Nevada is the most mountainous state in the United States and home to magnificent National Parks. 

It's also where you will find Las Vegas which has an edgy excitement all its own and some of the best shopping, drinking, and dining in the country. However, there is more to Nevada than its world-famous 'Sin City'. While there's no denying Las Vegas offers plenty of excitement, nothing can compare to the thrill of exploring Nevada's stunning natural landscape. The Valley of Fire, the state's oldest and biggest state park, draws visitors from around the world who come to marvel at dramatic red rock canyons, sandstone cliffs and ancient petrified trees. Along with catching a big-name show or partying the night away in Las Vegas, you can explore the wilderness on two wheels, hike through incredible backcountry, spot peregrine falcons in the wild, marvel at the mighty Hoover Dam and raft through the Black Canyon. Nevada is the perfect destination for a small group tour that’s big on variety and adventure.

Our Nevada tours & vacations

5 Days From 1751

Set off on a five-day adventure through some of the USA’s most epic scenery, including...

8 Days From 1936

Explore rugged Utah on this eight-day adventure. Hit Zion National Park, Monument...

5 Days From 1250

Take a five-day road trip from Los Angeles to Vegas, stopping by Joshua Tree National...

6 Days From 1076

Hit the road from Las Vegas to San Francisco on a six-day adventure, stopping by...

10 Days From 3689

From the famed LA streets to the glitz of the Vegas strip, travel through the hush of...

4 Days From 1684

Explore Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Antelope Canyon on this glamping adventure...

8 Days From 2968

Drive, hike and explore your way through Nevada and California, hitting Yosemite...

13 Days From 2646

Take an adventure through California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada past Joshua Tree, Grand...

11 Days From 2329

Travel from LA via Joshua Tree, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite, Sierra Nevada to...

14 Days From 2928

Beginning in Las Vegas, see Zion, Moab and Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, Yosemite, the...

5 Days From 2875

Discover the best of the USA’s Wild West on a six-day family Zion ranch stay in Utah....

18 Days From 4327

Travel for 18 days from Los Angeles to San Francisco, passing through Las Vegas, the...

17 Days From 6639

From Los Angeles to San Francisco, take a trip through the USA’s best National Parks....

Things to do in Nevada

Old saloon building in the ghost town of Goldfield

Explore the Goldfield ghost town

The ghost town of Goldfield used to be the largest and wealthiest city in Nevada thanks to a huge gold discovery in the early 1900s. Once housing a population of around 20,000 people, Goldfield is now home to around 200 local residents and a fascinating local history with buildings that appear to be trapped in time. Walk around town and admire the original courthouse, Santa Fe Saloon, and the haunted Goldfield Hotel which had all the mod-cons including telephones, electricity, and heating when it opened in 1908.

Cocktail glass with Las Vegas in the background

Try your luck in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is best known as a gambler's paradise but you don’t need a date with Lady Luck to have a great night out in Vegas. Check out a glitzy show at one of the big hotels like The Venetian or Caesars Palace, watch the choreographed Bellagio fountain shoot water into the air, or perhaps head to a rooftop bar or one of the hundreds of local restaurants with your tour group. Las Vegas dining establishments provide a first-rate culinary experience and a fun night out with an irresistible dash of Vegas razzle dazzle. 

Peregrine falcon with a grey sky

Spot local wildlife

Nevada has around 900 species of birds, fish, amphibians, mammals, and reptiles. When you’re visiting National Parks, keep an eye out for desert bighorn sheep (the official State animal of Nevada), antelope, Rocky Mountain goats, and black bears. On the ground you might come across desert tortoises, Columbia spotted frogs or western diamondback rattlesnakes. Needless to say, don’t get too close to the latter. In the skies overhead, it’s not uncommon to see peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and mountain bluebirds.

Hoover Dam aerial view

Marvel at Hoover Dam

It takes just 30 minutes to drive from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam which sits on the border of Arizona and Nevada. The dam supplies hydroelectric power to millions of residents and is the reason nearby Boulder City was created as the town was used to house the thousands of workers who built and worked at the dam. The rather grandly named Bureau of Reclamation has been showing visitors around the dam and power plant since the 1930s when Boulder Dam (as it was known then) was originally built.

Traveller in the Valley of Fire

See Nevada on two wheels

With great weather and a captivating landscape, Nevada is the perfect destination for a cycling adventure. Cruise along lightly trafficked roads through dramatic desert scenery as you wind your way beneath bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops in the Valley of Fire. Ancient natural and man-made history is everywhere, from petrified trees to petroglyphs dating back thousands of years. While some routes involve a good amount of climbing, the views are an effective distraction as you and take in the surrounding scenery.

Black Canyon view from Hoover Dam

Raft through the Black Canyon

Take a leisurely rafting trip through Black Canyon and learn about the history, desert wildlife and beauty of this otherwise inaccessible and rugged landscape below Hoover Dam. On this laid back tour, you’ll get to look up at the mighty concrete walls and gain a different perspective of Hoover Dam from the water. Along with taking in the beauty of the surrounding area there is also time for a swim in the calm waters of Black Canyon and a trip across the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.

Nevada tour reviews

Nevada FAQs

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 Nevada is relatively easy with a number of different transportation options available. These include flying into Reno or Las Vegas, embarking on a road trip from one of the neighbouring states, or catching public transport in the form of a bus or a train with several routes taking you to various destinations within the state. 

Getting around Nevada is relatively easy due to the number of different transportation options available. If you're arriving by car then it is easy to drive around the state 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 most towns in Nevada but the train network is limited.  

Nevada's climate is very similar to that of neighbouring states such as Utah in that it has a very dry, semi-arid, and desert climate. This means that summers can get very hot although there is little chance of humidity as Nevada is considered one of the driest states in America. Despite the dry, desert-like climate, Nevada still experiences four very distinct seasons with temperatures in winter averaging between 32°F and 59°F. 

What to pack for Nevada depends on what time of the year you're travelling in but regardless of the season, there are some items you should always pack. Some of these items include sensible and comfortable walking shoes (most likely you'll be doing a lot of hiking during your time in Nevada), 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. 

Read about helmet requirements

The best time to visit Nevada 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 Nevada is between April and mid-June (before temperatures get too high) or from August to mid-October as the state is filled with the beautiful fall 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 100°F. 

If you stick to the popular cities in Nevada such as Las Vegas, 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. 

If you stick to the popular cities in Nevada such as Las Vegas, then your internet 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 Wi-Fi 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 Las Vegas offer excellent access for travellers with disabilities but some of Nevada'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

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveller. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. 

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe.

Find out more or make a donation

Read more about the United States