Hike across some of North America's most renowned National Parks on a five-day excursion that begins in Los Angeles and ends in Badwater Basin. On this tour, visit Skull Rock, dine at a 1940s movie set, hike to a hidden oasis deep in Joshua Tree National Park, and uncover one of Death Valley's best views. From breathtaking natural settings to Las Vegas's party culture, this journey provides a breath of fresh air and some of the country's most dramatic sights.
Highlights
Hike the iconic Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks
Explore the Lost Oasis Trail in Joshua Tree National Park.
Discover the hidden magic of Darwin Falls and Lost Palms Oasis
Follow the Golden Canyon Trail in Death Valley for a great photo opportunity.
Requires high-intensity physical efforts that push the limits of one's fitness. May include tours with multiple days in a row of strenuous physical activity or single requiring more than 7 hours of activity. Recommended for travelers maintaining a demanding fitness level.
Welcome to Death Valley National Park! After being picked up from your accommodation in Las Vegas, drive through the Mojave Desert to Death Valley National Park. Arriving at the Badlands, a walk to the top of Zabriskie Point will help you to get your bearings as you look over the yellow and orange-streaked rocky landscape. Then, stop at the Furnace Creek Visitor Centre for further background on the park, before you make your way to the trailhead of Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch. This trail will be a true welcome to the wild west, as you snake through winding canyons deep into the Badlands, Red Cathedral towering over you in the distance. Stop for a picnic lunch before you finish the trail at the edge of Death Valley. At dusk, you’ll descend to the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin before calling it a night.
Included Activities:
Death Valley National Park - Golden Canyon & Gower Gulch Hike
Death Valley National Park - Zabriskie Point walk
Shuttle to Death Valley
Death Valley National Park - Badwater Basin sunset visit
Trekking Distance: 8 km (5 miles) with an elevation gain of 200 m (680 ft)
Day 2: Death Valley National Park
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today’s all about getting a bird’s eye view. The Panamint Mountains form the western wall of Death Valley and Wildrose Peak is your destination. The trailhead is marked by the Charcoal Kilns – beehive-like stone buildings formerly used to provide fuel to smelters in nearby mines. Leaving the kilns behind, you’ll enter the woodlands of the Panamint Mountains. Passing by juniper and pinyon pines, the tree line will eventually fade away and you’ll be left with a view of your destination. The trail eases into the finish, leaving you with prime views of the Panamint Valley and the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the distance.
Included Activities:
Death Valley National Park - Wildrose Peak Hike
Walking Distance: 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) with an elevation gain of 500 feet (152 meters).
Day 3: Death Valley National Park | Twentynine Palms
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Swapping a summit for some unexpected scenery, take a short drive past the Devil’s Cornfield to the Mesquite Sand Dunes. The ripples catching the morning light make for a magical sight, as do the mountain views from atop the dunes. The magic only grows as you head to Darwin Falls, where the lush greenery and flowing waters feel like a mirage. Home to tree frogs, toads and aquatic vegetation, the spring-fed falls stick out from the surrounding landscape. Leaving the falls and Death Valley behind, you’ll head to Twentynine Palms for the night – the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park.
Included Activities:
Death Valley National Park - Darwin Falls Hike
Death Valley National Park - Mesquite Sand Dunes Hike
Driving Distance: Approximately 5.5 hours Walking Distance: 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) and involves 635 feet (190 meters) of elevation.
Day 4: Joshua Tree National Park
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your first day at Joshua Tree National Park will start with an easy stroll through the deceptive Teddy Bear Cholla Garden. Though the cacti here look soft enough to cuddle, keep your distance! A visit to another ecological oddity comes next, as you make your way to two of the park’s desert oases. Starting at the Cottonwood Spring Oasis, weave your way over rolling desert hills before the unexpected sight of the Lost Palms Oasis. Water that seeps up through fault lines keeps this pocket of palm trees going, which stand in stark contrast to the rest of the landscape. After stopping for lunch, the hike home takes you past views of the Salton Sea, California’s largest lake, before arriving at your accommodation. A short loop hike to the dramatic formations of Arch Rock will finish off an eventful day.
Included Activities:
Joshua Tree National Park - Teddy Bear Cholla Garden visit
Joshua Tree National Park - Lost Palms Oasis Hike
Driving Distance: Approximately 2 hours Walking Distance: 10 miles (16 kilometers) and involves 1000 feet (300 meters) of elevation.
Day 5: Joshua Tree National Park
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, today, walk to Barker Dam. Though only a short loop track, it packs in a lot – you'll see a broad range of the park’s vegetation, wildlife (including desert bighorn) and towering boulders. Ancient rock art along the trail tells tales of the park’s human history, as does the dam itself, built by early cattlemen. When you’ve completed the loop, you’ll navigate The Maze – this trail winds past narrow canyons, towering rock formations and a multitude of Joshua Trees before opening to expansive views of the park. On the return leg, keep an eye out for the eagle-shaped Window Rock, then finish the day with a final included dinner and cheers to a trip well-trekked.
Included Activities:
Joshua Tree National Park - Barker Dam Valley Hike
Joshua Tree National Park - The Maze Hike
Driving Distance: Approximately 1.5 hours. Walking Distance: 10 miles (16 kilometers) and involves 600 feet (180 meters) of elevation.
Day 6: Joshua Tree National Park | Las Vagas | Return Home
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Your last day at Joshua Tree National Park will venture to Hidden Valley. The one-mile loop takes you past even more of the park’s fascinating rock formations, and signs along the way will point out plants and animals of interest. If the weather allows, you’ll then visit Indian Cove, and hike along the nature trail. Learn about the Native American history of the area, then sit down for a picnic lunch out on the trail with your group. Later, back to Las Vegas, where your adventure comes to an end.
Included Activities:
Joshua Tree National Park - Indian Cove Hollow Hike
Joshua Tree National Park - Hidden Valley Hike
Shuttle to Las Vegas
Driving Distance: Approximately 4 hours. Walking Distance: 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) and involves 600 feet (180 meters) of elevation.
Dates & Prices
Per person starting at
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$3,9402-3 travelers
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Notes
Select a Date
A single supplement is available if you prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Initial deposit is $400 per person, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check, or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and a maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
5 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 5 Dinners
5 Nights Accommodations
5 Days Locally Hosted Guide Service
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
For those traveling internationally with Intrepid: emergency evacuation and medical insurance are mandatory, and comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. See here for more details
Map
When to Go
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
Typically not offered during this period because of weather conditions.
The trip was terrific with great planning on your part. Most of the adventures were not mainstream and somewhat off the beaten path which made it especially enjoyable!! We felt taken care of and you all were readily available to respond to questions and issues. I would highly recommend your company and friends have already expressed interest based on our pictures and excitement.
Gale Cantor
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
