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I’m in the heart of Australia’s Red Centre, trekking across an ancient landscape that’s been cared for by the Arrernte people, the Traditional Owners, for more than 30,000 years. It’s a sweltering day, and I’ve been on my feet for almost eight hours. The sun is beating down on my pack, my thighs are starting to shake and I’m counting the steps until my final shade break. Yet, the opportunity to follow these ancestral paths, surrounded by towering red ranges and lush greenery, makes every step worth it.
Over six days, I traversed the country’s most breathtaking landscapes on the Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort – one of the 15 Great Walks of Australia. This world-renowned trail is one of the most iconic multi-day desert pilgrimages on Earth, winding its way through the rust-red peaks of the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges.
The strenuous but rewarding 230-kilometre trail can be tackled solo, requiring you to carry all your own gear, camp in remote bushland and arrange food drops along the way. But if you’re not quite at Bear Grylls’ level yet, there’s a better way. I opted for the Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort guided experience with Australian Walking Holidays. By covering 69.5 kilometres of the trail’s highlights with just a daypack and retreating to eco-camps each night, you can focus on the ancient landscapes and Indigenous stories rather than just survival. It makes a world-class challenge feel completely accessible, and I couldn't wait to get started.
Like many others, I was drawn to the Larapinta Trail for its sacred beauty that truly has to be seen to be believed. What surprised me most about the trek was the diversity each day brings. On day one, my group and I trekked through witchetty bush, mulga scrub and bird-filled woodlands before ascending the exposed spine of Euro Ridge, where we were rewarded with sweeping views back toward Alice Springs. It was a powerful reminder of how grand this 350-million-year-old landscape is, and how small all my worries back home are in comparison.
The next day, we continued walking in the footsteps of the Traditional Owners to two of the region’s most dramatic and spiritual natural wonders: Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye). Standing between their towering red cliffs and looking at my reflection in the sacred waterholes gave me goosebumps.
The highlight of day three was trekking along a high quartzite ridge to Counts Point, where we enjoyed a picnic lunch looking out to Mount Zeil, the highest peak in the Northern Territory. Day four took us on a rocky detour into the breathtaking Inarlanga (Echidna) Pass, a place of ancient cycad palms and bright-red, wave-like rock formations. We ended at a sacred Aboriginal ochre quarry, where we met Benjamin “Benji” Kenny, a local Arrernte man, who explained the deep spiritual meaning this site has held for generations.
That night, the nerves kicked in as we prepared for our almighty challenge: a 16-kilometre sunrise hike up Mount Sonder – the highest point of the entire Larapinta Trail. We set off into the darkness at 2am, slowly weaving our way up to the 1380-metre summit through a blur of exhaustion and a sudden, cold rain shower. By the time we reached the summit, I was delirious – but the sight that met us was, without a doubt, the most incredible sunrise I’ve ever seen. It wasn't easy, but witnessing that kind of magic never is.
As a final reward on the Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort, we got to finish with a side walk through Ormiston Pound. This massive 46.5-square-kilometre natural amphitheatre, surrounded by ancient, towering red ridges, was the perfect finale to our journey. We had to earn the views though, braving a shoulder-height river crossing through chilly water.
Whether you’re a hardcore hiker or eager to do your first multi-day hike, the Classic Larapinta Trek is well worth your while. It’s more than just a journey through Australia’s most spectacular and sacred landscapes; it’s a chance to slow down and truly disconnect. You’re quite literally forced to as well, with no Wi-Fi and rare moments of reception.
I won’t deny that the eco-campsites – complete with hot showers, private safari tents and gourmet, bush-inspired meals – made the experience a whole lot more comfortable. But the true heart of this journey was the people. My guides – Sophia, Will, Ewel, Jack and Jesse – were an incredible crew: caring, supportive, knowledgeable, and so deeply passionate that they almost convinced me to trade my desk job for a life in the bush. It was equally special to share six days with 13 fellow hikers from across Australia. We all arrived with different stories and abilities, but we finished as a single unit, carrying home memories that will last a lifetime.