Cultural Immersion in Australia’s Red Centre

Cultural Immersion in Australia’s Red Centre

5 Days
From

$2465

Cultural Immersion in Australia’s Red Centre

5 Days Starting and ending in Alice Springs

Visiting: Mparntwe (Alice Springs) / Rodna Homelands, Yapulpa (Glen Helen) / Rodna Homelands, Ntaria (Hermannsburg) / Mangama, Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) / Mangama, Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) / Mparntwe (Alice Springs)

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

PFRR

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Medium

Age range:

18-99 years

From: $2465

NB: Prices correct on 02-Jul-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Immerse yourself in the culture of the Red Centre with this fascinating five-day trip to Country. On this trip, you’ll visit some of the sacred sites of the Western Arrernte people, learn about the community of Ntaria (Hermannsburg), hike rugged Tjoritja (the West MacDonnell Ranges) and be taken back in time as you explore the Hermannsburg Historic Precinct. Stay on Homelands with Traditional Owners and learn Dreaming stories by the glow of the campfire, which have been handed down to your First Nations guides from their Ancestors. Deep dive into culture among those who know the land best as you hike Country, find community at camp and even learn how to make damper from wattleseeds.

Highlights

  • Get to know the landscape of Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) with the Traditional Owners of the land by your side and spend your nights listening to Dreaming stories by the campfire.

  • Take an optional 13 km hike from Rodna Homelands to Yapulpa (Glen Helen Gorge). Refresh with a picnic lunch at the gorge next to the Finke River, then continue to Thwatharra Gorge.

  • Begin your stays at the Rodna Homelands campsite and the Mangama campground with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.

  • Tour the Ntaria (Hermannsburg) precinct with a local Aboriginal guide and learn the history of the area. Then, visit the former home of one of the most notable Australian artists – Albert Namatjira.

  • See the asteroid crater and sacred site of Tnorula (Gosses Bluff) and take in the ancient rock engravings. Then, swim in the Rutjupma (Redbank Gorge) waterhole.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Mparntwe (Alice Springs) / Rodna Homelands

Location: Mparntwe (Alice Springs) / Rodna Homelands

Accommodation: Bush camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: dinner

Welcome to Mparntwe (Alice Springs)! You’ll be picked up from the airport in Alice Springs (or your hotel in town if you have arrived earlier), and your adventure begins with a drive to Rodna – the Homelands of the Western Arrernte people. Settle into camp with your new travel crew before the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony that kickstarts your cultural immersion in the desert. Tonight, you’ll have dinner at camp with your group, which will be an Indigenous-inspired menu using local ingredients. Swap stories around the glow of the campfire and listen to stories of the Dreaming from your hosts.

Included Activities:
-Rodna - Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony
-Rodna - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing

Day 2: Yapulpa (Glen Helen) / Rodna Homelands

Location: Yapulpa (Glen Helen) / Rodna Homelands

Accommodation: Bush camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Seize the day with a 13 km hike across Country from Rodna to Yapulpa (Glen Helen Gorge). Refresh with a picnic lunch and perhaps a swim at the gorge. Continue your walk from Yapulpa to Thwatharra Gorge. Later, drive back to Rodna, where you’ll have a free afternoon – maybe take part in a boomerang-making class, learn how to paint with the First Nations local staff or try your hand at basket weaving. Later, you’ll make and cook wattleseed damper (thick, homemade bread made from crushed seeds) before dinner at camp. Tonight, stargaze around the campfire and soak up the beauty of an unpolluted sky.

Included Activities:
-Yapulpa - Hike across Country to Yapulpa
-Yapulpa - Glen Helen Gorge Visit with Picnic Lunch
-Yapulpa - Visit to Thwatharra Gorge
-Rodna - Cultural Activities with our Aboriginal Hosts
-Rodna - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing

Day 3: Ntaria (Hermannsburg) / Mangama

Location: Ntaria (Hermannsburg) / Mangama

Accommodation: Bush camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

This morning you’ll meet with a local Aboriginal guide for a tour of the historic precinct of Ntaria (Hermannsburg). Soak up some local history, then enjoy morning tea with the group at the Kata Anga Tearooms. After, visit Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corporation. Have lunch before continuing to Albert Namatjira’s residence – an Arrernte painter who is widely considered as one of the most notable Australian artists. Transfer to Mangama Campground, near Ormiston Gorge, where you’ll spend the next two nights. Here, you’ll be treated to another Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony before dinner. Listen to more  stories of the Dreaming around the fire tonight and settle in for some rest and relaxation.

Included Activities:
-Ntaria - Hermannsburg Historic Precinct tour with Local Aboriginal Guide
-Ntaria - Morning Tea at Kata Anga Tearooms
-Ntaria - Visit to Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corporation
-Ntaria - Albert Namatjira’s residence
-Mangama - Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony
-Mangama - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing

Day 4: Tjoritja (West Macdonnell Ranges) / Mangama

Location: Tjoritja (West MacDonnell Ranges) / Mangama

Accommodation: Bush camping with shared facilities

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Today you’ll be touring Tjoritja (West Macdonnell Ranges). Check out the asteroid crater and sacred site of Tnorula (Gosses Bluff), then learn the stories of Roma Gorge, taking in the ancient rock engravings. Your next stop is Rutjupma (Redbank Gorge) where you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch. Here, you also have the option to have a refreshing dip in the waterhole. Take a transfer back to camp for some afternoon activities (or an afternoon snooze). Tonight, you’ll enjoy another Indigenous-inspired menu for dinner before your last night of Red Centre star gazing.

Included Activities:
-Tjoritja - Half-day Tour of West Macdonnell Ranges, including Tnorula (Gosses Bluff), Roma Gorge & Rutjupma (Redbank Gorge)
-Mangama - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing

Day 5: Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) / Mparntwe (Alice Springs)

Location: Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) / Mparntwe (Alice Springs)

Meals Included: breaksfast

Fuel up with an early breakfast at camp this morning before your drive back to the city. Visit Angkerle Atwatye (Standley Chasm) along the way, taking a guided walk through the gorge with an Aboriginal guide. Learn about the geology, flora, fauna, bush medicine, bush tucker and weaponry that are and were used here and gain a deeper understanding of local culture. Arrive back in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) late morning, where your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay and continue exploring, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.

Included Activities:
-Angkerle Atwatye - Visit Standley Chasm with Local Aboriginal Guide

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Bush camping with shared facilities (4 nights)

  • Meals
    4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners

  • Rodna - Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony

  • Rodna - Campfire Yarn, Dreamtime Stories & Stargazing

  • Yapulpa - Hike across Country to Yapulpa

  • Yapulpa - Glen Helen Gorge Visit with Picnic Lunch

  • Yapulpa - Visit to Thwatharra Gorge

  • Rodna - Cultural Activities with our Aboriginal Hosts

  • Ntaria - Hermannsburg Historic Precinct tour with Local Aboriginal Guide

  • Ntaria - Visit to Hermannsburg Potters Aboriginal Corporation

  • Ntaria - Morning Tea at Kata Anga Tearooms

  • Ntaria - Albert Namatjira’s residence

show more

Transport

  • Private vehicle

Accommodation

  • CAMPING
  • Each participant will have their own four-person sized tent, each with a stretcher and a 'swag' mattress. All that needs to be brought along is a sleeping bag and a pillow, and you are set for a comfortable night’s sleep. You will have access to daily hot showers and toilets.

Important Information

  • START & END POINT LOCATION & TIME
  • Please advise us of your flight arrival into Alice Springs on day 1 of the trip so we can coordinate your pick-up. Alternatively we can also pick you up at your accommodation in Alice Springs if you have arrived a few days earlier. We'll get in touch with you closer to departure to advise of exact logistics. The trip ends upon arrival back in Alice Springs at around 11am on the last day, either in town at your hotel or at the airport in time for flights departing after 12:30pm. Please let us know your flight details so we can coordinate your drop-off.
  • CAMPING
  • Please bring a warm sleeping bag, pillow and towel.
  • SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
  • Single travellers will be allocated their own tent at no additional cost.
  • ELECTRICITY
  • The camps are solar powered and there are a number of outlets that can be used to charge personal devices. We recommend bringing a fully charged power bank to recharge your phone or camera, rather than relying solely on power at the camp.

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    For now, this adventure is just for a small group of our most loyal Intrepid Insiders. But we love your exploring spirit if you’ve found it by chance! Sign up to hear about when it might become available and for more travelling inspiration.

    This is an exploratory trip and the itinerary is not set in stone. As this is a pilot trip departure we expect the unexpected, but this is what puts adventure into adventure travel. You will be instrumental in shaping the future of the trip.

    You’ll be sleeping in four-person sized tents, with stretchers and swag mattresses. Solo travellers will have their own tent and those travelling with companions will share a tent. All that needs to be brought along is a warm sleeping bag and a pillow, and you're set for a comfortable night’s sleep. You will have access to daily hot showers and toilets, but will need to bring your own towel.

    The campsites of Rodna and Mangama are on private Homelands approximately 140km west of Alice Springs. The current situation in Alice Springs, as reported by some media outlets, does not affect our trips and poses no danger to you while on Country. For your peace of mind there is the option of an airport pick-up on the first day and drop-off on the last day in Alice Springs at no additional cost.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

Maroochy Dazza (Google Reviewer)  

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24-Aug-2023

Just leaving a review to share how much I enjoyed my Central America trip. I thought the guide, Aura was so knowledgeable and organised and clearly a great ambassador for Intrepid. She gave us lots of information on each region, helped us organise anything we needed and dealt with queries from passengers very well and diplomatically. She made the trip run smoothly. She was also keen to explain the Intrepid vision and how the company values making a difference to locals and is a credit to your company. I did Guatemala and beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it - very fast paced, lots to see and do and a great overview of the region. I would definitely recommend 👍

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I have just come back home after doing Intrepid's 10-day Vietnam Express Northbound tour. What a SUPERB tour. We saw lots and did lots, it was jam-packed full of sights and activities. Our tour leader, Tam, was the best ever. Very knowledgeable, organised and lots of fun too. The other 10 people on the group were all lovely. The places we visited were very interesting. We even visited local homes and ate just like the local people do. I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone considering touring a new country. This was my 5th tour with them and they have consistently been fantastic.

Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I have travelled with Intrepid...

03-Jun-2024

I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong

Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

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Aug 12, 2024 - Aug 16, 2024
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Sep 01, 2024 - Sep 05, 2024
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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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