Arizona is in the southwest corner of the United States. It is perfect for a choose-your-own-adventure holiday.
With its fascinating Wild West history and views that will knock your socks off, Arizona is a great road trip destination. It is ideal for a small group tour as there is plenty to see and do. Take in the natural beauty as you explore dramatic deserts, hike the Grand Canyon, and connect with the First Nations history of the area. With great weather and incredible rock formations, Arizona’s national parks have amazing hiking and cycling trails with some of the best views you’ll find anywhere. Add lively cities like Phoenix, Sedona and Tucson for the perfect United States adventure.
Stretch your legs on two wheels on a guided mountain bike ride. Bell Rock Trail is widely regarded as one of the most extensive, best-connected trails systems in the USA. Join an expert mountain biking guide who will lead the way along this mellow trail with plenty of ups and downs to keep things interesting. If you’re more experienced, you may like to pick up speed and get some air along the way. You don’t need to be an expert off-road cyclist to enjoy this trail which is suitable for all riding abilities.
Arizona is home to the most famous section of one of the world’s most famous driving routes: Route 66. You’ll get to see all the best bits on the 140km section of the route that travels from Kingman to Seligman, both of which are in Arizona. Kick off your trip at the Arizona Route 66 Museum which is packed with fascinating vehicles and photographs and has a movie theatre dedicated to Route 66. After passing through several atmospheric small towns, you’ll finish your trip in Seligman, the place that’s known as the birthplace of Route 66.
Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon, one of the largest canyon systems in the world. Spend a few days exploring the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, including the 4-hour trail to Skeleton Point, which offers great views of the river. Or you could head east to the Navajo Nation town of Cameron where you can buy traditional Navajo arts and crafts at the historic Cameron Trading Post. If you enjoy walking without the crowds, lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails at the Grand Canyon’s lesser visited North Rim where the Coconino Overlook offers spectacular canyon views.
See two of Sedona’s most celebrated landmarks, Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock, on a hiking trip with your leader. After you’ve climbed towards layered red sandstone, admire the desert plants that thrive in this region before you continue walking to Cathedral Rock, an impressive sandstone monolith that’s famous for its grand spires and arches. Follow original wagon trails up to a red rock saddle and take a moment to appreciate the view as you listen to stories about T.C. Schnebly and his wife Sedona, whom the town is named after.
Walk in the footsteps of prospectors and cowboys and raise a glass at one of the saloons along Whiskey Row in Prescott then gather your courage for a visit to the historic ghost town of Jerome which many people believe is haunted. Once a booming settlement, the town was home to more than 10,000 people in the 1920s, but mine closures have left Jerome with a population of just over 400. The people may have left, but their stories live on – take a tour with your leader through the town’s zig zagging streets and uncover its fascinating multilayered history.
Visit Montezuma Castle
Marvel at the well-preserved Montezuma Castle, a five-story building with 20 rooms built into the side of a cliff by the Sinagua People. Many local tribes believed the site was sacred and appreciated its natural beauty and tranquility. This significant structure was declared one of America’s first National Monuments by President Roosevelt in the early 1900s. Nearby you’ll discover an original irrigation canal, picnic areas, a historic homestead, and Montezuma Well which is still filled with water. If the day is warm, cool down with a stroll through the forest near the well.
Arizona tour reviews
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Western USA National Parks Loop
Rosemarie · Traveled April 2024
What a mind blowing experience. Amazing views. Fell in love with hiking from this trip!
Review submitted 23 Apr 2024
Western USA National Parks Loop
Calla · Traveled April 2024
This was my first intrepid trip, and I would do it all over again in a minute. Our group was so appreciative of all of the sites that we were able to see in such a short amount of time. All of the accommodations were clean and comfortable., some even including some seriously good breakfasts. Our tour guide., Indy, was fun, friendly, and very knowledgeable about all of our destinations. I highly recommend intrepid to anyone who is on the fence.
Review submitted 19 Apr 2024
Western USA National Parks Loop
Catherine · Traveled April 2024
Superb trip packed with interesting and fascinating destinations ; great accomodation and an amazing , friendly and knowledgeable guide. Five days really well spent with a fun group of travellers.
Review submitted 13 Apr 2024
Western USA National Parks Loop
Barbara · Traveled April 2024
This National Parks trip is a can't miss! The agenda is jam-packed in the best way, visiting Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, and Grand Canyon in the span of 5 days. Indy, our guide, was experienced, knowledgeable, and highly enthusiastic leading our group of 9 women. Certainly time well spent with a group I enjoyed getting to know. Some advice for those considering: it can get cold in the spring, so watch the weather. Bring snacks-- you'll work up an appetite staying active. If you can, do Antelope Canyon-- words don't do it justice.
Review submitted 13 Apr 2024
Western USA Family Holiday
Claire · Traveled March 2024
Our holiday to Western America was nothing short of amazing! We travelled as a multi generation family, ranging from 67 to 13. We saw some of the best scenery ever, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, and the Grand Canyon just to name a little of what we saw. Our tour guide Indy was brilliant, his knowledge of the area was absolutely incredible. We would 100% book an Intrepid trip again, we are already looking at where to go next.
Everything about our trip was just amazing! We've seen some of the best scenery Western America has to offer. Our tour guide Indy was just the best, super organised, and very knowledgeable. We would 100% recommend an Intrepid Trip to everyone :-)
Review submitted 08 Apr 2024
Arizona travel FAQs
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
Getting to Arizona is relatively easy with a number of different transportation options available.
You can fly into Arizona's main airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, or a smaller regional airport such as Tucson or Yuma.
You can also embark on a road trip from one of the neighboring states or catch public transport in the form of a bus or a train with several routes taking you to various destinations within the state.
Getting around Arizona is relatively easy due to the number of different transportation options available but your best bet is to hire a car.
If you're arriving by car the easiest way to get around Arizona is to drive with major highways that are easy to navigate and well maintained.
You can also fly between popular destinations within the state. It is possible to travel by bus between many of the major towns in Arizona but the train network is limited and not well suited to seeing the sights.
Arizona's climate is very similar to that of neighboring states such asNevadain that it is sunny most of the time.
Temperatures can vary quite a bit throughout the state depending on what time of the year you're visiting and where you're traveling to.
In winter, it's not unusual to see people walking around in shorts and t-shirts in the southern part of Arizona while heavy snow is falling up north. In winter, temperatures can drop to minus eight degrees Celsius near Flagstaff but remain close to 10 degrees Celsius in and around Phoenix.
Summer is pleasantly warm throughout the state with overnight temperatures staying in the double digits.
While Arizona is known for its natural wonders, desert landscapes, and extreme heat in summer (some regions experience eye-wateringly high temperatures of 41°C during June and July), the Grand Canyon state actually sees snowfall in some areas, particularly in the northern and high altitude parts of the state. These areas can sometimes attract as much as 100 inches of snow per year with regions such as Flagstaff in the state's north being one of the snowiest places to visit during the winter months, often experiencing weeks of freezing weather.
Larger populated cities in the southern part of the state, such as Tucson and Pheonix, are also known to receive a light dusting of snow from time to time, however, it usually doesn't last long as the temperatures aren't cold enough for it to stick to the ground for longer than 24 hours.
What to pack for Arizona depends on what time of the year you're traveling, but regardless of the season, there are items you should always pack.
Some of these include sensible and comfortable walking shoes (most likely you'll be doing a lot of hiking during your time in Arizona), a sun hat or cap, and some sunscreen (especially in summer).
If you're traveling in winter, be sure to pack trousers, sweaters, waterproof jackets, and thick coats to keep yourself warm if you're heading to the ski fields or cooler parts of the state like Flagstaff.
The best time to visit Arizona largely depends on what you want to get out of your vacation and what kind of activities you want to participate in while you're there.
When it comes to the weather, the best time to visit Arizona is between April and mid-June (before temperatures get too high) or from September to mid-October as the state is filled with the beautiful autumn colors of orange, red, and brown.
If you're planning on trekking through some of the state's national parks, then traveling during summer is advised against (unless you undertake extra planning) as temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
If you stick to the popular cities in Arizona such as Phoenix and Tucson, then your cell coverage shouldn't be affected.
If you're planning on spending time in one of the state's many national parks then you could experience some disruptions. Most national parks have reception areas or tourist hubs where cell phone access is available but if you're hiking through the park or you've stopped at a high-altitude viewpoint then your service is likely to be weak and unreliable.
Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travelers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travelers check with their government or national travel advisory organization for the latest information before departure:
We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations.
We are always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.