Our Uluru trip is one of our most 'far out' adventures - literally. Uluru (also known as Ayer's Rock) is thousands of kilometres from anywhere, a powerful, other-worldly presence rearing suddenly out of the ineffable silence and stillness of Australia's Red Centre: it's quite a spectacle, as is attested to by the tourists descending on it by the coachload, despite its remoteness.

There are, however, more attractions in this part of the world: the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) and King's Canyon both reward travellers with spectacles that vary from eerie to pretty to mind-blowingly spectacular. And the vast desert spaces between them invite contemplation and meditation.

At Uluru, not surprisingly one of the most sacred of Aboriginal (native Australian) sacred sites, we’ll have the opportunity to chat with the local Anangu people about the spirituality of the area and their way of life in this seemingly harsh environment. We'll soak in the amazing colour changes of the Uluru inselberg (island mountain) that occur at dawn and dusk. There’s an opportunity to take a dawn helicopter ride over Uluru, or even ride a camel! Lastly we head back to Australia's most classic frontier town, Alice Springs, for an aboriginal show and of course the chance to try the didgeridoo ourselves! Our Uluru trip works on its own if you only have a week, or fits perfectly with our other Australia trips.

Itinerary

Day 1. Explore Alice Springs

Welcome to our Uluru trip! We have a relaxed start today, as people arrive into Alice Springs at different times. If you’ve just completed our Reef trip, the flight from Cairns is just under 2.5 hours, and the contrast in environments - from lush beachside rainforest to the stark central desert - will amaze you! Take your time this afternoon to explore this incredibly isolated town, or take a walk with us up to Anzac Hill (known as Untyeyetweleye to the local Arrente Aboriginal people) for great views overlooking Alice Springs, the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges and the Western MacDonnell ranges. To find out more about the Arrente people, make a visit to the Strehlow Research Centre or the Araluen Arts Centre, where you can see some of the unique Aboriginal artwork of Albert Namatjira, one of Australia's most famous artists, and others.

• Accommodation: Central Alice Springs lodgings, Alice Springs
• (D)

Day 2. Head to the Red Centre and hike around Uluru (Ayers Rock)

After breakfast we’ll drive to Yulara, the closest settlement to Uluru, and our home for the next two nights. It takes about four to five hours to get to Yulara and the drive is enlivened by the wild kangaroos and camels roaming the roads, along with the odd ‘road train’ (an indescribably large truck carrying three trailers!). Along the way we’ll stop for views of Mt. Conner and Mt. Ebenezer, and also check out the Mt. Ebenezer Roadhouse, which has a small art gallery and artefacts on show. Upon arrival to Yulara, we’ll check into our accommodations at the Outback Pioneer Hotel and Lodge and then head straight out to 'The Rock’.

Uluru is a large sandstone formation and one of Australia’s most recognisable icons. It gained World Heritage status in 1987. Uluru has great spiritual significance to the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area. They believe that the spirit that turned into Uluru was a turtle spirit - we'll learn about this directly from them while we're here. It is about 350 metres high, though the majority of its bulk lies below ground, and it measures 9.4 km (almost 6 miles) in circumference.

Most people have seen pictures of Uluru, but nothing can prepare you for the physical impact of this vast monolith. Its sheer immensity dwarfs everything around it, and its sudden appearance in the middle of nowhere will have you wondering about extra terrestrials, God, and the meaning of life - it's that impactful. This afternoon as we hike around the base of Uluru, you’ll soon realise it’s so much more than “just a rock”. It has many springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings – and the photographic opportunities are endless. In case you’re wondering, the reason we don’t hike up onto the top of Uluru is at the request of the Anangu people: the path to the top crosses a sacred Dreamtime track. Later today we’ll wander back to the Outback Pioneer for a relaxed barbecue dinner and a few yarns.

• Accommodation: Outback Pioneer Hotel and Lodge, Yulara
• (B,L,D)

Day 3. Uluru options, Explore the Olgas, sunset on Uluru

This morning you’re faced with some tough decisions, as we have several options and they're all hard to resist! Get up early for a camel ride to see the sun rise over Uluru, ride a helicopter over it, or simply chill out at the Lodge – it’s up to you, and we’re happy to give advice on the best option for you.

Once we're all reunited, we’ll head even deeper into the outback to check out the Olgas. En-route we’ll take a short walk to a lookout where we’ll see the Olgas to the west and Uluru to the east – an awe-inspiring site! Known as Kata Tjuta (many heads) to the Anangu people, the Olgas are a group of 36 large rock formations, and we’ll hike around many of them today. The site is as sacred to the Indigenous people as Uluru, and just as intriguing. The majority of mythology surrounding the Olgas is not discussed with outsiders, but one Pitjantjatjara Dreamtime legend tells of the great snake Wanambi who is said to live on the summit of Mount Olga and only come down during the dry season.

After exploring the area, we’ll head back towards Yulara for one the highlights of our trip – an Uluru sunset! At this time of year an Uluru sunset is a remarkable sight as it glows from brown to orange, and finally bright reds to grey – simply a must see!

• Accommodation: Outback Pioneer Hotel and Lodge, Yulara
• (B,L,D)

Day 4. Hiking in Kings Canyon and another stunning sunset!

Today we head to Kings Canyon. It's a very different environment to Uluru and the Olgas, but just as remarkable. Upon entering the Watarrka National Park, we’ll hike the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, which wends its way along the top of the canyon. The steep climb at the start is known locally as Heartbreak Hill, but the slog up is soon forgotten as spectacular views of the surrounding landscape and the gorge 300 metres below start to open up. Part way along the track we’ll detour down to a permanent waterhole surrounded by lush plant life known as the Garden of Eden – a great place for a dip. Other parts of the track are punctuated by a maze of weathered sandstones domes and bizarre twisted trees – you’ll feel like you've entered another world! Later we’ll head to the plush Kings Canyon Resort for a wonderful dinner. Tonight’s our best opportunity to spot constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. The lack of terrestrial light in this remote part of the world means you’ll get the best views of the night sky. Ever. Among the many constellations, we’ll find the Southern Cross and point out the “Emu in the Sky” an important constellation within Aboriginal astronomy and spirituality.

• Accommodation: Kings Canyon Resort, Kings Canyon
• (B,L,D)

Day 5. Back to Alice Springs, an aboriginal experience!

After a relaxed start and a sumptuous breakfast at the resort, we’ll head back to Alice Springs. You’ll have learned a lot in the past few days about the way of life in the desert, and travelling through the outback this one last time, you’ll have a heightened sense of appreciation for this harsh, unforgiving yet captivatingly beautiful environment. Many people find their time in Australia's outback to be a turning point in their lives: this environment changes people. Back in Alice Springs, we’ll settle into our accommodations before heading out for our final dinner together and a unique Aboriginal cultural experience.

• Accommodation: Central Alice Springs lodgings, Alice Springs
• (B,L,D)

Day 6. Farewells

Today is the last day of our time together in the Australian Outback. If you’re continuing on to join us on our Great Ocean trip, which starts in Adelaide, it’s time to prepare yourself for a completely different Australian experience, as you move from the isolation of the Red Centre to the romantic vineyards, endless ocean vistas and exciting cities of Australia’s southeast coast! Most people leave around midday for flights to Adelaide or elsewhere, and we’ll take you to the nearly Alice Springs airport. If you can, get a window seat for great views over the Northern Territory’s desert landscape. An interesting alternative is to take the train, known as the Ghan, from Alice to Adelaide – chat with us about this option at the time of your booking.

• (B)

Included

• All meals as specified in the itinerary (B,L,D = breakfast, lunch dinner)
• all accommodation and activities as specified in the itinerary
• transport and guiding throughout the trip
• entrance passes to Uluru/Kata Tjuta and Watarrka National Parks
• transfer from Alice Springs airport to Alice Springs at the first day of the trip
• transfer from Alice Springs to Alice Springs airport on last day of the trip.

Not included

• Alcoholic drinks
• optional activities (such as the camel ride and helicopter ride at Uluru)

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