America's Great Desert National Parks End Phoenix

  • Overview
  • Itinerary
  • What's Included
  • FAQ
  • Dates

Embark on an unforgettable journey through America's iconic desert landscapes with the "America's Great Desert National Parks End Phoenix" tour. Starting in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, this adventure takes you through the breathtaking Red Rock Canyon and the vast expanses of Death Valley. Discover the unique charm of Palm Springs, explore the intriguing Joshua Tree National Park, and delve into the rich history of the Yuma Territorial Prison. Experience the diverse ecosystems of the Sonoran Desert and the towering saguaros of Saguaro National Park. Along the way, enjoy guided tours, luxurious accommodations, and delicious meals, all while learning about sustainable energy and local culture. Conclude your desert odyssey in Phoenix, enriched by the natural beauty and cultural experiences of the American Southwest.

Highlights
  • Visit Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Death Valley National Park.
  • Explore the desert Ghost Town of Calico and the unique mid-century architecture in Palm Springs.
  • Discover the vast wilderness of Joshua Tree National Park.
  • Experience the geological wonders of the Salton Sea and Yuma Territorial Prison.
  • Journey through the biologically diverse Sonoran Desert National Monument.
  • Unlock the history and flavors of Tucson at Borderlands Brewing Company.
  • Learn about renewable energy at the Palm Springs Windmill Tours.
  • Marvel at the giant saguaros in Saguaro National Park.
Dining Summary
  • 3 Dinner (D)
  • 9 Breakfast (B)
  • 1 Lunch (L)
Mode of Transport
Travel in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi or alternative transportation such as rail journeys, with all transport and transfers as shown in the itinerary included.
Accommodation
Stay in cherry-picked hotels that are tried and trusted for quality and comfort, including the Horseshoe Las Vegas, The Ranch at Death Valley, Palm Mountain Resort and Spa, Fairfield Inn & Suites Yuma, and The Leo Kent Hotel.
Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
Flights
Flights to and from the starting and ending locations are not included.
Optional Activities
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.
Iconic Experience
  • Red Rock Canyon: Admire the towering red cliffs and sandstone peaks of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
  • Death Valley: You’ll truly feel the solitude and vastness of Death Valley today as you head out on a guided tour of the park’s most famous sites. You’ll discover the unique geological features of Death Valley, a land of sand dunes and volcanic craters, intriguing weather-patterns, and the highest-recorded temperatures in the United States.
  • Los Angeles: Calico is an old West mining town that has been around since 1881 and was abandoned in the mid-1890s after silver lost its value. The town that once gave miners a good living lost its hustle and became a “ghost town.” Walter Knott purchased Calico in the 1950’s architecturally restoring all but the five original buildings to look as they did in the 1880’s. Calico received State Historical Landmark 782 and in 2005 was proclaimed by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be California’s Silver Rush Ghost Town.
  • Palm Springs: Enjoy a celebrity and lifestyle tour of Palm Springs shedding light on the city's unique mid-century architecture, featuring an amazing collection of custom homes.
  • Joshua Tree National Park: Visit Joshua Tree National Park, which shares the name of the iconic desert plant. The twisted branches and jagged leaves of the Joshua Tree is like something out of a fairy tale. Learn how two distinct ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado deserts come together in Joshua Tree. Many animals, such as the desert tortoise, the jackrabbit and the desert bighorn sheep, call this vast wilderness home. With a keen eye, perhaps spot some yourself.
  • Salton Sea: Surrounded by sand, the Salton Sea glistens like a jewel in California’s crown. Less than an hour’s drive from Greater Palm Springs, this huge body of water was born accidentally in 1905. It was even once meant to be the Riviera of the Americas, but Mother Nature had other plans. Start your visit to the area at the Visitor Center in Mecca. You'll find a fascinating interpretive center with plenty of history (including old posters and advertisements from the Salton Sea’s past as a vacation destination).
  • Yuma: Visit The Yuma Territorial Prison, a living museum of the Old West with structures over a century old, you will be transported to the past. Now one of the territory’s most recognizable historic landmarks.
  • Saguaro National Park: Saguaro National Park consists of two separate areas—the Tucson Mountain District about 10 miles (16 km) west of Tucson, and the Rincon Mountain District, about 10 miles (16 km) east of the city. Today we visit the Rincon Mountain District to better understand how both districts preserve Sonoran Desert landscapes, fauna, and flora, including the giant saguaro cactus.
Destinations
  • North America
  • USA
Tour Types
  • Eco Conscious
  • Wildlife Tours
  • Walking
  • Beer Tasting
  • History
  • Gardens & Nature Tours

Location: Las Vegas

America’s captivating desert landscapes take center stage on this epic journey which begins in the playground of Las Vegas. Relax after your journey or tame Lady Luck. This evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant just off the Strip before settling in for your desert adventure tomorrow.<br/>

Accommodation Name: Horseshoe Las Vegas

Meals: Dinner

Location: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, La Madre Mountain, Death Valley National Park

Admire the towering red cliffs and sandstone peaks of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area this morning. Keep a keen eye out for its highest peak, La Madre Mountain, before continuing to Death Valley, one of the largest national parks in the USA. Aptly named for its unforgiving landscapes, Death Valley is a stunningly beautiful land of extremes. Settle into a free evening enjoying your hotels amenities including the on-site restaurant.<br/>

Accommodation: The Ranch at Death Valley

Accommodation Name: The Ranch at Death Valley

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Death Valley, Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin Salt Flats

Immerse yourself in the solitude and desolation of Death Valley on a guided tour of the park’s most famous sites including Zabriskie Point, and Badwater Basin Salt Flats -  the lowest point below sea level in the western hemisphere. Free time this afternoon to enjoy our desert oasis and relax at one of the most remarkable spring-fed swimming pools in the world.<br/>

Accommodation: The Ranch at Death Valley

Accommodation Name: The Ranch at Death Valley

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Mojave National Preserve, Calico Ghost Town, Palm Springs

Travel along the Mojave National Preserve, visit the desert Ghost Town of Calico. Our destination tonight is gorgeous Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley. Tonight, you'll dine at a restaurant that has been serving local residents for over 20 years.<br/>

Accommodation: Palm Mountain Resort and Spa

Accommodation Name: Palm Mountain Resort and Spa

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Location: Palm Springs, Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Start your morning with a celebrity and lifestyle tour of Palm Springs shedding light on the city's unique mid-century architecture, featuring an amazing collection of custom homes. This afternoon, we learn about industrial wind energy farming on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with Palm Springs Windmill Tours. Get the inside scoop on wind energy production and leave with a better understanding of how this renewable energy will help us in our fight against climate change. Later, perhaps join an optional ride on the Palm Springs’ Aerial Tramway and walk along the top of the mountain, with spectacular views of the valley. Don't miss Village Fest in downtown Palm Springs this evening, a festive pedestrian street fair located just across the street from the hotel.<br/>

Accommodation: Palm Mountain Resort and Spa

Accommodation Name: Palm Mountain Resort and Spa

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Joshua Tree National Park

See the peculiar outstretched boughs of the Joshua Tree when you explore the national park that bears the name of this unusual-looking desert plant. Learn how the Mojave and Colorado desert ecosystems come together here and keep an eye out for the incredible variety of plants and animals that find sanctuary in its vast protected wilderness. You’ll have some free time at the resort this afternoon to soothe body and mind at the Spa before an evening at leisure.<br/>

Accommodation: Palm Mountain Resort and Spa

Accommodation Name: Palm Mountain Resort and Spa

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Salton Sea, Yuma, Yuma Territorial Prison

This morning, travel around the Salton Sea, one of the world's largest inland seas and lowest spots on Earth at over 230 feet below sea level. Stop at the Visitor Center to learn about the area’s geological and historic features. Journey to Yuma Territorial Prison. Rich in controversial history, the prison is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At this living museum of the Old West, discover the history of the prison and learn about the 3,069 prisoners it held over the years. See the cells, main gate and guard tower as you unlock the history of Yuma over a century ago.<br/>

Accommodation: Fairfield Inn & Suites Yuma

Accommodation Name: Fairfield Inn & Suites Yuma

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Sonoran Desert National Monument, Tucson

Spot the saguaros as you travel through the Sonoran Desert National Monument. Touted as the most biologically diverse of all North America’s deserts, the Sonoran Desert is also home to an array of archaeological and historical sites including three mountain ranges and the saguaro cactus, a symbol of the Old West. You’ll feel like you’ve wandered into an old Western as you traverse this epic landscape. Your next stop is Tucson, a culturally diverse town surrounded by mountains which is also a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Taste it for yourself over lunch and a Be My Guest experience at Borderlands Brewing Company. Check into your centrally located downtown hotel and explore the local restaurant scene on your terms.<br/>

Accommodation Name: The Leo Kent Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Location: Saguaro National Park, Tucson

This morning, we travel to Saguaro National Park, named after the giant saguaro, the largest species of cacti in the country, and a symbol of the American southwest. You’ll learn about the national park’s mission to protect these majestic plants, which are only found in a few places in America. Enjoy lunch on your own in Tucson's bustling downtown food scene before settling in tonight for a savory Farewell Dinner to end your tour.<br/>

Accommodation Name: The Leo Kent Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Location: Phoenix

Our journey through desert landscapes is at its end as you take a transfer to Phoenix Airport.<br/>

Meals: Breakfast

Included
  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • All transport and transfers shown
  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • Optional Experiences and free time
  • On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized

Not Included
  • Personal Expenses
    -Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
  • Travel Insurance
    -Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
  • Flights
    -Flights to and from the starting and ending locations are not included.
  • Optional Activities
    -Optional activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.
At Death Valley Ranch, you can cool off in the naturally fed swimming pool, enjoy the sports courts, or rent a Jeep to explore the park in a rugged 4x4.
During the visit to Borderlands Brewing Company in Tucson, you will learn about the beer-making process from the host, Es Teran, and enjoy a flight of four of their best brews. The brewery is known for its Southwestern-inspired beers that celebrate the flavors and culture of the Sonoran Desert.
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
In Yuma, the tour includes a visit to the Yuma Territorial Prison, a living museum of the Old West that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You will learn about the history of the prison and the 3,069 prisoners it held over the years.
The visit to the Salton Sea includes a stop at the Visitor Center to learn about the area's geological and historic features. The Salton Sea is one of the world's largest inland seas and is over 230 feet below sea level.
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
In Palm Springs, the tour offers a unique experience with the Palm Springs Windmill Tours where you will learn about wind energy, how wind turbines work, and the history of the wind farm. This experience addresses United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to affordable and clean energy and climate action.
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.

You will have the option to book your own flights independently with the operator.

Dates Price Availability
05-Oct-2025
for 0 Nights
Single £3897.00
05-Oct-2025
for 0 Nights
Triple £2987.00
05-Oct-2025
for 0 Nights
Twin £3175.00
05-Oct-2025
for 0 Nights
Twin Share £3175.00
07-Dec-2025
for 0 Nights
Single £3805.00
07-Dec-2025
for 0 Nights
Triple £2951.00
07-Dec-2025
for 0 Nights
Twin £3125.00
07-Dec-2025
for 0 Nights
Twin Share £3125.00

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This tour is operated by Trafalgar

10 days from £2951 pp exc.flights; Enquire
Start:Las Vegas, USA
Finish:Phoenix, USA
Physical rating:Medium
Tour operated in: English
Tour Reference: DGDNPZN20
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