It’s time for the epic
Simpson Desert
French Line
The Simpson Desert – French Line
- It’s an all-wheel drive dream route for everyone who loves the real Australian outback.
- Tag-Along Tour with qualified tour guide
- Starts in Alice Springs
- It ends in Birdsville after 7 days or
- Adelaide after 11 days
- The actual off-road vehicle route with many exciting challenges is about 500 km long.
All this can be safely enjoyed as a TAG-ALONG TOUR or as a PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR guided by a very experienced tour guide.
Travel description
The FrenchLine in the Simpson Desert is a semi-desert crossing through breathtaking landscapes, unexpectedly colourful flora and varied fauna. Their specialty is the wide variety of dune formations that shape the landscape.
It runs partly through South Australia and Queensland and extends from Dalhousie Springs in the west to Birdsville in the east. Its highlight is the conquest of the Big Red, Australia’s highest navigable dune (50m high).
The best time to travel is between May and September.
Travel style
Take Along Tour is a group tour for two people in individual off-road vehicles. You travel, drive and sleep in an off-road camper for no more than two people, equipped with everything you need.
Alternatively, an off-road vehicle with a roof tent can be organized. Participation in your private car is also possible.
You can book a ride if you don’t want to drive yourself.
Entrance to Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve – Northern Territory
One of the 500 sand dunes in the Simpson Desert French Line
Crossroads on the Simpson Desert French Line
Tackling a dune in the Simpson Desert French Line
Along one of the salt lakes at dusk on the Simpson Desert French Line
Simpson Desert – French Line | On top of the big Red
Camels on the Dunes on the Simpson Desert French Line
Camel – Silhouette on top of the dunes on the Gunbarrel Highway
On Top – Simpson Desert French Line
FlindersRanges are one of those places you can easily lose track of time
Surrounded by dunes in the Simpson Desert French Line
Around 340 million years Chambers Pillar – Northern Territory
Chambers Pillar is a ‘must-do’ place – Northern Territory
The Birdsville Track is a notable outback road
Big Red – the dream for every outback fan in the Simpson Desert French Line
Tackling dunes in the Simpson Desert French Line
Itnerary Alice Springs – Birdsville | 7 Days
(Subject to change)
Participants to arrive in time before departure to sleep off any jet lag and to adapt to the local climate is recommended.
Day 1 On the first day of your adventure tour, we prepare. In the morning, we pick up the rental vehicles. Afterwards, you will shop for 14 days, load your off-road vehicle, and test drive it.
Days 2 to 6 We leave Alice Springs on a bitumen road for a beautiful desert crossing, the Simpson Desert with the French Line and more than 500 sand dunes to come. But first, we drive to Chambers Pillar, an extraordinary freak of nature. At times, along the old Gan railway line, we continue to Finke, an aboriginal village with the former railway connection from Alice Springs to Adelaide. Today, it is the famous desert racetrack from Finke to Alice Springs, where an actual race for cross-country vehicles of all kinds occurs once a year. From here, it’s on to Dalhousie Springs. If you jump into the water, you will discover whether it is refreshing. The temperature is about 36°C. The shower at the campsite is very cool. From Dalhousie Springs, we head towards Birdsville via Poeppel Corner, where three states meet: the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. When we see the highest drivable sand dune, the Big Red, we head straight out of the Simpson Desert and into the much-vaunted Birdsville. You can take a scenic flight over the northern part of Lake Eyre and the uniquely beautiful Channel Country if you want.
Day 7 On to new adventures
Exclusive Private Tour
Max.2 Persons in 1 Car- Request prices: no tour is like another; therefore, we carefully and individually calculate each enquiry.
Mini Group Tour
Max. 4 Persons- A$4,601…
- …per car with 1 or 2 people in two 4WD vehicles twin share
- excluding 4 WD hire, Allstar Camper and Bonito – Camper can be organised
Small Group Tour
5 or more Persons- …with 1 or 2 people in one 4WD vehicle twin share
- excluding 4 WD hire, Allstar Camper and Bonito=Camper can be organised
Itineray Alice Springs – Adelaide
(subject to change)
That participants arrive in time before departure to sleep off any jet lag and to adapt to the local climate is recommended.
Day 1
We do the necessary preparations on the first day of your adventure tour. In the morning, we pick up the rental vehicles. Afterwards, you will shop for the next 14 days, load your offroad vehicle, and test drive it.
Days 2 to 5
We leave Alice Springs on a tarmac road for a beautiful desert crossing, the Simpson Desert with the French Line and more than 500 sand dunes to come. But first, we drive to Chambers Pillar, an extraordinary freak of nature. At times, along the old Gan railway line, we continue to Finke, an aboriginal village with the former railway connection from Alice Springs to Adelaide. Today, it is the famous desert racetrack from Finke to Alice Springs, where an actual race for cross-country vehicles of all kinds occurs once a year. From here, it’s on to Dalhousie Springs. If you jump into the water, you will discover whether it is refreshing. The temperature is about 36°C. The shower at the campsite is vitally cool. From Dalhousie Springs, we head towards Birdsville via Poeppel Corner, where three states meet: the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia. When we see the highest drivable sand dune, the Big Red, we head straight out of the Simpson Desert and into the much-vaunted Birdsville. You can take a scenic flight over the northern part of Lake Eyre and the uniquely beautiful Channel Country if you want.
Days 6 to 10
The next challenge is the Birdsville Track towards Marree, crossing Cooper Creek. If we meet a flooded creek, a 60 km diversion and crossing on an improvised ferry is necessary.
In Marree, there is an opportunity for another scenic flight over the southern part of Lake Eyre. Our route continues through dark red gorges, past historically interesting settlements, and river red gum-covered riverbeds from the Flinders Ranges to Wilpena Pound. We should arrive in Adelaide in the late afternoon on the last day.
Day 11
On the final day, return the vehicle and prepare for an onward journey.
Exclusive Private Tour
Max. 2 Persons in 1 CarRequest prices, no tour is like another; therefore, we calculate each enquiry very carefully and individually.
Mini Group Tour
Max. 4 Persons- A$7,175…
- …per car with 1 or 2 people in two 4WD vehicles twin share
- excluding 4 WD hires, Allstar Camper and Bonito – Camper can be organised.
Small Group Tour
5 or more Persons- …with 1 or 2 people in one 4WD vehicle twin share
- excluding 4 WD hires, Allstar Camper and Bonito=Camper can be organised
Services Included
- Guided self-drive tour in the Australian style of a tag-along tour
- Permits
- There are qualified tour guides from Adelaide or Birdsville to Alice Springs, or vice versa.
- All campsite costs.
- Carries everything for a refreshing bush shower
- Information material on the Simpson Desert
- Qualified breakdown assistance
- Free of charge 2. Spare tyres for loaning when needed
- Communication with the Royal Flying Doctor Service via satellite telephone
- CB radio equipment for every vehicle
Services NOT included
- Rental of the 4WD Vehicle
- Drinks and meals.
- Personal optional activities
- Personal expenses and medication
- Tips
- Fuel
Special Instructions
- A release and disclaimer must be signed before starting the tour.
- For all participants, it is recommended to take out suitable travel insurance that also covers cancellation and termination of the trip.
- For German participants, the conclusion of an ARAG protection letter is also recommended, which is unfortunately not offered in other countries.
Travel Price excludes Vehicle Rental
On request, we can arrange a 4WD camper for you
- 4WD camper with complete equipment, free km, liability insurance for the off-road vehicle with a deductible of A$ 7000.00. We recommend Comprehensive coverage.
- Insurance coverage is available on Tag-Along Tours with Otto Tours Australia on all routes.
- We can organise the following vehicle types. (subject to availability)
- All Star Camper, Bonito Camper (other vehicles on request)
Surcharges (strongly recommended)
Fully comprehensive insurance with a deductible of A$ 1,000, valid on all Tagalong Tours per day, per vehicle, including prepaid gas bottle refilling, 1 x table, and two camping chairs. (Just with a current rental request, we can determine the costs)
Payment and cancellation conditions
- 20% of the travel price is due when booking
- 80% of the travel price is due 60 days before the start of the trip.
In the event of a cancellation, the following cancellation conditions apply:
- 20% of the travel price is due up to 60 days before the start of the trip
- 40% of the travel price is due up to 40 days before the start of the trip
- 60% of the travel price is due up to 30 days before the start of the trip
- 80% of the travel price is due up to 14 days before the start of the trip
- After that, 100% of the travel price is due
Travel Dates for the Simpson Desert – French Line Tours
(The Private Tour Guiding travel dates can be arranged to suit your timeframe)
Simpson Desert – French Line | Adelaide to Alice Springs | 11 Days
Simpson Desert – French Line | Alice Springs to Birdsville | 7 Days
Simpson Desert – French Line | Adelaide to Alice Springs | 11 Days
Simpson Desert – French Line | Alice Springs to Birdsville | 7 Days
Simpson Desert – French Line | Adelaide to Alice Springs | 11 Days
Simpson Desert – French Line | Alice Springs to Birdsville | 7 Days