

"where adventure meets self-discovery"
Bare Sole Full Moon Connect ~ Slow Travel
Departure Date: May 9 > May 15 2025. 1 day 4WD/5.5 days trekking/half day 4WD
Maximum group size: 9 like minded souls/soles
Bare Sole price: $4990
Thoughts about Slow Travel
Andrew Harper, cameleer & desert walker
We’re all becoming acutely aware of the very real adverse effects that excessive digital connectivity is having on our health. When combined with increasingly sedentary lifestyles, it creates a perfect storm of imbalance, one that affects us physically, mentally, and emotionally.
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Catchphrases like “disconnect to reconnect” and “replace the screen with the horizon” are scattered across social media like fairy dust, well-meaning, perhaps, but often lacking the depth needed to inspire meaningful change.
I can clearly say that out here in the desert, reconnection isn’t something you strive for, it happens naturally. Outback Camel Company has been practicing this art of reconnection for 49 years, and it’s embedded in every step we take. Regardless of your misgivings or expectations, it is going to happen.
So what exactly is Slow Travel?
After 29 years and about 40,000 desert kms of wandering & wondering, I still can’t accurately describe what Slow Travel with camels actually is. But let's have a crack at it:
Firstly, the way we walk in the desert today has its roots firmly planted in the pioneering days of the Afghan cameleers and their role in shaping Outback Australia. Those remarkable camel teams, much like ours, were traversing the vast Outback landscape long before 'ecotourism', 'wellness' or the concept of walking treks even existed.
Their legacy lives on in the fundamentals of how we walk, with respect for the land, an intimate connection to the animals that accompany us, and a timeless rhythm that certainly echoes the journeys of those First Nations people who came before us.

When you think about it, humans have been walking and working with animals for thousands of years, and what we’re doing today is simply continuing that enduring connection. But in modern Australia, overflowing with engines, noise, and screens, the opportunity, or even the necessity, to walk alongside large animals has almost disappeared. But since 1995, in the stillness of the desert, I have seen countless trekkers discover what it means to move in harmony with the gentle companionship of these incredible animals, whom I call my professional colleagues.
Yes, at its core, this is desert bushwalking. Yes, the camels carry all your gear. Yes, we are walking in remote areas where no one else walks. And yes, this is a Fair Dinkum bush experience that is definitely not glamping.



But walking with camels is so much more than just these essentials. It encompasses a whole range of emotions, thoughts, feelings, and discoveries. It’s the kind of experience that becomes richer with every passing moment, as layers of the ordinary give way to the extraordinary.
But perhaps the most unexpected aspect of Slow Travel and walking with camels is how time itself seems to change. Days unfold slowly, yet they feel full. Distance loses its meaning as you focus on each step and each moment, rather than an objective or a deadline.
And the silence.
You find it whilst sitting on a dune crest at sunset, it rests amongst the petals of the poached egg daisies, it circles the thoughts in your head, it exists in the delicate tracks of the beetles crawling across the dune crests.
And at night, the silence deepens, the Big Sky vastness wraps over you as you lie in your swag. You might be startled by how deafening the desert silence can be.
And then there are the small, unexpected delights: the way a camel will slowly and deliberately lower its head to deeply sniff and investigate your human scent, the camaraderie of shared laughter around the evening campfire, the simple satisfaction of reaching a dune crest and taking in the view.
So...it’s countless moments and emotions all encompassed into one day. And ultimately, it all comes down to how you interpret the experiences that unfold around you.
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Andrew Harper, cameleer & desert walker


"Marisa and I started on this trip with no clear expectations other than an experience far outside our normal lives and comfort zones. What we experienced was a complete reset and the opportunity to reevaluate priorities. The cameleers have been superb, gracious, organized, hospitable and all round great company!" Steve & Marisa 2024


"With gratitude for the opportunity to simply ‘be’ in the desert. All the trappings of modern contemporary living drop away and what remains is the essence. And to have time in life honed to this essence is a great and precious privilege. Thank you to Andrew and the crew who make this a reality." Sally 2024
Bare Sole - One Trek, Many Journeys
​Think of Bare Sole as an opportunity to embark on a personal journey. The landscape and the pace of travel by the camels will very much set the foundation. What you add after that is up to you, but we have summarised the possibilities into three core streams:
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Spirit of the Desert Journey
Red Sands, Timeless Landscape: Immerse yourself in this timeless landscape, where dunes and ancient stories form the foundation of every step. The desert is alive in ways that words can’t fully capture. It’s in the crunch of sand underfoot, the faint whisper of the wind, the golden light of morning stretching shadows across the landscape.
Infinite Desert Sky: Whether under the brilliant full moon or the endless tapestry of stars, it’s a reminder of nature’s awe-inspiring scale. It’s an experience that anchors you firmly in the present, awakening your senses in ways long forgotten.
Walking in footsteps of others: Embark on a slow, deliberate trek with the camel team that echoes the footsteps of the Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi people, who have traversed this land for countless generations. This is where true desert immersion begins.
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Wellness & Self Discovery Journey
Stretch and Flow: Facilitator Ellie McGrath will lead yoga and stretching sessions on the dunes each morning, a perfect way to greet the desert dawn. But if you would rather help with loading the camels, then that is fine too as loading camels is also all about flow, patience, and quietness.
Breathe and Be Present: Be still. Be present. Be aware. Be yourself. Leave everything else behind. Few places are more suited for quiet meditation than the crest of a sand dune.
Insights and Reflection: Tarot sessions are available for those seeking guidance or clarity - a unique opportunity for inner exploration.
Connection & Community Journey
Camaraderie Around the Fire: Humanity has gathered around fires since emerging from ancient forests: when was the last time you sat around a campfire in stillness?
Gentle Giants: Meet the heart of your journey: a team of gentle giants forging connections (with us human animals) that run as deep as the desert itself. The camels, of course, are more than pack animals; they are our desert partners. Each has its own idiosyncrasies - curious, calm, or sometimes comically stubborn. There’s something about the slow, deliberate pace of walking with camels that invites introspection. Their unhurried steps become a steady rhythm, matching your breath and grounding your thoughts.
Shared Experience: Walk, rest, and reflect in the company of others who seek a meaningful adventure, fostering friendships that may last a lifetime






Based in western NSW, Ellie McGrath is a certified yoga instructor and has been facilitating Bare Sole since 2022. She loves the opportunity that the desert provides for a reset, and she also just happens to love our camels.
​​​​​What else is involved for baring my sole?
On this trek, you will walk alongside our team of pack camels, accompanied by four cameleers who will serve as your crew for the duration of the journey. While technically not “tour guides,” our cameleers are, first and foremost, seasoned stockmen and women. They are experts in handling and working with camels, with a wealth of experience navigating the desert and deep knowledge of its flora and fauna. They also hold profound respect for the First Nations people who call this remarkable landscape home.
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Over the course of a 5 to 6 hour walking day (including breaks) you will cover approximately 8 to 10 kilometres. Our pace is set by the camels, as they navigate the dunes and other natural features of the landscape. The camels carry all your personal gear, leaving you with just your daypack and a healthy attitude. Everything else is best left behind!
This is a truly authentic Australian desert experience. Camels are the perfect cross-country vehicle, allowing us to travel far from roads and tracks, with no vehicle back-up. Campsites are selected based on the availability of camel feed, and we never camp in the same place twice.
As Australia’s only trekking company specialising in remote desert travel, you won’t encounter other trekking groups. Unlike the 4WD tracks that can become virtual highways of vehicles in winter, we journey into a silent desert landscape, far removed from the crowds.
All of our treks are active participation experiences. The cameleers will gladly involve you in loading and unloading the camels as much as you’d like to participate, with the level of involvement decided on a day-to-day basis.
Your assistance is also warmly welcomed with various camp chores at the end of the day, such as collecting firewood or helping to shepherd the camels as they graze. These tasks are part of the unique experience and foster a deeper connection to the rhythm of desert life.

What's included
We supply the landscape, the camels, the desert silence, the SPACE, healthy tucker via campfire cooking and a fairly impressive canopy of stars.
Sorry, but we won't be supplying Wifi or mobile coverage or internet access or electric lights or diesel generators.
We do supply a yoga mat (if you wish to partake in some dune stretching), and apart from that, all you have to bring is an open mind.
All transfers to/from Birdsville to the Simpson Desert
All camping equipment - swags, stools, tents. You bring your own sleeping bag and eating utensils
All meals, though we do not provide snacks
RFDS Medical Chest and emergency communications equipment
Crew of 4 to 5 cameleers
Trek medic
Trekking with an environmentally aware responsible business
(A detailed Trek Information Guide is sent to you when you book)
What's not included
Pre and post trek airfares and accommodation. You are responsible for arranging your travel to/from Birdsville and any accommodation. We can help organise this for you
Please look at this page How To Get To Birdsville
What else is recommended?
Travel Insurance. You have the option to arrange your own travel insurance, or you can contact us for a quote.
Where are we trekking?
In the shaded area of the map below in the Simpson Desert, Queensland & South Australia.
