Will there be phone reception?
It’s unlikely that you will be able to get phone reception at the campsite. There is a sporadic and limited Telstra signal on some high points of the trail and an Optus signal at Ormiston Gorge, which we will visit most days after trekking. However, it is best to prepare for no reception and advise your loved ones accordingly – enjoy switching off and returning to nature! Our guides are equipped with satellite phones and extensive remote first aid kits to stay in touch with our operations team in Alice Springs.
Is there electricity in the tents?
Due to the remote nature of our permanent campsites, we do not have reliable electricity and charging facilities in our campsites/ tents. Therefore, we recommend bringing power banks to charge your electronic items.
Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?
Auptopia supplies all bedding, including linen, sleeping bags, pillows, and blankets. However, if you prefer to use your own, you can, of course, bring it. Alternatively, consider a sleeping bag liner for more thermal warmth, a smaller option to carry with you on the plane.
What is the walking terrain like?
The daily treks are a combination of sandy trails with small to medium rocks, steep ascents and descents of ridgelines, hills, gorges, and some water crossings. Please see some photos below
Do I need trekking poles?
It is optional to have trekking poles. If you usually hike with trekking poles or prefer them for extra support/ mild injuries such as bad knees, bringing a pair along is an excellent idea. Ensure the trekking poles have rubber on the points so that no damage is done to the bricks on the wall. You will need to pack these in your checked luggage for the flight.
Do I need a head torch?
It is compulsory to bring one as you will be trekking early in the morning (Mt Sonder sunrise trek starts at approx. 3 am) and for navigation around the campsite at night as there is only limited solar lighting.
What should I wear while trekking?
It is important to make sure you are comfortable. Check the weather forecast before departure, as temperatures can be variable. The best tip for trekking clothing is to wear layers. You will need to bring warm clothes, including long pants, a good jumper, a windbreaker, a beanie, a scarf, gloves, and good woollen socks for summit day (Mt Sonder). You will be entirely exposed during the day, so a good hat and sunscreen are vital. Depending on the season, there can be many flies in the outback, so please consider taking a fly head net with you.
Do I need to carry a full backpack on each trek?
No, you will only be required to carry your day pack with items necessary for each section of the trail. Your main luggage will be kept in your tent at our permanent campsite.
What happens if I am unable to participate in some of the hikes?
You may opt out of a day’s walk if you are unwell or have a mild injury. Autopia will require you to sign an “early release” form, and you can spend the day in our permanent campsite or at Ormiston Gorge, which has a café area and a beautiful waterhole/ beach area to spend the day. The group will spend time at Ormiston Gorge after most daily walks, making it a convenient rendezvous point.
How fit do I need to be for this tour?
Good hiking fitness is required and will ensure you will have the best possible experience on your adventure. Please ensure your fitness level is appropriate to cover between 11km to 16km of graded trail per day, carrying a small daypack (approx. 7-10 kg) with all your trekking requirements such as water, sunscreen, snacks, camera/ phone, and any other personal items. On average, we will be trekking 6-9 hours daily, including breaks. Some days you may find that you are tired and mentally challenged. Still, a positive attitude and the support from your hiking peers and guide will keep your feet moving, and you will be rewarded with stunning scenery and a sense of accomplishment that you will cherish for a lifetime.
What type of food do we eat on tour?
Most of the meals are prepared by our tour guides with basic camping-style food options and on occasions, they will be catered. Dinner can be a mix of stew on the campfire, an Aussie BBQ, spaghetti bolognese or even a bush curry. Lunch is often meat and salads with wraps or burgers and Breakfast is a small continental spread to fuel you through your day. On the day we climb Mount Sonder, our camp host does cook a full breakfast as a treat when we return from the trek. There are also snacks along the way and we pack daily snack packs before we start trekking but If you have special dietaries or food requirements, it can be important to bring some snacks of your own as options can be limited in the outback. It is important to remember how remote we are and that all food has to be brought with us from Alice Springs. Guests are asked to participate in the preparation of meals, clean-up, and vehicle unpacking/loading as it’s a great way to get to know and connect with your fellow travellers.
Do you cater to special dietary requirements?
Yes, subject to the requirement. Please notify us if you have any dietary requirements or medical conditions at the time of booking so that we have plenty of time to cater to your needs and arrange the best possible options for you. We cater for standard dietary requirements, including Vegetarian, Vegan, Pescetarian, Gluten-free and Lactose-free.
What is a suitable age for this tour?
The child policy for this tour is 12 years old and over, due to the nature of this tour, it’s not suitable for infants or children 11 years and under. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. A moderate to high level of fitness at minimum is required to complete the hikes involved. If you have children 11 years and under and wish to travel with us, we suggest that you might like to look into a private charter so we can cater the tour specifically for your needs.
Do I require travel insurance for this tour?
It is highly recommended that all passengers have personal travel insurance, given we’re exploring remote parts of Australia and doing activities that carry increased risk, some regions have limited access to health professionals in the event of sickness or injury. Autopia Tours is not authorised to provide information on the type of plan or policy options available. This can be provided by an accredited local travel agent or from your preferred insurance company.
Where do we stay on tour?
We stay at a private camp on aboriginal land near Ormiston Gorge. This will be our camp for all 4 nights of the trekking tour and we will return to the same camp after we have finished trekking for the day.
How much luggage can I bring on tour?
No more than 1x 15-20kg soft bag and 1 5-7kg day pack. As we return to Alice Springs after the trek, all other luggage should be stored with your accommodation provider.
Can I bring my CPAP machine on a camping tour?
While we understand the importance of CPAP machines for restful sleep, our camping tours, by their nature, lack access to reliable electricity sources. Our permanent campsites generally have limited or no available power outlets, making standard CPAP machines unusable. Plus, our safari tents are unpowered and located away from our outdoor dining facilities. We recommend portable lightweight battery operated devices should you not be able to travel without one.
Can I keep medication cold on tour?
We travel with Ice coolers to keep the food cold and most times it is possible to keep medications chilled. We recommend purchasing a small insulated bag to put it in so that they are not contaminated by food or liquid in the “Esky”. Please let us know by email if you need to keep medications cold so that we can prepare ahead of time.
Are National Park fees included in the tour cost?
Autopia Tours includes Parks Australia fees within the tour price, this covers our guests for a 5 day access to West MacDonnell National Parks. Park Passes are not available for purchase by guests not travelling onboard our tours.
What is the minimum number of passengers required in order to operate?
A minimum of six people is required to operate our 5 day Trekking Tour. Our maximum number of passengers carried on this tour will be 15 passengers. In the event that a tour is cancelled due to insufficient passenger numbers being met, we will transfer all monies paid for your departure.
What kind of vehicle do we travel in for this tour?
We have a fleet of all-terrain 4×4 tour buses, uniquely designed to handle the harshest of terrains and off-road tracks in the most comfort possible. Fleet specs Isuzu N Series NPS300 Trucks (15, 17, 21-seater). In the unlikely event of a breakdown, alternative vehicles may be used.
Is it safe to travel in Australia’s outback? (Acceptance of Risk)
Australia is home to many dangerous creatures, extreme weather conditions, and varied terrain. Experiencing these dangers while camping, hiking, or passing time outside may increase your personal risk. Safety is our number one priority, and our guides are highly trained to ensure passenger safety at all times. As long as you follow the instructions of the guide then the chances of you returning home safe are high. Get Lost Travel Pty Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any loss, injury, or accident caused by passengers onboard Autopia Tours. In the Red Centre, children must be at least 6 years old for day trips and 8 years old for overnight tours. Children under the age of 18 must always be accompanied by an adult, legal guardian, or caregiver. Despite all care being taken, the responsibility for children on tour lies entirely with their parents or caregivers. Passengers, including children, must wear shoes, sunscreen, and hats at all times.
What is the most dangerous thing in the outback?
While snakes and spiders are at the forefront of most peoples minds, it is actually the weather that causes the most visits to the medical centre. It can be hot and extremely dry in the outback and dehydration can happen quickly, just by talking you are dehydrating. Medical professionals and Parks Australia recommend you drink at least 1 litre of water per hour of activity that you are doing. Our guides drink 5+ litres per day in on the Larapinta Trail to give you a guide of what you should be drinking. If you start to get a headache, feel unwell or faint, have a dry mouth or feel unreasonably irritable, you may be suffering from dehydration. Speak to your guide, they carry hydration aids for such situations. Failing to take action early can result in hospitalisation or in severe circumstances it can lead to death.
What is your Vaccination Policy?
In accordance with current Government regulations, it is no longer a requirement to be double vaccinated, although we do highly recommend it.
What if I need to cancel my tour?
We understand that travel plans can sometimes change, if you cancel some or all portions of your booking the cancellation terms set out below will apply. A cancellation will only take effect when we receive written confirmation that you have sent to your relevant booking agent notifying them of your cancellation.
If you wish to change or cancel your trip
(a) 0 to 14 days before the departure date or failure to board on tour
● will result in a 100% cancellation fee / full fare forfeiture of the ticket price and not eligible for a refund; or
(b) 15+ days prior to the departure
● we will refund the full balance paid by you in connection with your booking; or
● flexible date changes – unlimited supply of free date changes available; or
● Alternatively, we can issue a credit voucher for the amount paid to travel on another day
Any credit travel voucher resulting from a cancellation under (Cancellation by the Traveller) has an expiry date of 3 years and may be applied towards any other available trip offered by us. This credit is transferable on experiences, however not redeemable for cash. Note different cancellation conditions may apply if/when booked through third party agents, your travel consultant will advise if differences apply. We strongly advise travellers to take out personal cancellation insurance at the time of booking.
Can I join a tour last minute?
Sometimes you can jump on last minute, but it’s best to book in advance to avoid missing out on your preferred dates. Especially in peak season as tours book out quickly. The hardest part of joining a tour last minute is ensuring you have the appropriate gear. If you find yourself wanting to book a last minute tour it is best to call our reservations team on 08 6244 2065 and speak directly with them to confirm details.
Can I upgrade my tour?
No, there are no upgrades available for this tour unless you wish to book a private charter.
Can I be dropped off in Yulara after the tour?
The departure point is Alice Springs. If you wish to return to Yulara/Ayres Rock Airport/ Ayres Rock Resort in the following days our reservations team can advise you on how to book a shuttle bus with one of our partners at an additional cost.
When do Larapinta Trekking Tours run?
Because of the increased dangers of hiking during summer and seasonal closures of the trail, we only off tours from May to August. We depart every second Sunday. Please contact reservations for a full list of departure dates.
Can I fly in on Day 1?
Given our tour departs early from Alice Springs from 6.00am, guests must arrive the day prior to the tour and stay 1-night for a welcome meet & greet for 2.30pm. Once you have booked your Alice Springs accommodation, we will arrange a pickup on the day of the tour. We do not provide airport-to-accommodation transfer services pre/post tours.
Can I fly out on Day 5 of the tour?
To avoid potential travel disruptions, we strongly recommend against customers booking departure flights on the final day of the tour. We do not arrive back to Alice Springs till around 6.30pm and there is a final dinner included in the tour that you will miss if you choose to fly out on day 5. While we strive to adhere to our itinerary, unexpected delays can occur. Please note that the tour operator is not responsible for any costs incurred due to such delays. For added peace of mind, we recommend purchasing travel insurance.
Contact Us
All reservations must be reconfirmed within 72 hours prior to departure via email to [email protected].
