Uluru Adventure (Yulara to Alice Springs)

Overview & Itinerary

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Physical rating

To get the most out of this trip you need to be prepared for walks of between 3-9 km on some days. This may be on rough ground and perhaps getting feet wet in rivers and creeks. From Oct to March in the Red Centre, West Coast, and South of Australia you will experience temperatures of over 35 degrees Celsius (and sometimes well into the 40’s) so be prepared to endure extra physical stress due to the heat at these times, especially while on walks. In the Top End of Australia (Kimberley and Kakadu) temperatures in the shoulder months of April, May and September, October humidity levels can be high and sometimes slightly uncomfortable.

These extreme outside temperatures can also place stress on the air-conditioning units within our vehicles which can make travelling uncomfortable. Your tour guide will assist with regular breaks and information to assist in keeping well hydrated.

ATTENTION: This tour is only for fit and active people, who can hike 5-9kms a day over uneven terrain, often in high temperatures. Some hikes may require sections of walking/swimming through water. Temperatures can be extreme; very high during summer days and very cold during winter nights. The operator reserves the right to assess the fitness capability of passengers prior to tour departure. Tour is not suitable for children. There is a STRICT LUGGAGE LIMIT of 15kgs per person, in a backpack or soft bag.

Joining point

Joining point:  Desert Gardens Hotel at Ayers Rock Resort or Airport (dependent on flight arrival time, confirm at time of booking)

It is essential you advise Adventure Tours Australia or your booking agent of your flight times.

WINTER SCHEDULE – No lunch included
(6th April – 5th October 2025)

If your flight arrives BEFORE 1:00pm your guide will meet you at the front of the Desert Gardens hotel at 1:45pm (Outback Pioneer @ 1:50pm). The Free Yulara Airport Shuttle is available from the airport to the Desert Gardens Hotel. No bookings are required, just look for the regular shuttle in front of the airport once you have collected your luggage. If your flight arrives between 1:00pm – 1:40 pm please meet your Adventure Tours guide at Yulara (Ayers Rock Airport) @ 2:00pm.

Please do not book any flights arriving after 1:40pm as you will not be able to join trip.

SUMMER SCHEDULE – Lunch included
(6th October 2024 – 5th April 2025 and 5th October 2025 – 4th April 2026)

 

If your flight arrives BEFORE 11:00am your guide will meet you at the front of the Desert Gardens hotel at 1:15pm (Outback Lodge @ 1:20pm). The Free Yulara Airport Shuttle is available from the airport to the Desert Gardens Hotel. No bookings are required, just look for the regular shuttle in front of the airport once you have collected your luggage.

 

If your flight arrives between 11:00am – 12:45pm please meet your Adventure Tours guide at Yulara (Ayers Rock Airport) @ 1:00pm.

 

SUMMER SCHEDULE – No lunch

We will do a late airport pick up at 2 pm for any flights arriving between 1pm – 1.45pm. Please be ready with walking shoes on and easy access to hat, sunscreen and water bottle. We recommend hand luggage only for a quick getaway.

 

For any flights arriving after this time, we’d recommend flying a day earlier. In case of any delayed or late flights please contact us to confirm pick up after sunset from Desert Gardens Hotel.

FINISHING POINT

This tour finishes on arrival in Alice Springs at around 6pm. Finishing times may be earlier during the summer months. Please take this into consideration when booking any onward travel out of Alice Springs. We cannot guarantee arriving in time to board the Ghan or any flight on this day. You will need to book an extra night of accommodation to extend your stay here, please contact our sales staff if you would like to arrange accommodation in Alice Springs after your tour.

Emergency contact information

ALL general enquiries must be directed to our Reservations team on +61 (0)3 9125 3630.

In the case of a GENUINE EMERGENCY, or concerns about a missed pick-up on the day of departure ONLY please contact our Operations Manager in Alice Springs on +61 (0)8 7918 1840.

Finishing point

Central Alice Springs accommodation

This tour finishes on arrival in Alice Springs at around 6pm. Finishing times may be earlier during the summer months. Please take this into consideration when booking any onward travel out of Alice Springs. We cannot guarantee arriving in time to board the Ghan or any flight on this day. You will need to book an extra night of accommodation to extend your stay here, please contact our sales staff if you would like to arrange accommodation in Alice Springs after your tour.

Age Restriction

Not suitable for children 7yrs and under

Itinerary Changes

ITINERARY CHANGES
Occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements from past travellers’ comments and our own research. Itineraries may also change due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors outside of our control.

It’s very important that you print and review a final copy of your Essential Trip Information a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff.

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CULTURAL EXPERIENCES & COMMUNITIES
Please note due to cultural sensitivities, entry to particular parts of local First Nations communities may be unavailable. Where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guides are unavailable in the Red Centre, an Adventure Tours guide will lead the interpretive cultural walk. Top End cultural experiences are only available during the dry season (May-Oct) as site is subject to flooding (contact our customer service team for availability). Participants may be absent due to cultural commitments with minimal prior notification and Adventure Tours reserves the right to amend the itinerary in these circumstances with no obligation to refund.

Essential Trip Information

Important notes

1. Trip commences in Yulara and finishes in Alice Springs day 3 at approx 6pm.
2. For the Kings Canyon Rim Walk it is a requirement that you have a minimum of 3 litres of water with you. Please consider bringing your own refillable water bottles.
3. Your pick up may be from the Yulara Airport or the Desert Gardens Hotel, this will depend on your flight arrival time.
4. Please be ready with walking shoes on and easy access to your water bottle.
5. You can also join this trip in Alice Springs from 6am on Day 1; see tour code AR3.

Travel insurance

We endorse the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that all travellers take out travel insurance. It is your personal responsibility to purchase your own travel insurance.

Dietary Requirements

Passengers with special meal requirements or food allergies MUST ensure they or their travel agent inform ATA of this when booking. Food for the trip is purchased before commencement and special requirements cannot be catered for after departing. If you have not notified us prior to departure, you may be asked to pay for any additional food yourself. Due to the nature of our trips food is basic but plentiful. We provide the substitutes below; please bring your staples if you require specific foods not listed below:

• No Pork (Alternative to Ham provided)
• No Dairy (soy milk provided)
• Vegetarian (additional veg and vegie burgers provided)
• Vegan (supply of additional fruit and veg provided)
• Gluten Free (cereal, bread, wraps, pasta, snack bars, sweet and savoury biscuits provided)

*Religious dietary requirements and specifically prepared/sourced produce cannot be catered for.

Feedback

ISSUES ON YOUR TRIP
While we always endeavour to provide you with the best possible holiday experience, sometimes things can and do go wrong due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your tour guide straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip. We recognise that there may be times when your tour guide cannot resolve a situation to your satisfaction – if this is the case, please ask the guide to speak to their direct manager or contact our reservations staff.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. But we ask you to be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide practical help after the trip is complete.

FEEDBACK
After your travels, we want to hear from you! We rely on your feedback. We read it carefully. Feedback helps us understand what we are doing well and what we could do better. It allows us to make improvements for future travellers. Please visit this page to leave feedback: www.adventuretours.com.au/submit-tour-feedback

Medical conditions

Please note this tour operates in remote regions, and as such, medical facilities may be difficult to access. If you have any medical conditions or take any form of medication, please provide full details & nature of the condition. Please provide details of the medication taken.

Transport

All-terrain vehicle

From October to March it is likely that you will experience temperatures of over 35 degrees Celsius, and sometimes well into the 40’s. Be prepared to endure extra physical stress due to the heat at these times, especially while on walks. These extreme temperatures can also place stress on the air-conditioning units within our vehicles which can make travelling uncomfortable. Your tour guide will assist with regular breaks and information to assist keeping hydrated. In July and August, very cold temperatures can be experienced both in the outback and along the coast, especially overnight. Please come prepared for all extremes.

PICK UP TIMES FOR AYERS ROCK

Please note pick up times from Ayers Rock Resort vary at different times of the year due to daylight savings and flight time changes. Please contact our Reservations team for further information; you will need to supply your flight details and we will advise your pick up time. The free Yulara Airport Shuttle is available from the Airport to the Desert Gardens Hotel, at the Ayers Rock Resort complex. No bookings are required for the free service, just look for the shuttle out the front of the airport once luggage has been collected. Lunch is not included on Day 1.

Accommodation

Powered camp (with shared facilities) (2 nights) 

A couple of rules

Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government’s advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers. Please refer to our website’s safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trip.

We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won’t need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.

Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however during your trip you’ll have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we make no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your Leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it’s deemed necessary due to safety concerns.

Packing

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen and when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances.
Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps. You’ll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, and jacket etc. when you’re exploring during the day.

 

LUGGAGE LIMIT:

Please keep your luggage to a minimum. Due to limited space and strictly enforced road laws regarding weight limits, Adventure Tours travellers can carry a maximum of 15 kg. One small soft-sided bag plus a day pack is essential. We recommend against bringing hard/externally framed suitcases as they are difficult to store and can damage equipment and other travellers’ belongings. If your trip is beginning and ending at the same location, excess luggage can usually be stored at your arrival/departure hotel and can be collected after your trip. If your trip does not return to the same starting point we suggest you look at freighting your excess luggage. One option is with greyhound: http://www.greyhoundfreight.com.au/

 

WATER BOTTLE:
Consider bringing your own water bottle to refill along the way. For the Kings Canyon Rim Walk it is a requirement that you have a minimum of 3 litres of water with you. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.

 

SLEEPING BAG & MAT:
Comfortable sleeping mats are provided when camping.
If you are travelling on a camping style trip please bring a travel pillow and sleeping bag or pre-purchase a sleeping bag from us. If you do not wish to keep your sleeping bag we will return them to our Operations Department, where they will be washed and donated to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

If you are travelling on an hostel style trip all linen and bedding is provided, so no sleeping bag is required.

ESSENTIALS:

• Lightweight clothing. You will need to bring a mixture of lightweight clothing and layers. Long shirts and pants are useful to protect against the harsh Australian sun. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry.
• During the winter months of June / July / August temperatures in the Red Centre can drop to 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight so it’s important to also have some warm layers
• Comfortable closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through bush/grass-lands, and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings.
• Sun protection – hat, sunscreen, sunglasses

RECOMMENDED:

• Personal medical kit. A larger kit will be on hand with your guide, but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes, Band-Aids and insect repellent.
• Water bottle. We recommend at least a 1.5litre capacity.
• A headlamp or torch is recommended for around your accommodation at night.
• Powerbank to recharge your phone

OPTIONAL:

• Sleep sheet. If you are travelling during the hot season you may wish to pack a sleep sheet so you will be comfortable no matter what the weather.
• Ear plugs
• A good book, a journal and music player

VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

 

BATTERIES/POWER:
Most of our trips have access to power to recharge batteries for phones and cameras every couple of days. We always recommend that you carry an extra battery for your camera just in case. Your vehicle will be equipped with a 12 volt “cigarette lighter” socket which may be used at the crew’s discretion, however, do bear in mind that only one piece of equipment can be charged at a time and it will not be allowed if there is a risk of running the vehicle’s batteries low. Batteries may also be recharged from hotel room wall sockets. Hotels and many campsites have electricity and charging of batteries is advised before checking out the following day.

Participatory Camping

On most days, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included. Your guide will prepare most of the meals whilst on tour but you will have the opportunity to assist with daily activities such as setting up camp, helping prepare meals and clearing dishes. None of this is difficult however many hands make light work and any assistance provided to crew is always much appreciated. Most people agree that this type of activity helps you feel like less of a tourist and more of an explorer.

Phone and internet access

Wireless (wi-fi) is common across accommodation in urban areas of Australia. Some properties may charge a fee for usage. Cafe’s and pubs across the Northen Territory may have wi-fi for a fee, with those in tourist area’s offering it for free. Shopping centre’s, airports and other public spaces offer limited free wi-fi access.

Even travelling a small distance from populated areas will see internet access stop. Many of our camps have little to no internet access (any access at all is expensive) being as remote as they are. Please be prepared for up to 3-4 days at a time without internet or cell service. Turn your phone off and enjoy the beauty of this part of the world.

Australia’s main telecommunication companies all operate in towns in the NT. Different networks will work in outback or regional area’s. Pay phones (most are prepaid card only) are rarer than hen’s teeth but can be found in most campsites we use.

If you are spending longer in Australia, it might be a good idea to purchase a local SIM card for data and your mobile device. If you need to purchase a phone locally. look for Telstra’s ‘blue tick’ phones with better coverage in rural areas.

Guides are equipped with satellite phones for emergencies only.