With its dramatic views and ancient landscape, the Larapinta Hiking Trail in Australia is one of the most magnificent wilderness walks in the world. Located in the heart of Central Australia, the 223 km Larapinta Trail spans across the gorgeous West MacDonnell Ranges.

This spectacular desert trek is home to diverse wildlife, splendid waterholes and unique geological formations. Notable highlights along the track include Mt. Sonder, Serpentine Gorge, Simpson’s Gap, Ormiston Gorge and more.

At Walking Country, we offer personalised and flexible hiking tours in Australia. Witness dramatic views, enjoy a comfortable stay at our permanent Safari campsite, and learn about the rich culture and history of Larapinta Trail from our top-rated guides.

Why Experience the Larapinta Trail with Walking Country

Walking Country will take care of all the logistical hassles allowing you to best experience the Larapinta Trail. We’ll provide all the necessary camping equipment or hotels, arrange meals, permits, entry and tours, provide the right vehicle and combine that with a passionate and enthusiastic tour guide to assist on your hike.

Leader in the Field

Our sister company, Wayoutback Australian Safaris began in 1999 from humble beginnings – from a love of the Australian Outback and its people, combined with a dream to provide small group tours to the highlights of the Northern Territory. Due to the increasing demand in hiking the Larapinta Trail, we opened our sister company Walking Country to focus on this exceptional hike.

At Walking Country we are passionate about what we do and have an intimate knowledge of the Larapinta Trail, allowing us to pass on this knowledge and enthusiasm with all who travel with us.

Our Exceptional Guides

We pride ourselves on the very high standard of our guides. They are professionally trained with a sound knowledge of our local area focusing on its history, Aboriginal culture, geology and the natural environment. By evaluating our guide’s performance after every tour we ensure that a high standard is maintained.

Indigenous Experiences

Walking Country works closely with many of the traditional land owners in the regions in which we operate. All of our guides are experienced in Aboriginal Culture, history and Dreamtime, but we believe that to get a thorough understanding of the Northern Territory then meeting and interacting with local Aboriginal people is paramount.

Our Commitmnt to the Environment

The Red Centre is a very fragile environment and we are dedicated to protecting the landscape of the regions we travel through.

Walking Country operates Level IV Advanced Eco-Certified Tours. It is the highest acknowledgement for environmental understanding, operational practices and cultural representation as defined by Ecotourism Australia.

History and accreditations

Walking Country was introduced by Wayoutback Australian Safaris to meet the increasing demand for multi-day walking tours of Central Australia, specifically the epic Larapinta Trail.

Based out of Alice Springs, we are a trusted small group tour operator. We boast over 22 years of experience providing small group 4-wheel drive tours of the Northern Territory.

Our air-conditioned Mitsubishi Canter 4WD’s can accommodate up to 19 travellers. Our 14-day and 5-day Larapinta Trail tours can include up to 15 persons while larger groups can enlist in our worry-free private charters.

We manage Level IV Advanced Eco-Certified Tours which is EcoTourism Australia’s highest recognition for operational practices, environmental awareness, and cultural representation.

Thanks to our trained tour guides and hand-crafted itineraries, travellers enjoy authentic tours away from the crowd and extensive indigenous experiences.

Following the same ethos as Wayoutback, we strive to help clients gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of West MacDonnell Ranges’ unique landscape, culture, and history. Our trained guides are well-versed in Aboriginal culture, DreamTime, local wildlife, and the natural environment.

Unlike larger group tours, the smaller group numbers allow more flexibility and versatility so travellers can fully enjoy the natural wonders of Larapinta Trail. We can create personalised schedules and itineraries to meet your needs.

Book your adventure with Walking Country and experience the Northern Territory with ease, comfort, and style.

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Highlights of the Larapinta Trail

The famous Larapinta Trail extends for over 223km’s along the backbone of the West MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia and is divided into 12 sections.

Sunrise at Mount Sonder

Tackling the 16km return climb to the summit of Mount Sonder (1,380m) at sunrise has always been the highlight for many of our customers. The challenging climb to the peak is well worth the effort and walkers are rewarded with breathtaking views in all directions. Ranges, plains, valleys and salt lakes all combine to create magnificent vistas. This is a great place to experience the grandeur of the desert landscape.

Ormiston Pound Walk

Regarded by many as the “primo” small walk of the Larapinta Trail, the Ormiston Pound Walk is full of wow factor, wildlife and flora.

Count's Point

The section between Serpentine Gorge to Serpentine Chalet Dam offers exhilarating views of the high quartzite ridgelines that typify the West MacDonnell Ranges, including Haasts Bluff and Mt Zeil (the highest point in the Northern Territory.

High Country Above Standley Chasm

Follow the high quartzite ridges and be rewarded with breathtaking views in all directions, exploring a landscape of rock outcrops that is over 2,000 million years old. This section is a challenging but rewarding hike that covers some of the steepest and most rugged country in the ranges.

Euro Ridge

Enjoy superb views over Alice Springs and the surrounding lowlands and traces part of the historic Overland Telegraph Line route.Visitors also follow the Aboriginal Dreaming Track of an ancient euro (hill kangaroo), ancestor of the modern species of euro, also known as wallaroo along with superb bird watching opportunities.

Sleeping in a Swag under the beautiful Outback Sky

Experience the best multi star accommodation possible by sleeping in traditional Aussie Swags and become a part of the natural world and the incredible surroundings. Be in awe of the breathtaking outback skies with no light pollution- you will think that you can almost touch the stars.

Learning about the flora and fauna of the area

The MacDonnell Ranges facilitate a number of permanent water holes and provide sanctuary to a large number of plant and animal species that make the Larapinta such an awe inspiring trek. Central Australia has a large variety of geckos, goannas, skinks and dragons, as well as being home to Australia’s largest lizard, the Perentie. Most of the Red Centre’s beautiful reptiles are hibernating during the winter months. There are also approximately 150 species of birds and of course, kangaroos and wallabies which we will encounter on most of our trips.

5 days
5 Day Larapinta Trail Tour
14 days
End to End Larapinta Trail Tour

Our Tours

Witness the natural beauty of the Northern Territory with our Larapinta Hiking Trail tours in Australia. This sensational desert trek boasts of unique wildlife, ravines, geological formations, and waterholes you won’t find anywhere else.

For travellers with limited time on their hands, our 5 Day tour might be perfect for you. Witness some of Larapinta Trail’s best spots including Ormiston Gorge, Serpentine Gorge, Glen Helen Gorge, and many more.

For those who have more time to explore Red Centre, our 14 Day Tour covers the entire 223 km trail from End to End. Highlights of the tour include Jay Creek, Standley Chasm, Birthday Waterhole and more.

Book your Australia hiking tour with Walking Country and experience a trip of a lifetime. Enjoy a comfortable stay at our permanent Safari campsite and immerse in indigenous experiences with our top-rated guides.

Our Tours

Book your Australian Outback adventure now

On a Walking Country tour, you can expect a smooth and unforgettable hike across Central Australia’s best natural sights. We take care of all of your meals, transportation, accommodations, and sightseeing excursions so you can enjoy every moment of your trip.

Contact us today to book our multi-day walk tours or discuss your ideas for a private charter.

Walking Country Private Charters

We offer Private Group Touring and Larapinta Trekking Adventures

Take the hassle out of planning a group trip to the Top End or Red Centre of the Northern Territory and save up to $794 per person by booking a charter. Get exclusive access to our facilities such as our permanent campsites and personalised guide support for your private group of family or friends!

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