Board The Ghan and settle into your private cabin, or mingle with fellow travellers in the Outback Explorer Lounge before enjoying a delicious lunch. In Katherine, choose from a range of Off Train Experiences: cruise through the dramatic Nitmiluk Gorge, discover outback life at the Katherine Outback Experience, explore the Cutta Cutta Caves rich in Indigenous culture and wildlife, or take in the scenery from above with an optional helicopter flight.

Return to the train for a memorable evening, with fine dining and attentive service as The Ghan rolls south toward Alice Springs.

Your chosen Ghan cabin

Lunch, Dinner

Arrive at Alice Springs Rail Terminal, where you’ll be warmly greeted by your Outback Spirit crew – your guides for the next eight days exploring the Red Centre. Begin with a town tour of Alice Springs, including a light lunch at a local eatery, before checking into your hotel for a two-night stay.

In the evening, join your fellow travellers for welcome drinks and a short tour briefing, followed by dinner at the hotel.

Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, journey into the spectacular West MacDonnell Ranges and walk to Simpsons Gap, known as Rungutjirpa by the Arrernte people. This important spiritual site is home to rare plants and native wildlife. Continue to Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye), a cultural icon of Central Australia, owned and operated by the Arrernte community, where morning tea is served.

Later, visit the Alice Springs Desert Park for a guided tour that reveals the surprising abundance of life in the desert. This evening, enjoy a traditional outback BBQ dinner and show beneath the star-filled sky.

Crowne Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart Alice Springs and journey deeper into the outback, beginning with a stop at Ellery Creek for a short walk and morning tea. Continue to Ormiston Gorge to admire its dramatic red cliffs before travelling on through the spectacular West MacDonnell Ranges along the scenic Mereenie Loop 4WD track. After lunch, arrive at Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park, where you’ll stay for the next two nights.

Dinner this evening is at Carmichael’s, a relaxed restaurant at Kings Canyon Resort, surrounded by bushland and native wildlife – keep an eye out for the occasional wandering dingo.

Kings Canyon Resort

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rise early to explore the natural beauty of Kings Canyon. Choose between the spectacular 6km Rim Walk, with sweeping views of Watarrka National Park and a descent into the lush ‘Garden of Eden’, or a more leisurely 2.6km walk along the canyon floor. For a different perspective, a 15-minute scenic helicopter flight over Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park is also available (own expense).

Return to Kings Canyon Resort for lunch and time to relax. In the afternoon, enjoy optional activities or simply unwind at the resort. As evening falls, experience Bruce Munro’s immersive Light-Towers installation with sunset drinks and canapés, before dinner at the newly renovated Kings Canyon Bar & Grill.

Kings Canyon Resort

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin the day with the Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience, an Indigenous-owned and operated tour where your guide shares knowledge of bush tucker, bush medicines, and spiritual traditions. Continue through Kings Creek Station and enjoy lunch at Curtin Springs, a vast million-acre cattle station.

Arrive in the afternoon at the award-winning Sails in the Desert Hotel, your base within Ayers Rock Resort. This evening, be immersed in the unforgettable Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner – a breathtaking cultural storytelling experience told through choreographed drones, lasers, and projections in the desert sky. From a dune-top open-air theatre with sweeping views of Uluru, sip native-infused cocktails, savour a gourmet dinner hamper, and witness the ancient Mala story brought to life with narration in Pitjantjatjara language.

Sails in the Desert

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, set out to discover Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) with a guided walk into Walpa Gorge, a natural wonder shaped over millions of years. Continue to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre before joining a guided base tour of Uluru, learning about Anangu culture and the sacred significance of this mighty monolith.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure – relax at your hotel, explore the Town Square, or perhaps take an optional scenic flight (own expense). As the sun sets, journey to a private dune-top vantage point for drinks and canapés before experiencing Bruce Munro’s globally acclaimed Field of Light installation. Wander through 50,000 glowing stems across the desert floor in a display aptly named Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku – “looking at lots of beautiful lights”. Dinner is served back at the hotel later in the evening.

Sails in the Desert

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rise early to witness the sunrise over Uluru, as the dawn light transforms the desert landscape with brilliant colours. After breakfast, set out on the Mala Walk, where ancient rock art leads to the serene Kantju Gorge, framed by towering cliffs. Return to the hotel for lunch, with the afternoon free to relax or explore further – perhaps visit the Gallery of Central Australia or join one of the resort’s guest activities.

This evening, experience the unforgettable Sounds of Silence dinner under the stars. Begin with canapés and sparkling wine on a viewing platform overlooking Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, then savour a bush tucker-inspired buffet accompanied by the sound of the didgeridoo. As the night sky emerges, a resident star talker will guide you through the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. Return to Sails in the Desert for your final night in the Red Centre.

Sails in the Desert

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, travel by road from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to Alice Springs Rail Terminal, where your Red Centre Explorer tour concludes. Rejoin The Ghan Expedition and settle back into the comfort of your cabin as the train continues its journey south.

This evening, enjoy a truly memorable dining experience under the stars at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Savour a gourmet meal paired with fine wine or a refreshing beer, surrounded by the outback night sky glittering above.

Your chosen Ghan cabin

From your morning stop at Manguri, venture into the quirky opal mining town of Coober Pedy, where more than half the population lives underground. Spend the day exploring this fascinating outback community, with a gourmet underground lunch in one of the town’s unique locations.

Choose from a range of Off Train Experiences: discover the colourful landscapes of the Breakaways, tour the township, learn about mining history on the Opal Experience, or take an optional scenic flight over the Painted Hills and Lake Eyre (own expense).

Return to The Ghan Expedition for dinner on board, followed by a relaxing evening as the train rolls south.

Your chosen Ghan cabin

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wake to a changing landscape as the ochre tones of the outback give way to the rolling green fields of South Australia. Savour a leisurely brunch on board while passing through the majestic Flinders Ranges, before arriving in Adelaide – the end of your unforgettable journey aboard The Ghan Expedition.

Brunch

• A private single or twin cabin with comfortable seating that converts into a single, or upper and lower berth at night
• En-suite facilities in twin cabins, shared facilities for single cabins
• Large window
• All-inclusive dining in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant and access to the Outback Explorer Lounge
• Beverages, including Australian wines, beers and spirits
• 60 kg checked luggage allowance per guest

• A private newly designed contemporary twin cabin with comfortable seating that converts to a single, or upper and lower berth at night
• Exclusive access to the Gold Premium Lounge and Dining Carriages
• Two-course lunches and four-course dinners
• 75 kg checked luggage allowance per guest
• Priority luggage check-in
• Welcome drink served in cabin
• Enhanced drinks package and an enhanced turndown service, including a nightcap and a premium sleep pack

Upgrade to Gold Premium from £400

• A luxurious cabin that converts from a private lounge by day, to a comfortable bedroom by night, with a double bed or twin beds
• Expansive windows on either side of the train
• Full size ensuite shower room
• All-inclusive dining in the Platinum Club Car
• Beverages, including Australian wines, beers and spirits
• 90 kg checked luggage allowance per guest
• Hotel or airport transfers at the start and end of your rail journey, up to 60 km from the rail terminal

Upgrade to Platinum from £1640