For people wanting to visit Uluru on a budget, a great option is to book an Uluru camping tour. They are a great option to see the highlights in and around Uluru and Alice Springs, and to also sleep with a great view of the (mostly) clear outback night sky and stars.
This article will help you learn more about the different Uluru camping tours to plan your visit, including how to book your camping or glamping tour.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a booking after clicking on a link it may mean that we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Uluru Camping Tours
There are a range of different camping tours below with different types of camping as detailed below.
- At the most basic, you can sleep in an authentic Aussie swag bed – which is a heavy duty canvas cocoon bed with a thick mattress underneath which is placed directly on the ground, and you then place your sleeping bag inside. You can close the face area to keep the insects, rain and lights away, however you can also open the face area to view the stars while you lie comfy in bed. When you use a swag you will have access to shared bathroom facilities.
- Alternatively, there are also tours where you will get to camp in a permanent furnished tent with proper beds with bedding, electricity and cooling fans – so a basic form of glamping with shared bathroom facilities!
In this article we recommend making your Uluru camping tour booking through the Backpacker Deals website – they offer a great range of options with up to 10% cash back on every booking, making it a great option to visit Uluru on a budget.
3 Day 2 Night Small Group Swag Camping Tour
- Start either Yulara or Alice Springs and finish in Yulara.
- 3 days to explore Uluru, Kata-Tjuta and Kings Canyon.
- All meals included, swag camping with campfire and shared amenities.
4 Day 3 Night Rock to Rock Small Group Swag Camping Tour
- Start and finish in Yulara.
- 4 Days to explore Uluru, Kata-Tjuta and Kings Canyon.
- All meals included, swag camping with campfire and shared amenities.
4 Day 3 Night Small Group Glamping Tour
- Start and finish in either Yulara or Alice Springs.
- 4 days to explore Uluru, Kata-Tjuta and Kings Canyon.
- All meals included, campfire, glamping with shared amenities.
6 Day 5 Night Small Group Glamping & Hotel Tour
- Start in Yulara, end in Alice Springs.
- 6 days to explore Uluru, Kata-Tjuta, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs and the West MacDonnell Ranges.
- Some meals included, glamping with shared amenities including campfire for 2 nights, hotels for 3 nights.
- Free time for independent activities.
Mulgas Adventures 3 Day 2 Night Swag Camping Tours
Mulgas Adventures offers a great 3 day 2 night camping tour option to explore Uluru from Alice Springs return. This tour includes camping in an authentic Australian swag bed (hire or bring your own sleeping bag) with shared bathroom facilities, all meals and activities as follows:
- Day 1. Be picked up at your Alice Springs accommodation at 6am, then drive from Alice Springs to Uluru where you will have lunch while viewing Uluru. Visit the Uluru Cultural Centre, do a short walk at the base of Uluru, watch the Uluru sunset with a drink and nibbles before dinner around the campfire at camp.
- Day 2. Watch sunrise over Uluru, do the Valley of the Winds walk at Kata-Tjuta, travel to Kings Creek Station and have an outback barbeque dinner around the campfire.
- Day 3. Hike the spectacular Kings Canyon Rim Walk, then drive back to Alice Springs, arriving in late afternoon.
As this is an action packed tour there is no time available for optional addon activities.
Mulgas Adventures Rock to Rock 4 Day 3 Night Swag Camping Tours
Mulgas Adventures offers popular 4 day 3 night the Rock tour option to explore Uluru from Ayers Rock Airport return. This tour includes camping in an authentic Australian swag bed (hire or bring your own sleeping bag) with shared bathroom facilities, all meals and activities as follows:
- Day 1. Be picked up from Ayers Rock Airport (12.30pm to 2pm), then visit the Uluru Cultural Centre for lunch, do a short walk at the base of Uluru, watch the Uluru sunset with a drink and nibbles before dinner around the campfire at camp.
- Day 2. Watch sunrise over Uluru, do the Valley of the Winds walk at Kata-Tjuta, travel to Kings Creek Station and have an outback barbeque dinner around the campfire.
- Day 3. Hike the spectacular Kings Canyon rim walk, then you have the option to do either a helicopter or quad bike ride (additional expense). Drive to Curtain Springs Station and enjoy watching sunset over Mt Connor before enjoying dinner under the stars.
- Day 4. Have breakfast then drive back to Ayers Rock Airport to meet your departing flight.
Intrepid Travel 4 Day Uluru Glamping Tours
Intrepid Travel offers a great 4 day tour option to explore Uluru from either Uluru or Alice Springs, finishing in either Uluru or Alice Springs. These tours include camping in a permanent furnished tent which includes comfortable beds and shared facilities. All meals are included in this trip, with continental breakfast provided, lunches are picnic style and dinner is around the campfire in the evenings. The tour itinerary is as follows:
- Day 1. Start your tour in either Ayers Rock Airport or Alice Springs. Use the free Ayers Rock Airport shuttle bus to get to the 1.30pm tour meeting at Desert Gardens Hotel in Yulara (the gateway town to visit Uluru). From Alice Springs expect to be picked up early to drive to Yulara in time to join the tour kick off meeting. Then drive to Kings Canyon and experience an Acknowledgement of Country by the local Luritja people. Enjoy a campfire dinner under the stars.
- Day 2. Do the Kings Canyon rim walk (or alternative), then have a cultural experience to learn more about the food, art, medicine and languages of the Luritja Peoples. Drive back to Yulara and head into the National Park to watch sunset over Uluru. Head back to camp to enjoy a barbeque dinner around the campfire.
- Day 3. Drive to Kata-Tjuta to do the Valley of the Winds walk, then return to Uluru where a local Anangu Guide will take you for the short walk to Mutijulu Waterhole at the base of Uluru while learning more about the local culture and stories. Visit the Uluru Cultural Centre. Optional evening addon to visit the Field of Light, an art installation with 50,000 stems of light (need to book Field of Light well in advance as it sells out several months ahead).
- Day 4. Watch sunrise over Uluru, then do the full 10km walk around the base with your tour leader. Return to camp for breakfast, which is also the end of this tour. If you are departing today, book a flight which departs after 12:30pm. They can also arrange a transfer for you to Alice Springs for an additional cost.
Intrepid Travel 6 Day Glamping & Hotel Tour from Alice Springs return
Intrepid Travel offers a great small group 6 day tour to explore from Uluru to Alice Springs, including Kings Canyon and the West Macdonnell Ranges. These tours include 2 nights camping in a permanent furnished tent which includes comfortable beds and shared facilities, and also 3 nights staying in hotels. The tour itinerary is as follows:
- Day 1. Start your tour in Yulara, the gateway town for Uluru. Use the free Ayers Rock Airport shuttle bus to get to the 1.30pm tour meeting at Desert Gardens Hotel. Head into the National Park to watch sunset over Uluru. Head back to camp to enjoy a barbeque dinner around the campfire.
- Day 2. Drive to Kata-Tjuta to do the Valley of the Winds walk, then return to camp where you have free time in the afternoon and evening, and need to make your own dinner arrangements. An optional evening add on you can book as part of your tour is to visit the Field of Light, an art installation with 50,000 stems of light (need to book Field of Light well in advance as it sells out several months ahead).
- Day 2 Independent Activities. Get in early if you would like to independently book one of the special dinner experiences or tours available. Options include the Sounds of Silence dinner, the Tali Wiru Dinner, the Field of Light Dinner or perhaps do the Uluru Astro Tour (in the National Park), or a helicopter flight over Uluru. Or just chill! There are also many dining options in the Ayers Rock Resort area which you do not need to pre-book.
- Day 3. Do the Uluru base walk at sunrise, followed by a short walk to Mutijulu Waterhole at the base of Uluru with a local Anangu Guide where you will learn more about the local culture and stories. Visit the Uluru Cultural Centre, then drive to Kings Canyon, where you will stay in a hotel. Along the way enjoy a cultural experience to learn more about the food, art, medicine and languages of the Luritja Peoples. Enjoy watching the sunset over Kings Canyon from the hotel viewing platform. Afterwards buy your own dinner at the hotel while you relax for the evening.
- Day 4. Hike the Kings Canyon Rim Walk (or alternative), then drive to Alice Springs where you will stay in a hotel. Make your own arrangements for dinner – perhaps in a local pub!
- Day 5. Explore the West MacDonnell Ranges, where you can visit Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge, where you can go for short hikes and perhaps also have a swim. Then return to Alice Springs, then head out to enjoy an evening learning more about the stars whilst also enjoying a bush tucker dinner at the Earth Sanctuary.
- Day 6. No activities are planned, you can depart your hotel whenever you like or stay longer to explore on your own. Great tour option options to consider include a hot air balloon flight over Alice Springs or The Best of Alice Springs Day Tour.
3 Day 2 Night Small Group Swag Camping Tour
- Start either Yulara or Alice Springs and finish in Yulara.
- 3 days to explore Uluru, Kata-Tjuta and Kings Canyon.
- All meals included, swag camping with campfire and shared amenities.
4 Day 3 Night Rock to Rock Small Group Swag Camping Tour
- Start and finish in Yulara.
- 4 Days to explore Uluru, Kata-Tjuta and Kings Canyon.
- All meals included, swag camping with campfire and shared amenities.
4 Day 3 Night Small Group Glamping Tour
- Start and finish in either Yulara or Alice Springs.
- 4 days to explore Uluru, Kata-Tjuta and Kings Canyon.
- All meals included, campfire, glamping with shared amenities.
6 Day 5 Night Small Group Glamping & Hotel Tour
- Start in Yulara, end in Alice Springs.
- 6 days to explore Uluru, Kata-Tjuta, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs and the West MacDonnell Ranges.
- Some meals included, glamping with shared amenities including campfire for 2 nights, hotels for 3 nights.
- Free time for independent activities.
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Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Anne Sutherland-Smith is the creative force behind Pretraveller.com, a travel blog that specializes in offering insightful guidance for exploring Japan, South Korea, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Her passion for these diverse and dynamic regions shines through in her expert advice, particularly in helping travellers stay connected with the latest in SIM cards, pocket WiFi, and eSIMs.
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