Trek Larapinta

Trek Larapinta is a small, local business that specialises in the Larapinta Trail. Established in 1998 Trek Larapinta has pioneered small group trekking tours on the Larapinta Trail. We think small is beautiful. Being small, we can focus on quality and sustainability. Being local, we maintain strong knowledge of the landscape and build deep connections with the community.

We guide walking tours for small groups and organise transfers for independent walkers, support Indigenous enterprises and practice environmentally responsible travel. We do this in the places we know and love: the Larapinta Trail and Central Australia. These are special places for us. It’s a privilege to live here and share the experience with you.
Trek Larapinta wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Central and Western Arrernte Country for allowing us the opportunity to share this magnificent place – the Larapinta Trail/Western MacDonnell region.

Tour & Transport

16 Day End to End Larapinta Trek

Our End to End Larapinta Trail trek is a 16 day wilderness adventure totally immersing you in the country, and allowing the time and space to fully appreciate and understand this spectacular place.

The itinerary has been designed so we walk the entire length of the Larapinta Trail, all 223 kilometres, along with some special highlights not officially on the trail. You will experience all the trail has to offer, from high ridgelines to sheltered gorges, open savannah country to magnificent mountains, dry and flowing rivers, and the best examples of the West MacDonnell’s vegetation and fauna. All this along with the support of Trek Larapinta’s experienced and knowledgeable guides, and returning to the comfort of your supported camp each night. On each section you will be tested and rewarded until thae final section: truly the trip of a lifetime.

6 Day Larapinta Trek: Highlights

The 6 day Larapinta Trail trek explores the Western sections of the Larapinta Trail, from Serpentine Gorge to Mt Sonder. These are spectacular and varied hikes, taking you through some of the best examples of the West MacDonnell’s vegetation, its gorges and views. On each section you are rewarded with views of Mt Sonder, the highest point on the Larapinta Trail, with the tour culminating in the challenging (but rewarding) ascent to the summit of this elegant desert peak.

The 6 day trek will appeal to the active day pack walker willing to undertake moderate to challenging walking of between 5 to 8 hours each day, across uneven terrain with some ascents and descents.

3 Day Larapinta Trail Experience

Join us on the ultimate short stay trekking experience in Central Australia. On the 3 day Larapinta Trail trek visit the must see and do things in the West MacDonnell National Park: Ormiston Gorge, Redbank Gorge, Counts Point, the Finke River and Standley Chasm. The highlight of the trek sees us summit magnificent Mount Sonder for sunrise.

The 3 day trek will appeal to the active day pack walker willing to undertake moderate to challenging walking of between 5 to 8 hours each day, across uneven terrain with some ascents and descents.

For each day’s hike on this rugged world class track, you carry just a day pack. We create these trips to be an informative experience as well as a walk through the unique terrain, as we seek to share our knowledge of the place and provide all you need to have an active yet comfortable holiday. You walk with a guide for the day’s trek, with the support guide collecting and transferring you to camp each day, where you can relax while Trek Larapinta caters for your needs.

Super 6 Day: the Larapinta Trail challenge

The Super 6 Day Larapinta Trail trek offers walkers the chance to really challenge themselves tackling the six hardest (and most spectacular) sections of the Larapinta Trail. The rewards for taking on this challenging and varied trek are immense, with all of the most spectacular views of the Larapinta Trail on offer – high ridgelines, open savannah country, sheltered gorges and magnificent mountains, along with the best examples of the West MacDonnell’s vegetation.

This is not a trek for the faint hearted or inexperienced as each day’s walk is rated hard or very hard by NT Parks and Wildlife. On each section you will be tested and rewarded until the final section: a hike to the highest point on the trail, Mount Sonder. It is a beautiful and poignant close to six days of superb trekking on the Larapinta Trail.

The Super 6 Day Larapinta Trail trek is for experienced hikers seeking a spectacular challenge. It is particularly popular with trekkers having limited time, however still wishing to experience the true remoteness and most spectacular parts of the Larapinta Trail that would normally only be explored on the longer 16 day End to End trek. The trek involves challenging to very challenging walking of between 7 to 12 hours each day, across very rocky terrain and ridgelines, with steep ascents and descents.

Mount Giles 5 Day Explorer Trek

Mt Giles rises up out of the Chewings Range and is the third highest peak in the West MacDonnell Ranges National Park.

At 1,389m above sea level, this desert peak creates an awesome backdrop to an already beautiful range system, towering above the eastern end of Ormiston Pound. For those who venture to the summit, Mt Giles delivers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. It towers above the eastern end of Ormiston Pound and delivers impressive views to all those who venture to climb the mountain’s summit.

This full pack remote hiking tour is a great way to experience what lies beyond the Larapinta Trail. It includes exploring along unmarked trails, setting up base camp at the base of Mt Giles, going on an exploratory walk, hiking off trail up this impressive desert peak, Mt Giles, trekking into the beautiful Ormiston Pound through an uncommon entrance, and wandering through the stunning gorge and visiting its waterhole. You are accompanied by two experienced Trek Larapinta Guides who lead this adventure and ensure safe travel, as most of this walk is through untracked terrain. This is a full pack trek where there is no vehicle support once you start on the trek.

This trek is for those who want to venture further into the stunning living desert of Central Australia.

9 Day Larapinta Trek: a journey towards Mt Sonder

Beginning our trek near the eastern end of the tail and ending on the summit of Mt Sonder, the 9 day Larapinta Trail trek is a selection of highlights along the trail, allowing you to enjoy some of the most spectacular views from ridges, gorges, mountain peaks and within Ormiston Pound. The trail around Standley Chasm offers stunning rugged landscapes that only a privileged few are able to explore with permission from the traditional owners.
The 9 day trek will appeal to the active day pack walker that has the extra time to explore some of the more challenging and spectacular parts of the Larapinta Trail, in addition to what is experienced on the 6 day trek. The trek involves moderate to challenging walking of between 5 to 8 hours each day, across uneven terrain with some steep ascents and descents.