Top Phoenix Half-day Tours

Take in gorgeous views of the Sonoran Desert and feel like you’re floating on a cloud during an exhilarating hot air balloon ride from Phoenix. You’ll experience the perfect start to your day followed by Champagne breakfast. Each flight lasts about an hour, with optional round-trip transport from your hotel.

Spend time aboard a single-rider ATV during a thrilling off-road tour in the Sonoran Desert. Ride on rugged and rocky trails in the scenic Bradshaw Mountains and cross the Aqua Fria River during the scenic journey. Your guide is knowledgeable about the region's plant life, wildlife, and history, with plenty of stories to share.

Spend a thrilling day aboard a Kawasaki Teryx UTV during an off-road tour in the Sonoran Desert. Ride on rugged and rocky trails in the scenic Bradshaw Mountains and cross the Aqua Fria River during the scenic journey. Your guide is knowledgeable about the region's plant life, wildlife, and history, with plenty of stories to share.

Enjoy a picturesque hot-air balloon flight over the mammoth Sonoran Desert in North Phoenix on this sunrise flight. Experience stunning 360-degree views of the hottest desert in North America and its surrounding landscape while floating effortlessly across the sky at dawn. Then celebrate with a traditional champagne toast and breakfast after the flight. Transportation to and from the landing site is included.

Take in the highlights of Phoenix and Scottsdale, the largest cities in the Sonoran Desert, during this tour with a knowledgeable guide. Discover history and architecture in downtown Phoenix, at the Arizona State Capitol, Arizona Biltmore and more. Learn how Phoenix has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Neighboring Scottsdale features a vibrant downtown district full of local businesses and cultural events. Choose between a small-group or private tour.

Wake up early to experience a Sonoran Desert sunrise, and transform it into a story by seeing it from a birds-eye view. This hot air balloon ride from Phoenix takes you into the air with a professional guide who will narrate your trip. You’ll learn about the wildlife and history of this unique desert, then celebrate with Champagne and breakfast hors d’oeuvres.

Float over the Sonoran Desert in a hot air balloon! Depart before daybreak to get incredible views of the desert sun as it rises. Be a part of the action as the balloon is inflated to the height of an 11-story building. If the wind is right, you can go inside for amazing photos. Following the flight, be greeted on the ground with breakfast in the desert.

The Sonora Desert is at its best light at sunset. See the desert beauty from above with this sunset ride in a hot air balloon under the skilled guidance of your FAA certified pilot. Be treated to views of the desert plants and wildlife as day changes into night. Following the trip, land in the desert and celebrate your adventure with champagne and hors d’oeuvres.

Enjoy a picturesque hot-air balloon flight over the mammoth Sonoran Desert in North Phoenix on this 1-hour sunset flight. Experience breathtaking 360-degree views of the hottest desert in North America and its surrounding landscape while floating effortlessly across the sky at dusk. Then celebrate with a traditional champagne toast and catered food after the flight. Commemorative flight certificate, plus transportation to and from the landing site is included.

Take a single-rider ATV into the Sonoran Desert and test your marksmanship skills at a private shooting range. Head off-road on rugged trails amid the scenic Bradshaw Mountains and cross the Aqua Fria River during a scenic journey. Certified NRA instructors help you shoot 9mm handguns, AK47 semi-automatic rifles, and AR-15 semi-automatic rifles.

If you’ve ever wanted to raft a river, but don’t know how, get out of the Phoenix heat on a beginner-friendly float. Discover a scenic desert oasis less than an hour from the city. Your guide steers the boat and provides fascinating facts about the flora and fauna of the unique Sonoran Desert. Your whole family can swim, play, or just relax together on this small group adventure.

Soar gently into the desert sunset on a hot air balloon. This experience will stay with you long after the concluding reception has finished, the champagne toast has been drunk, and the gourmet hors d’oerves have been nibbled. Your pilot will carefully plan a flight path based on weather conditions, giving you a safe and exciting ride over the Sonora Desert and metro Phoenix.

Wander off the beaten path and into the heart of Phoenix to discover the ancient and modern legends hiding in charming historic neighborhoods, breathtaking architecture, iconic landmarks, mural filled alleys and more!

The main focus of this tour is flying through the widest and deepest part of the Grand Canyon, about 1000 ft. above the south rim and equal to the north rim. We are one of only 3 companies in the world allowed to do this overflight where the canyon is 17 miles across and 1 mile deep.

Travel back in time to 1800s Wild West on an 8-hour group tour. After comfortable transfer from your Phoenix or North Scottsdale accommodation, climb on board a horse and giddy up on a 1- or 2-hour trail ride. Later, try your hand at archery, axe throwing, and (steel) calf wrangling. Between cowboy activities, enjoy a provided hot dog, hamburger, or chicken lunch with plenty of side dishes.

SUNSET. ART. NATURE. SHOP. This tour is designed to show you the best the Valley has to offer at a comfortable pace. Three of the most popular cities with incredible photo ops. Perfect blend of art, nature, shopping, history, and a fantastic sunset experience. Private tour for up to four guests. For those who want a more personalized, professional guide. Great for a single person, couple, family, or small party. *guests are welcome to purchase and enjoy alcoholic beverages at any of the local bars along the way.

Ride a Kawasaki Teryx UTV into the Sonoran Desert and test your marksmanship skills at a private shooting range. Head off-road on rugged trails amid the scenic Bradshaw Mountains and cross the Aqua Fria River during a scenic journey. Certified NRA instructors help you shoot 9mm handguns, AK47 semi-automatic rifles and AR-15 semi-automatic rifles.

The trip is a scenic, unguided, four and a half hour kayaking journey down the Lower Salt River. Starting at Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch, you and your group will kayak down a leisurely thirteen mile stretch of river as it moves it's way through the Tonto National Forest. Participants often witness wild horses, otters, birds and other wildlife that cool off in the river during the summer months. We have the special privilege of being the only kayak rental company located right on the Salt River, so our trips launch directly from our site which you are returned to via shuttle after your trip. Each reservation includes a kayak rental, paddle, PFD and return shuttle to starting site. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to launch time so you may complete waivers, prepare belongings, receive safety orientation prior to the scheduled launch time.  Water, sunscreen and dry bags are for sale. Orientation is mandatory and includes basic paddling, water safety and geography of the river.

Explore the famous architecture, modern art, and desert views that make the cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale such a magical sight. This half-day tour showcases the city's tremendous diversity of culture, scenery, and history, set against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert. Your pickup begins your excursion to explore the historic Arizona State Capitol building, Old Town Scottsdale, the incredible architecture of the "Jewel of the Desert" at the Arizona Biltmore, and one of the beautiful mountain parks in the Valley.

Set off with a small group limited to four people on a photography tour of the Sonoran Desert. This early morning workshop is ideal for anyone with an interest in nature photography. Outings take place March–June to maximize springtime photo ops. The instructor, a professional photographer, guides participants on a slow 2.5-mile (4-km) walk to train their “photographer's eye” to see beauty in subtle forms.

The Lower Salt River is a class I river (the easiest rating on the international river difficulty scale) that provides some of the best opportunities for viewing wildlife and bird watching in the Southwest. We often see wild horses and bald eagles during our tour! Your guides are available to teach you the natural history of the area and give you expert paddling instruction.

If you would like to learn how to take amazing sunset photographs and night shots of urban lights at their best – or learn to be even better than before – then this is the workshop for you. You will get several key photo ops and you will be able to creating exciting glamorous sunset, evening and night photos. This workshop is an entirely different approach to photography which enhances the artistic nature of your images, and causes them to be significantly more interesting.

Discover the stars above the desert of Arizona on a 3-hour walking tour at night that departs from Scottsdale. Get away from the light pollution of the city when you enter the desert, and learn from your guide about basic astronomy and ancient navigation traditions of local indigenous peoples. Telescopes and binoculars are provided for better viewing, along with black lights and flashlights for the walk.