6 Day Red Centre Tour

Day 0 (D) - arrival day into Alice Springs- Friday 13th May 2022

Upon arrival into Alice Springs airport, please make your way to our hotel. Taxis and an airport shuttle are available.

The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore the town and settle into our accommodation. This evening, we'll have our first group dinner at the hotel. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers.

Overnight accommodation- Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, Deluxe room with en-suite

Day 1 (B,L,D) - Saturday 14th May

We start our 6 day tour today, departing Alice Springs for the Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park.The park is world heritage listed for the importance of it's natural phenomena and cultural significance.

En-route we visit Rainbow Valley, hitting the dirt to reach these stunning sandstone cliffs, which form part of the James Range.

We continue towards Uluru, with a couple of further stops en-route. We reach Yulara resort, check into our hotel and then this evening the group will take the Sounds of Silence dinner experience. The experience includes canapes and chilled sparkling wine served at sunset, while a didgeridoo plays, a traditional dance performance under the outback sky, a start talk and bush tucker inspired buffet that incorporates native bush ingedients such as crocodile, kangaroo, barramundi and quandong.

Overnight accommodation- Motel room with en-suite at The Lost Camel Hotel (2 night stay)

Day 2 (B,L,D) - Sunday 15th May

We have an early start this morning, so you have the opportunity to take an optional tour such as a helicopter flight, camel ride, dot painting workshop or Harley ride - at your own expense. Or join a free cultural experience at the resort such as Bush Yarns and spear and boomerang throwing. Or just relax at the resort.

Late this morning, we visit the cultural centre and then head out to Kata Tjuta, meaning "many heads". The enormous domes, 36 in total, rise out of the sand and weathered over millions of years, they are now rounded peaks. The tallest, Mt Olga, is higher than Uluru ! The Walpa Gorge walk is a rocky track that gently rises to a stream, passing rare plants and ending at a groveof spearwood. Walk within the sheer walls and experience this amazing landscape.

We have another opportunity to view the Uluru sunsetthis evening, this time, at the sunset viewing.

Overnight accommodation- Motel room with en-suite at The Lost Camel Hotel

Day 3 (B,L,D) - Monday 16th May

We have an early start (but it's well worth it !) today for sunrise at Uluru. The giant monolith emerges from the inky landscape, changing from purple through to rusty browns and red in the golden sunlight.

Then we take the base walk around Uluru, which includes the Mala Walk and Mutitjulu waterhole, home of Wanampi, an ancestral watersnake.

After lunch, we head north to our accommodation at Kings Canyon Resort. En-route, we stop to view Mt Connor (Artila), a 244m high mesa, or isolated table- top mountain.

We arrive at Kings Canyon Resort, check in and have some free time to relax or have a wander around- keep an eye out for dingoes and other wildlife. Perhaps take the dune board walk for sunset.

The flora and fauna around the resort is unique to Watarrka National Park. The ancient landscape is rich in diversity but provides harsh conditions with little rain and intense summer heat. Some of the species who have adapted over the years include camels, donkeys, dingoes, brumbies, kangaroos, wallabies, emu and over 100 species of colourful birds from the Central Australian area.

Overnight accommodation - Kings Canyon Resort, standard room with en-suite (2 night stay)

Day 4 (B,L,D) - Tuesday 17th May

We have an early start today, driving to Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park. Containing the western end of the George Gill Range, this is a scenic landscape of rugged ranges, rockholes and gorges. The sheer red rock face of Kings Canyon soars over 100 metres above dense forests of palms, ferns and cycads, sheltering them from the surrounding desert conditions. We have plenty of time to explore here.

You have the option of taking the Rim Walk, the South Wall Walk or the Kings Creek Walk. Your guide will explain the options to you before you set off and you can choose the best option for you.

The 6km Rim Walk loop starts with a difficult climb, so you should only walk it if you are fit and healthy. The walks ascends to the top of the canyon and follows the rim around before descending to the car park. About halfway along is the Garden of Eden, a beautiful rockhole surrounded by rare plants (no swimming).

The South Wall walk starts with a steep climb to the south wall of Kings Canyon escarpment to take in magnificent views across the desrt or into the lush valley below. The walk is part of the Rim Walk, and once we reach the gate, we turn around and return to the car park by the same route.

The Kings Creek hike is a gentle 2.6 kilometre walk that follows a trail bwteen the two soaring canyon walkks. As you arrive at the lookout point, you will be welcomed by spectacular views of the sheer cliff face at the far end of the canyon. This hike is completely immersive as you see, feel and smell the natural wonders and the flora and fauna of the canyon.

Back to the resort this afternoon and you have the option of taking a helicopter flight (extra cost).

Overnight accommodation - Kings Canyon Resort, standard room with en-suite

Day 5 (B,L,D) - Wednesday 18th May

We hit the unsealed dirt road now and travel along the Mereenie Loop road to Glen Helen. En-route we stop at Tyler's Pass Lookout, for views of Gosse Bluff Meteor Crater and the surrounding landscape.

The trip along the Mereenie Loop Road is an adventure in itself and is a lovely drive through some beautiful desert country. Keep your eye out for wildlife too.

Our destination this afternoon is Glen Helen Bush Resort, which has a history dating back to 1905, when it was a cattle station. It's situated a short walk from the Finke River and Glen Helen Gorge and waterhole, where you can have a swim or climb the ridge for a magnificent view. The landscape around Glen Helen is as spectacular as you will find anywhere, with a towering sandstone wall greeting you, as you arrive. The resort area and gorge are also home to an array of birds (including waterbirds and birds of prey), insects and retiles as well as the Black flanked rock wallabies and Dingoes.

Overnight accommodation- Glen Helen Bush Resort, motel room with en-suite

Day 6 (B,L,D) - Thursday 19th May

We spend today in the Western MacDonnell Ranges, part of an ancient landscape sculptured overtime by climatic elements.

Our first stop is Ormiston Gorge, where you can take a short stroll to the waterhole or take the 40 minute return Ghost Gum Walk. The area also contains an interesting variety of native flora and fauna.

Then onto Ellery Creek Big hole, which is a spectacular waterhole in the mighty Ellery Creek which cuts through a gorge in the ranges. Thousands of years of massive floods have carved out this beautiful waterhole and unlocked some amazing geology. It's also a great place for a swim !

We have lunch at Aboriginal owned Angkerie (Standley Chasm), gouged from tough sandstone by the floods that, over untold millions of years, have surged down a narrow tributary of the Finke River system. The result is a deep red cleft, with slopes on either side rising 80 metres. To get to the chams, we follow a creek where spring- fed pools attract a variety of wildlife, especially birds, and the gully floor is lsuh with plants that range from delicate ferns to tall gums.

Our final stop today is Simpsons Gap, one of the most prominent waterholes in the region and home to the Black- footed rock wallaby. The area around Simpsons Gap is a major stronghold for some of the rare and relic plants of the region, large stands of Mulga and Ghost gums. There are a couple of walks to choose from here.

We'll arrive back into Alice Springs at approximately 6pm for our final dinner as a group and overnight at our hotel.

Overnight accommodation- Crowne Plaza Alice Springs, Deluxe room with en-suite

Day 7 (B) - Friday 20th May

Your tour finishes after breakfast this morning.

END ITINERARY

B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner

6 Day Red Centre Touro

13th May 2022 only

AUD $4395 PER ADULT TWIN SHARE

$4195 PER CHILD (aged 10-15 years) TWIN SHARE

$5550 SINGLE ROOM

**solo travellers can request a single room and pay the single supplement or they can request to twin share with someone of the same sex. We'll try our best to match you up with someone but this cannot be guaranteed and if not possible, solo travellers will have a single room and have to pay the single supplement**

Maximum 15 passengers

Prices include GST

Inclusions:

• Seat in 6WD tour coach, with professional driver guide
• Meals, as stated
• 7 nights en-suite accommodation including 1 night pre tour and 1 night post tour, in Alice Springs
• National Park entry fees including Uluru Kata Tjuta and Standley Chasm

• Sounds of Silence dinner experience

• Mereenie Loop Pass

Exclusions:

• Arrival / departure flights into Alice Springs

• Airport Transfers
• Travel insurance
• Alcohol or soft drinks

• Optional activities such as helicopter flights, camel rides or Harley Rides.

Itinerary is exclusive to Sacred Earth Safaris and is subject to availability, road, weather and cultural conditions.

Please enquire for private charter prices and details.