Compare Joshua Tree Basecamp Tour by Wildland Trekking vs Bahamas Cruise 3D/2N (from Miami) by Bamba
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0 | Poor
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 4 days | 3 days |
| Price From | $ 1,275 | $ 836 |
| Price Per Day | $ 319 | $ 279 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small ship cruise |
| Lodging Level | Camping | Basic |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
For those who have spent significant time in Joshua Tree National Park, adjectives like "magical", "enchanting", "otherworldly", and "spectacular" are commonly used to describe the area. Without a doubt Joshua Tree is home to some of the most serene and surreal landscapes in the American West. Billion-year-old monzogranite intrusions bloom above the surrounding desert, and expansive Joshua Tree "forests" blanket broad valleys. In the mornings and evenings, it feels more like a savannah than a desert, with the bizarre looking Joshua Trees (a member of the Yucca family) framing the horizon at the very edge of the Mojave desert. |
All aboard! Cruise from Miami to the beautiful Bahamas for a slice of paradise. Enjoy an abundance of onboard entertainment and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches on this 3-day adventure. |
Day 1
Shuttle from Las Vegas: 4-hour drive
Hiking Mileage: 3-4 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 630 feet
Our four-day Joshua Tree Winter Basecamp Tour begins with your morning hotel pickup in Las Vegas. Leaving the bustle of the city behind, we’ll soon find ourselves on a scenic drive through Mojave National Preserve where we’ll stop at the historic Kelso Depot Visitors Center to stretch our legs.
Continuing along our scenic drive, we’ll pass between the Cleghorn and Sheephole Valley Wilderness Areas to arrive in the military town of Twentynine Palms and rendezvous with any other members of our group at the park’s Oasis Visitors Center. From here, it’s a short drive to the trailhead for our first hike of the trip - to an amazing palm tree oasis, which serves as a drinking hole for desert bighorn sheep who call the park home.
Our 2.8-mile out-and-back hike to the oasis is a great introduction to the unique environments of Joshua Tree. From here, we’ll drive into the heart of the park to setup our basecamp home in Sheep Pass Campground. Relatively secluded by season and geography, we’ll have the option to take an evening walk along one of the nearby nature trails or to the top of one of the surrounding monoliths for some evening views before enjoying a hot dinner and cozy campfire.
Day 2
Drive Time: 30 minutes
Hiking Mileage: 5-10 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,500 feet
Today starts with a wonderful outdoor breakfast and hot coffee or tea. Then we'll set off from camp for a fantastic, invigorating hike to a soaring desert summit, where we’ll earn a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape. The views of Joshua Tree National Park from this peak are reminiscent of something Salvador Dali might have painted - granite rock piles seem to melt into the surrounding plateau and the otherworldly Yucca plants known as Joshua Trees spread out in the broad valley bottoms, forking and sprouting at odd angles.
After a snack in front of world-class views, we’ll descend back to camp and enjoy lunch and a bit of down time before departing for our afternoon hike. While options for our afternoon are numerous, we’ll likely embark on a pleasant hike to Barker Dam and Wall Street Mill, which will serve as a perfect introduction to the park’s mining and settlement history, which we will be exploring more tomorrow.
Day 3
Drive Time: 30 minutes
Hiking Mileage: 5-10 miles
Elevation Change: 1,000 feet
Our hike today will claim most of the daylight hours as we embark on a long, variable loop route that winds among the many rock formations that are signature to Joshua Tree. We'll also explore the area's fascinating mining history. Today's hike has several different variations depending on the interests of the group, but it is always one of the highlights of the week for many guests. It's a long, diverse, exceptionally wonderful exploration of what makes Joshua Tree Joshua Tree.
Among the many advantages to a winter hiking experience (e.g. no bugs, fewer crowds) are the early sunsets. At the end of today's hike, we’ll enjoy an early (twi)lightshow and take advantage of a few not-to-be-missed photography opportunities before heading back to camp for a final celebratory dinner and evening campfire.
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 4-8 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,400 feet
Shuttle to Las Vegas: 4 hours
For our final hike of the trip, we’ll explore the Wonderland of Rocks. A de-facto maze of the dillusionary rock formations for which Joshua Tree is so famous, the Wonderland is a favorite destination for climbers as well as hikers, and offers an arry of fantastic, memorable trails that wind us through a jungle of spires, granite monoliths and wonderful formations.
After our morning in Wonderland, we’ll bid farewell to any of our group members departing directly from the Park. We’ll then make the drive back to Las Vegas and return you to your hotel for an evening of relaxation and much-deserved showers.
Day 1: West Palm Beach, United States
Board Cruise Ship, safety drill and activities onboard (L/D)
Board your cruise ship in time for a Welcome Aboard celebration at noon and a buffet lunch
After lunch, enjoy optional activities like a pool party or a ship tour
You will have an orientation meeting as the ship leaves port to brief you on the trip and all of the amazing services available on the ship and a quick safety drill
Spend the rest of your day and evening relaxing in your cabin or enjoying some of the many incredible activities on board, from live music to themed happy hours
Enjoy a buffet dinner and get a good rest for your big day ahead!
NOTE: The schedule of the activities will be provided to the passengers day by day.
The ships sail on a two-night itinerary currently from the Port of Palm Beach, Florida to Grand Bahama Island
Itinerary is subject to change without prior notice
The vessels depart as per our scheduled itinerary with check-in required by 4:00pm
Passengers may check-in beginning at 11:00am the day of sailing and board as soon as the ship has been cleared for embarkation.
Day 2: Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas
Bahamas Stopover (B/L/D)
You will arrive at Grand Bahama Island at 8:00 when local officials will take a moment to inspect and clear the boat for arrival
After they’ve given the signal, you may disembark and say hello to a tropical paradise! One of the last Bahaman Islands to be developed, Grand Bahama is now a popular destination and playground in paradise
Spend the day exploring, laying on the pristine beaches, discovering one of the world’s largest underwater cave systems, or partaking in optional activities like jet skiing! Enjoy an included lunch buffet onboard the ship or treat yourself to Caribbean Cuisine ashore.
Return to the boat no later than 18:00 for departure to West Palm Beach
Enjoy another evening of endless entertainment on board, with several different performances, events, and a swimming pool at your disposal.
Day 3: Miami, United States
Transfer from West Palm Beach to Miami
Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus.
