, and some seriously amazing landscapes and wildlife. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.

HOT WEATHER
From October to March it is likely that you will experience temperatures over 35C/95F. These extreme temperatures place stress on the air-conditioning units within our vehicles which can make travelling uncomfortable. Your leader will assist with regular breaks and information to assist keeping cool and hydrated.