Tour Details
Explore the San Andreas Fault: Adventure & Guided Jeep Tours in California’s Desert
Embark on a family-friendly, soft-adventure tour that’s perfect for all ages (5+). Our tour is safe and designed for enjoyment, with step-stools and assistance provided for easy Jeep access. If you’re looking for a memorable way to experience the wonders of the desert, this tour is designed with your comfort in mind!
- Educational and Engaging: Our tours are carefully crafted to be both entertaining and informative, giving you an up-close look at the desert’s unique plants, animals, and fascinating geology. The Jeep will stop at several scenic spots, where guests can enjoy short, easy nature walks (10–15 minutes each) to explore the trails. If mobility is a concern, guests are welcome to relax by the Jeep while others explore.
- Guided by Experts: Each tour is led by one of our knowledgeable guides, who will immerse you in the area’s rich natural and cultural history. Learn about the forces that shaped the desert, the fascinating life of the Cahuilla Indians, and the science of earthquakes and seismology. Our guides are more than happy to tailor the experience to your group’s interests, creating an experience that’s as unique as it is educational.
- Options for Adventure Seekers: For those in your group seeking a bit more activity, we offer optional, longer hikes along beautiful, more challenging trails. If your group includes hiking enthusiasts, just let us know—we’ll designate some Jeeps as “Hiking Jeeps” to satisfy your adventurous spirit.
- A Comfortable Ride: Our Jeeps traverse dirt roads and remote desert washes at a gentle pace, with no extreme inclines or bumpy rock climbing. This “mild” Jeep experience keeps things comfortable, so you can focus on enjoying the stunning desert views rather than bracing for a bumpy ride. Our goal is to provide a smooth, enjoyable journey that allows everyone to fully appreciate the desert’s beauty.
- Safety First: To ensure everyone’s safety, seat belts are required whenever the Jeep is moving. Relax and enjoy the ride, knowing that we’re looking out for your well-being.
This experience is ideal for groups and families who want a balance of adventure, education, and relaxation in a spectacular desert landscape. Join us for a unique journey into the heart of the San Andreas Fault, where unforgettable moments await!
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- Pickup from hotels, vacations rentals, or private residences located in Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, or West Indio (to Monroe Street). Add $150 per Jeep for pickup west of Frank Sinatra Drive (includes Palm Springs and Cathedral City) or east of Monroe Street (includes East Indio and Thermal).
- Naturalist guided tour in a classic open-air Jeep Scrambler (CJ-8) with removable canvas shade top
- Private tour for up to 7 guests per Jeep, customized to your group’s interests. For comfort, some group’s choose to only put 5 or 6 people in a Jeep to accommodate larger guests.
- Guided nature walk or easy hike (accommodations for guests with limited mobilty are available)
- Admission fees and taxes
- Bottled water and granola snacks
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The following items are available to customize your tour experience.
- Extended Hiking
- Photo Riddle Rally (team-building add-on) – Add $25 per preson
- Onboard snacks and beverages – including sweet and salty snacks, beer, hard seltzers, and pre-mixed cocktails.
- “Grab and Go” F&B stations
- Continental breakfast
- Boxed lunch
- Picnic or BBQ lunch
- Custom branded wraps on the Jeep signs (Great for sponsor recognition) – $150 per Jeep
- Please contact us for other options
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- Advance Reservations are required and are subject to availability.
- Group tours are sold by the Jeep. You will be charged the full fee even if some of your guests cannot make the tour.
- A signed contract and deposit are required to secure your booking.
- We can accommodate up to 84 guests (12 Jeeps) at a time are available or we can accommodate up to 168 guests for a morning or afternoon activity with our double-rounds option.
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La Quinta, Indian Wells, Palm Desert or Rancho Mirage
- Departure Times: 8:00 AM (or earlier) or 1:00 PM (or later)
- Duration: Up to 3.5 hours
Palm Springs, Cathedral City, East Indio, or Thermal
- Departure Times: 7:00 AM (or earlier) or 1:00 PM (or later)
- Duration: Up to 4.0 hours
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- Morning tours are offered September through June
- Afternoon tours are offered late September through early May
- Afternoon tours are not recommended when daytime highs are predicted to exceed 105 degrees
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- Minimum: 1 Jeep (up to 7 guests)
- Maximum: 12 Jeeps (up to 84 guests)
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- We can accommodate up to 168 guests for a 4-hour morning (8 AM – 12 PM) or afternoon (1 PM – 5 PM) activity
- Double rounds require motorcoach transfers to/from Metate Ranch
- Tours that cross over the 12 PM – 1 PM hour require a full-day buy-out
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- All of our tours take place as scheduled: rain or shine, cloudy or clear, hot or cold. Thus, you should dress appropriately for the weather.
- At Desert Adventures’ sole discretion, tours may be altered to accommodate changes in weather so as to provide the safest and most enjoyable experience possible.
- If light rain is predicted, we have rain ponchos for you to use. If heavy rains are expected or there are any flash flood advisories or warnings, then the tour will be cancelled or rescheduled. We prioritize your safety above all else.
- If you wish to cancel your tour due to forecasted inclement weather when we deem it safe to operate, our normal cancellations and refund policy will apply. However, we will allow you to reschedule your tour to a different day or time at no charge, subject to space availability.
- If we cancel a tour due to weather or safety concerns, you will given the option to reschedule your tour at no charge (subject to space availability) or we can issue a gift card that you can use at a later date, or we can provide a refund back to your original method of payment. Refunds and credits may be prorated, based on the circumstances.
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- Tour guide gratuities are not included in the tour cost, but are appreciated. The suggested gratuity is 10-15% of the retail tour price, but tips are at your sole discretion.
- Cash tips paid directly to your guide are preferred, and most guides can accept tips via Venmo or Zelle. However, if you would like to add a gratuity to your final invoice, we’d be happy to bill you.