Death Valley is undoubtedly one of the national parks not to be missed during a trip to California and should be included as a stop on your road trip through the American Southwest. Its name inspires awe in those who have yet to venture out there. Although it’s not teeming with life, this arid, hot desert proves to be an unforgettable experience for many. Given the size of its territory and the climate, it may be natural to ask the question “Is it better to visit it on your own or to rely on a guided tour?”. If you love DIY trips and adventure, take a look at our strategic tips to visit Death Valley, jump in the car and go! Otherwise, you can go on an organized tour. So let’s see why you should choose this option and what guided tours are available.
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Why Choose a Guided Tour?
The United States is very diverse and so are the parks it hosts. Death Valley is one of the most famous parks, but it is not necessarily one of the easiest to visit. Let’s start with an important fact. If we exclude Alaska, which has countless parks within its immense and largely uninhabited territory, Death Valley is the largest American national park. This means that you cannot drive from one end to another in a matter of minutes and make it a quick stop.
Another factor to take into consideration is the climate. If you have read our article on the climate of Death Valley (and consider the name given to this area), you will know that wandering aimlessly through Death Valley, especially during certain times of the year, is not the best thing to do. Moreover, even if you do not want to visit it in its entirety, the best viewpoints and the most beautiful natural attractions are quite far from each other, so you’ll have to study in order to find the most direct route.
If you’re on a road trip, you may want a day off from the long hours of driving. Relying on an organized tour departing from a neighboring city will allow you to enjoy breathtaking views without having to strain yourself too much. In addition, many trips begin or end in Las Vegas or Los Angeles. There are many flights to both of these cities. Considering that some of the major guided tours of parks depart from these cities, you could go on a guided tour at the beginning or at the end of your road trip, without needing to rent a car for that day.
Also, one of the advantages of these tours is that you will be accompanied by a local guide. If you think driving through these desolate lands is already exciting, learning the history, the curiosities, the legends related to the places you visit makes the trip even more impressive. It is very difficult to be able to get all the necessary information to fully understand such a unique place that is absurd in some ways. Therefore, traveling with an expert guide who knows how to lead you to the most beautiful places and will tell you fascinating stories about them will add to the experience.
Tours Departing from Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the closest major city to the park and therefore the starting point for most of the organized tours. Round trip day trips depart from Las Vegas, as well as tours lasting two or more days that allow you to also visit other attractions in addition to Death Valley. Here are some of the most interesting day tours to choose from.
Death Valley Excursions from Las Vegas by Bus
Typically, day tours are by bus (depending on the number of participants, SUVs may be used by tour operators). There are two main tours, which leave from Las Vegas in the morning. In both cases, you will be picked up from your hotel, visit Death Valley, and be taken back to Las Vegas in the course of about 10 hours. Although they are operated by different tour operators, the two excursions offer the same type of experience. Both include hotel pick-up and a tour with a professional guide.
The park entrance fee is already included and you will be offered water, snacks, and lunch. The price of the tours is about $260-280. Both options include visits to the main points of interest in Death Valley, namely, the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Badwater, Artist’s Palette, Devil’s Golf Course, and Zabriskie Point.
Private Group or Couples Tour
Are you planning a honeymoon and want to enjoy the trip without running the risk of having annoying travel companions? Or do you want to visit Death Valley with a group of friends? Then this is the tour for you. The price is $244, which is in the same price range as the previous tours, but there is an important difference compared to classic tours.
On this tour, it will be just you and your guide. Departure is at 7:00 am and you will be picked up directly from your hotel. During the day (the tour lasts about 8 hours), you will have the opportunity to take great photos of the most beautiful places and panoramic views of Death Valley.
Evening tour to view the Milky Way
There is no better place to observe the sky than in a desert, where there is no light pollution and the sky manifests its beauty. If you want to have a spectacular experience and you have time, this tour is definitely for you. You will be picked up in the morning from your hotel in Las Vegas and taken on a classic daytime tour of Death Valley, which will continue until after sunset. You will be able to admire the sunset, but above all the starry night sky. The viewing of the Milky Way, which is visible in the desert sky, will be the main event of the evening!
The time of departure and return vary depending on the season, because the timing must coincide with the sunset, which obviously changes from month to month. The tour starts between 8:30 am and 10:00 am during the winter (November to March), between 10:00 am and 11:30 am during the months of April to July, and between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm during the months of August to October. The tour lasts about 11 hours and the return to the hotel is scheduled between 9:00 pm and midnight, depending on when the departure was scheduled. The price is $295.
Milky Way Observation Night Tour
Tours Departing from Los Angeles
Although Death Valley is located in California, as we have seen, Las Vegas is the city from which the main tours depart, but this does not mean that you cannot join an organized tour departing from the California coast (for example, from Los Angeles). You just need to dedicate the necessary time to this excursion. Considering the distance that separates Los Angeles from the park, a round trip in a day is unthinkable. By the way, if you plan to organize this itinerary independently, I suggest you read our recommended itinerary from Los Angeles to Death Valley, which also contains some interesting stops. If you prefer taking a tour, here is a guided excursion that will show you three incredible places. You depart from and return to Los Angeles, and in two days, you will see both Death Valley and the imposing Hoover Dam, and spend the night in Las Vegas, where you can lose yourself in the lights of the most eccentric city in America. The price varies depending on the number of participants, but prices start at $345 (including accommodation), a very competitive price.
Hi,
Does your company still have any available Death Valley tours coming up this week?
Kind regards,
Max
Hi Max, here you find some Death Valley Tours.