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Arizona/California

On the Road: Saguaro, Joshua Tree & Death Valley National Parks

Program No. 13480RJ
Explore the warmth of these great American deserts — the Sonoran and Mojave — and the National Parks of Saguaro, Joshua Tree and Death Valley on the journey of a lifetime.

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Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jan 20 - Jan 29, 2024
Starting at
2,999
Feb 3 - Feb 12, 2024
Starting at
2,999
Feb 17 - Feb 26, 2024
Starting at
2,999
Nov 2 - Nov 11, 2024
Starting at
2,999
Nov 16 - Nov 25, 2024
Starting at
2,999
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Jan 20 - Jan 29, 2024
Starting at
3,999
Feb 3 - Feb 12, 2024
Starting at
3,999
Filling Fast!
Feb 17 - Feb 26, 2024
Starting at
3,999
Nov 2 - Nov 11, 2024
Starting at
3,999
Nov 16 - Nov 25, 2024
Starting at
3,999

At a Glance

Deserts are this nation's unexplored wilderness, harboring rare and endangered plants and animals and sheltering hidden oases. And deserts are landscapes changed by humans — to be made to bloom, to be mined for wealth, to tame its wild rivers. With stories of fortunes won and lost, conflict and controversy, these landscapes have been formed and reformed by nature's time and human struggle. Explore these great American deserts — the Sonoran and Mojave — cut by the life-giving Colorado River, and experience their warmth and richness in a journey of a lifetime.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles on varied terrain. Elevations up to 3,000 feet.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Enjoy in-depth, expert-led exploration of Saguaro, Joshua Tree and Death Valley national parks.
  • Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Yuma’s Territorial Prison and picturesque Zabriskie Point and Bad Water in Death Valley.
  • Ride the thrilling Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and enjoy a festive Palm Springs street fair.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Matt Turner
Since he decided to attend high school in Southwest Colorado, Matt Turner has been in love with the natural wonders of the Four Corners region prompting him to obtain a degree in Natural History from Prescott College. In addition to working as a field biologist and ecological consultant, he is an avid photographer, leads trips throughout the Southwest, across rivers and in the backcountry. As a naturalist, he hopes to impart a unique perspective of the region's natural environment in all of its visitors.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Matt Turner
Matt Turner View biography
Since he decided to attend high school in Southwest Colorado, Matt Turner has been in love with the natural wonders of the Four Corners region prompting him to obtain a degree in Natural History from Prescott College. In addition to working as a field biologist and ecological consultant, he is an avid photographer, leads trips throughout the Southwest, across rivers and in the backcountry. As a naturalist, he hopes to impart a unique perspective of the region's natural environment in all of its visitors.
Profile Image of Stewart Lasseter
Stewart Lasseter View biography
Stewart Lasseter completed studies in geo-science, natural history and Spanish at the University of Arizona. He then studied as the protégé of a Native American healer, learning from her practices of wholeness, kinesiology, mind-body medicine, and dyslexia correction. He has years of experience bringing groups in touch with the natural world and has completed post-graduate studies in health sciences at Prescott College.
Profile Image of Bryan Bates
Bryan Bates View biography
Bryan Bates is an ex-officio member of the governing board for the International Society for Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in Culture. Under a NASA grant, he created a course manual for archaeoastronomy and published research on a solar calendar at Wupatki and an equinox site near Stoneman Lake. He is involved in a research project on archaeoastronomy at Mesa Verde National Park and teaches archaeoastronomy, as well as biology, environmental science, natural history and chemistry.
Profile Image of Jim Cherry
Jim Cherry View biography
Jim Cherry was born in Michigan and has a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering from Michigan State University. He spent four years with the Peace Corps, designing and installing irrigation systems in Peru and Tunisia. He has been with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for 33 years with major responsibilities for reclamation projects along the last 275 miles of the Colorado River. In 1995 he transferred to Hoover Dam and oversees operation of the Hoover, Davis, and Parker dams on the Lower Colorado.
Profile Image of Devon Beam
Devon Beam View biography
Devon Beam has called Northern Arizona home since 2018. After working in the outdoor industry for the past 15 years, he began working with Road Scholar to continue his ongoing passion for promoting outdoor recreation. Devon has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Central America. His hobbies include traveling, baking bread, playing guitar, and biking in remote places with his spouse.
Profile Image of Renee Brown
Renee Brown View biography
Renee Brown received her B.A. in social science with an emphasis on history, political science, and sociology from Chapman University in 2008. Formerly a journalist and educator, she is now the associate curator and archivist at the Palm Springs Historical Society. She is a lifelong resident of Palm Springs and loves to tell the stories of the people who built the city.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert
by Patricia Wentworth Comus (Editor)
"Once in a generation, a guide to understanding a major North American landscape comes along. This book is such a touchstone, sure to become a classic. The emphasis here is on biodiversity, mutualism, co-evolution, and, especially, ethno-relationships—the long history of connection between desert peoples and their homeland, on both sides of the border.
Joshua Tree National Park Geology
by Trent. D. D. and Hazlett, Richard W.
This book explores the geology and evolution of the Joshua Tree National Park landscape. Includes sections on plate tectonics, regional geology and the seismic activity that continues to shape this remarkable desert setting. Written for visitors, climbers and students of geology. With many full-color photographs and more than fifty diagrams that clearly illustrate geologic events.
Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water
by Reisner, Marc
The story of the American West is the story of a relentless quest for a precious resource: water. It is a tale of rivers diverted and dammed, of political corruption and intrigue, of billion-dollar battles over water rights, of ecologic and economic disaster. In Cadillac Desert Marc Reisner writes of the earliest settlers, lured by the promise of paradise, and of the ruthless tactics employed by Los Angeles politicians and business interests to ensure the city's growth. Cadillac Desert is a stunning expose and a dramatic, intriguing history of the creation of an Eden--and Eden that may be only a mirage. 608pp
Unquenchable: America's Water Crisis
by Glennon, Robert
In the middle of the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas casinos use billions of gallons of water for fountains, pirate lagoons, wave machines, and indoor canals. Meanwhile, the town of Orme, Tennessee, must truck in water from Alabama because it has literally run out. Robert Glennon captures the irony—and tragedy—of America’s water crisis in a book that is both frightening and wickedly comical. Unquenchable reveals the heady extravagances and everyday inefficiencies that are sucking the nation dry.
Cactus Tracks and Cowboy Philosophy
by Black, Baxter
A complete compilation of all the stories and poetry you've heard Baxter do on NPR, with the unforgettable flavor of Baxter's own brand of cowboy philosophy. Over 250 pages of that bizarre humor that had you laughing out loud while driving to work. Some of you even complained to us about having to pull off the road to avoid a "laughter disaster". You'll also find poignant, more dramatic pieces that brought a smile to your face, or that far away look in your eyes.
Death Valley and the Northern Mojave
by Tweed, William C. and Davis, Lauren
Features a lively interpretive text that is complimented by maps, detailed directions and 215 color photos. It is the indispensable book to help you explore and enjoy this extraordinary place.





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