On this tour we will NOT include the airfare, this gives you the flexibility to fly in days before or stay longer to extend your vacation, choose which airport to travel from and maybe use your own frequent flyer points.
$1,099(Per person based on double occupancy)
$1,299 (Single room, must be 18 years old)
Please let us know if you do not have a traveling partner and you want us helping you find another person of the same gender to share a room with to save $200.
To reserve a seat for this tour you must pay a $200 non-refundable deposit per person. Remaining balance is due latest xxxxx, if the remaining balance is not received on that day, the reservation will be considered cancelled with loss of the deposit. Reservations for this tour made after xxxxxx must be paid in full at time of reservation. (If seats are still available)
The following is included in the price:
4 nights accommodations at a 2-3 Star comfortable hotel
4 Breakfasts at the hotels
3 Lunches
4 Dinners
Sightseeing & activities every day
All local transportation w. private van from Phoenix Hotel to Phoenix Airport
Saguaro National Park entrance fee
Picacho Peak State Park entrance fee
Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch entrance fee
Scenic Nature Steamboat Cruise on Canyon Lake
Kartchner Caverns entrance fee
Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway Tour
Tonto National Forest visit
Santa Catalina Mountains visit
Goldfield Ghost Town visit
Papago Park visit
South Mountain Park and Preserve visit
Tucson Mountain Park visit
Tombstone historic town visit
Chiricahua National Monument visit
Tour coordinator during the whole tour from Phoenix hotel to Phoenix airport
Wifi at the hotels
All taxes and fees
Not included in price:
Airfare and luggage fees from and to NYC
Any snack between meals
Any insurance
One Lunch
Taxi/Uber from the Airport to Hotel
Show ticket in Tombstone (If a show is playing when we are there and if you want to see one. Approx $10)
Gratuities for your guides/driver (Tipping your tour guide is left to your discretion)
TOUR START
The tour will start from Hotel Quality Inn & Suites, Goodyear Phoenix West AZ on xxxxx, you can check in to the hotel any time after 3 pm. This will give you an opportunity to fly in from NYC with any flights that you prefer on the same day or days before. You can easily take a taxi or an Uber/Lift from the airport to the hotel. We will leave and start our drive next day xxxxx from the hotel in the morning. When we meet in the morning of xxxxxx, we have a Liability waiver for you to sign. You can find our Liability waiver in a link to the left on our website. If you can't agree to sign this waiver, please don't book a tour with us, this is a requirement from our insurance company.
The Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway
We will explore the Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway is also known as the Mount Lemmon Drive, Catalina Highway, Sky Islands Scenic Byway or General Hitchcock Highway, this is one of the most scenic drives in the US. Starting from the edge of Tucson Arizona this scenic 27 mile long drive crosses portions of the Catalina Range to Mount Lemmon.
As we drive up to Mount Lemmon, we will ascend more than 6,000 feet and travel through multiple different ecosystems. At the lower portions of the drive, you will see thousands of Saguaro cacti and at the top is a conifer forest, it is basically like driving from the dessert in Mexico to the forest in Canada in only 27 miles. We will make several stops on the way to enjoy spectacular viewpoints.
Scenic Nature Steamboat Cruise on Canyon Lake
Nestled in the heart of the Superstition Mountains lies the spectacular Canyon Lake, home of the Dolly Steamboat. Continuing a tradition of cruising since 1925, the Dolly Steamboat now cruises the secluded inner waterways of this beautiful lake.
You will enjoy a 1 ½ hour relaxing cruise, while taking in stunning desert mountain views, you might also see desert bighorn sheep, bald eagles and a host of other wildlife
Goldfield Ghost Town
We will visit Goldfield Ghost Town in the Superstition Mountains. Once upon a time this was a bustling town that had struck gold in 1892 with a community of up to 4,000 people. Five years later, after prospectors had dug out all of the gold, the population deflated, and Goldfield went ghost dark. It had a sputtering revival between 1910 and 1926 (renamed as Youngsberg), then waned again. In 1943, a fire accidentally caused by an errant military training flare burned down 60% of Goldfield. Eventually all of the buildings were gone, and parts were salvaged and carted off elsewhere.
Now Goldfield booms once again as a commercial Ghost Town, with a sprawling array of recreated Wild West buildings. You will get to walk around to view the old buildings and experience old western charm.
Rooster Gogburn Ostrich Farm
Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch is a three-generation family owned and operated working ostrich ranch. When it first opened to the public in 1999, they only had ostriches at the farm, but now they have Miniature Sicilian Donkeys, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Fallow Deer, Peking Ducks, Goats, Rainbow Lorikeets (Parrots) and Stingrays. The cool thing about this place is that you get to hand feed all the animals.
The farm has been featured in many TV shows such as “Larry the Cable Guy – Only in America”, “Extreme Roadside Attractions”, “Chef vs City”, “Amazing Animals”, “Arizona Highways”, and many more.
Saguaro National Park
We will visit this National Park, home to a large concentration of the nation's largest cacti, the giant saguaro. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west, these majestic plants, found only in the Sonoran Desert are protected by Saguaro National Park. The park was upgraded from a National Monument to a National Park in 1994. We will drive through the park and indulge in a few short hikes.
Saguaros grow very slowly, a young cactus may only grow 1 to 1.5 inches in its first 8 years, while an adult saguaro can reach 60 feet in height. The tallest saguaro ever measured was 78 feet. A saguaro starts to flower around 35 years and produces its first arm around 50 years of age. At 125 years, a saguaro is generally considered an adult. The lifespan of the saguaro is 150 to 200 years. On the photo to the right, you see a saguaro cactus next to a 6'3" tall man.
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Kartchner Caverns State Park is a state park in Arizona. We will explore its main attraction Kartchner Caverns on a guided tour. The massive limestone cave was discovered in 1974 and is home to many outstanding features, including one of the longest soda straw stalactite formations in the world (21 ft 2 in) and a 58-foot high column called Kubla Khan. The cavern was Voted "Best Arizona Attraction" by USA Today in 2017 Reader's Choice Awards, which says a lot for a state that also is home to the Grand Canyon and was voted “Best Cave in the US” in 2016 by USA Today.
Chiricahua National Monument
Chiricahua National Monument is located in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The monument was established in 1924, to protect its extensive hoodoos, balancing rocks and surreal pinnacles that can be several hundred feet in height. These formations dominate the park’s landscape, while caves, mountains and lava flows add variety to the setting.
We will stop by the visitor center and drive on an 8-mile scenic drive through the park; we will also stop at some view points and indulge ourselves in some smaller hikes.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a 98-acre world-renowned zoo, natural history museum, aquarium and botanical garden, all in one place. You will see some endangered animals such as the Mexican wolf, thick-billed parrot, ocelot, margay, jaguarundi, and the Gila topminnow; and not-so-endangered critters like leafcutter ants, black bears, river otters, bighorn sheep, coatis, beavers, coyote, javelinas, black-tailed prairie dogs, termites and roadrunners. And don't miss the captivating cactus garden and the Hummingbird Aviary
South Mountain Park and Preserve
We will visit this mountainous area South of central Phoenix, it was originally called Phoenix Mountain Park. We will drive up to a lookout point rising over 1000 feet above the desert floor and experience the spectacular view of Phoenix and the surrounding area.
Tombstone
Tombstone is a historic town in southern Arizona, it was founded in 1877 and it became one of the last boomtowns in the American frontier. Today it is considered the most authentic western ton left in the United States. The town grew significantly into the mid-1880s as the local mines produced from 40 to 85 million dollars in silver bullion, the largest productive silver district in Arizona. Its population grew from 100 to around 14,000 in less than seven years. It is best known as the site of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and presently draws most of its revenue from tourism.
You will have time to walk around and step back in time to enjoy the Old West Atmosphere. You will find many historical buildings, small museums and maybe even be able to experience gunfight reenactment show. (At your own cost, approx. $10)
The Apache Trail
We will drive part of this very scenic road, once described by Teddy Roosevelt: "The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies, the magnificence of the Grand Canyon, and then adds an indefinable something that none of the others have. To me, it is the most awe-inspiring and most sublimely beautiful."
The Apache Trail has an interesting history. The road is actually hundreds of years old and was first blazed by the Apache Indians who used the route to move through the Superstition Mountains. The road was built from 1903-1905 to facilitate construction of the Roosevelt Dam.
Tucson Mountain Park
Tucson Mountain Park was established April 1929. At approximately 20,000 acres, the park is one of the largest natural resource areas owned and managed by a local government in the U.S. We will drive through the park to view it’s spectacular desert mountains and will stop by some viewpoints.
Papago Park– Hole-in-the-Rock
Hole-in-the-Rock is a series of openings in a small hill composed of red sandstone. The openings are thought to have been eroded by water. An open, shelter-like chamber in the face of the formation has eroded completely through the rock. The formation is a popular attraction in the park and can be reached by a relatively short hike. The hill provides a good view of the city of Phoenix.
Picacho Peak State Park
Picacho Peak State Park is a state park surrounding the Picacho Peak in Arizona Sonoran Desert. The summit rises to 3,374 feet above mean sea level and its centerpiece spire is visible from downtown Tucson, a distance of 45 miles away. We will indulge ourselves in a short hike, where you will walk amongst giant saguaro cacti, the largest cactus in the US.
Accommodation
We will stay at 2 different hotels on this tour, to make it affordable for everyone; we will choose basic but comfortable 2-3-star hotels. You rooms will always have private bath and free Wifi and most of them will also have a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and Flat screen HDTV.
Food Included in price
Day 1: No food included
Day 2: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Note: Please understand that since the start of the Covid pandemic many hotel breakfast menus have been downsized or replaced with grab-and-go items, mostly because many hotels are short-staffed, so please have realistic expectations and have an open mind regarding the breakfast that is served at the hotel.
TOUR FINISH
On the last day xxxxx we will drop you off at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at xxxxx pm. This will give you an opportunity to fly back with an overnight flight to NYC the same evening or you can stay more days and enjoy Phoenix if you wish.
Recommended Arizona Packing List
BAGS
We have limited space in our transportation vehicle. Please don’t bring more than one small to medium size suitcase or duffel bag (Max 22" x 15" x 10') and one small backpack for day tours per person. Check with your airline for weight and size restrictions. For your carry-on bag, please make sure that any containers with liquids are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 ml).
IDENTIFICATION
□ A valid government issued identification (very important, you need this for the flight, Hines Tours are not responsible if you are denied boarding due to an invalid identification, missing identification or for any other reasons)
CLOTHES
Dress in layers. Between the different places that we will visit we will most likely experience temperatures anywhere from 50 to 85 degrees.
□ Underclothes and socks
□ T-shirts
□ Sweaters
□ Light / Fall Jacket
□ Hiking Pants
□ Shorts
□ Swimsuit
□ Hiking Boots / Sneakers with good traction
□ Rain Gear
□ Hat, Gloves & Scarf
ELECTRONICS
□ Phone and charger
□ Camera, charger and maybe extra memory & Battery
MEDICATION
□ Allergy medicine if needed
□ Pain relievers
□ Band-aids
□ Motion sickness medicine if needed
□ Any prescribed medication
TOILETRIES
□ Toothbrush and Toothpaste
□ Travel-sized lotion, shampoo, and body wash
□ Contact lens case and solution
MISCELLANEOUS
□ Insect repellant
□ National Park Passport (if you own one)
□ Sun block and sunglasses
□ Small collapsible cooler for a lunch pack
□ Cash and Credit Card/Debit Card
(We will pay for the hotel room, but you will have to give the hotel your credit card/debit card info which only will be used for incidentals such as long distance phone calls or damages the hotel room including smoking)
MULTI DAY FLYING TOURS Cancellation Fees (Per Person)
30 days or more before departure - Loss of deposit
15 – 29 days before departure - 50% of tour price
14 days or less before departure - No refund or tour credit.
If you are concerned about losing money due to illness or other unpredictable matters, we highly recommend buying travel insurance. We can recommend www.insuremytrip.com or www.squaremouth.com (Hines Tours is not affiliated with either of these sites in any form).
