Uluru & Red Centre - 8 Days

We are warmly welcomed by our Outback Spirit crew, who will showcase the beauty and culture of the Red Centre over the coming days.

Please note: a passenger weight limit of 125kg applies to flights included in this tour; please contact us in advance if your weight exceeds this amount.

We spend the next two nights in Alice Springs.

We set off to explore the dramatic landscapes of the West MacDonnell Ranges, discovering Simpsons Gap - known as Rungutjirpa to the Arrernte people - and visiting Standley Chasm, a cultural site wholly owned and operated by the local Arrernte community.

Please note: guests starting their tour on a Monday have the outback bush barbecue dinner on their first night instead.

Later, we join a guided tour of the Alice Springs Desert Park. Tonight, we enjoy a bush barbecue dinner and a live outback show under the stars.

We farewell Alice Springs and head deeper into the outback. A short walk at Ellery Creek warms us up for the towering walls of Ormiston Gorge, before we continue along the scenic Mereenie Loop 4WD track to Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park, our base for the next two nights.Tonight, dinner is at our accommodation's restaurant.

This morning, we explore Kings Canyon on a guided walk, with the choice between the spectacular 6-kilometre rim walk (a good level of fitness is required) or the more relaxed 2.6-kilometre creek bed walk.

Please note: in the afternoon, a 15-minute helicopter flight over Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park is available as an optional upgrade with a local operator, at an additional cost. Maximum passenger weight limits apply to all scenic or transfer flights.

Later, we enjoy drinks and canapés as the sun sets at an immersive light installation by an acclaimed artist. Dinner tonight is at our accommodation's bar and grill.

Today begins with a visit to an Indigenous-owned and operated cultural tour experience. Bound for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, we stop for lunch along the way at Curtin Springs, a million-acre cattle station, before arriving at Uluru, one of Australia's most iconic landmarks.

Please note: evenings in Central Australia can be cold; a jacket is recommended.

This evening, we attend a powerful cultural storytelling experience featuring choreographed drones, lasers and projections lighting up the desert sky, with cocktails infused with native ingredients and a gourmet dinner hamper, as the ancient Mala story is retold with traditional narration in the local Pitjantjatjara language. We spend the next three nights here.

We venture to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) with a guided walk through Walpa Gorge, taking in its striking rock formations. We then join a guided tour around the base of Uluru, learning about traditional Anangu culture and the stories connected to this sacred site.This afternoon, we tour the Gallery of Central Australia, followed by free time to relax or explore the resort. As the sun sets, we head to a dune-top location for drinks and canapés as a globally renowned light installation gently illuminates an area the size of seven football fields, before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Please note: dinner this evening is at approximately 9 pm.

Early risers may wish to watch the sunrise over Uluru before breakfast. After breakfast and morning coffee, we depart for the Mala Walk to see fine examples of rock art, arriving at Kantju Gorge.The afternoon is free to relax at the resort, explore the town square, or take part in included cultural activities. Tonight's experience begins with canapés and sparkling wine overlooking the desert, followed by a bush tucker-inspired buffet, with a resident star talker revealing the secrets of the southern sky under the stars.

Following breakfast, guests can depart from Ayers Rock Airport or return to Alice Springs aboard our coach, transferring on to a CBD hotel.