Is the train travel included?

Yes. The Ghan Expedition is used for the Darwin to Alice Springs leg on day 1 and the Alice Springs to Adelaide leg on days 9 to 11, with meals and beverages included on board.

Is the land touring guided?

Yes. The Red Centre portion is 7 nights of small-group touring with Outback Spirit in a 4WD Mercedes-Benz vehicle, including accommodation, meals with beverages, and guided touring.

What hotels are used?

The Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, Kings Canyon Resort, Sails in the Desert Hotel at Uluru, the Pullman Adelaide, and the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge.

What is not included?

Helicopter and scenic flight upgrades over Nitmiluk Gorge, Kings Canyon, the Painted Hills, Lake Eyre, Uluru, and Kata Tjuta are listed as optional extras.

The evidence does not list specific departure dates; confirm availability with Journey Beyond Rail.

Journey Beyond Rail · Rail & touring package

Red Centre & Kangaroo Island Explorer 2026

16-day Ghan Expedition rail journey plus Red Centre and Kangaroo Island touring

Journey Beyond Rail operates this 16-day package that pairs The Ghan Expedition with 8 days of Outback Spirit 4WD touring through Australia's Red Centre, finishing with a Kangaroo Island extension. The trip starts aboard the train in Darwin, with an Off Train Experience in Katherine on day 1, before travelers switch to small-group touring at Alice Springs on day 2. The days that follow visit the West MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon, where guests choose a 6km rim walk or a relaxed creek walk, and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with the Field of Light and Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner among the included evening experiences. Travelers rejoin The Ghan Expedition at Alice Springs on day 9 for the run to Adelaide via Coober Pedy, then continue with small-group wine touring in the Barossa Valley and a flight to Kangaroo Island for Seal Bay and Flinders Chase National Park. This suits travelers who want an escorted outback journey with a long rail crossing built in, rather than a train-only trip, and who are comfortable with 4WD touring and moderate walking.

What to know before you look closer

No price is listed in the operator's materials for this package; confirm current pricing and departure dates directly with Journey Beyond Rail.
Helicopter flights over Nitmiluk Gorge and Kings Canyon, and scenic flights over the Painted Hills, Lake Eyre, Uluru, and Kata Tjuta, are optional extras, not included in the package.
The order of days 13 and 14 on Kangaroo Island may be interchanged, so the exact sequence of activities can vary by departure.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: The Ghan Expedition
Board The Ghan Expedition in Darwin
Board The Ghan and settle in before an Off Train Experience in Katherine (Nitmiluk Gorge cruise, Katherine Outback Experience, or Cutta Cutta Caves; optional helicopter upgrade). Dinner on board as the train continues to Alice Springs.
Day 2overnight: 2 nights Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters
The Ghan Expedition, arrive Alice Springs
Eight-day Red Centre Explorer tour with Outback Spirit begins: town tour of Alice Springs, hotel check-in, welcome drinks and briefing, dinner at hotel.
Day 3
Alice Springs
West MacDonnell Ranges walk to Simpsons Gap, visit Standley Chasm and the Alice Springs Desert Park. Evening BBQ and show under the stars.
Day 4overnight: 2 nights Kings Canyon Resort
Alice Springs to Kings Canyon
Visit Ellery Creek and Ormiston Gorge, then travel via the Mereenie Loop 4WD track to Kings Canyon Resort. Dinner at Carmichael's.
Day 5
Kings Canyon – Watarrka National Park
Choice of the 6km rim walk or a relaxed creek walk (optional helicopter flight available). Sunset drinks and canapes at Light-Towers, dinner at Kings Canyon Bar & Grill.
Day 6overnight: 3 nights Sails in the Desert Hotel
Kings Canyon to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience, lunch at Curtin Springs, arrive at Sails in the Desert Hotel. Evening Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner - a drone, laser and projection storytelling experience with dinner on a dune top.
Day 7
Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park
Guided walk into Walpa Gorge at Kata Tjuta, guided base tour of Uluru, cultural centre visit. Evening dune-top Field of Light experience with drinks and canapes.
Day 8
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Optional sunrise viewing of Uluru, Mala Walk to Kantju Gorge, free afternoon. Evening Sounds of Silence dining experience under the stars.
Day 9railovernight: 2 nights The Ghan Expedition
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Alice Springs, The Ghan Expedition
Road transfer to the Alice Springs Rail Terminal, rejoin The Ghan Expedition. Dining experience at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station.
Day 10rail
The Ghan Expedition, Coober Pedy
Off Train Experience in the underground opal-mining town of Coober Pedy (Breakaways, town tour, Opal Experience, or optional Painted Hills/Lake Eyre scenic flight), underground lunch. Dinner served on board.
Day 11overnight: 2 nights Pullman Adelaide
The Ghan Expedition, Adelaide
Brunch on board through the Flinders Ranges, arrive Adelaide, transfer to accommodation.
Day 12
Barossa Valley
Small-group wine and food touring (max 8 people) to the Barossa Valley with tastings at three wineries and lunch with wine included.
Day 13overnight: 2 nights Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge
Adelaide to Kangaroo Island
Flight to Kangaroo Island, 'Island Life' tour, bush walk, private guided tour at Seal Bay Conservation Park among Australian sea lions. Note: Day 13/14 may be interchanged.
Day 14
Kangaroo Island
Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks, picnic lunch, Admirals Arch and its long-nosed fur seal colony.
Day 15overnight: 1 night Pullman Adelaide
Kangaroo Island to Adelaide
Flight back to Adelaide, transfer to city accommodation, free evening.
Day 16
Farewell
Check out of accommodation, tour concludes.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1The Ghan Expedition departs Darwin with an Off Train Experience in Katherine, choosing between a Nitmiluk Gorge cruise, the Katherine Outback Experience, or the Cutta Cutta Caves.
Day 5At Kings Canyon, guests choose the 6km rim walk or a relaxed creek walk through Watarrka National Park, followed by sunset drinks and canapes at Light-Towers.
Day 6The Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner combines a drone, laser and projection storytelling experience with dinner on a dune top near Uluru.
Day 7A guided walk into Walpa Gorge at Kata Tjuta and a guided base tour of Uluru lead into the evening Field of Light display.
Day 14Kangaroo Island's Flinders Chase National Park includes Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, home to a long-nosed fur seal colony.

Included

15 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 12 dinners
Transfer from Adelaide Parklands Terminal to hotel
Return hotel to airport transfers in Adelaide

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?: Yes. The Ghan Expedition is used for the Darwin to Alice Springs leg on day 1 and the Alice Springs to Adelaide leg on days 9 to 11, with meals and beverages included on board.
Is the land touring guided?: Yes. The Red Centre portion is 7 nights of small-group touring with Outback Spirit in a 4WD Mercedes-Benz vehicle, including accommodation, meals with beverages, and guided touring.
What hotels are used?: The Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, Kings Canyon Resort, Sails in the Desert Hotel at Uluru, the Pullman Adelaide, and the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge.
What is not included?: Helicopter and scenic flight upgrades over Nitmiluk Gorge, Kings Canyon, the Painted Hills, Lake Eyre, Uluru, and Kata Tjuta are listed as optional extras.
When does it run?: The evidence does not list specific departure dates; confirm availability with Journey Beyond Rail.