Southern Arizona: Desert Wonders & Western Stories

Introduction

November 3–9, 2027 / 7 Days 6 Nights

Southern Arizona: Desert Wonders & Western Stories

Our adventure in the Sonoran Desert begins the moment we step off the plane in Phoenix and board our waiting coach for the journey south into Arizona. En route to Tucson, we stop at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, one of the most remarkable prehistoric sites in North America. This ancient multi-story structure — built over 700 years ago by the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People and protected as the nation’s first archaeological reserve since 1892 — is a genuinely stirring first encounter with the deep history of the Southwest. We explore the Ruins Trail and visitor center before continuing south to Tucson for lunch and check-in.

Tour Costs:

Double Package: $4450

Single Package: $5199

Deposit due at booking: $500

Final Payment Due: August 3, 2027

Journey Highlights

At a glance

Southern Arizona: Desert Wonders & Western Stories

Wednesday, November 3, 2027

Thursday, November 4, 2027

Friday, November 5, 2027

Saturday, November 6, 2027

Sunday, November 7, 2027

Monday, November 8, 2027

Tuesday, November 9, 2027

Map

Wednesday, November 3, 2027

Day 1 - Arrive Tucson, Casa Grande Ruins & Welcome Dinner

Wednesday, November 3, 2027

Arrive in Tucson, Explore Casa Grande Ruins, Welcome Dinner

Group Pick Up and Airport Transfer

Departure

Albany, Comfort Suites

Wednesday, Nov 3, 202703:00

Destination

Portland International Airport

Early morning group pick up from Albany, Salem, Woodburn, and Tualatin, followed by transfer to Portland International Airport for check-in and baggage drop.

Flight: Portland to Tucson

Portland International Airport

Tucson International Airport

Depart Portland International Airport and arrive at Tucson International Airport.

Journey to Tucson & Casa Grande Ruins

Our adventure in the Sonoran Desert begins the moment we step off the plane in Phoenix and board our waiting coach for the journey south into Arizona. En route to Tucson, we stop at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, one of the most remarkable prehistoric sites in North America. This ancient multi-story structure - built over 700 years ago by the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People and protected as the nation's first archaeological reserve since 1892 - is a genuinely stirring first encounter with the deep history of the Southwest. We explore the Ruins Trail and visitor center before continuing south to Tucson for lunch and check-in.

Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Check inWednesday, Nov 3, 2027

We check into our home for the week, the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa, nestled against the Santa Catalina Mountains with desert views in every direction.

Welcome Dinner at the Resort

DateWednesday, Nov 3, 2027

This evening we gather for a welcome dinner together at the resort, raising a glass to the days ahead.

Thursday, November 4, 2027

Day 2 - Saguaro National Park & Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Thursday, November 4, 2027

Saguaro Cacti, Desert Museum, and Tucson Dining

Breakfast at the Resort

DateThursday, Nov 4, 2027

After breakfast at the resort, we venture into Saguaro National Park West, where towering saguaro cacti—some over 150 years old and 40 feet tall—line the desert horizon in every direction.

Saguaro National Park West Scenic Drive

DateThursday, Nov 4, 2027

Our narrated scenic drive along the Bajada Loop brings the extraordinary Sonoran Desert landscape right to our windows, with stops for photography and fresh desert air.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Visit

DateThursday, Nov 4, 2027

We spend the afternoon at the world-renowned Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a remarkable open-air institution that is part zoo, part botanical garden, and part natural history museum.

Lunch at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

DateThursday, Nov 4, 2027

We enjoy a leisurely lunch with panoramic views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore the grounds at your own pace before we return to the resort.

Group Dinner at Classic Western Tucson Restaurant

DateThursday, Nov 4, 2027

This evening we gather for a group dinner at a classic western Tucson restaurant before returning to the resort to rest under desert stars.

Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Check inThursday, Nov 4, 2027

Overnight: Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Friday, November 5, 2027

Day 3 - Mission San Xavier, Sabino Canyon & The Tucson Museum of Art

Friday, November 5, 2027

Sabino Canyon Tram, Tucson Art, Downtown Lunch

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area Tram Ride

DateFriday, Nov 5, 2027

This morning we travel to Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, tucked into the foothills of the Santa Catalinas northeast of the city. We board the narrated Crawler tram for a leisurely ride deep into the canyon, where dramatic rock formations, seasonal stream beds, and saguaro-studded canyon walls create one of the most beautiful natural scenes in all of southern Arizona. The tram makes stops throughout, and guests are welcome to step out and take in the scenery before reboarding.

Lunch in Historic Downtown Tucson

DateFriday, Nov 5, 2027

After lunch in the heart of Tucson’s historic downtown, we spend the afternoon at the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block.

Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block Visit

DateFriday, Nov 5, 2027

The museum tells the story of this region from its ancient indigenous roots through its Spanish colonial era and into the present day, and its collection of American West art is genuinely impressive. The surrounding Presidio neighborhood and Fourth Avenue arts district invite leisurely exploration before we make our way back to the resort.

Evening at Leisure in Tucson

This evening is yours to enjoy on your own. Our tour director will provide dining recommendations for every taste — from Tucson’s legendary Mexican food scene to fine dining options nearby.

Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Check inFriday, Nov 5, 2027

Overnight: Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Saturday, November 6, 2027

Day 4 - Kartchner Caverns & Tombstone

Saturday, November 6, 2027

Explore Kartchner Caverns and Tombstone's Wild West

Kartchner Caverns State Park Ranger-Led Tour

DateSaturday, Nov 6, 2027

We depart this morning for Kartchner Caverns State Park, one of the most remarkable living cave systems open to the public anywhere in the world. Discovered in 1974 and kept secret for years by its discoverers to protect the delicate formations, the caverns are today preserved and accessible, maintained at a constant 72 degrees. Our ranger-led tour winds through spectacular chambers draped in stalactites, stalagmites, and formations millions of years in the making.

Tombstone O.K. Corral Reenactment & Trolley Tour

DateSaturday, Nov 6, 2027

From the caverns, we continue south to Tombstone — the Town Too Tough to Die. We proceed directly to the O.K. Corral for a reenactment of the legendary 1881 gunfight at the actual site, performed with remarkable authenticity. A narrated trolley tour through the historic district follows, bringing Tombstone’s unruly frontier past vividly to life. The afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace: the Bird Cage Theatre, Boothill Graveyard, and the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park are all within easy walking distance, and lunch on Allen Street is on your own.

Group Dinner in Tucson

DateSaturday, Nov 6, 2027

We return to Tucson for a group dinner this evening before heading back to the resort.

Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Check inSaturday, Nov 6, 2027

Overnight: Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Sunday, November 7, 2027

Day 5 - Biosphere 2 & Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway

Sunday, November 7, 2027

Biosphere 2 Tour and Mount Lemmon Scenic Drive

Biosphere 2 Guided Tour

DateSunday, Nov 7, 2027

This morning we visit Biosphere 2, one of the most unusual scientific facilities ever built. Originally constructed in the early 1990s as a sealed ecological research station, Biosphere 2 attempted to recreate the Earth’s major ecosystems — rainforest, ocean, savannah, and desert — under a single glass structure. Our guided tour is as much about the extraordinary human story of the scientists who lived here sealed inside for two years as it is about the science itself.

Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway Drive

DateSunday, Nov 7, 2027

From Biosphere 2, we take the breathtaking Catalina Highway up the slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains — one of the most dramatic scenic drives in the American Southwest. As we ascend from Sonoran Desert scrub through oak woodland and into pine forest, the temperature drops and the views expand enormously. We stop at Windy Point Vista for panoramic photographs before continuing to the mountain village of Summerhaven at 7,600 feet, where we enjoy a warm lunch at a beloved local institution. The scenic descent back into Tucson is equally beautiful.

Lunch in Summerhaven

DateSunday, Nov 7, 2027

We enjoy a warm lunch at a beloved local institution in the mountain village of Summerhaven at 7,600 feet.

Dinner at Top Tucson Restaurant

DateSunday, Nov 7, 2027

This evening we dine together at one of Tucson’s finest restaurants, recognized as among the best dining experiences in the city, before returning to the resort for a well-earned rest.

Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Check inSunday, Nov 7, 2027

Overnight: Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Monday, November 8, 2027

Day 6 - Tumacacori Missions and Tubac Art Village

Monday, November 8, 2027

Explore Tumacacori Missions and Tubac Art Village

Tumacacori National Historical Park Ranger-Led Program

DateMonday, Nov 8, 2027

Today we venture south along one of the oldest roads in North America — the route traveled by Spanish missionaries and soldiers for centuries. Our first stop is Tumacácori National Historical Park, where the romantic ruins of three Spanish colonial missions stand as quiet testament to a dramatic chapter in Arizona’s history. A National Park ranger-led program brings the site beautifully to life.

Tubac Artisan Village Exploration

DateMonday, Nov 8, 2027

Just a few miles south, the artisan village of Tubac awaits — the oldest European settlement in Arizona and today home to more than 100 galleries, studios, and specialty shops spread across a charming, flat, and easily walkable village. Lunch is on your own, and the afternoon invites unhurried browsing through pottery, jewelry, paintings, textiles, and sculpture by artists from across the Southwest.

Farewell Dinner at Tucson Resort Dining Room

DateMonday, Nov 8, 2027

Our final dinner together is a memorable farewell at one of Tucson’s most celebrated resort dining rooms, where we raise a final toast to the friendships made and the extraordinary week we have shared in the Sonoran Desert.

Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Check inMonday, Nov 8, 2027

Overnight: Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, Tucson, AZ

Tuesday, November 9, 2027

Day 7 - Pima Air & Space Museum and Return Home

Tuesday, November 9, 2027

Pima Air & Space Museum and Departure

Breakfast at the Resort

DateTuesday, Nov 9, 2027

We begin our final morning with a leisurely breakfast at the resort.

Pima Air and Space Museum Visit

DateTuesday, Nov 9, 2027

Our last stop in Tucson is the Pima Air and Space Museum, one of the largest air and space museums in the world, with over 400 aircraft on display across 80 acres. A narrated tram tour of the remarkable outdoor collection keeps the experience comfortable while the sheer scale of what has been assembled here impresses everyone.

Transfer to Phoenix International Airport

Departure

Pima Air and Space Museum

Tuesday, Nov 9, 2027

Destination

Tucson International Airport

Following our visit, we transfer to Tucson International Airport for our flight home to Portland.

Loading Map…

Map

1. Albany, Comfort Suites

205 Sable Dr, Albany, OR 97322, USA

2. Salem, Holiday Inn - Market Street

3301 Market St NE, Salem, OR 97301, USA

3. Woodburn, Park and Ride

Woodburn Park & Ride, 967 N Arney Rd, Woodburn, OR 97071, USA

4. Tualatin, Fred Meyer

19200 SW Martinazzi Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062, USA

5. Portland International Airport

7000 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97218, USA

6. Tucson International Airport

7250 S Tucson Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85756, USA

7. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

1100 W Ruins Dr, Coolidge, AZ 85128, USA

8. Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa

245 E Ina Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704, USA

9. Saguaro National Park West

2700 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743, USA

10. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743, USA

11. Sabino Canyon Recreation Area

5700 N Sabino Canyon Rd, Tucson, AZ 85750, USA

12. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block

140 N Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, USA

13. Kartchner Caverns State Park

2980 AZ-90, Benson, AZ 85602, USA

14. O.K. Corral, Tombstone

326 E Allen St, Tombstone, AZ 85638, USA

15. Biosphere 2

32540 S Biosphere Rd, Oracle, AZ 85739, USA

16. Windy Point Vista (Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway)

Windy Point Vista, Catalina Hwy, Tucson, AZ 85749, USA

17. Summerhaven (Mount Lemmon)

Summerhaven, AZ 85619, USA

18. Tumacácori National Historical Park

1891 E Frontage Rd, Tumacacori, AZ 85640, USA

19. Tubac Artisan Village

Tubac, AZ 85646, USA

20. Pima Air & Space Museum

6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85756, USA