Arizona Tours & Vacations

Trips on or before 31 December 2022

If your Intrepid trip starts on or before 31 December 2022, you must provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.

If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.

Children under 18 are exempt. Children aged between 5 and 17 years old must provide proof of either vaccination, recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers 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 travellers 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.

Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy

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 the ones in Tucson or Yuma. You can also embark on a road trip from one of the neighbouring 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 neighbouring states such as Nevada in that it is sunny most of the time. However, temperatures can vary quite a bit throughout the state depending on what time of the year you're visiting and where you're travelling 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 Celcius near Flagstaff but remain close to 10 degrees Celcius in and around Phoenix. Summer is pleasantly warm throughout the state with overnight temperatures staying in the double digits. 

Click to read about snow in Arizona

Click to read about how hot it gets in Arizona

What to pack for Arizona depends on what time of the year you're travelling 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 travelling 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 travelling during summer is advised against (unless you undertake extra planning) as temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celcius. 

If you stick to the popular cities in Arizona such as Phoenix and Tucson, then your mobile coverage shouldn't be affected. However, 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 mobile 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 is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. Major cities such as Phoenix and Tucson offer excellent access for travellers with disabilities but some of Arizona's natural wonders can make walking difficult for travellers who are less mobile on foot. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about Accessible Travel with Intrepid