
9 Day Eastern Simpson Desert Trek




Slow Travel: Pack-free Desert Bushwalking
Maximum group size: 12 trekkers
Eastern Simpson Desert Treks
Departure Dates:
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Eastern Simpson 1
9 Day Trek - April 24 > May 2, 1 day flight & 4WD/7 days trekking/1 day 4WD & flight $5130
Fully Booked
Eastern Simpson 2
9 Day Trek - May 8 > May 16, 1 day flight & 4WD/6 days trekking/2 days 4WD & flight $4800
Fully Booked
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Trek Grade:
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The Eastern Simpson Desert Trek is just the right duration for first time Desert Bushwalkers. This part of the desert is sort of 'our backyard' and we have been walking in this area since 1976.
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You walk alongside our team of packcamels accompanied by 5 cameleers who are your crew for the duration of the trek.
Our cameleers are not 'tour guides', they are experienced and seasoned stockmen/women who are specialists in handling and working with camels, and have a wealth of experience in walking the desert and knowledge of its flora & fauna, and are respectful of our First Nations people who call the desert home.
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We will be walking in the dune fields and swales of the eastern Simpson Desert, west of Birdsville in Queensland. The landscape consists of towering red/washed out white dunes and includes the floodplain of Eyre Creek which fringes much of the eastern side of the desert. We may pass through large stands of coolabah and gidgee (trees) interspersed with vast open sky country that is perfect for desert bushwalking.
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Walking in this landscape is on firm sand and occasional claypans and gibber (small stones) flats. If the eastern Simpson receives good soaking rain in late March/early April, there may be a profusion of yellow flowers such as poached-egg daisy & 'Yellowtop' covering the landscape, and supplying our camels with fresh feed.... however it's not until we actually get out there in April 2023 that we will know the extent of any rainfall.
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May, June and July is ideal walking weather in Central Australia and over the course of a 5 to 6 hour walking day you would walk approximately between 8 to 10 kilometres. Our pace of travel is determined by the camels and their ability to negotiate the dunes or other landforms in the landscape. They carry all your personal gear, and all you have to carry is your day pack.
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This is a very real, very Australian desert experience. Camels are the perfect cross-country vehicle and so we don't follow roads or tracks, and there is no vehicle back-up: we don't need it! Camps are chosen for the availability of camel feed, and we never camp in the same place twice. And in addition, as we are Australia's only trekking company that specialise in remote desert travel, you won't 'bump into' any other groups of trekkers.
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All of our treks are active participation-based experiences and the cameleers will involve you with loading and unloading the camels as much as you wish to be involved. Similarly, your assistance is always greatly welcomed with the numerous camp chores to be done at the end of the day such as collecting firewood or helping to shepherd the camels as they feed.
What's included
Return domestic flights from Brisbane to Birdsville
4WD transfers to/from Birdsville to the eastern 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
LOTS of space...
Trek RFDS Medical Chest, First Aid and emergency communications equipment
Crew of 4 to 5 cameleers
Desert Silence!
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 airfares and accommodation. We can organise this for you
What else is required?
Travel Insurance. We can advise on which policy is suitable
Where are we trekking?
In the shaded area of the map in the Simpson Desert, Queensland and South Australia. The Simpson is the world's largest parallel sand ridge desert
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