Trek the Larapinta Trail

• Orientation Meeting: 7am 
• Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner 
• Hiking Distance: 8.6MI / 14KM
• Elevation Gain/Loss: Moderate

Your tour begins at 7am sharp this morning when you’ll meet your leader in Alice Springs (Mpartnwe) before setting out on your first section of the Larapinta Trail. You’ll start at the official beginning point of the Larapinta trail at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station which was once used for relaying messages between Darwin and Adelaide when it was founded in 1871. Your group will follow the old telegraph route through the rugged terrain laid out in front of you that boasts rocky, rolling country spotted with streams and valleys. Travel along Euro Ridge and appreciate the sweeping vistas of Alice Valley with views of the jagged West MacDonnell Range (Tjoritja) peaks in the distance. After a quick lunch, continuing hiking to Wallaby Gap where you are more likely to see various species of birds instead of the reclusive black-footed rock-wallabies before arriving at your first campsite. Sit around the fire while you enjoy dinner and plan for tomorrow. 

It’s paramount that you meet your group leader at 7am sharp in the hostel lobby so that you can provide insurance and emergency contact information before immediately beginning on the trail. This itinerary does not allow the group to wait for late arrivals. 

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Hiking Distance: 8.3MI / 13.5KM
• Elevation Gain/Loss: Moderate

Today will be another early start as you and your group set out on section 10 of the Larapinta Trail. Rolling hills of limestone are the common feature of the scenery today as you naviagte from the Finke River to Ormiston Gorge, both of which boast unique plant life. As one of the oldest river systems in the world, the Finke river is quite unique and its local Arrernte name— Lhere Pinte, translating to “salty river”— gives the entire trail it’s name. Your hike today ends at Ormiston Pound which boasts one of the most impressive gorges in the MacDonnell region. You’ll get a chance to take a swim in a nearly year-round waterhole here surrounded by ghost gums and soaring red rock cliffs. Get a good night’s rest tonight beneath the desert stars for a few challenging days ahead. 

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Hiking Distance: 11.5MI / 18.5KM
• Elevation Gain/Loss: Moderate

Today and tomorrow’s hike are the most strenuous of this trip, but the views and rewards are well worth it. You’ll begin with the first part of Section 11 of the Larapinta Trail where the vistas are dominated by Mt. Sonder (Rwetyepme), the highest peak in the West MacDonnell Range. After crossing the Davenport River, your group will climb to Hilltop Lookout, a steep but very rewarding trek. Finish with a downhill hike through mulga woodland studded with the unique knobby black rocks distinctive to this region before coming to Rocky Bar Gap where you’ll spend the night. 

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 
• Hiking Distance: 6.8MI /11KM
• Elevation: Moderate/Difficult

Today brings another fantastic day of hiking in the Outback. Start by enjoying a transfer drive back to Rocky Bar Gap where you ended your hike yesterday and take on part 2 of section 11. Trace the southern arm of Mt. Sonder to Redbank Creek while threading through foothills that lead up to massive mountains on an undulating trek through a spinifex covered landscape. This brings you to your campsite for tonight, but make sure to get some rest as you’ll be awake before the sun tomorrow to summit Mt. Sonder. 

• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 
• Hiking Distance: 9.3MI / 15KM
• Elevation Gain/Loss: 2460FT / 750M

Today brings you to the last trek of your tour and the last section of the Larapinta Trail: summiting Mt. Sonder. You’ll be up with the opossums before the sun this morning to begin your trek in the cool of the early morning air, but make sure to bring a headlamp as it will still be entirely dark and you will need one. This iconic mountain is locally called Rwetyepme and in Arrernte culture is depicted as a pregnant woman cursed to forever lay on her back and stare at the sky. It certainly isn’t an easy climb, but the views are well worth it, beginning before you reach the top and stretching in all directions. Central Australia is simply stunning and this hike affords views of the trails you’ve hiked the last few days, the Tanami Desert to the north, meteor craters to the south, and the highest mountain in the Northern Territory to the west. You’ll descend all the way back down after taking in the views and have breakfast before loading up for the trip back to Alice Springs, arriving in late afternoon. Your trip comes to an end here, but you are welcome to go out with your group for an optional farewell dinner or book additional accommodations through Intrepid should availability allow.