The Ghan, Adelaide to Darwin

Adelaide is South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital. Its ring of parkland on the River Torrens is home to acclaimed museums such as the Art Gallery of South Australia, displaying expansive collections of Indigenous art, and the South Australian Museum, devoted to natural history. The world renowned Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale wine regions are within driving distance, along with stunning beaches, national parks and riverland, making Adelaide an ideal base to experience South Australia's beauty.

This legendary train evokes a frontier spirit, a romantic connection to the land, and travelling on it creates a moving and unforgettable life experience. The Ghan celebrates outback adventure, with its legend stemming from the 1930s when the first Afghan cameleers arrived in Australia. On that momentous journey, the train was dubbed ‘The Afghan Express’ and then shortened to the legend it is today, ‘The Ghan’.
Today you can become part of this celebrated history, following in the tracks of those pioneers as you journey through Australia’s red heart. Regarded as one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, The Ghan delivers so much more than an extended train ride. It promises access to parts of Australia no other holiday can come close to – the perfect balance of comfort and adventure culminating in an experience that will move you in every sense of the word.
Note: Throughout the course of your journey, there are a range off-train experiences at Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy. Preferences can be requested on booking, although not confirmed until onboard. It is best to indicate to your sales consultant as early as you can which experiences you would prefer to join. Alternatively, if you wish to upgrade your off-train experiences, these can be confirmed at the time of booking. Please ask your consultant which upgraded experiences are available to you.

Departing Adelaide this afternoon, begin your journey through rugged and breathtaking vistas of the South Australian desert. Enjoy lunch in the dining carriage, and as the cityscape gives way to rolling farmland, you'll witness some of the oldest rock formations in the world, the Flinders Ranges, come into view. Sit back and relax as the landscapes morph and the colours change as darkness falls. Indulge in a three course dinner of regionally inspired produce and, of course, fine local wines before retiring for the evening in your cabin.

Early this morning you will step off the train at Marla in outback South Australia to witness the beautiful sunrise with a hot drink in hand. Spend 45 minutes here soaking up the scenery before boarding the train to indulge in brunch. Cross the border into the Northern Territory and make your way through the MacDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja), stretching an impressive 161 kilometres to the west of Alice Springs. This ancient setting has been sculpted over time by the elements, a significant landscape that has been walked by its Traditional owners, the Arrernte people, for 20,000 years. Sit back and admire this spiritual centre of Australia as you approach your destination of Alice Springs to alight the train for your excursion. Your off-train experience may include either an off-road cycling tour, Standley Chasm cultural walk, tour of Alice Springs, visiting Desert Park, or a walk through Simpson's Gap.
You can also choose to upgrade your off-train experience today to either a Spirit of Mt Gillen Helicopter Flight, or the Pyndan Camel Tracks tour. Please let your consultant know if you would like to upgrade, so that we can pre-book this for you to avoid missing out on this high demand activity.

This optional upgrade will see you experience the sheer magnitude of this ancient, sunburned land. Transfer to the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs and enjoy a drink by the pool while you wait for your flight. On boarding the helicopter, your pilot will take you up and over Alice Springs to experience once in a lifetime views and detailed commentary of the region's early explorers, now ingrained in Australian history and culture.

An optional camel tour upgrade that will take you into White Gums Station in the Australian outback. Your ride begins at the Pyndan Camel Tracks yards, following a track along an avenue Iron Bark and Mulga trees, across a clay pan flat, to reach sweeping views of the MacDonnell Ranges. On your return, sit back and relax with canapes, a cold drink, and the sounds of the bush lulling you to a sense of serenity.

Crossing over the border into the Northern Territory overnight, your final day on board the Ghan dawns in the tropical north. The train will make a stop in Katherine, the town where the outback meets the tropics. Alight here after breakfast and embark on your day's excursion, either a cultural experience, outback experience, Nitmiluk Gorge cruise or Rock Art cruise. Whichever you take part in, you will be awed by the towering sandstone cliffs and serenity of this pristine carved waterway.
You can also choose to upgrade your off-train experience today to a Nitmiluk Gorge Helicopter Flight. Please let your consultant know if you would like to upgrade, so that we can pre-book this for you to avoid missing out on this high demand activity.
Re-board the train this afternoon and enjoy the relaxation as night falls, and you come to complete your epic journey in Darwin.

This optional upgrade will provide views of the magnificent Nitmiluk Gorge unlike any other. Arriving in Katherine, alight the train and be taken to your awaiting helicopter. The Dreamtime story of the Traditional owners of this land tells of the gorge system's creation by Bula, an important figure of the Jawoyn people, who is said to have carved these gorges with his two wives as they were hunted across the lands. Flying over all 13 gorges, see if you can follow Bula's path as you appreciate the enormity & complexity of this landscape.

Welcome to the Northern Territory's unhurried capital, Darwin. The city is a melting pot of cultures, with rich Aboriginal connections to country as well as strong Asian influences in its cuisine, thanks to its close proximity to Asia. Spend a balmy night at the buzzing night markets, see crocodiles up close, or slow things down with a cruise on the harbour.