Go remote with the experts
World Expeditions, the parent company of Australian Walking Holidays, has been operating trekking and walking tours since 1975 and is the oldest and most experienced adventure travel company in Australia.
In 1977, World Expeditions identified the opportunity for adventure travel in the Australian market, set up its first Northern Territory trip in Kakadu in 1983 and has continued to operate across the NT ever since, operating trips that allow clients to embrace a sustainable and minimal impact style of travel.
World Expeditions first pioneered the Larapinta trek in 1995 as an exclusive outback trekking experience, and has strived to continually develop and improve the Larapinta trek itineraries, removing barriers between clients and country. Later, Australian Walking Holidays was formed to focus purely on the Australian trips division of the company.
Leaders in Responsible Travel
It has always been our motto to "take only photographs and leave only footprints", and our eco footprint is one of the softest and yet most comfortable experiences trekkers can have along the Larapinta Trail.
We have four exclusive eco-comfort camps, which are semi-permanent, that give trekkers a relaxing base to enjoy the pristine desert scenery and outback solitude. Featuring a kitchen, communal lounge and dining shelter on a raised platform out of the dust, the camps provide a cool and shady open haven, and a warm shelter during the cool nights with gas heating. Water-free toilets are in a clean and airy amenities shelter that are, and waste is disposed of by the Alice Springs Treatment Plant. Hot showers are an added comfort for trekkers after a day’s walk.
These campsites would not be possible without a strong partnership with NT National Parks & Wildlife and the Aboriginal Traditional Owners who jointly manage the land. The exclusive sub-lease ensures that the benefits of our tours are shared equitably with the Aboriginal Traditional Owners whose land we walk and camp upon.
World Expeditions is the only company in Australia to have the full endorsement of The Wilderness Society. This is in recognition of our responsible approach to travel in remote areas. The Larapinta Treks have also been accredited as Ecotourism ECO IV certified, awarded for our strong, well managed commitment to sustainable practices, high quality nature-based tourism experiences, and in recognition of our optimal resources use, conservation practices and help towards local communities.
Semi-Permanent Eco-Comfort Camps
In 2013, we launched our semi-permanent eco-campsites, and we currently have four semi-permanent campsites along the Larapinta Trail. Our exclusive semi permanent eco-campsites have been architecturally designed and constructed with all of the facilities required to provide comfort and enjoyment in the wilderness for clients, including camp shower facilities, toilets, safari style tents, comfortable swags inserted with mattress and pillow, outdoor chairs, washing basin, shaded communal lounge and dining facilities along with a stainless steel kitchen. All waste, even when disposed of properly, has an environmental impact, so clients are encouraged bring items with minimal packaging.
Building materials, colours and style of the campsites were carefully chosen to blend in with the surrounding environment aesthetically, whilst maintaining the idyllic natural setting of wilderness sites. The camps incorporate new sustainable technologies such as water-free toilets, solar lighting systems, a hybrid grey water disposal system designed for the arid environment and a semi-permanent design that allows the camp to be dismantled to allow the land to recover during the off-season.
Leaders in the field
The key to the success of our Larapinta program, and your holiday, is our team of dedicated guides. These people are outdoor professionals and choose to lead our trips because they agree that these are extraordinary adventures. Our whole team is committed to minimal impact travel and will be able to share techniques and tips for reducing our environmental impact. Our caring team of people will provide you with experienced leadership, healthy and delicious meals, local knowledge, first aid if needed and an heightened travel experience.
Our team at World Expeditions is committed to providing you with the best experience on our Larapinta Trail possible. From the booking process to on the field, we work hard to ensure you get the best service and assistance possible.
The key to the success of our Larapinta program is our team of dedicated guides.
Pioneering new adventures
Our
semi-permanent eco-comfort camps along the Larapinta Trail are the latest innovations in a series of pioneering wilderness travel concepts allowing you to experience Australia’s most rugged & remote areas in considerable comfort. For over a decade we worked with Neeson-Murcutt Architects to design innovative, stylish and sustainable semi-permanent campsite facilities along the Larapinta Trail, that enhance the experience of trekkers while at the same time minimizing environmental impacts.
This allows trekkers to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Larapinta Trail in an eco friendly and sustainable manner. World Expeditions’ Classic Larapinta in Trek Comfort fosters environmental and cultural appreciation and conservation through our facilities, practices and innovative improvements to our product offering.
Working with traditional owners
For over 37 years we have forged strong relationships with Aboriginal traditional land owners. It's thanks to this long-standing relationships with the indigenous traditional owners and NT National Parks & Wildlife that allowed us to create a cooperative arrangement with regards to the semi-permanent campsites. 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. By co-operating closely with real Aboriginal involvement we hope to provide you with more genuine travel opportunities.