Unearth the spiritual and cultural heart of Australia on this 3-day Uluru- Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon 4WD Small-Group Eco-Tour from Alice Springs. Travel over the red heart of the country and through vast expanses of desert to discover secret waterholes, ancient cave paintings and more. You'll see the sun rise and set over two of Australia's most iconic landmarks, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), with the option to include a Sounds of Silence Dinner. Traveling in a small group of no more than 14 participants allows for an intimate and personalized experience, with your overnight stay in a 4.5-star Kings Canyon and Ayers Rock Resort hotel. You also have the option to return to Alice Springs or complete your tour in Ayers Rock.
Highlights
- 3-day Ayers Rock and Kings Canyon four-wheel-drive eco-tour
- Take a guided walk around the rim of Kings Canyon
- Visit the awe-inspiring Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
- Experience the sun rise and set over Uluru
- Discover the culture and rituals of the local Aboriginal people
- Small-group tour with maximum of 14 people
Useful Information
Kings Canyon
Feel the beating heart of the Red Centre as you walk through sacred lands. Become entranced by the natural beauty of vast open skies, harsh deserts and stunning scenery, combined with a cultural and spiritual reverence that will leave you breathless. From Kings Canyon to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, you will discover the mysteries of an ancient civilization unchanged over time. You’ll see where the stories of Dreaming began and where the stories of Creation can be found through rituals, ceremonies, dance and art.
See below for the detailed itinerary.
See below for the detailed itinerary.
Itinerary
Day 1: Alice Springs to Kings Canyon (D)
This afternoon you will travel 200.7 miles (323 kilometers) southwest from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, passing through the vast, red desert scrubland and stopping at Stuarts Well and Camels Australia, where you can take a short camel ride.
Upon arrival at the hotel, get to know your fellow travelers with a glass of sparkling wine and canapés as you watch the sun set over Carmichael Crag at the western end of Kings Canyon, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Accommodation: Kings Canyon Resort
Day 2: Kings Canyon to Uluru-Kata Tjuta (B,L,D)
It’s an early start to the day in order to beat the heat on your three-hour guided walk along the rim of Kings Canyon. See the spectacular sights of the Amphitheatre, the Lost City and Garden of Eden and be mesmerized by the sheer natural beauty of the area, with towering ancient sandstone walls weathered by time and pockets of lush vegetation springing up like an oasis in the harsh desert.
You will then travel to Willonga Well for lunch and a glass of wine under the shade of the mighty Desert Oaks before continuing on Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. You will visit Walpa Gorge and follow the walking trail along a natural creek between the two tallest domes of the Olgas, or “Kata Tjuta” in the local aboriginal language, meaning “many heads.” These red, rounded masses of rock are sacred to the Aborigines and feature prominently in stories of the Dreaming and Creation.
Sunset over Uluru and Kata Tjuta is simply awe-inspiring, an incredible light show with crimsons turning to rusts, and fading hues of pink to mauve. You have the choice tonight of the Sounds of Silence Dinner (additional expense) or traveling to a remote location where you will toast the end of the day with wine and canapés, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Accommodation: Desert Gardens, Ayers Rock Resort
Day 3: Uluru to Alice Springs (B,L*)
This morning you will travel out to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the darkness, to witness the dawn of a new day. As the sun rises, Uluru is stunning in soft pastel shades gradually changing into bright vibrant colors.
Today you will learn more about the traditional owners of the land through guided base walks around the rock. Discover the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal Dreamtime stories handed down throughout thousands of years, from generation to generation. You have the option to return to the hotel for breakfast or have a breakfast box if you choose to take the three-hour Mala Walk with a local Aboriginal guide (own expense) or climb Uluru (approximately 2.5 hours).
If you are departing from Uluru, your tour will end with an airport transfer at midday, or if you are continuing to Alice Springs, you will enjoy a typical Australian barbecue lunch at the Curtin Springs Station, before arriving in Alice Springs later in the afternoon.
*Lunch if returning to Alice Springs
Please note: The Anangu (Aboriginal landowners) regard Uluru as a sacred site and strongly discourage climbing the rock. The Mala Walk is for guests wanting a direct indigenous experience; otherwise, a base walk will be with your group tour guide.
This afternoon you will travel 200.7 miles (323 kilometers) southwest from Alice Springs to Kings Canyon, passing through the vast, red desert scrubland and stopping at Stuarts Well and Camels Australia, where you can take a short camel ride.
Upon arrival at the hotel, get to know your fellow travelers with a glass of sparkling wine and canapés as you watch the sun set over Carmichael Crag at the western end of Kings Canyon, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Accommodation: Kings Canyon Resort
Day 2: Kings Canyon to Uluru-Kata Tjuta (B,L,D)
It’s an early start to the day in order to beat the heat on your three-hour guided walk along the rim of Kings Canyon. See the spectacular sights of the Amphitheatre, the Lost City and Garden of Eden and be mesmerized by the sheer natural beauty of the area, with towering ancient sandstone walls weathered by time and pockets of lush vegetation springing up like an oasis in the harsh desert.
You will then travel to Willonga Well for lunch and a glass of wine under the shade of the mighty Desert Oaks before continuing on Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. You will visit Walpa Gorge and follow the walking trail along a natural creek between the two tallest domes of the Olgas, or “Kata Tjuta” in the local aboriginal language, meaning “many heads.” These red, rounded masses of rock are sacred to the Aborigines and feature prominently in stories of the Dreaming and Creation.
Sunset over Uluru and Kata Tjuta is simply awe-inspiring, an incredible light show with crimsons turning to rusts, and fading hues of pink to mauve. You have the choice tonight of the Sounds of Silence Dinner (additional expense) or traveling to a remote location where you will toast the end of the day with wine and canapés, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Accommodation: Desert Gardens, Ayers Rock Resort
Day 3: Uluru to Alice Springs (B,L*)
This morning you will travel out to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the darkness, to witness the dawn of a new day. As the sun rises, Uluru is stunning in soft pastel shades gradually changing into bright vibrant colors.
Today you will learn more about the traditional owners of the land through guided base walks around the rock. Discover the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal Dreamtime stories handed down throughout thousands of years, from generation to generation. You have the option to return to the hotel for breakfast or have a breakfast box if you choose to take the three-hour Mala Walk with a local Aboriginal guide (own expense) or climb Uluru (approximately 2.5 hours).
If you are departing from Uluru, your tour will end with an airport transfer at midday, or if you are continuing to Alice Springs, you will enjoy a typical Australian barbecue lunch at the Curtin Springs Station, before arriving in Alice Springs later in the afternoon.
*Lunch if returning to Alice Springs
Please note: The Anangu (Aboriginal landowners) regard Uluru as a sacred site and strongly discourage climbing the rock. The Mala Walk is for guests wanting a direct indigenous experience; otherwise, a base walk will be with your group tour guide.
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