The best way to experience the REAL desert is through the eyes of a local guide.When you hire one of our expert naturalist guides, it is like spending a few hours with a knowledgeable friend who has a real passion for the desert.  Learn about the history, culture, plants, animals, agriculture, and much more on your private sightseeing excursion to the best desert destinations.  

Here's how it works:

• Choose one of our suggested itineraries or give us a call at (760) 340-2345 and we will be happy to design a custom itinerary for you.  
• Our guide will meet you at your hotel (or location of your choosing) and join you in your personal vehicle (you drive, our guide will narrate).   If you do not have a car, you may contact the concierge at your hotel for assistance in renting one or contact one of the local rental-car agencies.
• If you select an attraction that has an admission fee, you will need to pay the gate/admission fee (along with your guide's admission fee) directly to the attraction.
• For tours over 6 hours in length, we request that you include a lunch stop and that you buy your guide lunch (or bring an extra meal for your guide if you are packing a picnic lunch).  Your guide will be happy to suggest a restaurant or picnic location. 

Popular Sightseeing Tours

All sightseeing tours can include an optional easy-moderate hike, if desired.

• Agriculture & Aquaculture Tour - with stop at a date garden  (4 hours)
• Geology & Agriculture Tour (4 Hours)   
• Windmills and Palm Springs Aerial Tram (4 Hours)
• Windmills and Coachella Valley Preserve (4 Hours) 
• Windmills and Whitewater Preserve (4 Hours)
• Coachella Valley Preserve and Aerial Tram (4 Hours) 
• Palm Springs Indian Canyons (4 Hours)
• Joshua Tree National Park (5 Hours)
• Salton Sea / Slab City / Salvation Mountain (5 Hours)
• Santa Rosa Mountains National Monument and Idyllwild (6 hours)

Moderate Hikes:

• Bump & Grind Trail (4 hours)
• Palm Springs Museum Trail (4 hours)
• Santa Rosa Mountains (4 Hours)
• La Quinta Cove (4 Hours)
• Painted Canyon Geology & Ladder Hike (5 hours)
• Bear Creek Canyon Cove (5 hours)
• Murray Canyon (6 hours)
• Araby Trail (6 hours)

Strenuous Hikes:

• Maynard Mine Trail (6 hours)
• Clara Burgess Trail / Murray Hill (6 hours)
• Bear Creek Canyon Cove (6 hours)

Choose from one of these tours or let us help you design your own custom sightseeing adventure!

Additional Information

Tour Length:

• The length of the your adventure depends on the tour you select or the attractions you choose to include in your custom itinerary.  

• Choose from one of our suggested itineraries or give us a call at (760) 340-2345 and let us design a customized itinerary based on your preferences.   

Overtime:

• When we confirm your tour, we will confirm you for a set amount of time based on your selected itinerary.  If you find that once you are out with your guide that you would like to extend your tour, you are welcome to do so (subject to the guide's availability).  

• Overtime charges are:

• 1 Person:  $50 per hour

• 2 people:  $25 per person per hour

• 3 people:  $20 per person per hour

• 4 or more people:  $15 per person per hour

Tour Departure Location:

• Your guide will coordinate a meeting location directly with you and they will join you in your personal vehicle (you drive, they narrate).  

Tour Inclusions:

• Customized naturalist-led hiking or sightseeing tour

Exclusions:

• Guide gratuity is not included.

• Admission fees are not included.  If you select a location that has an admission fee, you will need to pay the gate/admission fee (along with your guide's admission fee) directly to the attraction.

• Transportation is not included.  The guide will join you in your personal vehicle.  If you do not have a car, we suggest you contact either the concierge at your hotel or one of the local rent-a-car agencies.

Lunch Break:

• For tours over 6 hours in length, we request that include a lunch stop and that you buy your guide lunch (or bring an extra meal for your guide if you are packing a picnic lunch).

• Your guide will be happy to suggest a restaurant or picnic location.

General Tour Tips:

• Wear closed-toe shoes with rubber soles (such as tennis shoes or hiking boots).  Sandals and shoes with high heels are not recommended if you are planning on doing much walking. 

• Wear comfortable clothing - we recommend you dress in layers as desert temperatures can change quickly.  In the cooler months (November through March), we suggest you bring a light sweater or jacket. 

• Bring a hat and sunglasses and apply sunscreen before the tour.

• Don't forget your camera or video camera and make sure your batteries are charged up and you have plenty of film.  

• Don't forget your tour voucher.

The above suggestions are general.  Don't hesitate to ask your guide for guidance about what to bring / expect for your specific itinerary.

Cancellation Policy:

• There is a 5% cancellation penalty for cancellations received at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled departure. 

• There is no refund for cancellations received within 48 hours of the scheduled tour departure or for no-shows. 

Reservations:

The best way to experience the REAL desert is through the eyes of a local guide. When you hire one of our expert naturalist guides, it is like spending a few hours with a knowledgeable friend who has a real passion for the desert.  Learn about the history, culture, plants, animals, agriculture, and much more on your private sightseeing excursion to the best desert destinations.

Here's how it works:

• Choose one of our suggested itineraries or give us a call at (760) 340-2345 and we will be happy to design a custom itinerary for you.  
• Our guide will meet you at your hotel (or location of your choosing) and join you in your personal vehicle (you drive, our guide will narrate).   If you do not have a car, you may contact the concierge at your hotel for assistance in renting one or contact one of the local rental-car agencies.
• If you select an attraction that has an admission fee, you will need to pay the gate/admission fee (along with your guide's admission fee) directly to the attraction.
• For tours over 6 hours in length, we request that you include a lunch stop and that you buy your guide lunch (or bring an extra meal for your guide if you are packing a picnic lunch).  Your guide will be happy to suggest a restaurant or picnic location. 

Popular Sightseeing Tours

All sightseeing tours can include an optional easy-moderate hike, if desired.

• Agriculture & Aquaculture Tour - with stop at a date garden  (4 hours)
• Geology & Agriculture Tour (4 Hours)   
• Windmills and Palm Springs Aerial Tram (4 Hours)
• Windmills and Coachella Valley Preserve (4 Hours) 
• Windmills and Whitewater Preserve (4 Hours)
• Coachella Valley Preserve and Aerial Tram (4 Hours) 
• Palm Springs Indian Canyons (4 Hours)
• Joshua Tree National Park (5 Hours)
• Salton Sea / Slab City / Salvation Mountain (5 Hours)
• Santa Rosa Mountains National Monument and Idyllwild (6 hours)

Moderate Hikes:

• Bump & Grind Trail (4 hours)
• Palm Springs Museum Trail (4 hours)
• Santa Rosa Mountains (4 Hours)
• La Quinta Cove (4 Hours)
• Painted Canyon Geology & Ladder Hike (5 hours)
• Bear Creek Canyon Cove (5 hours)
• Murray Canyon (6 hours)
• Araby Trail (6 hours)

Strenuous Hikes:

• Maynard Mine Trail (6 hours)
• Clara Burgess Trail / Murray Hill (6 hours)
• Bear Creek Canyon Cove (6 hours)

Choose from one of these tours or let us help you design your own custom sightseeing adventure!

Things To Bring

What you should bring will vary depending on the tour itinerary you select.  For example, temperatures at the top of the Tram are about 20 degrees cooler than at the base, so a jacket or sweater may be needed there year-round, whereas shorts and a t-shirt may be comfortable attire in the low desert.

Some general guidelines follow.  However, please feel free to ask your guide for guidance based on your specific itinerary.

• Wear closed-toe shoes with rubber soles (such as tennis shoes or hiking boots).  Sandals and shoes with high heels are not recommended.   This is especially important for hiking tours or tours involving a lot of walking. 
• Wear comfortable clothing - we recommend you dress in layers as desert temperatures can change quickly.  In the cooler months (November through March), we suggest you bring a light sweater or jacket - especially if you will be out early in the morning or will be going to the Aerial Tram or Joshua Tree National Park. 
• Bring a hat and sunglasses and apply sunscreen before the tour.
• Don't forget your camera or video camera and make sure your batteries are charged up or that you have plenty of film.  
• Don't forget your tour voucher.  

Inclusions

Your adventure includes an expert naturalist guide for a private sightseeing or hiking tour. The guide will meet you at your hotel and ride with you in your personal vehicle (you drive, they narrate).

Exclusions

1) Guide gratuities are not included, but are appreciated. Suggested gratuity is 15%.

2) Admission fees are not included. If you select a location that has an admission fee, you will need to pay the gate/admission fee (along with your guide's admission fee) directly to the attraction.

3) Transportation is not included - your guide will join you in your personal vehicle. For assistance in renting a car, please contact the concierge at your hotel or contact one of our local rent-a-car agencies.

Cancellation Policy

There is a 5% cancellation penalty for cancellations received at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled departure. There is no refund for cancellations received within 48 hours of the scheduled tour departure or for no-shows.

Departs

Daily - Flexible Departure Times

Unavailable Dates

Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day

Pickup/Departure

Coordinated with your guide - typically your hotel or residence in Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, or Indio. Additional travel fees will apply for departure locations outside of these Coachella Valley Desert Resort Communities.

Drop-Off

Same as departure.

Additional Locations

Palm Springs, CA, United States
Cathedral City, CA, United States
Rancho Mirage, CA, United States
Palm Desert, CA, United States
Indian Wells, CA, United States
La Quinta, CA, United States
Indio, CA, United States
Thousand Palms, CA, United States
Coachella Valley, CA, United States
Thousand Oaks, CA, United States
Joshua Tree, CA, United States
Idyllwild, CA, United States
CA, United States