America's Great Desert National Parks End Tucson

Visit United States

Day 1

See the Neon Lights of Las Vegas

America’s captivating desert landscapes take centre 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.

Day 2

Trek Through Vibrant Red Rock Canyon

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.

Day 3

Venture into Vast Death Valley

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.

Day 4

Voyage to 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.

Day 5

Feel the Vibes of Palm Springs

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.

Day 6

Adventure Awaits in 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.

Day 7

Around the Salton Sea to Yuma Connect with Locals

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 Centre 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.

Day 8

Revel in the Diversity of the Sonoran Desert Dive Into Culture

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.

Day 9

Saguaro National Park Make Travel Matter

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 savoury Farewell Dinner to end your tour.

Day 10

Depart the Desert in Tucson

Our journey through desert landscapes is at its end as you make your own way to Tucson International Airport.

Dining Summary

3 Dinner (D)

9 Breakfast (B)

1 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

Tucson: Unlock the best of the flavours of Tucson on a visit and tour of Borderlands Brewing Company, a local secret that boasts an all-women production facility. Learn about the beer making process from Head Brewer Ayla Kapahi, who is passionate about empowering women and minorities in the craft beer industry and co-founded Pink Boots of Southern Arizona, a non-profit that supports women in alcohol fermentation sciences. After your tour, sip on a flight of four of their best brews guided by Ayla and her team. Afterward, sit down to a southwest inspired lunch of a loaded tachos appetizer, salad and a tacos platter including carne asada, shrimp and veggie tacos with a side of beans - with vegetarian options available. 

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 Centre in Mecca. You'll find a fascinating interpretive centre 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.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Palm Springs: Welcome to the first operating wind farm in Southern California! The Palm Springs Windmill Tours take you on a journey in which you will learn about wind energy, how wind turbines work and the history of the wind farm. Your expert guide describes the inner workings of wind turbines and their contributions to our energy grid. This Make Travel Matter Experience addresses United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy and Goal 13 Climate Action. From the novice participant to engineer-types, everyone will leave the tour with a better understanding of how this renewable energy is fast becoming part of our energy solution.

Must-see Highlights

Visit Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Death Valley National Park, Calico Ghost Town, Joshua Tree National Park, Salton Sea, Yuma Territorial Prison, Saguaro National Park

Discover unique mid-century architecture in Palm Springs

Discover some of the desert National Parks of the US including Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and Saguaro National Park

See Las Vegas from above from the Highroller

Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert

Trafalgar Difference

Death Valley: Embrace the must-sees of Death Valley National Park at Death Valley Ranch, a former working ranch located inside the Park. Located next to the National Park Service Visitor Centre, you can even visit the a classic town square lined with date palms and mission California architecture. Within the ranch, cool off in the naturally fed swimming pool, hit up the sports courts or rent a Jeep to explore the park in a rugged 4×4.

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