Simpson Desert Expedition
South Australia
14 July 2025 08:00 - 22 July 2025 10:00AUD $8,500.00
9 in stock
An Exclusive Opportunity to Explore the Heart of Australia
Discover the raw beauty of one of the most remote and awe-inspiring landscapes on Earth. This exclusive 8-day expedition is tailored for professionals and adventurers seeking a life-changing experience in the Simpson Desert, blending world-class desert medicine training with ecological research and the tranquillity of the Australian Outback.
Immerse yourself in this once-in-a-lifetime journey, guided by leading experts in desert navigation, survival, medical care, and ecological surveying.
CPD: Pending
Sign-up now with a $1,000 deposit.
A Journey Like No Other
You’ll arrive in Birdsville, South Australia, and make your way to the meeting point, where our experienced Simpson Desert Expedition team will welcome you.
The southern Simpson Desert in Mudhla Mudhla country, meaning ‘where the dunes meet the floodplain,’ will serve as your base for the week. This immersive trek, accompanied by camels and led by skilled cameleers, will take you deep into this ancient and remote landscape.
With a mid-week stop to rest and reset, you’ll develop essential survival and medical skills to keep yourself and your team safe. Alongside learning to manage heat-related illnesses and treating trauma, you’ll gain insights into endemic diseases, envenomation, and hydration strategies, while mastering navigation, communication, and stretcher techniques.
A unique feature of this expedition is the ecological survey. You’ll assist our expert ecologists in searching for evidence of the lesser and greater bilby and plains mouse, conduct bird surveys, and collect predator scats (dog, cat, fox, and raptor) to study their diet. You’ll also have the opportunity to document Aboriginal artefacts along this historically significant route.
This unforgettable expedition is led by a team with decades of experience in desert environments. They’ll share their expertise and inspire you to lead and provide medical cover for future desert expeditions of your own.
The Itinerary
The itinerary is designed to provide a balance of challenge, discovery, and reflection:
- Day 1-2: Arrival in Birdsville, overnight stays, and a briefing session to prepare for the journey. Transfer to the camel camp via 4WD.
- Days 3-7: Multi-day trekking through breathtaking desert landscapes. Learn survival and medical skills, assist in ecological research, and connect with the land.
- Day 8: Return to Birdsville, celebratory dinner, and overnight stay.
Key Facts
This course is ideal for:
- Healthcare professionals, Earth science experts, or enthusiasts eager to apply their skills in remote environments.
- Those with relevant healthcare or medical qualifications.
- Participants with multi-day trekking experience and familiarity with First Response Emergency Care (FREC) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training.
- Adventurers with a keen interest in desert medicine and exploration.
Fitness Level Requirements:
- Moderate fitness required.
- Ability to trek for multiple days in hot environments.
- Comfortable with a slow pace set by the camels.
CPD Award: TBC
What’s Included:
- 4WD Transfers: To/from Birdsville and the Simpson Desert.
- Camping Equipment: Swags, stools, tents (please bring your own sleeping bag and eating utensils).
- Meals: All meals provided snacks not included.
- Medical Support: RFDS Medical Chest and emergency communications equipment.
- Support Team: A crew of 4 to 5 experienced cameleers.
- Immersive Environment: Desert silence and boundless space.
- Responsible Trekking: Partnered with an environmentally responsible business.
- Detailed Guide: A comprehensive Expedition Information Guide sent upon booking.
What’s Not Included:
- Pre and post-trek airfares and accommodation.
- Travel arrangements to/from Birdsville.
- Personal insurance.
Please note: Accommodation in Birdsville for the nights of 14th July and 21st July is required but not included.
Nearby accommodation options:
Core Modules
This expedition goes beyond just trekking, it provides a comprehensive learning experience designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in extreme desert environments. Led by experts in desert medicine, ecology, and survival, the core modules ensure you leave with practical insights and the confidence to tackle challenges in some of the world’s harshest conditions.
- Introduction to Desert Medicine
- Essential Desert Kit
- Medical Kits for the Desert
- Food, Water, and Sanitation in the Desert
- Navigation
- Heat-Related Illness
- Communications
- Leadership
- Fracture Management
- Pain Management
- Water Treatment and Hydration
- Managing Life-Threatening Emergencies
- Endemic Desert Diseases
- Envenomation
- Wound Management
Full comprehensive list of course content will be provided within joining instructions upon booking.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is absolutely essential and therefore, for your safety and security, we reserve the right to refuse access to an expedition until we have details of adequate insurance cover provided to us. For UK residents, a suitable policy can be booked through Campbell Irvine.
Kit List
Weather & Layering Guide
The Simpson Desert experiences extreme temperature variations, so layering is key:
- Days: Expect clear, sunny skies with average temperatures in the mid-20s°C.
- Nights: Prepare for clear, cold nights, often dropping to zero or below.
- Hot Spells: Early and late in the season, temperatures can occasionally climb to 40°C during the day.
Layering for Comfort
- Morning: Start the day with a light jumper or jacket to fend off the early chill.
- Midday: As the day warms up, shorts and a lightweight shirt or T-shirt will be comfortable.
- Evening: Once the sun sets, warm trousers, a thick jumper or jacket, and a beanie will keep the chill at bay.
Essential Gear & Clothing
- Boots: Sturdy trekking boots with robust construction, suitable for rocky terrain and abrasive desert plants. Ensure there’s room for foot swelling.
- Camp footwear: Trainers, Crocs, Teva sandals, or similar.
- Backup footwear: A second pair in case of boot failure.
- Spare laces
- Lower leg protection: Gaiters, sock savers, or leggings to protect against sand and spinifex.
- Good quality trekking socks: Pack plenty for dry and dusty conditions.
- Liner socks: Recommended for additional comfort.
Sleeping System
- Sleeping bag: Comfort rating of -5°C.
- Sleeping bag liner (optional): Lightweight for extra warmth.
- Sheet & pillowcase: To protect the provided bedroll.
- Provided Bedroll: A heavy-duty canvas swag, including a groundsheet, mattress, and pillow.
Clothing
- Shirts/T-Shirts: Loose-fitting cotton is suggested; technical fabrics can be used if preferred. Long sleeves for UV protection advised.
- Shorts: Loose-fitting with pockets.
- Trousers: Loose-fitting with pockets.
- Fleece or wool top: Essential for cold mornings and evenings.
- Waterproof jacket: A lightweight but effective waterproof is advised; at the very least, a good windproof jacket.
- Waterproof trousers (optional)
Rain & Weather Considerations
- Rainfall is an integral part of the Simpson Desert’s boom-and-bust ecosystem.
- While most rain falls between late spring and late autumn, winter rains are not uncommon.
- Some years are dry, while others, like 2024, see rain as frequently as every two weeks.
- On very wet days, we typically remain in camp to ensure the safety of camels, whose soft pads struggle on wet terrain.
Additional Essentials
- Fly veil
- Day Pack: Up to 30L.
- Dry bags: A large rucksack liner or multiple smaller bags to protect gear from sand and dust.
- Water Bottle: Minimum 1L capacity.
- Head Torch: Bring backup batteries.
- Spare torch (optional)
- Sunglasses: Consider a neck strap or cord to prevent loss.
- Spare sunglasses or glasses case
- Beanie: Essential for cold nights.
- Hat: Wide-brimmed for sun protection.
- Large cotton scarf (optional)
- Pocket knife
- Eating utensils: Knife, fork, spoon, plate, bowl, and cup.
Personal Effects & Toiletries
- Personal toiletries and medication: Bring double quantities of prescription medication.
- Sunscreen: Minimum SPF 30.
- Lip salve: High SPF recommended.
- Small towel
- Moist towelettes/baby wipes: Highly recommended.
- Non-aerosol insect repellent
- Garden gloves: Useful for brushing down camels.
Note: Toilet paper, hand sanitiser, matches, and a small trowel are provided on the trek.
Worth Considering
- Notebook/diary
- Glucose-based sweets/nuts/chocolates: Recommended for energy boosts, as snacks are not provided.
- Binoculars
- Camera: Bring memory cards, spare batteries, and lens cleaners. If using a digital camera, consider bringing a charger, as solar recharging may be available (weather-dependent).
As a minimum, we recommend you bring:
- Sleeping bag: Suitable for sub-zero temperatures.
- Eating utensils: Knife, fork, spoon, plate, bowl, and cup.
- Day sack: 45-60L.
- Lightweight trekking boots/shoes: Well-broken-in.
- Trekking socks and underwear: Enough for the expedition.
- Camp footwear: Crocs, sandals, or flip-flops.
- Clothing:
- Lightweight long-sleeved t-shirts/shirts.
- Wicking t-shirts for trekking.
- Lightweight trekking trousers.
- Fleece for the cooler evenings.
- Wide-brimmed sun hat and sunglasses.
- Hydration System: Minimum 3L capacity water bottles or hydration bladders.
- Personal First Aid Kit: Customised to include blister care, pain relief, and essential medications.
- Extras: High-energy snacks, a compact camera, and a journal to document your journey.
A more detailed kit list will be provided upon booking.
Why Choose Us?
With over a decade of experience leading expeditions in remote and rural landscapes, our team offers an unparalleled combination of expertise, safety, and immersive learning.
This isn’t just an adventure; it’s a chance to build lifelong skills, forge connections with like-minded professionals, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Talk To Our Team
If you wish to learn more or have any additional questions, we invite you to book a 30-minute discovery call with our team.
→ Click here to book a discovery call.
The call will be with the team who organise our courses, and work closely with our medical teaching faculty. They are best placed to really explain what our attendees get out of attending a course with us.
Register for a time that suits, and we look forward to speaking with you soon.
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