Best of Death Valley and Joshua Tree
Inn-Based Hiking Tours
6 Days, 5 Nights 38+MI / 61+KM
Trip Highlights
Explore the best of Death Valley and Joshua Tree all in one tour with fantastic lodging, expert guides and a carefully orchestrated itinerary. These amazing Southern California national parks offer incredible late fall, winter and early spring trekking across diverse and mesmerizing landscapes. Discover a plethora of desert phenomena including vast sand dunes, surprising oases, towering granite monoliths, salt flats, badlands, alpine peaks and more! We’ll keep a sharp eye out for desert wildlife with opportunities to see desert bighorn sheep, desert cottontail rabbits, roadrunners, desert reptiles, coyotes, snakes and more! Each night we’ll retire to accommodations that put us close to the action, where we’ll get cleaned up and meet for wonderful dinners (all included!) This tour offers a cornucopia of experiences in America’s stunning Mojave Desert – join us for a week you’ll never forget!
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Two Stunning Parks
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California's Best Desert Hikes
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Diversity of Scenery
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Oases, Badlands & Sand Dunes
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Salt flats & Granite Mazes
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Desert Plants & Animals
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Mining & Pioneer History
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Inn-Based Hiking Tours -
Trip Length
6 Days, 5 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
4-9 Miles -
Group Size
2-10 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
The most challenging day of this tour is the 8 mile roundtrip / 2,200 ft climb up to Wildrose peak (9,064 ft). Other days are lighter, but most trails in the park are rugged with some heights exposure and little sun protection.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle to Death Valley: 2.5 hours
Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 680 feet
Accommodations: Inn at Death Valley (Premier) or Ranch at Death Valley (Casual)
This multi-day California hiking trip begins with a morning pick up at the Tuscany Inn and Suites in Las Vegas, Nevada. We’ll depart Vegas and embark across the fabled Mojave Desert’s basin-and-range landscape. Upon entering Death Valley National Park, we will be treated to morning views of the Badlands: jagged hills dazzlingly colored by volcanic metals. At the edge of the Badlands, we will walk to the top of Zabriskie Point where we’ll first gaze upon Death Valley and the towering Panamint Mountains.
After a quick stop at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, we’ll head to the trailhead of Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch: a classic Death Valley hiking loop that takes us deep into the Badlands of the Amargosa Mountains. After a hilltop lunch with panoramic views, we’ll hike down into the water-carved Gower Gulch which will spill us out onto a slanted desert landscape at the edge of Death Valley itself.
This evening, we will explore the iconic Badwater Basin with a sunset stroll into the very heart of Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level—the lowest point in North America.
Day 2
Drive Time: 80 minutes
Hiking Mileage: 9 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2088 feet
Accommodations: Inn at Death Valley (Premier) or Ranch at Death Valley (Casual)
Today’s hike up Mt Perry will be the most challenging but also the most rewarding. The guests will hike a rocky route along Dante’s Ridge in the Black Mountains, offering jaw dropping views 5,000′ straight down into Badwater Basin and as far away as Mt Whitney and the Sierras. Depending on time and the group, the guide may serve lunch at the summit or may elect to return to the vehicle and head to a picnic spot back at Dante’s View. The day will finish in the afternoon.
Day 3
Drive Time: 1 hour
Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1400 feet
Accommodations: 29 Palms Inn
Today is a welcome easier day after yesterday’s peak ascent. Today’s hike takes us onto the peaceful Mesquite Sand Dunes and to a miracle in the desert — the stunningly beautiful 1-mile out-and-back hike (2 mi total) hike to the highest Mesquite Sand Dune. Then we’ll enjoy a 4-mile hike through Mosaic Canyon, into Death Valley Wilderness. This canyon is filled with breccia – a type of rock made of broken fragments of minerals and rocks cemented together by a fine grained matrix, creating a mosaic-like display. It’s absolutely gorgeous!
Day 4
Drive Time: 2 hours
Hiking Mileage: 7-10 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1000 feet
Accommodations: 29 Palms Inn
Today we’ll rise with the sun to share in a wonderful breakfast and hot coffee or tea. Our first stop will be at the charmingly unique Teddy Bear Cholla Garden, where we’ll stroll among a family of deceptively inviting cacti. Dropping down through an ecological transition zone where the lower Colorado Sonoran Desert meets the Mojave, we’ll make our way to our main hike for the day: The Lost Palms Oasis.
Sustained by water seeping up through fault lines, five oases can be found within Joshua Tree National Park. Today we’ll visit two! Beginning at Cottonwood Spring Oasis, former home to the Cahuilla Indians, we’ll meander our way over arroyos dotted with ocotillo and through sandy smoketree washes to reach at last the largest group of California Fan Palms in the park. After a delicious lunch in this remote desert oasis, we’ll wind our way back to the trailhead, soaking in views to the south of California’s largest lake, the Salton Sea.
While options for stops on our return to camp are numerous, we’ll likely embark on a pleasant hike to Arch Rock, a monzonite granite natural arch set amidst a playground of jumbo boulders.
Day 5
Drive Time: 1.5 hours
Hiking Mileage: 7-10 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 600+ feet
Accommodations: 29 Palms Inn
After a delightful breakfast, our first hike today will loop us through Barker Dam. This valley is rich with petroglyphs and tall tales from the days of gold mining and cattlemen, as well as lush with plant life thanks to the precious reservoir of water. We’ll then embark on a journey into another portion of the famed Wonderland of Rocks: The Maze. This trail will weave us through a jungle of spires, granite monoliths and delusionary rock formations, opening up to tantalize us with breathtaking views of the National Park. Returning back to town, we’ll enjoy one last evening of fine dining and good company before turning in for the night.
Day 6
Hiking Mileage: 4+ miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 600 feet
Shuttle to Las Vegas: 4 hours
Upon filling our bellies with another tasty breakfast, we’ll check out of our hotel and head off for one last day of exploration.
We’ll begin our excursion in Hidden Valley, a favorite destination for climbers and hikers alike. Long valued for its diverse flora and protection from the elements, this microcosm is a historically significant ecological haven. We’ll then make our way into a new portion of the Park where, conditions permitting, we’ll hike through one or more of Indian Cove’s finest remote hollows.
After soaking in the astounding landscape and enjoying one last scrumptious lunch together, we’ll embark on the scenic drive back to Las Vegas and return you to your hotel for an evening of relaxation.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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5 nights of double occupancy lodging (single occupancy requires an additional single supplement)
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Use of trekking poles and a day pack
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Las Vegas and back
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All necessary entrance fees and permits
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
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Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Alcoholic beverages
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
* These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used.
OASIS AT DEATH VALLEY
0-2 NIGHTS
Premier DV Option: A deluxe resort built in 1927, The Inn at Death Valley is a four star, elegant resort that takes wonderful care of its guests. After our hikes you can relax near the spring-fed pool, walk around the stunning palm gardens, or rest up in your exquisite room.
(pool, spa)
RANCH AT FURNACE CREEK
0-2 NIGHTS
Casual DV Option: The Ranch at Death Valley features casual, family-oriented accommodations for the more price conscious traveler. After our hikes you can stroll around the Old West-themed grounds, enjoy a dip in a spring-fed pool, or relax in your quiet, recently renoovated room.
(hot springs pool)
29 PALMS INN
3 NIGHTS
On a 70-acre property near Joshua Tree National Park, this historic, eclectic, clean and comfortable lodge offers a unique, charming lodging experience up close and personal with nature. After our hikes you can relax by the pool, in the organic garden, or in one of several hammocks and soak up the beauty of the desert.
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
This trip originates from Tuscany Suites and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Your guide will be in contact approximately 10 days before the trip start date to coordinate the pre-trip orientation, which will be at 5:00 PM at a hotel in Las Vegas. Your guide will then pick you up at your hotel the next morning for transport to the trailhead. For Private Death Valley Tours your guide will meet you at your hotel in Las Vegas at an agreed upon time.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Las Vegas
Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport is one of the most easily accessed destinations in the country. Many major cities in the United States and internationally offer direct flights into Las Vegas. A company named Airline Shuttle (1-888-554-1156) can help you with economic transport to most hotels. Taxi cabs run about $40 to downtown, and the city is also Uber- and Lyft-friendly.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Reviews
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Sharlean G
9 months agoBest experience to date with Wildland!!
Kudos to Sam ...so much positive energy and local knowledge throughout the trip. We did all the hikes plus more as outlined on the website. Started early and had just enough time to shower and then dinner. Perfect use of time. Best experience to date with Wildland!!
Daniel A
9 months agoOverall met my high expectations.
Great introduction to these premier desert national parks. The accommodations were perfect and not overcrowded, even during high season. Samantha is an extremely knowledgeable guide who showed genuine care for all participants. I also appreciated her insights into some lesser-known hiking spots and dining venues. Overall met my high expectations.
Ann M
2 years agoUnique and Amazing Part of the World
Best of Death Valley and Joshua Tree was a fantastic 6 day trip which really showcased these unique areas. Our guide Wally was experienced, knowledgeable and a gourmet cook. The walks were interesting and varied. The admin staff when we were organising the trip were also efficient and helpful. Would definitely recommend this trip. Great for all ages, our 19 yo son loved it as much as we did. If we get the opportunity to get back to the USA we wouldn't hesitate to use Wildland again.
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