Larapinta End-to-End Hiking Tour

Start the trek at Alice Springs Telegraph Station, the official beginning of the Larapinta Trail. Be ready for pickup from your accommodation around 7:00 am. Please ensure you have eaten beforehand, as most cafes are closed early. Walk among granite boulders and climb to scenic high points with sweeping views of Alice Springs and Mt. Gillen. Explore the historic stone buildings from 1872, once home to the first European settlers in Central Australia. Let the trail lead you into the heart of the Outback.

The trail leads through mulga scrub and witchetty bush, across sunny hills, and into shady woods. Pause for lunch at Wallaby Gap, surrounded by rugged ridgelines. Push west through groves of towering bloodwoods and ironwoods lining a narrow alluvial flat. Watch for any black-footed rock wallabies or echidnas that might dart across your path. Arrive at Simpson’s Gap and settle into a remote wilderness campsite beneath the towering cliffs.

Hiking Distance: 25 km / 15.53 miles

PRE-TRIP BRIEFING NOTE: All participants must arrive in Alice Springs the day before Day 1, in time to attend the 3:30pm pre-trip briefing.

After breakfast, leave Simpson’s Gap and cross grassy flats and rocky hills marked by the traces of early cattle grazing, reminders of the land’s delicate balance. Ghost gums rise along the way, their white-coated bark once used by the Arrente people for its healing power. Reach the calm of Spring Gap, one of the trail’s most peaceful spots. See the variety of desert plants in the area and watch the birds gather around the waterhole. Continue through shifting landscapes before arriving at your serene campsite at Jay Creek.

Hiking Distance: Simpson’s Gap to Jay Creek—27 km / 16.77 miles
Hiking Distance: Simpson's Gap Loop Walk—17 km /

Step into sacred ground as you leave Jay Creek, walking only in the creek bed out of respect for the Aboriginal custodians. The day unfolds through striking terrain lined with mulga and witchetty bush, leading to Tangentyere Junction. From here, climb the ridgeline above the Finke River and take in sweeping views. Rest at Millers Flat for lunch, then ascend through rocky slopes before descending into the heart of Standley Chasm. Set up camp beneath the soaring red walls of this ancient gorge.

Hiking Distance: Jay Creek to Standley Chasm—15 km / 9.32 miles
Hiking Distance: Standley Chasm Return Walk—10 km / 6.21 miles

Leave Standley Chasm and follow the Bridle Trail, once used by early settlers for trade. Climb steadily to Reveal Saddle, then push up to Brinkley’s Bluff at just over 1,100 meters. Take in sweeping views of the West MacDonnell Ranges, their ridges stretched out like a stone spine across the desert. After lunch, descend steeply past Mintbush Spring, where fragrant native shrubs scent the air with mint and lavender. End the day at the tranquil Birthday Waterhole, a peaceful place to rest beneath the stars.

Hiking Distance: 19 km / 11.80 miles

Rise early for one of the trail’s most demanding and rewarding stretches. Enter the narrow walls of Spenser and Paisley Gorges, then climb to Windy Saddle and Razorback Ridge. Soak in sweeping views across rugged ranges and desert plains. Descend into Fringe Lily Creek, then trace the path through Linear Valley. The afternoon trek pushes through rough spinifex country, opening up to breathtaking views of Hugh Gorge. Return to the calm of Birthday Waterhole for a well-earned rest.

Hiking Distance: 16.5 km / 10.25 miles

Spend the next two days trekking along the southern flanks of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Their towering forms fill the skyline as the trail rolls gently through spinifex fields and open woodlands. See the area's diverse birdlife as you pass famous spots like Hugh View and Ghost Gum Flat, including painted firetail finches scuttling among the rocks, splendid fairy-wrens fluttering through the grass, and spinifex birds calling from the scrub. 

On Day 6, settle in at the remote Rocky Gully campsite. On Day 7, cool off with an afternoon visit to Ellery Waterhole before camping beneath the stars at Serpentine Chalet.

Hiking Distance: 31 km / 19.26 miles

Walk through the striking dolomite ridges of the Bitter Springs formation, their vertical spines etched with 800 million years of history. Fossilized stromatolites lie hidden in the stone, remnants of Earth’s earliest life forms. The trail winds through spinifex and woodlands alive with birdsong. Arrive at camp by mid-afternoon. Make sure to take time to rest or explore the peaceful hills surrounding this remote location.

Hiking Distance: 14 km / 8.69 miles

Climb high onto the quartzite ridgelines that define the West MacDonnell Ranges. Discover Mt. Sonder, the trail's last destination; Mt. Zeil, the Territory's highest peak; and Counts Point for expansive views of Central Australia. Off in the distance, Gosse Bluff appears like a scar from the sky, a massive ancient comet crater. Descend through silent Mulga stands and arrive at Serpentine Chalet. Relax at camp and savor another filling meal while the desert light fades.

Hiking Distance: 17 km / 10.56 miles

Begin early to make the most of a day packed with highlights. Enter the rugged core of the West MacDonnell Ranges, following a track opened to the public only in 1997. The ascent climbs to 1088 meters through tough, uneven terrain. Each step upward reveals more of the vast desert below. At the top, the land stretches wide across Alice Valley to the towering bulk of Mt. Giles, standing proud at 1389 meters. The climb tests your legs, but the view is pure reward.

Hiking Distance: 31 km / 19.26 miles

Walk a shorter stretch today as the trail leads into the headwaters of the Finke River. Known to the Arrernte as Lhere Pinte, “salty river,” this ancient watercourse gives the Larapinta Trail its name. Thought to be the oldest river on Earth, the Finke winds through timeworn landscapes shaped over millions of years.

In the afternoon, take the chance to visit nearby Glen Helen Gorge, where towering red cliffs rise above cool, still water.

Hiking Distance: 10 km / 6.21 miles

Spend two days walking in the shadow of Mt Sonder, its massive form shifting in color as the light changes. Head northwest through spinifex plains, cross the sandy bed of Davenport Creek, then climb a low rise before descending into Rocky Bar Gap.

The following day, continue west beneath Mt Sonder’s towering flanks. The trail winds through dense stands of mulga and mallee woodland, leading to the clear waters of Redbank Creek. Camp both nights beside the ancient Finke River, under wide skies and the watchful presence of the range.

Hiking Distance: 28 km / 17.39 miles

Rise in the dark for the final challenge, a sunrise climb of Mount Sonder, known as the Pregnant Lady to the local Aranda people. Hike in the cool morning air as the sky shifts from deep blue to gold. From the summit, take in the vast sweep of Central Australia, knowing you’ve reached one of the highest peaks west of the Great Dividing Range.

This moment, earned through every step of the past two weeks, marks the high point of the Larapinta Trail for many. Descend with a sense of completion, then return by vehicle to Alice Springs, arriving between 2:00 and 4:00 pm. It's well deserved, so celebrate with your group over dinner back in town.