An icon of Australian rail travel and one of the world’s great train journeys, ride the rails of history aboard The Ghan with this expedition between Darwin and Adelaide.
This flagship rail journey is the ultimate way to explore the Australian outback. Arrive to Darwin for your overnight stay before embarking on this three night, 2979km all-inclusive journey will take you to some of the most remote and captivating parts of Australia in style and comfort.
The Ghan Expedition takes in immersive off train excursions in Katherine, extended time in Alice Springs inclusive of an authentic Red Centre dinner under the stars, and a full day in Coober Pedy. The Ghan Expedition itinerary also offers the upgraded option to tour Uluṟu.
It’s the ultimate Australian outback experience, all in the company of other solo travellers.
See more…extensions in Darwin and Adelaide
Add extensions in Darwin and Adelaide. In Darwin, opt for a fully day tour with Litchfield National Park and the Jumping Croc Cruise. In Adelaide, stay over and join the full day Barossa Valley small group tour.
The Ghan Expedition was better than I imagined it would be. The crew on board were very friendly. The meals and wines were exceptional. The off train excursions really gave you an insight into how sparce the Australian outback is. Even though we were a mini group, we had a wonderful time getting to know each other.
Lyn, 65 years, Brisbane, QLD
The Ghan was a "bucket list" trip for me and it certainly lived up to my expectations. I had never previously been to the Northern Territory so I had lots of new experiences with good company, great food and terrific service
Darwin to Adelaide, The Ghan Expedition is the more indepth experience across 4 days, rather than just 3 days with the regular Ghan journey. It’s the immersive rail journey giving you more time to explore the outback with iconic stops including Katherine, Alice Springs, dinner under the stars, and a fully day in Coober Pedy.
3 nights aboard The Ghan Expedition, Gold Class Service
Single sleeper cabins onboard The Ghan, with shared bathrooms
A regionally-inspired menu paired with a selection of local wines
All-inclusive meals, fine wines, and beverages
SIGHTSEEING
Off train experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs
A day in Coober Pedy
A dinner under the stars at the historic Telegraph Station
Your choice between Nitmiluk Gorge’s powerful natural wonders and rich Indigenous culture, or a glimpse authentic outback life with a horse and working dog demonstration
Venture into the underground opal mining town of Coober Pedy
TRAVEL
Rail travel aboard The Ghan, Darwin to Adelaide
OPTIONAL PRE & POST TOURS #1 DARWIN: Full day guided tour; Litchfield National Park with Croc Cruise adventure #2 DARWIN: Darwin City Tour 5 hours #3 ADELAIDE: Barossa Valley Day Tour
Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for joining this tour and is in addition to the package price.
Not included:
Airfares (unless requested)
Airport transfers
Travel insurance
Excess baggage
Visa fees if applicable
Any tips or porterage at airports, hotels, drivers & local staff
Meals and beverages not specified on itinerary
Items of a personal nature such as laundry & medical expenses
Incidental expenses such as taxi fares, telecommunications
A night of stay in Darwin is included as part of the rail package for our group. However only arriving a day before would limit your options to explore Darwin and beyond and we recommend at least another night of stay in addition to the included night with the package.
There’s many things to do and explore in Darwin. There is the option to book the extra nights and join a day tour to Litchfield National Park and the Jumping Crocodile Cruise.
A unique and epic experience, explore the wonders of Australia’s vast interior with one of the world’s most renowned rail journeys – The Ghan Expedition from Darwin to Adelaide.
DAY 1
Arrive Darwin
Arrive to Darwin at your leisure. A night of stay is included today to be ready for the morning departure to join The Ghan. There are no formal group inclusions today but we provide an evening meeting up point at the group hotel; join at leisure for a drink, and/or dine together.
Meals: n/a
DAY 2
Darwin and Katherine
DEPARTS 10AM Darwin Berrimah Terminal
Gold Guests will be transferred to the Darwin Convention Centre for the Welcome Experience available. The Welcome Experience will be held at the Darwin Convention Centre. After completing your check-in arrangements at the Convention Centre, you will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with your crew and fellow guests. There will be a special Welcome to Country Experience as you enjoy a light breakfast offering and let anticipation build. When the ‘All Aboard’ call comes, you will board a coach and be transferred to the Darwin Rail Terminal to board the Ghan.
Once you’re settled into your private cabin, mingle with fellow travellers or sample the exceptional food, wine, and service onboard. When it’s time for lunch, savour the regionally-inspired menu accompanied by a selection of all-inclusive wines and beverages, before an early afternoon arrival at the Top End township of Katherine
Afternoon Excursion, Katherine Choose between a relaxing cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge’s ancient natural wonders and exploring the region’s rich Indigenous culture, or experience a glimpse into the lives of those who call the outback home, with a fascinating day of discovery on a huge cattle station. Enjoy dinner as the sun sets over the outback, then back in your cabin you’ll find your bed turned down. Fall asleep as the train rolls soothingly onwards.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3
Alice Springs
After your first night on The Ghan, you’ll be greeted by a morning view of the spectacular Red Centre. A full day of excursions awaits you in the outback town of Alice Springs.
An optional upgrade is a scenic flight to Uluru, this includes a guided tour in Uluru with lunch. You will return in time to meet the rest of your fellow guests at a spectacular barbeque dinner under a million stars at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station.
Note: If you choose to upgrade to the scenic flight, this will replace the excursions in Alice Springs.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4
Manguri and Coober Pedy
From your morning stop at the outback outpost of Manguri, you’ll venture into the weird and wonderful opal mining township of Coober Pedy, where more than half of the residents live underground. Here, you’ll enjoy a day of discovery, and a gourmet lunch in the most unique of locations: underground. Dinner is served back on the train where you can enjoy a nightcap as your journey continues.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5
Arrive to Adelaide
From your cabin window this morning you’ll see a dramatic change in landscape, as the rich ochre tones of the outback make way for the green fields of South Australia. Enjoy a leisurely brunch as you pass through the majestic Flinders Ranges and prepare for your mid-morning arrival into Adelaide, completing one of the world’s great travel experiences.
Arrive Adelaide 10:50AM
In the smart southern city, you can extend your experience with a holiday package to the Barossa Valley, fascinating Kangaroo Island, or an expertly-curated tour of this food and wine loving capital.
Meals: Brunch
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
Solos Mix
This rail journey is operated by Journey Beyond We’ve hand-picked this tour as generally it is a popular choice for solo travellers and we have an allocation of Gold Service Single cabins for our solo traveller. The pre and post excursions are operated by local companies from each city and are not private group charters and as such passengers not booked with Encounter Travel may be on this excursions.
Australia’s iconic rail journeys offer purpose-built carriages to do it in superb style.
The Gold Service Single is a comfortable (but compact) sleeper cabin option that offers all the luxurious inclusions of the Gold Service Twin such as fully inclusive dining with three gourmet meals per day, all-inclusive Australian wines, beers, base spirits and non-alcoholic beverages, and your choice of Off Train Experiences as you travel.
** note; gold class single cabins may not be comfortable for very tall or large passengers.
Gold class cabins are small; your stylish and ultra-modern cabin cleverly accommodates your belongings with a series of compartments and shelving options incorporated into the compact design. Your comfortable seat with full leg extension bench seat by day converts to a cosy bed by night. Your own complimentary, quality Australian-made toiletries are included. The soulful, reflective and contemplative nature of moving across the continent by train is ideally suited to travelling solo but you can be as quiet or as social as you wish.
Your Restaurant Manager arranges dining seating options to ensure you are always meeting fellow travellers over delicious meals, and the Outback Explorer Lounge is a focal point for all daily social interactions.
And, of course, your fabulous and included choice of Off Train Experiences mean you will be joining fellow guests as you experience the amazing places you visit together.
Inside your cabin, choose from six music and journey commentary channels to add background ambience to your travels, and you have numerous power supply outlets to keep your devices charged.
GOLD CLASS SINGLE CABINS WITH SHARE FACILITIES VIEW IMAGES There are 2 full bathrooms, with shower & toilet. Then also 2 other toilets. They are at each end of the carriage. There are 16 single cabins in the carriage.
GOLD SERVICE SINGLE INCLUDES:
All-inclusive dining in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant (can’t guarantee dining time is same time for entire group)
Off Train Excursions and Outback Experience
Access to the Outback Explorer Lounge for beverages and socialising
All-inclusive Australian wines, beers, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages
A compact sleeper cabin featuring a bed that converts to a seat by day, private vanity, with shared shower/toilet facilities located at the end of the carriage
In-cabin safe
In-cabin music channels and journey audio commentary
Complimentary Australian bathroom amenities
Complimentary shuttle bus transfers available between Darwin Terminal and the city centre (certain hotels)
60 kg checked luggage allowance per guest (2 x 30 kg each).
PRE AND POST TOUR HOTELS
Destination
Hotel Name
Darwin
Vibe Darwin Hotel Waterfront
Adelaide
Vibe Hotel Adelaide
Hotels may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. Should this occur, a hotel of a similar standard will be provided.
Single Sleeper, Gold Service, The Ghan
Single Sleeper, Gold Service, The Ghan (day time)
Restaurant at Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront
HOTEL DESCRIPTIONS
Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront, Darwin
On the waterfront and close to the Darwin CBD, Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront, the hotel has 121 well-appointed guest rooms. Perfectly positioned amongst the entertainment and dining hub of Darwin’s seafront promenade, Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront is surrounded by great shopping, a range of Territorian pubs, as well as some of the most amazing restaurants and cafés in the NT. Whether you're tasting craft beers at The Precinct Tavern, enjoying hand crafted menus at Il Lido or Wharf One, or trying NT favourites at the Oyster Bar or Hot Tamale, you'll feel right at home at this picturesque location.
Address: 7 Kitchener Drive, Darwin NT 0800
Vibe Hotel Adelaide
Set amongst the vibrant streets of Adelaide’s East End, the new Vibe Hotel Adelaide is just moments away from the best of the city’s urban dining and cultural scene. Located in the immediate vicinity are Hutt Street and Vardon Avenue – exciting dining precincts home to boutique restaurants, iconic pubs, and trendy cocktail bars that are loved by locals and visitors alike. The hotel is also just a short stroll away from the city’s landmarks including Rundle Mall, Adelaide Oval, the Central Market, Botanic Gardens and Rymill Park, an expansive space of green parklands, complete with a children’s playground, lake and rose garden.
Transforming the city skyline, Vibe Hotel Adelaide has been architecturally designed to bring a new level of accommodation to the East End. Floor to ceiling windows encompass the hotel’s façade, allowing you to gaze out towards the rolling Adelaide Hills, a scenic backdrop to the buzzing city life below.
The onsite Storehouse Flinders East restaurant and bar serves delicious meals that have been crafted with the freshest ingredients sourced from local producers, so you can indulge in Australian seasonal flavours without venturing far.
HOTEL CHECK IN /CHECK OUT TIMES Consider the hotel check in time on arrival and the hotel check out time on departure. Early check in or late check out can be requested but without payment cannot be guaranteed. TRAIN EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION - DARWIN TO ADELAIDE TRAVEL DIRECTION Train Embarkation: Darwin Coach transfers to Darwin Rail Terminal is provided from our group hotel. Departures between 8AM-8:30AM
Train Disembarkation: Adelaide After disembarkation onward transfers are by your own arrangement.
Departure Airfares Adelaide: We recommend to stay overnight in Adelaide in case of unexpected delays arriving to Adelaide. However, if you do opt to depart the same day the train arrives to Adelaide we recommend not to book flights earlier than 2PM on departure / disembarkation day. The train arrives to Adelaide Parklands Terminal at 10:50AM. Allow time to disembark, collect luggage and transfer to Adelaide airport. Travel distance/time train terminal to airport is 10 minutes by car | 5 km.
ABOUT AIRFARES On request we provide an airfare quote. If joining the tour from outside Australia it is usually most economical if you make your own flight arrangements or use the service of a travel agent located within your country of residence.
If joining from outside Australia, you must hold a valid passport with a minimum of six 6 months validity from your return date to your home country (some countries have lesser requirements). Ensure you have at least two blank pages in your passport. See 'VISA' information in our MORE INFORMATION section below.
Read on for other key trip information that you should know before you decide on joining the group.
TRIP AVAILABILITY If this trip seems right for you then we encourage you to book early and secure your place with a deposit. Tour space is limited. Also, many services on this tour must be booked well in advance. To ensure your place, please check trip availability at your earliest convenience
FELLOW TRAVELLERS You will enjoy this group experience with a maximum of 16 travellers in our group. This is a Solos Mix tour. We have a group onboard The Ghan but there are other travellers, not part of our group they will be couples or otherwise. The group is unescorted and suits an independent style traveller.
SOLOS MIX We’ve hand picked a line up of tours with that are popular choices for solo travellers. There’s a mix of travellers, single travellers and couples travelling together – this is our SOLOS MIX offer. From our ‘know-how’ these are trips popular with solo travellers.
We only select small group tours for our Solos Mix selection. There’s a good likelihood of more than a few solo travellers joining the tour.
THE PACE [2 out of 5]
We require you to complete our Booking Form including a self-completed Fit to Travel declaration. Travellers of 75 years or over or with a pre existing medical condition or disability, may be required to return a Fit to Travel form that is completed by their doctor.
See MORE ABOUT FITNESS in More Information section below
ABOUT THE MEALS There’s nothing better than to share a meal with new friends and discuss the day’s adventures. We request all group members dine together, at the same time onboard however this is not always possible and is an unguaranteed request; group members may be split across different dining times. However there are still opportunities to mingle and enjoy drinks together in the lounge on board before and after dining.
Sensational destinations are just the beginning – this is also a culinary journey starring regionally-inspired food, fine wines, and local specialities, on board the unique dining carriages.
You’ll find yourself indulging in sumptuous cuisine, fine wines, and camaraderie in the dining carriages. The Ghan’s expert culinary team works closely with local suppliers, farmers and providores to source the best ingredients, creating an innovative, regionally-inspired menu accompanied by all-inclusive fine wines and beverages.
Are you a flexitarian? If you have dietary requirements, please advise if it is due to allergies or for medical reasons or if it is a personal preference and if you are flexible. Dietary requirements will limit choices. If a dietary requirement is not essential due to medical reasons and you are a flexitarian, then we recommend that you exclude your personal preferences if not necessary to provide more options with the meal choices.
LUGGAGE INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS
ABOUT CHECKED LUGGAGE/CARRY ON LUGGAGE Due to space constraints, guests are advised to take onboard only hand luggage containing the requirements for their rail journey. Checked in luggage cannot be accessed during the journey.
Guests should bring an overnight bag to their cabin containing everything needed for the journey.
Certain items are prohibited from being carried in your luggage at all. Valuables including your passport, medicine, fragile or perishable items must be carried onboard as cabin baggage. An additional fee may apply to excess luggage. Refer to the rail company’s Terms and Conditions for full conditions. Occupational Health and Safety legislation provides guidelines outlining the safe weight that staff can lift.
CARRY ON / CABIN LUGGAGE
GOLD SERVICE SINGLE CABIN One piece of hand luggage plus a garment bag, cabin bag or briefcase per person.
The operator, Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions reserves the right to refuse any luggage item for travel. For full detailsvisit their website, click here.
For airline luggage restrictions refer to your ticket details. Please note that the maximum luggage weight for touring may be less than the airline maximum limit.
The Ghan Expedition was better than I imagined it would be. The crew on board were very friendly. The meals and wines were exceptional. The off train excursions really gave you an insight into how sparce the Australian outback is. Even though we were a mini group, we had a wonderful time getting to know each other.
Lyn, 65 years, Brisbane, QLD
The Ghan was a "bucket list" trip for me and it certainly lived up to my expectations. I had never previously been to the Northern Territory so I had lots of new experiences with good company, great food and terrific service
Neil, 66 years, Perth, WA
'The Ghan plus pre and post tours were definitely worth the wait post COVID! The Ghan experience was excellent, food, wine and staff! A lovely experience shared with a fun group of people.'
