16 DAYS | 248 KM
End to End Larapinta Trail
Group size: maximum 8 guests
Departure Dates
Our End to End Larapinta Trail trek is a 16 day wilderness adventure totally immersing you in the country, and allowing the time and space to fully appreciate and understand this spectacular place.
The itinerary has been designed so we walk the entire length of the Larapinta Trail, all 223 kilometres, along with some special highlights not officially on the trail. You will experience all the trail has to offer, from high ridgelines to sheltered gorges, open savannah country to magnificent mountains, dry and flowing rivers, and the best examples of the West MacDonnell’s vegetation and fauna. All this along with the support of Trek Larapinta’s experienced and knowledgeable guides, and returning to the comfort of your supported camp each night. On each section you will be tested and rewarded until the final section: truly the trip of a lifetime.
As a keen bushwalker, the 16 day End to End Larapinta Trail trek will delight those looking for a true wilderness experience. Expecting to walk between 5 and 12 hours per day along varying difficulty of terrain including some very rugged terrain, the trek will challenge the most experienced of bushwalkers.
For each day’s hike on this rugged world class track, you carry just a day pack. We create these trips to be an informative experience as well as a walk through the unique terrain, as we seek to share our knowledge of the place and provide all you need to have an active yet comfortable holiday. You walk with a guide for the day’s trek, with the support guide collecting and transferring you to camp each day, where you can relax while Trek Larapinta caters for your needs.
Being a small, boutique business, we remain keenly aware that we rely on the health of our environment. It sustains us and we, in turn, seek to sustain it. On the 16 day trek your campsites will vary throughout the trip; for the first seven nights you will be in different remote bush locations, while on the second half of the trail we use two base camps transferring short distances each day on the trail. Our camp sites at Serpentine chalet and in the Ormiston Gorge region are used due to their beautiful bush settings and centralised locations between a number of sections which minimises transfer time. We seek to tend our camps as best we can with minimal impact practices and share these ways with you.
Itinerary Summary
Day 1 : Pick up Alice Springs, section 1 – Telegraph Station to Wallaby Gap | 13.5kms
Day 2 : Section 1 – Wallaby Gap to Simpsons Gap, visit Alice Springs Desert Park | 10.5kms
Day 3 : Section 2 – Simpsons Gap to Jay Creek | 25kms
Day 4 : Section 3 – Jay Creek to Standley Chasm | 13kms
Day 5 : Section 4 – Standley Chasm to Birthday Waterhole | 17kms
Day 6 : Section 5 – Birthday Waterhole to Hugh Gorge | 17kms
Day 7 : Section 6 – Hugh Gorge to Rocky Gully | 16kms
Day 8 : Section 6 – Rocky Gully to Ellery Creek | 15kms
Day 9 : Section 7 – Ellery Creek to Serpentine Gorge | 14kms
Day 10 : Section 8 – Serpentine Gorge to Serpentine Chalet | 15kms
Day 11 : Section 9 – Serpentine Chalet to Ormiston Gorge | 29kms
Day 12 : Section 10 – Ormiston Gorge to Glen Helen/Finke River | 12kms
Day 13 : Section 11 – Finke River to Rocky Bar Gap | 15kms
Day 14 : Section 11 – Rocky Bar Gap to Redbank Gorge | 12kms
Day 15 : Section 12 – Redbank Gorge to Mt Sonder (return) | 16kms
Day 16 : Ormiston Pound/Gorge walk, return to Alice Springs | 8kms
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Travelling with us, you know you’re coming with a boutique business that specialises in the Larapinta Trail. The experience of being in this ancient landscape can be powerful and refreshing. By offering fully-supported camping and interpretive guiding, Trek Larapinta aims to facilitate this experience for you. All the organisation, transport, food preparation, camping and catering equipment and other logistics are taken care of for you, so you can connect with this landscape in a calm, relaxed way and get the most out of your holiday in this amazing part of Australia.
All camping equipment including sleeping bag, swag, pillow, bed linen and top of the range tent.
All catering equipment.
15 breakfasts, 16 lunches, 15 dinners.
All delicious snacks on the trail.
Hotel pick up and drop off.
Transportation provided in commercially registered, expertly maintained tour vehicles.
All camping, traditional owner and national park fees.
Entry to the Alice Springs Desert Park.
Group first aid and emergency communication facilities.
2 Trek Larapinta professional wilderness guides.
Travelling with a culturally and environmentally responsible business.
Small group with a maximum of 8 participants.
Tours do not include pre or post trip airfares or accommodation.
Detailed maps of the Larapinta Trail are also available for purchase.
NOTES TO CONSIDER
The 16 day End to End Larapinta Trail trek requires a high level of bushwalking/walking and general fitness. As the Larapinta Trail becomes more popular the perception of its difficulty decreases. This however is not the case. The trail remains unrelentingly rocky and hard underfoot and weather extremes can be experienced at any time of the year, so the more prepared you are the more you will enjoy the experience.
Days vary between 5 and 12 hours of easy to moderate to very challenging walking, depending on the section. The climb up and down Mt Sonder is a challenging 16km return with a 750m rise in elevation. Section 9 is a very challenging day covering a rocky distance of 29km, including some steep ascents and descents.
Section 3 is very challenging with access currently restricted to Jay Creek, requiring a longer trek to complete the latter half of Section 2 and Section 3 in one day. Weather conditions and group dynamics might require very early morning starts to complete any section of the trail. Timings and associated changes to the itinerary are made at the discretion of your tour leaders / guides.
If you engage in at least one to two hours of aerobic activity (this might include walking, cycling, swimming etc) three to four times a week during the three months prior to your trip, you should find yourself fit enough to enjoy your days’ activities. Longer walks on uneven bush tracks with your day pack, including some ascents/descents (if you can find them) will help you prepare your body for the full days on the trail.
Further information about preparation can be found at Trek Gradings and our FAQ section .
