Compare Desert Escapes of California & Arizona 2022 End Tucson Small Group by Insight Vacations vs The Sky Islands of Southern Arizona by IAG Adventures
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 3,825 | $ 2,195 |
| Price Per Day | $ 478 | $ 366 |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
3 Lunches |
| Description | Enjoy the best of the desert and its delicacies in this 8-day guided tour through California and Arizona. See Palm Spring’s ritzy homes, where Hollywood legends, such as Frank Sinatra, used to live on a mid-century architecture tour. Take the world’s largest rotating tram car to the top of Mt. San Jacinto State Park, where you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the city and desert below. In Phoenix, meet a chef for a tour of the local farmer’s market, then enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor during a cooking demonstration and Southwestern food feast. Just outside of Tucson, travel to Tombstone, where a Local Expert will show you a once-bustling town from the real Wild West. In Saguaro National Park, you’ll watch the sun set over the desert, then join an astronomer to gaze at the stars through the largest moving compound telescope in the world. |
Journey to a magical place that has drawn people from all over the world for centuries. From the Hohokam, Tohono O'odham and Apache, to Spanish Missionaries, Miners, Cowboys, Outlaws, Army Cavalry, and Adventurers of all stripes, the Sky Islands always hold a special place in the hearts of those who visit. |
Day 1: Arrive in Palm Springs
Welcome to Palm Springs. A star-studded city nestled in the Sonoran Desert of southern California, it was the getaway for Hollywood legends Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Dean Martin and Loretta Young in the 1950s and 60s. It now prides itself on its glory years with a nod to its glitzy past evident in its retro architecture. Once you have arrived at the airport a transfer will take you to your hotel where you will meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers at 18:00 for a Welcome Dinner.
Day 2: Out and about in Palm Springs
Start the day with a tour of Palm Springs’ mid-century architecture, guided by a history and architectural expert. Learn about the architects that have shaped the landscape of Palm Springs, including Richard Neutra, John Lautner, Donald Wexler and the Alexander brothers. This afternoon, board the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway in the world's largest rotating tram car and journey along the breathtaking cliff tops to the pristine wilderness of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. As you ascend on your 10-minute journey, the tram car rotates slowly, offering amazing vistas of the valley floor below. A Highlight Dinner at a local restaurant introduces you to the best of what the area has to offer.
Day 3: Exploring Joshua Tree National Park
This morning you’ll depart from your hotel for an excursion to Joshua Tree National Park, which is characterized by the strangely shaped Joshua trees, rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. The ecosystems of the Mojave and the Colorado come together here with a variety of plants and animals that thrive in this surreal environment shaped by winds and occasional rainfall. Your knowledgeable Travel Director will bring the park’s history and geology to life. Later, enjoy some time at leisure this evening as you get to know this desert oasis on your own terms.
Day 4: Palm Springs and Scottsdale
Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Scottsdale as you join Local Experts for a guided tour of the Heard Museum. Established to both preserve and advance Native American art, the museum has a mission to be the most preeminent of its kind.
Day 5: Flavour of Arizona Relaxed Start
Start the day with a guided tour of your famous hotel, Valley Ho. Meet a Local Expert who will take you on a guided walk of the property while telling you stories about its glitzy Hollywood history and architecture. Later, meet with the chef of this evening's experience for a walk through the stalls of the Old Town Farmers Market. Explore Scottsdale with an Insight Choice. Choose to take a small-group tour of Old Town Scottsdale on golf carts. Alternatively, visit the Museum of the West. In the evening, you’ll be introduced to the authentic flavours of the region as you head to a cooking demonstration and hands-on experience. You’ll learn to cook classic Southwestern and Mexican staples such as enchiladas, spicy meat dishes and Spanish rice. Once you’ve learnt from the expert, sit and indulge in your tasty masterpiece.
Day 6: Gastronomic Tucson
Wake for a hearty breakfast at your hotel before joining a guided tour of Taliesin West, the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards move on to Tucson, which is known for its farmers' markets, annual food festivals and fairs that specialise in Southern cuisine. Meet a Local Expert who will guide you through the city on a foodie tour, with a lunch stop along the way.
Day 7: Tucson and Saguaro National Park
In the morning you’ll make your way to historic Tombstone, where a guided tour with a Local Expert will introduce you to the once bustling boomtown of the Wild West. This very spot once offered much-needed entertainment to the many miners that spent hours underground. This afternoon you'll visit Saguaro National Park, home to the largest cacti in the United States. Later this evening, toast to your travels with new friends at your Celebration Dinner before your trip comes to an end tomorrow. Following your meal, join a local professional astronomer for an evening under the stars.
Day 8: Depart Tucson or Phoenix
It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travellers as your trip comes to an end. Take our organised transfer to Tucson International Airport at your leisure or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport arriving at 11:00. You will also have the option to extend your stay at JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa.
Day 1:
We’ll pick you up in either Tucson or Phoenix and take you on a short hike to view petroglyphs, drive to a scenic overlook of Tucson, and take in the Sunset from a mountain pass.
Day 2:
The Butterfield Stagecoach as we make our way to historic Tombstone and the OK Corral. We’ll take in a re-enactment of the historic gunfight and stroll the dusty streets before heading to Bisbee, an old mining town turned artist colony. After touring an old Copper Queen Mine on rail cars – as if we’re beginning our shift – you’ll have time to explore local galleries and sample the local cuisine.
Day 3:
Today’s focus is the awe-inspiring beauty of the Catalina mountains. We’ll head out for a day hike, enjoy waterfalls, and maybe even soak in rain-fed pools if the weather cooperates. That night we’ll head into the Quinlan Mountains for guided stargazing at the Kitt Peak Observatory.
Day 4:
We’ll make our way towards the New Mexico border to explore the isolated and historic Chiricahua Mountains where Geronimo and the Apache hid from the Army. We’ll hike among the hoodoos and visit unique rock formations before returning to Tucson in the evening, stopping at our favorite taco stand along the way.
Day 5:
After breakfast, we’ll head out for a hike to view pictographs and Saguaro cacti. We’ll then head south to visit the historic 17th century San Xavier Mission, located on the Tohono O’odham Reservation. Here you’ll have the opportunity to shop for native crafts and buy frybread from the local food stalls.
Day 6:
Shop for souvenirs, tour the UofA campus, visit the Ansel Adams archives, or stroll through downtown before departing for home.
