4-Day 4WD Camping Tour: Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon

Alice Springs, Australia

Spend your days hiking, swimming and exploring, and sleep under the southern stars on a four-day Australian outback camping tour. Traveling by off-road 4WD vehicle, see all the icons of central Australia, including Uluru (the Aboriginal name of Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), Kings Canyon and the West MacDonnell Ranges. Sleep around the campfire in a traditional Australian bedroll known as a swag and stargaze under the southern stars – or choose the comfort of a permanent tent. This small-group tour is limited to 16 people, ensuring a personalized experience with your guide. You can begin the tour in Alice Springs or Ayers Rock, concluding in Alice Springs.

Day 1: Alice Springs -- Uluru (L, D)
Enjoy pickup from your Alice Springs or Ayers Rock (Uluru) accommodation (or Ayers Rock Airport if flying directly into Uluru), then spend the afternoon visiting the Uluru Cultural Centre to learn about the traditional legends and culture of Uluru's Aboriginal people. Take a guided base walk around Ayers Rock to learn more about the spiritual significance of Uluru. It's possible to climb Uluru (weather permitting), but as it's a sacred site, the Anangu, Uluru's indigenous custodians, respectfully ask visitors not to climb the rock. At sunset, sip sparkling wine while enjoying the magnificent sight of the sun setting over Uluru. Complete your first night in the outback with a delicious meal shared around the campfire, then sleep under the stars in your bedroll swag or in one of the campsite's permanent tents.

Overnight: campsite in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Day 2: Uluru -- Kata Tjuta – Kings Creek (B, L, D)
Wake up early to travel to a lookout near your campsite and begin the day with the majestic sight of the sun rising over Uluru and the red rock domes of Kata Tjuta. Enjoy breakfast at the campsite, then head off to Kata Tjuta for a 4.5-mile (7-kilometer) hike through the Valley of the Winds. After lunch, travel to Curtin Springs Cattle Station to experience life on a traditional working cattle station. Then soak up the outback serenity of your private campsite at Kings Creek Station, and enjoy dinner around the campfire under the clear southern skies.

Overnight: campsite in Kings Creek Station

Day 3: Kings Creek -- Watarrka National Park (B, L, D)
After breakfast at your campsite, take a guided walk around Kings Canyon (also known by its Aboriginal name, Watarrka). Admire the natural rock formations, including the Amphitheater and Lost City, then take a bumpy 4WD ride into Aboriginal country along the unsealed Mereenie Loop Road, keeping an eye out for wildlife along the way. Spend the night at the Glen Helen campsite, near a waterhole that the traditional landowners believe is home to an ancient and powerful Rainbow Serpent. Enjoy another meal around the campfire and a night under the stars.

Overnight: campsite in Watarrka National Park

Day 4: Watarrka National Park -- Alice Springs (B, L)
Travel off-road after breakfast at your campsite, heading for the West MacDonnell Ranges. Look for massive perentie goanna lizards at Ormiston Gorge, and cool off with a swim in the rock pools. Enjoy a 20-minute 'Ghost Gum Walk' to capture the sights and perfumes of the outback, then relax on the trip back to Alice Springs, arriving in the city in the late afternoon.