Tours and Tickets
3-Day Uluru and Kings Canyon Camping Experience from Alice Springs including Outback BBQ Dinner
4.5

3-Day Uluru and Kings Canyon Camping Experience from Alice Springs including Outback BBQ Dinner

By Emu Run Experience - Day Tours
Recommended by 92% of travellers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
About
Australia’s Red Centre is the wild heart of the Aussie outback, but its vastness and remote location make it impossible to take in everything on a one day. With this multi-day tour, you explore farther afield and experience an unforgettable outback adventure. Camp out beneath the desert stars, trek to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and Kings Canyon, and watch sunrise and sunset over mystical Uluru.

Ages 8-99, max of 24 per group
Duration: 3 days
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
  • Enjoy spectacular views of Uluru at sunrise, sunset, and on a base walk
  • Guided hikes take you to the best viewpoints of Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon
  • Sleep in a traditional swag or safari tent beneath the desert stars
  • Great value: camping accommodation, meals, and transportation included

  • Pickups from Alice Springs accommodation, Ayers Rock Airport or Ayers Rock Resort (Outback Pioneer)
  • Sparkling wine and snacks at the Uluru sunset
  • Accredited, experienced tour guides
  • Permanent campsites with kitchens, toilets and hot showers
  • 4 person Safari tents both nights
  • Quality swags if you choose to sleep under the stars
  • Air-conditioned mini-bus, fitted with seat belts
  • Quality healthy meals and drinking water
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Sleeping Bag (Unless option selected)
  • Airport Drop-off

Day 1: Alice Springs - Ayers Rock (L, D)  After pickup from Alice Springs, arrive in Ayers Rock in time for lunch, then continue into Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park.  In the afternoon, choose to either visit the Cultural Centre and Mutitjulu Waterhole with your guide; enjoy a self-guided hike along the Uluru Base Walk; or climb to the top of Uluru on a self-guided summit trek.  Watch the sunset over Uluru, then transfer to the campsite and spend the night in a typical Aussie swag (bedroll) beneath the desert stars or a safari tent. Day 2: Uluru Sunrise and Kata Tjuta - Kings Canyon (B, L, D)  Start the day with a spectacular sunrise viewing at Uluru, then head to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) for a thrilling 3.5-mile (5.5-kilometer) hike through the Valley of the Winds.  Spend the night at a campsite in Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon), including a traditional Aussie barbecue dinner. Day 3: Kings Canyon and Mt Ebenezer - Alice Springs (B, L)  Visit mighty Kings Canyon and hike around the canyon rim, stopping to admire the natural amphitheater, the Lost City, and the Garden of Eden. Your tour ends back in Alice Springs.

Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • Please call to confirm pickup time prior to tour date. Kindly allow 15 mins for the bus to arrive.
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6762P6

        • Medium level of fitness is required
        • Minimum age is 8 years
        • Campsites have hot showers and toilets, screened kitchens with electricity to charge cameras or phones
        • You will need a sleeping bag regardless of whether you decide to sleep in a permanent 4 share safari tent (bunk beds) or in a swag (Aussie bedroll).
        • Sleeping bag hire is available on request at a charge of $20/person. Please request this at the time of booking.
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travellers

        • If you cancel at least 31 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
        • If you cancel within 7 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
        • If you cancel between 8 and 30 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6762P6

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        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Emu Run Experience - Day Tours
          3,041
          Australia
          Joined in September 2009
        • Aleisha W
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          10/10 trip!! Thanks Dave!
          10/10 would highly recommend! The scenery was amazing, and Dave was an amazing, funny, friendly, and chatty tour guide! Couldn't have asked for anything better!!
          Written 16 March 2024
        • lieso2014
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing experience
          An amazing day trip from Alice Springs and back. Had great weather, and tour guides Charlie and Yad were very knowledgeable, upbeat, patient, and entertaining. Have travelled a lot over the world, but this is one of those experiences you will never forget. The rock formations, colors, stories of the guides, and sundown BBQ feast were all exceeding my expectations, and totally worth the very long drive. BTW: toilets and places to buy some drinks/snacks along the way - bring enough water and a hat!! Thanks very much, Yad & Charlie!!!
          Written 13 March 2024
        • O2843RMroberth
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Destination Ayers Rock
          Comfortable coach for transfer Informative information from driver on the way down Top tips. On time. Meeting my family at the destination made this journey a highlight of my Australian trip
          Written 12 March 2024
        • T5031CTlaurenl
          0 contributions
          3.0 of 5 bubbles
          Scenic tour or tour from hell
          Uluru was beautiful, with Yad providing an excellent tour of the National Park. He’s hospitality was most welcome following an awful experience with the bus driver Dave. Dave had had a horrible evening before and took his frustrations out on the other travellers even screaming at a woman who asked if she could quickly run to the shop to get a drink. Whilst I really hope Dave is ok, his angry deminor had me questioning if I was actually an extra in the horror film “wolf creek” at times. I’d recommend this trip if you can guarantee you’ll get happy Dave and not angry Dave.
          Written 11 March 2024
        • yunc389
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          100% satisfaction achieved
          My wife and I went on the bus in Alice Springs at 7 am. On the way to Uluru, it was boring as the scenery was the same all the way. Toilet stop was unpleasant due to loads of flies around your face. I regretted choosing the tour. But from lunch time things were getting spectacular, unforgettable and even spiritual. The tour was well organised and BBQ was an excellent experience. The driver Dave was so kind and proud. He made a special trip to our unlisted accommodation at 2 am. These guys are professionals and it is 100% worth our money. Strongly recommend it.
          Written 29 February 2024
        • donaldsO5874QI
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A Must in the Outback!
          Fascinating day in every way! Dave, our bus driver from Alice, was the best! Knowledgeable, funny, considerate of his guests-if you can get Dave, you are in for a great day! Well planned/organized. Toilet on the bus was out of order but stops along the way helped the situation. Yad, our tour guide for The Olga’s and Uluru, knew the culture and shared interesting stories as we explored the area. He was completely respectful of the Aboriginal culture. Very hot, very buggy-head nets are a must! Meal at the end at sunset was the perfect ending of a must trip in the Outback.
          Written 28 February 2024
        • Camper293225
          0 contributions
          2.0 of 5 bubbles
          7 hour day tour at Uluru
          Our guide was great. However, the extreme heat (which we anticipated) combined with the numerous flies everywhere and a tour bus with little air conditioning made for a long, somewhat miserable day. Loved the scenic hikes and stories of Uluru's history and barbecue dinner was good but afternoon in sun was tough. Best time to visit Uluru rock is for sunrise and sunset tours.
          Written 28 February 2024
        • Ann-Kristin54
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          West MacDonnell
          An amazing trip, with our guide Jono (how to spell it?). We were only a group of seven, wery handy. Lot’s of good information an a relaxed trip.
          Written 27 February 2024
        • Venture317644
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Uluru and Olgas day trip from Alice Springs.
          Excellent trip in a comfortable bus with great driver and tour guide. Tour was culturally appropriate. Food and drink during bus trip was great and the sunset BBQ and drinks was fantastic.
          Written 21 February 2024
        • W2917QJlaurenk
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Once in a lifetime experience
          Absolutely beautiful tour with the Emu Run Experience team and particularly our guide Yad. Yad ensured we got the best experiences during our guided tours, explaining the stories and how they related to the natural rock formations. The sunset BBQ was incredible - a glass of sparkling wine whilst watching the rock turn different shades of red is a memory that won’t be soon be forgotten!
          Written 21 February 2024
        • Silke S
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Anstrengend, aber lohnenswert
          We were on the day tour to Uluru, starting and stopping in Alice Springs. Dave was a very entertaining and careful driver. He provided a lot of information about the Aborigines and was extremely friendly and helpful to everyone. Yad was our local guide and also provided a lot of insight into Aboriginal culture and the history of the country. The BBQ with sunset was the enchanting finale and very well organized. What could be improved: - The lunch food was poor quality. - The time at the Cultural Center was too short. We recommend that participants bring their own water. Overall a great and unforgettable experience.
          Written 20 February 2024
        • GrantH83
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great experience
          Visiting the area was a great experience and the guide Yad from Emu Run was very knowledgeable. The flies however were horrendous and it was extremely hot especially with the wind. You definitely need a fly net. A tour early evening might be better at this time of year rather than during the day
          Written 19 February 2024
        • belleb749
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          10/10
          The views were great. The coaches have a lot of leg room. The driver had knowledge of the local area & details of the local stories of the people
          Written 16 February 2024
        • Trek499017
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          An unforgettable day
          It was a fantastic experience ! Our driver Dave was a really great guy that shared a lot of anecdotes and infos with us along the road with a good sense of humour ! Our guide Yad was great too; thanks to his explanations we could get a glimpse of Aboriginal Culture and we learned a lot of interesting things. They were both very attentive to everybody's needs. The Kata Tjuta park is awsome and the walks beautiful ! The Uluru is just stunning. At the end of the day we gathered for the BBQ; it was a very friendly moment; thank you guys for preparing the food !
          Written 14 February 2024
        • Mere Heni T
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Beautiful views & landscape!
          Great day out, awesome views of landscape, knowledgeable NZ tour guide, well worth the time, cool, comfortable vehicle.
          Written 14 February 2024
        See all 3 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


        4.5
        4.5 of 5 bubbles27 reviews
        Excellent
        19
        Very good
        6
        Average
        1
        Poor
        0
        Terrible
        1

        Karentravelsallover
        Murrieta, CA12 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Nov 2017 • Couples
        My husband and I had a terrific time on this 3 day tour. Our guide (B - for Betina) was fabulous and the tour itself of Ayers Rock/Uluru, Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta was very well designed and executed. The accommodations are adequate (we upgraded to a private 2 person little cabin and bedding is included) and the cooking arrangements which include all participants, was very enjoyable. If you plan to visit this area, I think Emu Run is a great provider for this journey. I have just a few suggestions that would make the trip perfect: 1. Travel in the cooler months; it gets extremely hot there late November until :: 2. Start out from the Ayers Rock/Uluru airport as it is a 6 hour drive from Alice Springs and the itinerary makes more sense to end in Alice but start in Uluru and 3. Don't forget to bring a towel!!
        Written 6 December 2017
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Cambridge Guru
        Cambridge, UK886 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Apr 2018 • Friends
        The Awesome Bits: 3 Day Uluru Camping Tour

        Visiting Uluru has been near the top my bucket list for years. The 3 day Emu Run tour seemed the best combined experience.
        Upsides
        1) walking round Uluru at sunrise and hearing some of the indigenous tales - just magical
        2) Sleeping out under the stars in a swag bag next to the fire - so memorable (even when they said to keep your trainers inside the bag because of dingoes taking them)
        3) The Kings Canyon Rim Walk - a real surprise and very beautiful
        4) The Kata Tjuta walk (spoilt only by the flies. I wish the guide had head nets for sale on the bus)
        5) Being picked up efficiently at Uluru airport
        6) Good insights from Keith the fossil (though the stories did ramble at times)
        Downsides
        1) Uluru Sunset with glass of bubbly - with lots of other coaches and lots of other people. It felt a bit tacky despite the beauty and majesty of the rock
        2) The lack of Aboriginal people involved in explaining the Aboriginal Culture, even at the centre we visited.
        The bus was good too. This is the best way to get the outback experience bar none.
        Written 9 May 2018
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi Davidm1961, Thank you for the very datailed commentary on the Uluru tour! Really appreciate this - we will gladly take into consideration all your suggestions. We are glad that you found it memorable and you were able to tick of one your bucketlist destinations! Many thanks again and we hope to see you soon! Cheers, Emu Run Experience
        Written 11 May 2018
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Michael G E
        Evanston23 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great tour, with knowledgeable, engaged guides. The three sites were busier than I was expecting, with about three tour groups at each one (obviously more at Uluru). Campsites are well-provisioned, with communal cooking facilities, hot showers and drinkable water to refill your bottles. Confirm you have a sleeping bag rather than a “swag” - there seems to be no rationing of the latter but we never received the former until the 2nd night.

        Day 1: with pickup at 6 you won’t be at the park until 12, after stops for breakfast and more people at the airport. Then it’s time to make lunch, which is a great opportunity to meet the rest of the party. After the visitor centre, you’re finally at Uluru, ready to walk, by about 3.00. Walk is great, you’ll be glad you brought all that water (you can buy water close to the park or fill containers at the visitor center if you don’t want to cart it all the way from Alice Springs), and watch out for the sacred zones where there’s no picture-taking. Sunset is fun, then it’s back to the campsite and turn in for the night. The campsite is about 30 mins away from Uluru, so don’t plan on any interesting rock features being a backdrop to your starry night. Swags are comfortable, but even at a night-time temperature of 26C it can still feel chilly.

        Day 2: if you’re going to see the sunrise you’ll be up 2hrs beforehand (03h45 in our case!), so consider showering the night before. The walk itself took about 2-1/2 hrs and was much more varied than Uluru. Physically more demanding but cooler, the group largely stayed together for the whole walk. 10h00 back to camp for lunch and then off to King’s Canyon, arriving at the campground around 17h00. We then prepared the “bush bbq”, which was excellent.

        Day 3: up at 03h45 again to avoid the blazing sun along the canyon rim (you’ll really be glad of all that water here!). This was our favourite because of the variation of the scenery, the challenge of the walk and the views. Not to mention the scene from “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”! We were back on the road for an early lunch at the campground by 09h30 before it was off back to Alice Springs, arriving around 17h00
        Written 23 December 2017
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Thank you for your wonderful and very detailed feedback. We are so happy that you had a wonderful time and made the most out of the 3 days. Cheers!
        Written 23 January 2018
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        l_b2293
        Portsmouth, UK3 contributions
        1.0 of 5 bubbles
        We originally booked our camping trip with emu run after extensively researching the various other tour companies. Upon arrival at camp a group of us who booked through Emu Run soon realised that we had a different itinerary to what we had booked. This was because we had been placed onto a tour with another provider due to a lack of EmuRun bookings. We had no prior warning of this and neither did anyone else in the group. This then meant that we were excluded from certain activities which the rest of the group participated in.
        My primary frustration is that we paid a lot of extra money for an add on to get a private tent with bedding due to health reasons. This turned out to be a complete waste of money as everyone on the tour (including those booked through Emu Run without the add on) was given a private tent with bedding. In fact as we booked through Emu Run we were last to be allocated our tents meaning there were not enough in our camp so we were moved to another area.
        We are still seeking a refund for this expensive add on for which we needn't have paid without response from management. Be wary of this before booking through EmuRun. I will update readers if a fair response from management is recieved.
        Written 24 November 2018
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Paige S
        Dallas, TX36 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Oct 2017 • Friends
        My friends and I last minute booked a trip to the outback, and we decided on the Uluru tour because it was the best for our budget. The tour itself was great, with amazing and knowledgeable guides, good food, 'authentic' camping, and overall a good time. However, after seeing all of the locations, we realized it was very duable to do everything on your own if you rent a car. I recommend the tour if you want a hassle free trip where everything is taken care of, but drive on your own if you want a little more freedom. My only complaint with the tour is that we had large portions of the days where we weren't doing anything since we had woken up so early to go hiking. It would have been nice to do another small hike or something versus just lounging around.
        Written 5 November 2017
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Désirée E
        5 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Apr 2019 • Couples
        This tour was one of our highlights of our Australia trip! It es really great! The food which the host made was excellent, healthy and good quality, we got a free upgrade to a better tour and were together also with people who booked with different companies than Emu. We enjoyed it very much ! At this time of the year (April) groups who booked with different companies were usually mixed as it is not Busy,the guide told us. Can only recommend!
        Written 6 June 2019
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi Désirée, appreciate the kind words and thank you for the recommendation. We are glad that you had a great time with us and hope to see you back :) Cheers
        Written 8 June 2019
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Clive wilson
        Las Vegas, NV20 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2019 • Couples
        The tour was well organised. We would never have been able to replicate what they offered on the tour so I guess in that respect it was a great experience. It was really hot (our bad) but we were met with quite a few add ons that we had not accounted for and would have preferred to have know prior (we would not have minded)
        Written 8 February 2019
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        John S
        Camano Island, WA74 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        We booked with Emu run for the three day camping experience to Uluru and Kings Canyon , however we were told that adventure tours would be doing the tour for there company does the three day camping trips for Emu! To our surprise they were great!! Everything was taken care of , tents and bags and all the food , just brought water as requested ! I wish they had warned us of the flies they were the worst I have ever seen and I have spent years hiking in Alaska ! We did have netting in our pack bags , if you go always carry them with you !!! They vanish as soon as the sun goes down! Food was exceptional ! So was our guide and his information about what we were seeing ! It was an amazing trip and sure to stick in our memories for a very long time
        Written 24 July 2018
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi John, Glad to hear that you had a great time during the three-day camping tour with our partner Adventure tours. You are absolutely right about the flies, a fly net is in order. Thank you for taking the time to book with us and hope to see you again soon. Cheers, Emu Run Experience
        Written 2 August 2018
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Maziar M
        Helsinki, Finland45 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        This was one of a kind experience. Everything was well organized and went smoothly. Our tour guide and driver (Claire) was very skilled, knowledged and experienced. Our cook (Cara) was very skilled. She prepared everything in time and always gave us explanations. I'm vegetarian and IMO the food was well balanced and filling.
        Other things I liked: sunrise/sunset tours, campfires.
        Written 1 July 2018
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi Maziar, We are very pleased that you enjoyed your experience with our tour. Happy that you find it unforgettable - appreciate the kind words and the great review. Hope to see you again, soon! Cheers, Emu Run Experience
        Written 2 July 2018
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        trevorwilkie
        Bradford, UK15 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Aug 2017 • Couples
        We went on the 3 day tour in mid August, the weather not being too hot or too cold at night.
        We were picked up very early from our hotel by Becky in Alice Springs It's a long way to Uluru, we stopped for a short breakfast stop on route, (this could do with being a bit longer), we had lunch on arriving at Uluru camping area, this is when we found out we would all have to chip in and help with the cooking, not a problem It helps bond with other people on the bus,we had a short pick up at Uluru airport and on to the aboriginal centre and other highlights as described, on the evening we once again chipped in and helped with the food and settled down for an early night in our swag, I found this a great way to sleep cause you can spend ages looking up at the stars, we were up early to see the sun rise and also set off on our walks before It got too hot, which I have to say Is a good plan, the second night we slept in a tent as my wife hadn't slept too good the night before, on that second night we got to meet some dingo's, just a friendly dog, although we didn't get too close.
        Got to say Becky our tour rep/driver/cook/organiser was excellent, she worked very hard to keep us happy and as a professional coach driver myself I would say she is a very good driver, the drive's are long but the mini bus was a bit tired looking but It did it's job.
        I have stayed at Uluru before in the hotels and I have to say this was by far the best tour, all the passengers were from mixed nations and got on very well, we were a bit tired by the end of the tour but something I will remember for a long time
        Written 1 January 2018
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Sleeping under the stars is definitely one of a kind. We are so proud to have been a big part of your outback experience and for considering us as the best tour you have had. Thank you. :)
        Written 24 January 2018
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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        3-Day Uluru and Kings Canyon Camping Experience from Alice Springs including Outback BBQ Dinner provided by Emu Run Experience - Day Tours