We're not joking when we say the Southwest has it all...

Where else can you find sprawling deserts, (Grand) canyons, coastal towns, wine regions and waterfalls — all within one region? Whether you want to weave through Zion's soaring slot canyons, get a taste of old-fashioned Americana on the iconic Route 66 or explore Joshua Tree's unique cactus gardens, big adventures await. Throw in a passionate local leader, a small group of like-minded travellers and some legendary Southwestern hospitality, and you have yourself an unforgettable experience in the U.S. of A.

Our Southwest USA tours

5 Days From 24927

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

8 Days From 39135

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

5 Days From 18333

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

4 Days From 35055

Discover the very best of Northern Arizona on this 4-day hiking adventure through...

10 Days From 56248

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

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

4 Days From 33245

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

5 Days From 59310

Explore Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park,...

13 Days From 31102

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

11 Days From 44260

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

9 Days From 57685

Explore Las Vegas, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef, Arches National Park, Zion...

14 Days From 59135

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

5 Days From 47525

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

18 Days From 82220

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

5 Days From 36235

Explore Joshua Tree and Death Valley on a five-day small group tour which includes...

6 Days From 50050

Wander the Pueblo streets of Santa Fe and Taos, explore ancient cliff dwellings and...

5 Days From 26290

Trek through Canyonlands National Park in Utah on this moderate hiking and backpacking...

3 Days From 22820

Experience Utah’s most famous national park as a standalone canyon country experience...

4 Days From 26370

Experience Death Valley’s narrow canyons, vast dune fields, lava flows, scenic...

4 Days From 25975

Experience Joshua Tree’s surreal landscapes, cool oases, and famous Joshua Trees on a 4...

6 Days From 34505

Experience Utah’s most famous national park destinations and see the best of Zion,...

6 Days From 56140

Hike through Death Valley National Park and Joshua Tree National Park, experiencing...

4 Days From 25425

Take a hiking trip through Utah’s Coyote Gulch in the United States and trek past...

8 Days From 48334

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

17 Days From 104572

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

6 Days From 33640

See the best of California’s National Parks as you visit Sequoia and Yosemite National...

10 Days From 64195

Explore Western USA on this trip from Vegas to San Francisco, visiting the Grand Canyon...

16 Days From 60500

Take an epic American trip, camping and hiking through national parks from San...

Highlights of Southwest USA

A lone traveller walking through the arid landscape of Joshua Tree National Park on his way to Ryan Mountain

Joshua Tree National Park

Get your feet dusty as you explore one of Cali's most unique landscapes. Joshua Tree is more like nature's playground than a national park. See the unusual Teddy Bear Cholla Garden (warning: these cacti are not soft, do not cuddle!), navigate through narrow canyons on the Maze Trail, and hike to a giant boulder known as Skull Rock to admire the desert flora stretching as far as the eye can see.

The iconic vantage point at Park Avenue in Arches National Park, Utah

Arches National Park

Scattered with over 2,000 free-standing rock formations, we’d forgive you for mistaking Arches National Park for Mars. Explore one of the Southwest’s most spellbinding landscapes as you weave through sandstone fins on the Fiery Furnace hike, crawl and scramble along the Devil’s Garden trail, or float down the Colorado River on a standup paddle board.

People enjoying the beautiful views at the Grand Canyon at sunset

Grand Canyon National Park

At 29 kilometres wide, 1.5 kilometres deep and 446 kilometres long, it's impossible to comprehend the vastness of the Grand Canyon when you see it sprawled in front of you. Gaze in awe from multiple viewpoints along the South Rim Trail, explore steep red-rock escarpments and gorges as you snake down the canyon to Plateau Point or learn about the park's Indigenous history and geology with a naturalist guide.

A group of hikers doing the Narrows hike in Zion National Park

Zion National Park

Are you ready to tick off one of the world's best slot canyon hikes? The iconic Virgin River Narrows will have you wading through rushing river passages as you wind through a towering slot canyon buttressed with 300-metre-tall cliffs. Hidden away from the crowds who tend to stick to the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, this is the Zion most don't get to experience. Don't forget your waterproof boots!

Southwest USA tour reviews

Southwest USA 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

The Southwestern states can have stinking hot summers and cold winters. When to visit depends on what you're into, but the shoulder months of April/May and September/October are considered to be the best. During these months, it's not too hot or cold and crowds are relatively thin. The summer (June-August) is a good time to visit if you don't mind the heat and larger crowds.

Summer in the Southwest can be extremely hot and stuffy, while winters are cold with snowy, icy conditions across much of Colorado and higher elevations. For summer, we recommend loose layers and a light jacket for the evening. Folks in the Southwest typically dress casually during the day, but you may want to bring one or two smart casual outfits for when you head out for dinner or drinks. For winter trips, bring warm layers including a heavy jacket, gloves and beanie.

If you're heading to one of the region's national parks or plan on hiking in the mountains, you'll need proper walking shoes, adequate layers and a waterproof jacket. It can be quite a bit cooler (especially at night) at higher elevations.

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. 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.

The United States is mostly a safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travellers. Same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states, and there are some anti-discrimination laws to protect sexual orientation and gender identity. In more rural areas and smaller towns (which tend to be more conservative), overt displays of affection can attract negative responses. 

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex before you travel.

If you're travelling solo on an Intrepid trip, you'll share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travellers who do not wish to share a room.

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveler. 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

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