Arizona Tours & Holidays

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.

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 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.

Temperatures can vary quite a bit throughout the state depending on what time of the year you're visiting and where you're travelling.

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 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 colours 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 Celsius. 

If you stick to the popular cities in Arizona such as Phoenix and Tucson, then your mobile 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 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 takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to: Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to: Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to: US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

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 travellers 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.