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Larapinta Trail Exclusive Eco-Comfort Camps

Award-winning walkers desert retreat in Central Australia

After eight years of careful traditional owner community consultation, groundbreaking design, engagement with National Parks and Central Land Council, and challenging construction in a remote area, in 2013, we officially launched our Larapinta Trail exclusive Eco-Comfort Camps. 

Each private Eco-Comfort Camp offers unique and exclusive facilities and act as a refuge for walkers after a day spent on the Larapinta Trail, providing comfort on both warm days and cool nights. 

Its innovative design, which has won three Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Ecotourism Awards, provide comfortable facilities 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
  • Stainless steel kitchen

Appeal to your desire for those homey comforts whilst still enjoying the great outdoors on World Expeditions' award-winning walkers retreat on the Larapinta Trail.   These Larapinta Exclusive Eco-Comfort Camps continue to set the standard by incorporating green and sustainable technologies, such as solar lighting systems and a hybrid grey water disposal system designed for the arid environment.  There's even access to a hot shower – a true luxury when out on the wilderness trails.  It's BIG on comfort and small on environmental impact. Take a look inside: https://worldexpeditions.com/Larapinta-Trail-Semi-Permanent-Eco-Camps  Find the ideal Larapinta walk for you: https://worldexpeditions.com/activities/trekking-hiking/larapinta-trail-treks-australian-walks  World Expeditions has proudly won three Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Ecotourism Awards in 2019, 2017 and 2016 for these innovative camps.  _______________ LET'S GET SOCIAL #WorldExpeditions #ThoughtfulTravel #LarapintaTrail Subscribe to our channel above for more travel inspiration. Get a dose of adventure straight to your inbox: https://worldexpeditions.com/enewsletter Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldexpeditions/ Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldExpeditions/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/worldex_aus

Commitment to sustainability

Sustainability has been at the heart of our operations since we pioneered the Larapinta trek back in 1995.

The four architecturally-designed campsites – exclusive to our trekkers on the Larapinta Trail – are semi-permanent, which means they are taken down at the end of each season to minimise the impact on the landscape and to give it a chance to regenerate.

The innovative plans by Neeson Murcutt Architects draws upon state of the art design and technology to protect the remote and beautiful land it sits upon, which saw the campsites awarded the prestigious Australian Institute of Architects award for Small Project Architecture (NT chapter) in 2014.

Its sustainable infrastructure includes: 

  • water-free toilets 
  • solar lighting systems
  • a hybrid grey water disposal system designed for the arid environment
  • semi-permanent design to allow the land to recover during the off-season

Building materials, colours and the overall style of the new structures were carefully chosen to blend in with the surrounding environment aesthetically, whilst maintaining the idyllic natural setting of these incredible wilderness sites. 

2019 Brolga Award for Best Ecotourism Operator - Northern Territory 2017_Brolga_Ecotourism  2016_Brolga_Ecotourism

 

World Expeditions has proudly won three Brolga Northern Territory Tourism Ecotourism Awards in 2019, 2017 and 2016 for these sustainable and eco-friendly camps.

Larapinta Eco-Comfort Camp features & facilities

Each of the four campsites are made up of a communal tent, an ablutions tent and two shower tents. You will sleep in comfortable ‘safari style’ tents that sleep two people.

Larapinta sustainable campsite |  <i>Lexi Connors</i> Dinner at our exclusive eco-camps |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Dine and relax in comfort in the large communal area at our eco-camps |  <i>#cathyfinchphotography</i>

COMMUNAL AREA

The Y-shaped structures function as a living area, covering an area of some 150 square metres.  Raised platform flooring, combined with the infinitely adaptable stretch canopy, allow the structure to be modified to the conditions at the time, ensuring the interior remains comparatively cool and sheltered in virtually any weather conditions.  

Cafe-style gas burners provide heating at night, along with the open fire traditionally lit outdoors at the campsites.

Our guides will prepare spectacular meals at our camps |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Snacks are served at our eco-comfort camps on the Larapinta Trail |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Enjoy delicious meals at our eco-comfort camps on the Larapinta Trail |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Our guides will prepare superb picnic lunches on the trail |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Smoked salmon canapes may be served on a Larapinta trip |  <i>Ayla Rowe</i> Picnic lunches are always a welcome highlight with our walkers |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Our guides will prepare spectacular meals at our camps |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Picnic lunch on the Larapinta Trail |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Our guides will prepare delicious, fresh meals on our 'In Comfort' Larapinta walks |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Campfire cooking on the Larapinta |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Enjoy freshly cooked meals each night at our eco-comfort camps |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Food glorious food; our menu includes many native bush foods |  <i>#cathyfinchphotography</i>


MEAL INCLUSIONS

We aim to provide delicious, interesting and nutritional meals for all guests. All food is sourced from the best providers and carefully selected, stored and transported so as to maximise freshness and quality. 

We also aim to incorporate more native bush foods into the menu such as spices (wattleseed, lemon myrtle), native jams, pastes and sauces from quandongs (native peaches) and Kakadu plums as well as bush muesli that that includes native dried fruits and spices. View a sample menu.

Our guides have remarkable wilderness culinary skills and pride themselves on the variety, quality, nutritional levels and presentation of their meals and their ability to cater to a wide range of dietary requirements. We re‑supply with fresh food every few days. 

Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable.

Relaxing at our exclusive eco-comfort camps on the Larapinta |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Get a good nights sleep in our comfortable and spacious safari-style tents |  <i>Karina Davila-Otoya</i> Get a good nights sleep in our comfortable and spacious safari-style tents |  <i>Karina Davila-Otoya</i> Sleep in large safari-style tents at our Larapinta eco-camps |  <i>#cathyfinchphotography</i> Get a good nights sleep in our comfortable and spacious safari-style tents |  <i>Karina Davila-Otoya</i> Trekkers relaxing on the porch of their campsites |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Sleeping tents at Nick's Camp |  <i>Ayla Rowe</i>


SLEEPING TENTS

Our spacious, safari style sleeping tents are exclusive for walkers on our 3-day Larapinta Experience in Comfort and 6-day Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort. They are the perfect addition to our four innovative semi-permanent campsites launched in 2013 – giving you the ultimate desert walking experience.

With the same footprint as our previous sleeping tents (2.4m x 2.4m), our tents are significantly more airy and open and are large enough to stand up in with the walls being 2.2 meters high – giving you more space to move and relax in. Perhaps one of the stand-out features is the large floor-to-ceiling windows, bringing the outdoors in and allowing you to sit-back and soak up the magnificent views.

The comforts at our Larapinta exclusive eco-comfort camps will make your experience more enjoyable |  <i>#cathyfinchphotography</i> The amenities at our eco-comfort camps will make your Larapinta walk even more enjoyable |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> The amenities at our eco-comfort camps will make your Larapinta walk even more enjoyable |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Our eco-friendly bathroom amenities use water efficiently |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> Our eco-friendly bathroom amenities use water efficiently |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> The Larapinta Campsites offer outback shower facilities |  <i>Sue Badyari</i> The amenities at our eco-comfort camps will make your Larapinta walk even more enjoyable |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i> The amenities at our eco-comfort camps will make your Larapinta walk even more enjoyable |  <i>Shaana McNaught</i>

ABLUTION FACILITIES

Our eco friendly camp toilets are water-free clean and airy amenities, and are exclusive to trekkers at our campsites. These save 143 litres of water each day, thanks to their water-free system. 

SHOWER TENTS

The hot showers give trekkers a welcome way to wash away the dust of a good days walk on the Larapinta Trail. Hot water is heated using a “Donkey” hot water boiler - an efficient hot water system and an economical way to warm water. Trekkers have a 9 Litre bucket of warm water to use in our shower tents, which allows for warm-hot showers that run for 2 – 2 1/2 minutes.

Organic shampoos and soaps are included in the shower for your use, sourced from Dindi Naturals, a supplier of handmade soaps and body proiducts that contain no toxic or synthetic materials. These are free of nasty chemicals so we have minimal environmental impact as possible, derived from environmentally friendly ingredients from areas of fair trade and sustainability.


Relaxing around an open fire after a day on the Larapinta Trail |  <i>Caroline Crick</i> Heating water for a shower in the 'donkey' |  <i>Graham Michael Freeman</i> The clear night sky of the Outback is an unforgettable experience of the Larapinta Semi-permanent Camps |  <i>Brett Boardman</i> 'The Donkey' provides steaming hot water to trekkers on demand |  <i>Caroline Crick</i>

HEATING

Cafe style gas burners provide heating at night, along with the open fire traditionally lit outdoors at the campsites.

SOLAR POWER

We use an 80W solar panel which brings power to our campsites. The power runs the:

  • Lounge, kitchen and bathroom lights
  • Water pump for the kitchen
  • Phone and camera charging

Each tent also has a solar light which is charged during the day, so clients can use these in the evenings to see around their tent.

CHARGING PHONES & CAMERAS

There are two USB 12V camera/phone battery charging ports at each campsite, powered through our solar system.

PHONE RECEPTION

There is only phone reception at Nick’s Camp but this is intermittent. There is no phone reception at Fearless Camp, Charlie’s Camp and Sonder Camp. You may get some reception on high ridges when you are walking along the trail. We encourage travellers to use as little technology as possible so they can be completely immersed in the experience and enjoy the break from being constantly connected. 

A trek on the Larapinta Trail is an experience like no other, and can leave an impression on travellers long after they return home. From sweeping views across the sunburnt landscape, to fresh-water gorges that provide the ultimate refreshment, and sunrises that bathe the sky in vibrant hues of pink, orange and deep purple, it is an experience you simply must do!  Highlights include: - Trek the ancient landscape of the West MacDonnell Ranges - Summit Mount Sonder for a spectacular sunrise - Stay in award-winning, exclusive eco-campsites - Visit highlights along the trail including the Ochre Pits, Ormiston Gorge, Standley Chasm and more - Gain an deeper understanding for the ancient Indigenous culture and Traditional Owners of tha land - Relax in the evenings around a campfire as the guides prepare delicious 3 course meals   Visit http://bit.ly/Larpainta for more information.

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