Experience the Larapinta Trail

comfortably. sustainably. responsibly. naturally. with the experts.

Innovation. It’s at the very core of everything we do to ensure we provide our travellers with
the best possible wilderness experiences in Australia. When we’re not coming up with brand
new itineraries our team in Alice Springs, we're looking at how we can improve our client's experiences, such as the creation of our exclusive semi permanent campsites. We believe travel is about embracing the nature, culture and people of each destination, which is why we strive to create unique and innovative adventures that give travellers an immersive experience in a destination, with minimal impact to the environment

Our History

• 

  2019

  Announced as the winner of the 2019 Northern Territory Tourism Brolga Award in the category of ‘Ecotourism’ for our Classic Larapinta Trail in Comfort product.
  
  The Ecotourism award recognises ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas that foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation. Our three architecturally designed, semi-permanent campsite facilities incorporate sustainable technologies such as water-free composting toilets, solar lighting systems and a hybrid grey water disposal system designed for the arid environment.
  The Brolga Awards is the official tourism awards program for the Northern Territory, recognising and encouraging tourism businesses that strive for excellence in every area of their operation. A Brolga Award is the industry’s highest accolade and the recipients represent the best products and services in the Northern Territory.

• 

  2018

  A new campsite, Camp Sonder, was launched providing four exclusive campsites on the Larapinta Trail. Complimenting Nick's Camp, Charlie's Camp and Fearless Camp.

• 

  2017

  Winner of the Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards for Ecotourism for our Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort

• 

  2016

  Winner of the Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Awards for Ecotourism for our Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort.

• 

  2016

  World Expeditions introduced brand-new spacious, safari style sleeping tents exclusive for walkers on the 3-day Larapinta Experience in Comfort, 6-day Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort, and 3 day Larapinta Goddess Walk. With the same footprint as our previous sleeping tents (2.4m x 2.4m), the new tents are significantly more airy, open and are large enough to stand up in– giving clients more space to move and relax in. One of the stand-out features is the large floor-to-ceiling windows, bringing the outdoors in and allowing clients to soak up the magnificent views. There are 12 Individual Safari tents on each site. Clients can choose to sleep in safari tents while in camp, or opt to sleep in swags under the stars on raised beds. World Expeditions remains the only operator with exclusive leases for campsites negotiated in partnership with the Aboriginal Traditional Owners and the West MacDonnell National Park.

• 

  2015

  World Expeditions added a third semi-permanent campsite on its Classic Larapinta Trail in Australia’s Red Centre, offering trekkers the benefits of comfortable accommodation below the beautiful Mt Sonder in the West MacDonnell Ranges.

  Designed by architect Rachel Neeson, the third campsite is named in memory of Sue Fear, beloved trekking guide and renowned Australian mountain climber. 

  Having a third campsite along the trail ensures that the trekker’s experience is all about the Larapinta Trail walks, not long drives between trailheads. Also like the first two campsites, Fearless Camp's design incorporates sustainable technologies such as water-free composting toilets, solar lighting systems and a hybrid grey water disposal system designed for the arid environment.

• 

  2013

  World Expeditions launched two campsites along the Larapinta Trail in March, to provide shelter to our trekking groups through a series of minimal impact structures.  Nicks Camp and Charlie’s camp are located within indigenous owned National Park some 30kms and 130kms west of Alice Springs. Nicks Camp was named after Nick Murcutt, an Australian architect who founded the award winning Neeson Murcutt Architects in 2004 with his partner of 16 years, Rachel Neeson. Nick had a passion for camping and uncovering a cultural response to the landscape, and drew inspiration for the World Expeditions campsite design from Arnhem Land sleeping platforms and Bedouin tents. Charlie’s camp was named after Charlie Holmes, one of the pioneering Larapinta guides and one of the travel industries most experienced and successful small group adventure leaders.
  
  World Expeditions’ long-standing relationships with the indigenous traditional owners and NT National Parks & Wildlife provided the basis for negotiation of an exclusive sub-lease. The design development involved many face-to-face meetings with the Aboriginal traditional owners to ensure that local community contributed to and embraced the plan.

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  2005

  Initiated conversations with the traditional landowners and Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife to investigate opportunities to develop 3 exclusive semi-permanent campsites along the Larapinta Trail nearby to the Larapinta Trail heads. The key to these campsites would be a semi-permanent design, that is, they would remain in place through the winter trekking season, however they would be removed during the summer months to allow the land to regenerate.

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  1995

  World Expeditions was the first operator to trek the Larapinta Trail in May 1995. We are the originals and have been the number 1 operator of Larapinta Trail treks ever since.