Death Valley & Joshua Tree Tour
The trip at a glance
- Duration
- 7 days
- Activity level
- Challenging
- Group size
- Small group, up to 12
- Departs from
- Several cities — ask us
- Next departure
- Oct 25, 2026
What guests said
- 5 out of 5
“Ode to a SWA tour guide: We've been to the desert on a tour that was not lame It felt good in the sun without any rain In the desert, Bad-Ass Barbie will ever reign 'Cause there ain't no one better to show you the terrain”
Ronald
- 5 out of 5
“Barb was an amazing guide to Joshua tree and Death Valley! She is so personable and her knowledge of both parks was so informative and her love for rocks was so entertaining! Request her as your guide. They need to change some of the iternary! They need to add one more day to death valley and switch the palm springs tram ride to the 2nd or 3rd day not the first day! We felt rushed with getting off the plane and had 15 minutes to check in, change clothes and leave right away!”
Leslie
- 5 out of 5
“Great trip and great guide”
David
From $3,549 / person
ChallengingUp to ten miles a day, real elevation, and full days on your feet.Is this trip right for you? ›
This trip by season
The same trip. Very different weeks.
Spring
March to May
Rivers running high
Rivers full of snowmelt and the parks ahead of the summer rush. Some high roads and passes open later in the season.
3 spring departures ›Autumn
September to November
Fall color and wildlife
Aspen and cottonwood turning, wildlife on the move, and quieter trails once school is back.
3 autumn departures ›
Day by day
The whole trip at a glance
Day 1
Arrive in Palm Springs
Arrive at the Palm Springs Airport today and transfer to your hotel with some free time to relax, freshen up and explore Palm Springs. This evening, join the group for a fun welcome dinner with a view as you take a scenic ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the worlds largest rotating tramcar, transporting riders to the pristine wilderness of the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. During your approximately ten-minute journey, tram cars rotate slowly, offering picturesque and spectacular vistas of the valley floor below. Once you reach the Mountain Station, at an elevation of 8,516 feet, take in the view, then enter the Peaks Restaurant for a culinary experience above the clouds. After dinner, return to the valley floor and your hotel for overnight.
OvernightDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Golf Resort Palm SpringsMealsDinner
Joshua Tree National Park Day 2
Coachella Valley & Joshua Tree National Park South
Depart Palm Springs and travel to the Coachella Valley where you will learn about the conservation efforts to preserve the fragile desert habitats. Arrive at the Thousand Palms Preserve for a walk on the McCallum Trail through the Palms Oasis to Simone Pond. Next travel to Joshua Tree National Park and take a short walk on the Bajada Trail to learn more about the plant life found in the park. Then arrive at the Cottonwood Visitors Center for more information on the park. A picnic lunch is included today. Enjoy hiking on the Mastodon Peak Loop Trail which starts as a sandy wash, then hike up stairs carved in the stone to the base of Mastodon Peak. It's an easy scramble to the top of Mastodon Peak where you are treated to panoramic views of the desert and mountains. The second half of the hike passes the abandoned Mastodon Mine on your way back to the trailhead. There will be additional exploring at the guide's discretion. In the afternoon, return to Palm Springs with free time to relax and enjoy the many fun shops and restaurants found in Palm Springs.
OvernightDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Golf Resort Palm SpringsMealsBreakfast, Lunch
Day 3
Joshua Tree National Park North
This morning, return to Joshua Tree National Park for a day of exploring the North side of the Park. With many trails in the area, there will be plenty to see and explore. As time allows, hikes may include the Split Rock Loop Trail, Skull Rock Trail and the Ryan Peak Trail to name a few. A picnic lunch will be included today. After a wonderful day in Joshua Tree, return to Palm Springs with the evening free on own.
OvernightDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Golf Resort Palm SpringsMealsBreakfast, Lunch
1 / 3 Day 4
Mojave & Death Valley National Park
Depart Palm Springs early this morning and travel north through the Mojave Desert with a stop in the Mojave National Preserve to view the Kelso Sand Dunes, also known as the singing or booming sand dunes. Arrive in Baker and stop for lunch on your own. In the afternoon, arrive at Death Valley National Park and begin your exploration at Dante's View with a commanding view of the valley. Then stop at Zabriskie Point. Next travel on the Badwater Road to view The Devils Golf Course and Badwater Basin. Late this afternoon, arrive at your hotel in Furnace Creek with the evening free for dinner on own.
OvernightFurnace CreekMealsBreakfast
Day 5
Death Valley National Park
Spend the day exploring the dramatic landscapes of Death Valley National Park, one of the most iconic desert destinations in the American Southwest. Your adventure begins with a scenic hike through Mosaic Canyon, a popular Death Valley trail known for its striking geology and narrow marble walls.
From the trailhead, follow the rocky wash into the canyon, where within the first 0.25 miles (0.4 km) the canyon dramatically narrows. Here, smooth, polished walls of Noonday Dolomite marble rise around you—shaped over time by powerful, grit-laden flash floods that have carved and sculpted this natural corridor into a stunning geological showcase. The full out-and-back hike is approximately 4 miles, with the flexibility to turn around at any point based on your comfort level.
After your morning hike, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, included as part of today’s tour.
In the afternoon, continue your Death Valley sightseeing along Badwater Road, stopping at some of the park’s most famous landmarks. Walk among the rolling Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, marvel at the jagged salt formations of Devil’s Golf Course, and take in the vibrant, mineral-rich hills of Artist’s Palette, weather permitting.
Return to your hotel in the late afternoon, with the evening free to relax or explore on your own.
OvernightFurnace CreekMealsBreakfast, Lunch
1 / 3 
Badlands National Park Day 6
Death Valley National Park
Begin the day with sunrise inside Death Valley National Park, where you’ll take in the park’s dramatic early-morning colors from Zabriskie Point or another scenic overlook. This is one of the best times of day for photography and for appreciating the otherworldly landscape shaped by erosion and mineral deposits.
After breakfast, set out to explore one of Death Valley’s most iconic hiking routes, the Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral trail. This moderate hike winds through a maze of golden badlands and narrow, sculpted canyons, offering an up-close look at the park’s striking geology and vibrant rock formations.
Enjoy lunch on your own at The Ranch at Death Valley before heading back into the park for an afternoon hike on the Badlands Loop. This trail provides sweeping views across the rugged terrain and highlights the layered textures and colors that make Death Valley so unique.
Later in the afternoon, return to Furnace Creek to relax and refresh before gathering for a farewell dinner. As night falls, conclude the day with a stargazing experience beneath Death Valley’s famously dark skies, where clear desert air reveals a brilliant display of stars and constellations.
OvernightFurnace CreekMealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7
Journey Home from Las Vegas
After breakfast and your final sunrise inside the park you will transfer to the Las Vegas Airport for your departure flight home. We will be able to drop off at the airport at 10 am and you can book any flight after 12 pm.
If you have extended your stay in Las Vegas we will drop you off at your hotel or resort for you to continue your adventure through the weekend.
Death Valley & Joshua Tree Adventure
Our guided tour to Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in two of the most iconic desert landscapes in the United States. Witness the stark beauty of the Mojave Desert, where towering Joshua trees stand as silent sentinels against a backdrop of rugged granite boulders. Explore the otherworldly landscapes of Death Valley, the hottest place on Earth, where sand dunes stretch as far as the eye can see and ancient salt flats shimmer beneath the desert sun. Discover the fascinating history of these regions, from the Native American tribes who called them home to the pioneers who sought their fortunes in the harsh desert environment. Our expert guides will lead you on hikes through hidden canyons, reveal the secrets of the desert's unique flora and fauna, and share captivating stories of the people and events that have shaped this extraordinary region.
March departures of the Death Valley & Joshua Tree Tour operate as a six-day, five-night guided experience. Pricing is $3,119 per person based on double occupancy and $3,569 for single occupancy.
Is this trip right for you?
ChallengingLevel 3 of 4
- Rough and uneven trail with significant elevation gain. Up to ten miles in a day, with long stretches where turning back early is not simple.
- Sustained altitude, exposure to sun and heat, and days that start early and finish late. Loose rock and drop-offs in places.
- Not suitable for anyone with a mobility aid, a recent joint replacement, or a heart or lung condition without talking to us first.
- Your guide may change or drop a stop for weather, road closures or time. What is walked on the day is their call.
Anything specific — a knee, a hip, a height worry, a wheelchair — is worth one phone call to 800-970-5864. We would rather move you to a different trip than have you on the wrong one.
Tour details
In the price7
- Services of a Southwest Adventure Tours tour director
- Comfortable transportation on Mercedes Sprinter Vans or similar
- 6 nights hotel accommodations
- 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Park entrance fees
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- Gratuities for included meals
Not in the price5
- Airfare
- Items of a personal nature (alcohol, room service, etc.)
- Meals (other than listed in the itinerary)
- Hotel baggage handling
- Gratuities for the Southwest Adventure Tours tour director
Arrival & departure
- Arrival Location
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
- Arrival Time
- By 2:00 PM on Day 1
- Departure Location
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Departure Time
- After 12:00 PM on Day 6
Physical requirements
THIS TOUR REQUIRES A LOT OF HIKING - Please let us know if you have any other physical/health limitations or requirements
Guests should be comfortable walking on uneven terrain for an average of 3 to 5 miles at a time.
Elevation gain and loss averages between 50 to 1,000 ft over the course of the areas visited during this tour.
Touring and overnight locations are between -288ft to 8,000ft above sea level
More from California
Departures
Online booking is unavailable for a short while. Tap a date and send us your details, and someone from our office will call you to finish your booking. Nothing is charged until then.
One date on this trip has sold out as of Sep 24, 2026. Call us on 800-970-5864 about a date marked sold out — we keep a waiting list, and cancellations do happen.
Pick a season, then tap a date to book it.
Autumn: Mild days and cool nights. Bring layers.
Spring: Mild days and cool mornings, with snow lingering up high. Bring layers.
Autumn 2026
2 of 3 open
from $3,549
Spring 2027
3 of 3 open
from $3,549
Dates without a price of their own are from $3,549. The rate for the date you choose is confirmed when you book.
Pricing
2026 season
- Double occupancy
- $3,549
- Single occupancy
- $3,999
- Triple occupancy
- $3,349
- Quad occupancy
- $3,249
Per person unless stated. Rates are those published by Southwest Adventure Tours and are confirmed at booking. A Travel Protection Plan is offered at checkout at 10% of your total: it refunds SWAT-collected tour costs if you cancel by the day before your first activity, and it can only be added at initial checkout. Full terms.
SWAT Trip Protection Plan
The SWAT Trip Protection Plan (TPP) gives you the freedom to cancel your tour for any reason up to the day before departure and receive a full refund of your SWAT-collected tour payments. It’s a simple, transparent cancellation waiver designed to provide flexibility for our guests and clarity in our booking process.
What does TPP cover?
SWAT-collected tour and SWAT-sold add-on payments only.
When must I buy?
At initial checkout, cannot add later.
Can I cancel for any reason?
Yes, up to the day before your tour starts.
Is TPP refundable?
No, the 10% fee never refunds.
Can I move my trip?
Yes, once within 12 months at no extra TPP fee.
Read the full Trip Protection terms — eligibility, how to buy, cancelling, rescheduling and refund timing.
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$3,549