Sunrise at Uluru and a hike in Kata Tjuta

Start your day with a magical sunrise over Uluru before continuing to Kata Tjuta, where you’ll get up close to the impressive rock formations on a hike through Walpa Gorge.

You’ll be collected from your hotel in Yulara early in the morning and driven to Talinguru Nyakunytjaku, the official viewing area for the sunrise over Uluru. With a steaming cup of coffee or tea in hand, you can watch the first light of day spread across the desert landscape and see Uluru slowly change colour as the sun rises. You can choose to enjoy the view from one of the viewing platforms or take a short walk along the marked trails in the area, where you can often find a more peaceful spot from which to experience the sunrise.

After sunrise, you’ll continue westwards for approximately 60 km to Kata Tjuta, which means ‘many heads’ in the Pitjantjatjara language. During the drive, your guide will tell you about the National Park, the history of the area, and its fascinating landscape.

You’ll then continue to Walpa Gorge, where it’s time to lace up your walking boots. Walpa means ‘wind’ in the Pitjantjatjara language, and the name is very fitting, as you can really feel the wind as it moves through the gorge between the enormous rock walls.

The walking route is 1.3 km each way (2.6 km return) and follows a natural riverbed between the impressive domes of Kata Tjuta. The route ends inside the gorge, after which you'll retrace your steps. Along the way, you’ll get up close to the enormous rock formations while experiencing the area’s unique vegetation and geology. The ground is gravelly and covered with loose stones in several places, so the walk requires a little more care than an ordinary stroll.

During your visit to Kata Tjuta, you’ll also stop at a lookout, where you’ll enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of Kata Tjuta’s 36 distinctive domes, rising dramatically from the surrounding desert landscape. The order of the experiences may vary.

After today’s experiences, you’ll travel back through the magnificent desert landscape to Yulara, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel.

Meeting point: You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Yulara approximately 1.5 hours before sunrise. You can find the exact time on your voucher or ask at your hotel’s reception.

Duration: Approximately 5.5 hours.

Group size: May vary depending on the vehicle used that day, but with a maximum of 65 people.

Difficulty level: Easy to moderate. The walk through Walpa Gorge is 1.3 km each way (2.6 km return) and follows an unpaved path with gravel, loose stones, and uneven ground. You should therefore be in reasonably good physical condition.

Price includes: Transport to and from your hotel, an English-speaking driver-guide, and coffee, tea, and biscuits at sunrise.

Remember to bring: Good, closed-toe walking shoes, practical clothing suited to the weather, a sun hat, sun cream, sunglasses, a fly net during the warmer months (approximately October to April), and at least 1 litre of water per person. Please note that it can be cool early in the morning, while temperatures rise throughout the day.
Walpa Gorge can be very windy, so we recommend bringing a jumper or lightweight jacket.
Breakfast is not included in this tour, so we recommend bringing some breakfast or snacks for the journey.
It is possible to order and pay for a “to-go” breakfast at the hotel no later than the day before. The breakfast is collected from reception before departure.