Things to do in Sonoran Desert

Take a trip to one of the 7 wonders of the natural world on this day tour of the Grand Canyon National Park. You will be collected from selected hotels or apartments in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, or Mesa Arizona. The journey north takes you through amazing views of the Saguaro Cactus in the Sonoran Desert. You will travel through the Ponderosa Pine Forests of Flagstaff where the Lowell Observatory is located. Stop among the Red Rocks of Sedona for time to take in the breathtaking scenery and lots of pictures. Travel through Oak Creek Canyon famous the world over for its spectacular scenery. In the afternoon be taken to the Grand Canyon National Park. Stop for pictures of the Red Rocks of Sedona. Make several stops along the South Rim for picture taking and enjoying the incredible views. See the El Tovar Lodge, a former Harvey hotel. Have the afternoon to explore the sublime park and see many of its ecological wonders and natural beauty. Your professional guide will be able to inform you of the history and stories behind this ancient wonder.

Enjoy a 45-60-minute hot air balloon ride above Phoenix, Arizona. See the expansive mountain ranges and desert wildlife below as your hot air balloon reaches heights of 3000 feet. During the flight, your pilot will point out different landmarks and points of interest. See Downtown Phoenix, Camelback Mountain, Lake Pleasant, and State Farm Stadium from the air. Upon landing, enjoy a champagne or sparkling cider toast + bites, right in the heart of the desert. A traditional balloonist’s ceremony follows with commemorative flight certificates to take home.

Embark on a guided day tour in the Sonoran desert from Phoenix. Kick up some dust as you go off-road in your UTV and discover some of the best trails in the stunning Bradshaw Mountains, located just north of the city. Start your tour 45 minutes north of Phoenix in the Sonoran desert near the Agua Fria River Valley. Ride along creek crossings and soak up the stunning views of the vast arid landscape.  Accompanied by a certified guide, learn about the plant life, wildlife, history, and climate of the area. Hear stories about the Native Americans who once farmed, hunted, survived, and evolved in this unforgiving desert. Ride along scenic trails past giant Saguaro cacti and deep canyons carved by flash-flooding rains. Cross the Aqua Fria River to experience the wild and vast desert terrain. Spot desert wildlife such as coyotes, bobcats, deer, rabbits, quail, and even rattlesnakes.

Discover Southern Arizona's top attractions and save over $600 at over 100 different locations. The Passport entitles you to 2-for-1 admissions and other offers at participating attractions. Visit as many attractions as you like during normal operating hours until your time runs out. The clock starts when you use your pass at the first attraction. Have your pass instantly delivered to your phone via text or email and start using it immediately without wasting your phone's storage on app downloads. Save the pass to your phone's home screen for easy one-tap access. Some of the attractions included: • Arizona Zipline Adventures • Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley • Golf N' Stuff • Reid Park Zoo • Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center • Tombstone’s Boot Hill • Tucson Sugar Skulls (Spring) • Center For Creative Photography • DeGrazia Gallery In The Sun Museum • Helen S. Schaefer Poetry Center • Madaras Gallery • Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson • Sonoran Glass School • The Mini Time Machine Museum Of Miniatures • Tubac Center Of The Arts • Tucson Desert Art Museum • Tucson Improv Movement • Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block • Ajo District Chamber and Visitor Center • Amerind Museum • Arizona History Museum • Arizona State Museum • Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum • Bisbee Tourism Center • Discover Bisbee • Discover Marana Visitor Center • Mission San Xavier Del Bac • Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center • O.K. Corral® Famous Gunfight Site • Presidio San AgustÍn Del Tucson Museum • Southern Arizona Transportation Museum • Tombstone Epitaph Newspaper & Museum • Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum • University Libraries • Arizona- Sonora Desert Museum • Campus Arboretum • Colossal Cave Mountain Park • Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill • Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce • Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber Of Commerce • International Wildlife Museum • National Parks Store • Oracle State Park • Patagonia Lake State Park • Picacho Peak State Park • Sabino Canyon Crawler • Saguaro National Park East and West • Tohono Chul • Tubac Presidio State Historic Park • Tucson Botanical Gardens • Tumacácori National Historical Park • La Encantada Shopping Center • Main Gate Square • University of Arizona Book Stores - Student Union • Biosphere 2 • History of Pharmacy Museum • Space Imagery Center GoodEnough Silver Mine and Trolley (Tombstone) • TopGolf • Arizona Opera • Arizona Theatre Company • Fox Tucson Theatre

Discover the beauty of the Sonoran Desert while learning how to drive an ATV with a professional instructor and certified guide that will teach you key safety operations and riding tips. Your experience begins with a safety operations briefing, including how to operate an ATV and safely navigate rough off-road terrain. Once you're prepped, it's time to drive your ATV through a test course located in the surreal Sonoran Desert. Full of turns, bumps, and hills, your certified guide will help you maneuver through our technical training course. This is a 1 hour ATV training course only. For a full 2-hour desert tour please book our "Guided Sonoran Desert ATV & UTV Tour" Must be 16 years or older to participate.

Take to the skies on a hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran Desert. Enjoy a personalized experience with a maximum of 6 passengers per balloon. Meet your pilot and watch as the balloon is inflated. Climb into the basket and take off into the sky. Soar over the desert landscape and take in the views of the mountains and cacti below. Enjoy a smooth ride as you float over the desert. Take in the views of the mountains and cacti below. After your flight, land safely back on celebrating the end of your scenic adventure.

Come join us on an adventurous tour along the Apache Trail and into the Sonora desert, then take a cruise on Dolly Steamboat through Canyon Lake. Driving into the Superstition Mountains, you will visit Tortilla Flat, a quaint Arizona town with a population of 6! Next, relax on a 90-minute cruise over picturesque Canyon Lake, with its magnificent desert surroundings. Don't forget your camera, as this is the ideal platform from which to snap postcard-perfect landscape photos. Your guide will then lead you into the desert for an explanation of the local flora, including the majestic Saguaro cactus and Arizona's state tree, the Palo Verde.

Ascend to the summit of the well-known peak for a 360-degree view of the Phoenix Metro Area and see the Sonoran Desert for more than 50 miles in every direction. Ascend the world-famous Camelback Mountain, at 2,707 feet, the highest and most popular peak in Phoenix, Arizona. With 1,300 feet in elevation gain, you’ll get your vert on … for sure! Experience a 360-degree view of the Valley of the Sun and the Sonoran Desert stretching out for more than 50 miles in every direction. Explore the world-famous Camelback Mountain—the most popular peak in Phoenix, Arizona, with a fun, experienced, local Mad Desert Trekking guide. Experience the thrill and accomplishment of summiting the highest mountain in Phoenix. We love Camelback Mountain … and we know you will, too. Our pro guides will show you the secrets of Camelback Mountain that few people know about. What to expect: - Difficulty: Very strenuous - Duration: 3-4 hours - Meeting times: 5-7 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. depending on the season - Meeting location: Your guide will meet you outside the Echo Canyon Trailhead building off E. McDonald Drive. Please note that the parking lot is sometimes full and you may have to wait for a parking spot. Getting a ride to the trailhead is highly recommended. - Drop-offs: Uber and Lyft drop-off and pick-up services available What to bring: - Closed-toe footwear such as running, cross-training, or hiking shoes with good tread and grip. No sandals, please. - Long-sleeved layers for sun protection and in case it's chilly - Sunglasses - Hat or cap What we provide: - All Mad Desert Trekking adventures are led by an expert, professional guide with either Wilderness First Responder or EMT certification - Lightweight backpacks for each hiker to use - Bottles of purified water - Healthy trail snacks. We can accommodate dietary preferences. - Any admission fees to parks or preserves - Refreshments following your adventure What's not included: - Gratuities for your guide. While it is at your discretion, we recommend a 20% tip for great service.

Experience a world-famous Arizona sunset on a low-speed, off-road sightseeing tour of the Sonoran Desert via the Tonto National Forest. Your professional tour guide, a certified off-road driver, will tell you about the Sonoran Desert flora, wildlife, Arizona history, and Native American ethnobotanical practices. Hop aboard the Jeep and cruise past the Pass by Pinnacle Peak Park, a scenic 3,169-foot granite summit located in North Scottsdale, and Reata Pass, the last standing buildings of an old western town. Hear about these locations and their significance. At sunset, stop at a panoramic lookout point that overlooks the historic Great Western Trail. Feel free to exit the Jeep and walk around the scenic lookout. Whether you're interested in a couple of group photos or a full Instagram shoot with your camera, your guides are also great photographers willing to help. Depending on cloud conditions, the sky typically changes to various shades of pink, red, orange, and purple, all within the backdrop of the stunning Sonoran Desert.

Meet your local guide at the trailhead and begin your adventure along a scenic route through a protected region of the Sonoran Desert. Discover unique geological features as well as native flora and fauna that are unique to the area. Experience the incredible mountains up close and personal. Ascend the switchbacks for incredible views of the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Camelback Mountain. Hike to a mountain saddle for a perfect view of Piestawa Peak and the surrounding desert mountain range. View an incredible sunset in the one-of-a-kind Sonoran Desert with a fun, experienced, local guide. Find out why Arizona’s sunsets are truly amazing.