
The Larapinta Trail
Have you ever experienced the natural therapy of walking in nature for days at a time? Structuring your day with the sunrise and sunset instead of alarms; noticing all the plants, insects and birds as your mind slows; having deep conversations with your friends and watching the flames of the campfire as you fall asleep.
Its magic. But be careful, you might just get addicted!
The Larapinta Trail is an epic hike which winds through the rugged mountains of the Aussie outback, past giant gums, stunning waterholes (safe for swimming—no crocs here!), towering red gorges, and canyons that will leave you in awe.
At 225 km long, it’s no small feat, but don’t worry—WWJ has handpicked the best sections for you to do a beginner friendly version over 6 days! With a support vehicle on hand, you’ll carry only a light daypack—yay!
As we navigate this remote and breathtaking landscape, you’ll feel a deep sense of accomplishment, focus, and presence. The rhythm of walking, the fresh desert air, and the ever-changing scenery make it easy to switch off from the distractions of everyday life and fully immerse yourself in the experience.
We've got everything covered: fresh, nourishing meals, trail snacks, water, cooking gear, comfy swags, and even your sleeping bag. Just bring your backpack, hiking clothes, and adventurous spirit!
Trip Highlights:
🌿 Trek with like-minded adventurous women who uplift and support you.
🌌 Sleep under the stars in a swag and share stories by the fire.
🏜️ Immerse in the ancient beauty of the MacDonnell Ranges, guided by local experts.
💪 Feel empowered by pushing your limits and accomplishing something you’re proud of.
🌄 Summit the stunning Mount Sonder for sunrise.
Information
Included:
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All camping equipment (swag, winter sleeping bag, cooking equipment, etc.).
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Camp site and trail fees.
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Transport around the national park to the different sections of the trail.
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3 healthy and yummy meals a day plus snacks for the hike.
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3 female Larapinta guides with acculmative 10 years cumulative experience.
Meeting point:
We will embark on our trek at 7:30am on the 12th of May from Alice Springs, so you will need to book your flight to the Alice Springs airport arriving on the 11th or earlier. (Remember that Uluru airport is different, its 450km’s away and there is no shuttle service to Alice Springs.)
We will pick you up directly from your accommodation in our van on the 12th. Please let us know before the trip which accommodation you are booked at. We will call you a week before if you haven’t let us know yet. We recommend Alice Secret Travellers Inn for a cheap hostel, or the Mercure or Stay at Alice Springs Hotel for a more mid range hotel. These accommodations are all close enough to the shops and cafes to walk. There is no Uber in Alice Springs and taxi’s are hard to get.
Book your shuttle from the airport to any hotel here: https://alicespringsairportshuttle.com.au/
Pre-trek briefing:
The day before your trip begins (the 11th) we will host a pre-trek briefing which is optional but highly recommended at 5pm in Alice Springs (location TBC). The guides will go over the itinerary, packing list, and last minute details for the trip. This is a great opportunity for you to meet the rest of the group and ask any questions you might have about what to bring.
Finish point:
We will finish our adventure on the 17th, arriving back in town around 5pm and will drop you at your accommodation. You shouldn’t book a flight out on the 17th as that will be too rushed, so fly out on the 18th or later.
Fitness:
Despite this being a "beginner friendly" hike, it is still required to have a good level of fitness and mobility. You will be walking between 8 - 16kms per day, on rocky, undulating terrains, with lots of hills. The most important thing to train before the trip is cardio and stairs so you're ready for the mountains! In saying this, we are a VERY inclusive group of women and always walk at a reasonable pace with plenty of breaks so that you never feel left behind or struggling to keep up. We're here to have fun, not to race. Its normal to feel nervous signing up for something like this if youve never walked this far, dont worry you're not alone. You won't find a more safe and supportive group to walk with than us, and the reward is so worth it! You will finish feeling empowered, confident, and capable!
What do I have to carry?
On this adventure we will be supported by a vehicle and trailer which will carry our swags, camp gear, food, and main luggage to each campsite. This means you will just need to carry a day pack (15 - 25L backpack) which will hold your personal items throughout the day such as sunscreen, hat, light jacket, camera, snacks & lunch (provided by your guides at the start of each day), and of course, water. Water is very important for hiking, and there will be no fill-up points throughout the day. This means you will need to carry 3-4L of water each day. Sounds like a lot I know, but when you're hiking for up to 6-8 hours in the outback sun, you will need it! We recommend a "camelbak" style bladder, which makes drinking whilst walking much easier than using a screw top water bottle. Your day pack will end up weighing about 6 - 8kgs depending on how many personal items you bring.
Camping Facilities:
To really embrace our adventurous side and immerse in nature, we will sleep in traditional swags which is a bedroll that consist of a comfy foam mattress and a canvas covering. Inside your swag you will also use a winter sleeping bag (provided by us) which is flanelette lined, rated to -10°c and super duper cosy, plus your pillow (byo). We will also have tents just in case of rain, but hopefully we won't have to use them! Sleeping in a swag is always everyones highlight on our trips, it becomes your little nest of comfort and safety, and the stars are incredible. You will fall asleep counting the shooting stars and marvelling at the milky way. How amazing.
Every day we will pass at least 1 or 2 pit toilets on the trail, and most days that is a flushing toilet facility once as well. However nature calls when nature calls! So it's pretty normal to have to use the "bush toilet" a couple times during the trek. We will provide a small trowel, rubbish bags and toilet paper for this, and explain the process to everyone on day 1.
There will be no showers throughout the whole trek, but on day 2, 3, 4, and 5 we will be at a waterhole which is fresh water and swimable.
Reception/Wifi:
There will be no reception throughout this whole trip, except for the occasional "ping" on top of a ridge line, but even that isn't guaranteed. There is also no wifi. Plan to be offline for the whole 6 days, how great! Total disconnection.
Food/dietary requirements:
We will provide 3 meals a day plus lots of yummy snacks. The food will be healthy, and we will always have a few different options for meals. As examples we may have muesli/cereal/yoghurt/toast for breakfast and the occasional hot breakfast; sandwiches/wraps/salads for lunches; and stir fry/pasta/curries/bbq’s for dinners. Please let us know on the booking form if you have any dietary requirements and we will gladly cater for anything, vegan, vego, GF, DF, even fodmaps.. we got you!
What to Pack:
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Hiking/active day clothes. Day time temperatures will be pleasent 18-27°c so shorts/t shirts are okay.
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Warm jacket and warm pants. Night time temperatures can drop to below 0°, so whilst you won't need this during the day, you should pack plenty of winter clothes including a padded jacket, long sleeve thermals, warm leggings, track pants, beanie and gloves.
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Hiking boots - VERY IMPORTANT! Make sure these shoes are broken in! That means having worn them and walked along trails for 40 hours plus. We stongly recommend boots with ankle support. The terrain on this trail is very uneven and rocky, so the more supportive the better. "Sneakers/runners" just wont cut it, invest in yourself and buy some good hiking boots. Your going to be hiking all the time after this trip anyway so they will be worth it! ;)
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Sandals/thongs. For at the end of the day. Its good to air out your feet after being in shoes all day.
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Swimmers. There are plenty of waterholes which are super refreshing to plunge into at the end of the day.
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Day pack. Approx 15 - 25L small backpack which you will carry on the hike each day.
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Hat. Ideally wide brim for plenty of shade.
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Toiletries. (Don’t forget chapstick and moisturiser – its dry here!)
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Wetwipes. This will be your shower for the trip!
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Sunscreen.
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Camera/gopro.
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Battery pack. Remember, there is no power points throughout this trip.
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Head torch. Essential to not trip over around the campsite at night time.
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Head fly net. At this time of year, flys really are not that bad, but best to pack one just in case! Theres not many mozzies in the desert so they are not a worry, just the flies.
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Water Bladder. 'Camelbak" style, suitable to carry 3L.
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Travel pillow. Your neck will thank you.
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Travel towel. Small and light towel.
A Typical Day Itinerary on the Larapinta:
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Wake up with the sunrise around 6:00 AM and enjoy a hot coffee and nourishing breakfast.
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Pack up and depart camp by 7:30 AM, driving 15–45 minutes to the trailhead.
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Begin the morning hike, stopping for a short break to rest and refuel.
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Pause for lunch in a shady spot, recharging for the afternoon trek.
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Continue hiking through breathtaking ridges, gorges, and ancient riverbeds.
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Finish hiking around 5:00 PM and drive back to camp.
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Enjoy a hearty dinner, relax, and stretch.
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Unwind around the campfire, sharing stories under a sky full of stars.
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Settle into your swag for a restful sleep, ready for another day of adventure.