Perth to Darwin Overland Itinerary

Starting in

Perth, Australia

Physical Difficulty

4 / 5

Breakfasts included

23

Lunches included

20

Dinners included

17

Ending in

Darwin, Australia

Accommodation

Mixed Backpacker Dorm Multi-Share Accommodation with Shared Facilities (8 nights), Camping with Shared Facilities (15 nights)

Transport

Private 4WD vehicle

On this 4WD Perth to Darwin safari adventure, you’ll explore the natural wonders of Australia’s Northwest. Spend your nights under a blanket of desert stars and your days in search of secret swimming holes and waterfalls. Snorkel with turtles, relax on Eighty Mile Beach, explore national parks like Karijini, Nambung and Kalbarri, watch spectacular sunsets, journey along the Gibb River Road, explore El Questro, check out the famous Bungle Bungles and take on some fun, active options in your free time to ramp up the adventure.  

Day 1: Perth / Pinnacles / Jurien Bay / Kalbarri

Welcome to Perth! Or Boorloo in the language of the local Whadjuk Nyoongar people, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which Perth is now located. Your adventure begins straight away, as you meet your group and head to Nambung National Park to check out the famous Pinnacle Desert – a unique landscape unlike any other in the country. After, journey to the massive sand dunes of Jurien Bay, where you’ll have the opportunity to go sandboarding down the slopes and perfect your surfing-on-land technique. From here, continue to Kalbarri, where you’ll spend the first night of your adventure after a group dinner.

Day 2: Kalbarri National Park / Shell Beach / Shark Bay

Drive to Kalbarri National Park, where you can explore diverse scenery like Murchison Gorge, Natures Window, The Loop and Z-Bend Gorge (this gorge has a steep descent, but it’s worth the effort for the refreshing swim at the end). Maybe go abseiling here if you’re craving an adrenaline hit. After lunch with your group, you’ll visit Shell Beach – one of only two beaches in the world made entirely from seashells! Tonight, get back on the road and head towards Shark Bay.

Day 3: Shark Bay / Coral Bay

After breakfast this morning, take the short drive across the Peron Peninsula down to the beach at Shark Bay. After a short walk, continue along the highway to Coral Bay (‘the Jewel of the Northwest’) via the fascinating stromatolites at Hamelin Pool. These are the oldest living organisms in the world! When you arrive in Coral Bay, sit down for a group dinner and enjoy a relaxing night.

Day 4: Coral Bay / Ningaloo Reef / Exmouth

Take a day to explore Coral Bay today at your leisure. Maybe kick back on the warm sand, go for a swim, or visit famous Ningaloo Reef and the amazing marine life that lives below the waterline. Go snorkelling or take a cruise in a glass-bottom boat to see the wildlife up close (while you stay dry). In the late afternoon, you’ll drive into Exmouth where you’ll spend the next two nights.

Day 5: Ningaloo Reef / Exmouth

Soak up some free time in the gorgeous area of Exmouth and maybe take on some optional activities – go snorkelling (equipment provided) or diving, search for whale sharks if the season’s right (optional) or go and see Vlamingh Head Lighthouse. In the afternoon, maybe soak up the sunshine on the warm sands of Turquoise Bay. Tonight, perhaps head out for dinner with your group – your local leader will always have suggestions handy.

Day 6: Karijini National Park

Today is mainly a travel day, as you head inland past many cattle stations to reach the outback oasis of Karijini National Park. Get stuck into a good book, your favourite podcasts or hit your travel playlist and watch the land pass you by. Along the way, you’ll pass through Tom Price – this small town is known for its iron ore mining – before reaching your camp that overlooks the scenic Hamersley Range, where you’ll spend the next three nights.

Day 7: Karijini National Park

Enjoy a full day of exploration in Karijini National Park today, following your leader to the gorgeous gorges and swimming holes. Formed over 2500 million years ago, the Hamersley Ranges are some of the most unusual landforms on Earth and you’ll be able to take some great photos while you’re here. Deep in the gorges, you’ll come across waterfalls and fresh, still waterholes that are ideal for swimming. See Dales Gorge, where you can cool off in Fortescue Falls and Circular Pool, then in the afternoon you’ll visit the Visitors Centre. Here, you’ll deep dive into the culture of the First Nations people of the area, then sit down to dinner as a group around the campfire.

Day 8: Karijini National Park

After breakfast, venture to Weano Gorge and Hancock Gorge. For those interested in a challenge, you can walk to Handrail Pool at the end of Weano Gorge or take on the Spider Walk in Hancock Gorge. Both gorges are great places for photography, with breathtaking views and lots of examples of banded iron formations, which seem to sink into the Earth.

Day 9: Port Hedland / Eighty Mile Beach

Say your farewells to Karijini National Park this morning and travel towards the coast and the iron ore town of Port Hedland. Take some time for a quick driving tour of the town to see the size of the iron ore industry. Keep your eyes peeled for the road trains carting iron ore, some of which can be up to 60 m long. After lunch, you’ll continue to your campsite at Eighty Mile Beach. Enjoy a group dinner together and take the opportunity to do a spot of stargazing in the blanket of night sky, which boasts very little light pollution.

Day 10: Eighty Mile Beach / Broome

This morning, you’ll have some free time on the stretching sands of Eighty Mile Beach – Australia’s longest uninterrupted beach, famous for migrating sea birds. Stroll along the white sands and snap some photos of the clear water before heading to Broome – a pearling town with a rich history. When you arrive, your leader will take you on a tour of town, including China Town and the Japanese cemetery, ending at Town Beach, which is where some of your group members may leave the trip.

Day 11-14: Broome

Over the next four days, sit back, relax and enjoy your beach break at the Kimberley Travellers Lodge. Kick back on one of the best beaches in the world – Cable Beach – and have a couple of cold ones at Matsos Broome Brewery. Maybe search for dinosaur footprints on the rugged coastline or check out the local art galleries and spend every night watching the sunset over the ocean. 

Day 15: Broome / West Kimberley Gorges

This morning, you’ll meet your leader and new group members for the second half of your adventure. Set off into the Australian Outback early this morning and after a bit of highway driving, you’ll reach Fitzroy River. From here, it’s all off-road to the Napier Range where the main attraction is Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) – a vast cave system that extends 750 m underground. It’s from here that the Indigenous warrior Jandamarra waged his rebellion against the colonial authorities – a legacy you’ll learn more about on a walk through the tunnel with your guide. Spend the night camping at Windjana Gorge, which was once an underwater reef. During the wet season, a river flows through it, but during the dry season, it’s a series of ponds and billabongs. Settle in and have a camp dinner with your group before a spot of stargazing – the sky in the Outback is unlike anywhere else!

Day 16: West Kimberley Gorges

Spend the morning exploring Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge). In the afternoon, journey to Dalmanti (Bell Gorge) – a segment of a 375-million-year-old reef that was once underwater. Take a refreshing swim here, soak up the natural views and then travel further east to Mt Barnett Station. This is where you’ll camp for this evening.

Day 17: West Kimberley Gorges

After breakfast, stretch your legs on a morning hike and be rewarded at the end with a swim in a large rock pool at the base of Manning Falls. After lunch, discover Adcock or Galvins Gorge before returning to camp to relax around the campfire.

Day 18: Gibb River Road / El Questro Station

Ford rivers and weave through gorges as you travel by 4WD along the wild Gibb River Road – a 600 km stretch that winds right through the heart of the Kimberley. You’ve got a fair bit of ground to cover, so there’s a fair bit of drive time, but you’ll be breaking up the journey with lunch and a few stops to stretch your legs along the way. Cross the iconic Pentecost River crossing before arriving at El Questro and your campground for the next 2 nights.

Day 19: El Questro Station

Originally established as an enormous cattle station, El Questro is now a vast wilderness reserve sprawled over more than one million acres. Camping out here, you’ll really feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere – albeit an extremely beautiful middle of nowhere. The ochre-coloured massifs of the Cockburn Ranges frame the landscape whichever way you turn and numerous natural springs offer plenty of opportunities for a refreshing cool-off. Following a soak in Zebedee Springs, enjoy a short trek to either El Questro or Emma Gorge (where there’s a very pretty waterfall). Then it’s another night camped out in El Questro.

Day 20-21: Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungles)

Say so long to El Questro and hello Bungle Bungles! Today, you’ll drive through the rugged landscape of Carr Boyd and the Durack Ranges into Purnululu National Park – home to the Bungle Bungles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dominated by massive sandstone karsts that rear hundreds of metres above the surrounding grasslands. You’ll spend the next two days and nights exploring this region. Arrive at your bush camp in time to sit back and watch the sunset over the Osmond Ranges. If you’ve had enough tent camping, you might want to spend tonight sleeping out beneath the stars, snuggled up in a swag. Unbelievably, only the locals knew this place existed until the early 1980s when they were ‘discovered’ by a film team. You’ll go on a walk through Echidna Chasm – a long and narrow ravine banked on either side by 200 m-high rock walls – and enter the massive natural Amphitheatre of Cathedral Gorge. You can also sign up for a helicopter ride over the site if you wish.

Day 22: Kununurra / Lake Argyle

Today, you’ll leave the Bungle Bungles behind and head for Kununurra – the largest town between Broome and Darwin. Tonight’s campsite is on the shores of Lake Argyle, which you have plenty of free time to explore. Maybe head out on a sunset cruise on the lake – this is highly recommended, as the best way to witness the immensity of this lake is on the water!

Day 23: Lake Argyle / Victoria River Region

Lake Argyle is a man-made lake, though you’d never have guessed it by looking! For a body of water situated in the centre of the world’s second driest continent, it looks pretty at home. Barramundi, birds and freshwater crocodiles thrive in these waters, and the islands that look like they’ve always been there (they used to be mountains). In the afternoon, push on across the state border into the Northern Territory.

Day 24: Katherine / Darwin

Today, you’ll head to Darwin, stopping at either Katherine Gorge or Edith Falls along the way for a quick swim and a last opportunity to soak in the natural wild views of rural Western Australia. Take in the gorgeous scenery and then arrive in Darwin, where your trip comes to an end.

Essential Trip Information

Joining point

Tourist Bus Stop on Barrack Square (Next to Pinnacle Tours Office), departing 07:00AM, Barrack St Jetty , Perth, AUSTRALIA

Finish point

Darwin, , Darwin, AUSTRALIA

Important information

START & END TIMES
Your trip commences in Perth on Day 1 at 7 am and finishes in Darwin on the last day at approximately 6 pm. We recommend you arrive a day early and onward travel should be booked for the following day. No accommodation is included on Day 24

LUGGAGE
A strict luggage limit of 15 kg applies. Please bring a soft-sided bag only.

ACCOMMODATION
The accommodation on this trip is Basix-style mixed gender multi-share dormitories or twin-share camping in dome tents with swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Some on site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets however on some nights the ablution facilities can be very basic.

SLEEPING BAG
This trip requires a sleeping bag. You can bring your own or can purchase one. Please let your booking agent know ahead of time if you would like to add this to your booking

WHALE SHARKS
Swimming with whale sharks is not included on this trip and is an optional activity that you need to book online yourself with the operator of your choice, or alternatively through us. It is very important that you pre-book any whale shark experiences, as this can sell out far in advance. Please also note that whale sharks visit the region between mid-March and mid-September only, so please make sure you schedule your trip accordingly if you would like to include this experience in your trip.

Emergency contact

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

08 9193 7778

Is this trip right for you

On some days of this trip, you'll spend many hours driving through very sparse areas of Australia. Sit back and enjoy landscapes that you'd 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!

Accommodation on this trip involves camping out in nature or staying in backpacker-style dormitory accommodation, including bunk beds, so the facilities are very basic. It is a trip for either younger, fit travellers or the young at heart and fit in body! A lack of emphasis on creature comforts makes this an authentic experience of the Australian outback. Some locations will have little to no Internet connection or phone service. 

This trip involves activities like hiking on uneven terrain and clambering over boulders. It is best suited to travellers with good mobility and fitness. Details on physical activities can be found in the itinerary.

This trip includes four days in Broome, where you’ll be unaccompanied by a trip leader. As this is a combination trip, your group members will also likely change before and after your time in Broome.

Why we love it

Take a 4WD safari through Western Australia and camp under a dazzling blanket of stars most nights – this is a great opportunity to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. , Explore the World Heritage area of Shark Bay, home to the oldest living organisms in the world – stromatolites.  , Spend some time in the red-hued Pilbara, camping under a blanket of stars in Karijini National Park and spending your days exploring ancient gorges and refreshing swimming holes and waterfalls. , Explore the unique geology of Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) – a limestone cave system home to bats, stalactites and fascinating First Nations history.   , Spend two full days exploring the Bungle Bungles – including magnificent gorges, unique rock formations, hidden waterholes, sandstone towers and Echidna Chasm and Cathedral Gorge.  

Group leader

AUSTRALIA LEADERS
All group trips are accompanied by a group leader. In Australia your group leader is often also your driver, taking you from start to finish. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, as well as recommend great local eating venues. They will also introduce you to our local friends along the way. Please be aware they will be juggling many things on your tour and on some days may have less time to spend with you. But they will always be working hard to ensure you and your group have a fantastic time exploring Australia!

Safety

REMOTE AREA TRAVEL
We carry a satellite phone on all our remote/overland trips to be used by our leaders in the event of an emergency and for your safety. Our leaders are all First Aid trained and certified and carry basic first aid kits. We do not carry defibrillators or any medicine other than paracetamol and mild anti histamines. Please note that medical assistance from qualified professionals may take several hours to arrive.

Visas

PASSPORT
You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date.

We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends.

VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements

All travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia. Failure to do so means you may not be allowed to board your flight to Australia. Most nationalities can obtain an Electronic Travel Authority via the internet before arrival. Please check the following website or with your relevant Australian visa issuing office for your nationalities requirements. http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

Last modified (date)

Information not available.

Validity

Validity: 01 Jan 2025 to 31 Dec 2025

Additional Information

Health

GENERAL HEALTH
All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. For the safety and wellbeing of yourself and others, if you are unwell prior to travelling, please stay at home and contact us to make alternative arrangements.

When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the assessment of our group leader or local representative a traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements in their original packaging as they may not easily be obtained while travelling. If you are carrying medication, ensure you check your government's foreign travel advice for any local restrictions or requirements. 

Food and dietary requirements

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.

Money matters

SPENDING MONEY
When it comes to spending money on the trip, every traveller is a little different. You know your spending habits better than we do, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. Make sure you have read the itinerary and inclusions thoroughly so you know what is included in the trip price and what you may need to pay for while travelling.

AUSTRALIA
The official currency of Australia is the Australian dollar (AUD). Card payments, including digital card payments like Apple Pay, are the most common form of payment in Australia. Many vendors add a small surcharge for card payments. Cash is accepted in most places and ATMs are common.

TIPPING
Tipping can be an appropriate way to recognise great service when travelling. While it may not be customary in your home country, it is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many of our destinations and is greatly appreciated by the people who take care of you during your travels. It is always best to avoid tipping with coins, very small denomination notes, or dirty and ripped notes, as this can be regarded as an insult rather than the goodwill gesture it is intended to be.

YOUR GROUP LEADER OR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE
You may consider tipping your group leader or local representative for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however, as a guideline, 4-7 USD or EUR per person per day (in a currency relevant to your destination), can be used. Of course, you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length and involvement of your group leader or local representative on your trip.

CONTINGENCY FUNDS
We try to plan for every eventuality, but there are still some things beyond our control. We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or a Force Majeure Event. In such emergency circumstances, the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you. Please note we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itineraries including but not limited to visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights. Make sure you have access to an extra US$500 for emergencies (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, civil unrest) or other events that result in unavoidable changes to the itinerary (e.g. transport strikes or cancellations, airport closures). Sometimes these things necessitate last-minute changes to enable our trips to continue to run, and as a result, there may be some extra costs involved. The recommended amount is listed in USD for the relatability of universal travellers, however, local currency may be needed once in the country to cover these costs.

What to take

It is recommended that you bring a head torch, broad-brimmed hat with sun visor for all round sun protection, sunscreen, swimming costume and towel, good walking/trekking shoes, insect repellent, a personal water bottle, warm clothes for the evening (particularly if travelling in Winter), personal toiletries and first aid, with any personal medication required.

You will also need to bring a sleeping bag. Alternatively you can purchase one from us. This needs to be requested with our office prior to travel and can be kept following your trip or donated to local indigenous communities.

What to Bring Checklist:
- 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
- Bath towel
- Walking/trekking shoes
- Personal water bottle (ideally 1.5L capacity)
- Small day pack
- Personal toiletries
- Insect repellent & sunscreen
- Long-sleeved cotton shirt (sun protection) and loose-fitting pants
(warmth and insect protection for evenings)
- Warm jumper (particularly in May-Aug)
- Sleeping Bag (if you don't have your own you can purchase one from us. This must be requested prior to travel and can be kept following your trip or donated to indigenous communities.

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

Climate and seasonal

While much of Australia experiences a traditional four season year, Australia’s north, including the Kimberley, has a tropical climate with a Wet Season (November to March/April) and a Dry Season (April/May to October). All of our tours in the north 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 the Bungle Bungles, it can fall as low as 5ºC! During the day, we usually enjoy a lovely 28 to 30ºC.

Note however that during September and October, as the Wet Season approaches, the temperatures increase accordingly and from this time, and throughout the Wet Season, it can be very hot during the day. If you plan to travel at this time, it is essential that you are prepared for the tropical weather — feel free to ask our office for advice prior to booking.

A couple of rules

Intrepid won't tolerate any kind of violence, harassment (whether physical, verbal or sexual), or disrespect toward fellow travellers, our teams or local communities.

To ensure the wellbeing of everyone on the trip, decisions made by your group leader are final.

Romantic relationships between travellers and group leader or local representative are not permitted while on trip.

Any behaviour that prevents your leader from continuing the itinerary as planned, breaks local laws or opposes any of these guidelines may result in Intrepid denying your booking or removing you from the trip.

If something concerns you during your travels, please speak to your group leader immediately. Alternatively, you can contact us on the emergency contact number detailed in the Problems and Emergency Contact Information section of this Essential Trip Information.

Accommodation notes

Nights 1 to 3 & 10 to 14: Enjoy the fun and community of staying in carefully-chosen local backpacker hostels. Bedding is dorm-share style, can occasionally be mixed gender and is likely to involve bunk beds.

Nights 4 to 9 & 15 to 23: Camping in National Parks, Caravan Parks or on Cattle Stations involves dome tents (twin-share), swags with fitted sheets & pillows with pillow cases. Some on site ablutions have hot showers and flush toilets however on some nights the ablution facilities can be very basic. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Transport notes

4WD tours are operated in custom-built, 21-25 seat 4WD trucks with a PA system and built-in storage. 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, which can be a bit uncomfortable at times. Rest assured, these are the conditions for which our 4WD trucks are designed.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative.

If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.

For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below:


https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services

Your fellow travellers

As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part. Due to privacy reasons, we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure.

Our Kimberley itineraries are ‘Participatory’ which means the groups rally together and assist the guide – our program is designed to foster a ’group of friends’ dynamic as everyone works together to make it all happen, alongside the leadership of an experienced Tour Leader. This not only makes for a fun adventure shared with like-minded travellers, but also enables us to provide affordable travel options in the Kimberley. On those nights where we are not staying in one of our fantastic private permanent campsites, it is important that travellers participate in setting up camp, though the Tour Leader and (where applicable on selected Kimberley trips) the Tour Host, will also be on hand to help – it is a team effort! The Tour Leader will always appreciate the assistance of one or two group members in preparing/clearing meals. It is essential that all our groups leave the camps they stay in as they found them for the next travellers – the Kimberley is a pristine wilderness and it is our responsibility to ensure it stays this way.

Itinerary disclaimer

ITINERARY CHANGES
Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns.


OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist.

Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

SNORKELLING WITH WHALE SHARKS
Whale shark season in Western Australia runs from April through to July. Travellers on this trip have the option to swim with whale sharks – please check the itinerary for the exact day this is available. In August you can also swim with humpback whales.

To book these optional activities you can speak to your guide on Day 1 of your trip. However, during busy periods, like school holidays, we recommend you book in advance to avoid disappointment. You can do this by contacting your booking agent or our activity supplier – Kings Ningaloo Reef. Please find a link to their website and their phone number below.

http://kingsningalooreeftours.com.au/
08 9949 1764

By pre-booking this activity you will be paying a slightly higher price to secure your spot, but given the popularity of this activity if it’s a must do for you then we do recommend booking in advance.