A 139-mile (221km) thru-hike through the red heart of Australia, the Larapinta Trail runs between Alice Springs Telegraph Station and the summit of Mount Sonder (Rutjupma), the Northern Territory's fourth-tallest peak at 4,530 feet. It crosses the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges, homeland of the Aranda people, whose connection to this country stretches back at least 50,000 years — and the trail reflects that, with several sites carrying deep cultural meaning.
The route is broken into 12 official sections ranging from 6 to 18 miles, most of them moderately difficult. Don't let the desert setting fool you: rocky terrain, sharp ascents and uneven track make this one of the hardest walks in Australia. Sections 4 and 5 are the punishing ones, with steep climbs and exposed ridges, and Razorback Ridge lives up to its name — reaching the Hugh Gorge campsite can mean wading or swimming through pools. Water is the big planning challenge. Every trailhead has a tank, but natural sources are unreliable, and section 9 and the stretch between Serpentine Chalet Dam and Ormiston Gorge both have 19-mile waterless gaps. At Hugh Gorge there may be a river ford or a swim, depending on conditions.
Standouts along the way include Euro Ridge, with views over Alice Springs and the ranges; Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye), a sacred women's site owned and run by the Aranda; and Serpentine Gorge, where local guides share the Aboriginal Dreaming Story of the Rainbow Serpent tied to the site. Many hikers finish — or start — with a sunrise climb up Mount Sonder for a panorama of everything they've walked.
There's more than one way to do it. A full thru-hike takes roughly two weeks with a loaded pack. Short on time? Guided operators like Intrepid Travel, Tasmanian Walking Company and World Expeditions run section-based trips — one five-day Intrepid itinerary covers about 60 miles via six trailheads. Independent hikers can hire Larapinta Express or Larapinta Trail Trek Support to handle food drops, supplies and trailhead transfers.
Timing and paperwork matter here. April to August is the comfortable window; outside it, temperatures can hit 113–122°F. Before you go, budget for an NT Parks pass (Aus$60), campground reservations (Aus$10 per person per night) and walking fees (Aus$25 per night, capped at Aus$125 for six-plus nights), all booked through the Northern Territory Parks Booking System. And keep your wits about you — the Red Center is home to Eastern brown snakes and huntsman spiders alongside the rock wallabies and raptors.
For hikers who've done the classics elsewhere, the Larapinta offers something few trails can: genuine physical challenge, desert solitude, and a cultural layer woven into the rock itself. You can piece together a few sections over a long weekend or commit to the full fortnight — either way, this is one of Australia's signature treks.
