PreviousNext
12

Sands of Time

Palm Springs, Joshua Tree & Death Valley National Parks

  • Date

    February 21-26, 2027 | Sun / Fri – 6 Days

  • Location

    Palm Springs | Joshua Tree National Park | Death Valley National Park | Las Vegas

  • Activity Level

    Comfortable Explorer
    I’m comfortable being on my feet for parts of the day. I can handle light walking tours and standing during guided visits at museums and attractions. I can manage a variety of terrains, such as cobblestone streets to unpaved surfaces, and moderate inclines.

    ⓘ View Activity Levels

Ambassadair Trip #9297


Book by October 1 & Save $100

Reserve Your Spot

Overview

The desert sands of California and Nevada hold many secrets waiting to be discovered! Stunning topography and enlightening stories sifted through the hands of time are speckled with the nuances of famous films and interesting architecture. Discover Palm Springs via an architectural tour, an aerial tramway experience and a sunset dinner. Take in the otherworldly scenery of twisted trees, massive granite boulders, rugged mountains, and vast open skies in Joshua Tree National Park. Step into the past where ghost towns echo with the memories of a long-lost era, transport you straight into an Old Western film or leave you standing in awe. The Inn at Oasis Death Valley welcomes you with a refined atmosphere of charming, vintage “Hollywood-style” details surrounded by breathtaking desert scenes. With awe-inspiring national parks, fascinating historic sites, and the lingering legends of the American frontier, this desert escape is sure to leave you enchanted long after the journey ends.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

  • Guided tour of Palm Springs with focus on local “Desert Modernism” architecture 
  • Palm Springs Aerial Tram with Sunset Dinner 
  • Guided tours of Joshua Tree & Death Valley National Parks
  • Stay at the iconic Inn at Oasis Death Valley 
  • Visit Pioneertown & Calico Ghost Town Regional Park
  • Enjoy the stunning variety of desert landscapes & topography 

PACKAGE INCLUDES

  • Roundtrip commercial air from Indianapolis to Palm Springs, California and from Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Escorted 
  • 5 nights accommodations
  • Breakfast daily 
  • 1 lunch, 4 dinners
  • Sightseeing and admissions per itinerary 
  • Ground transportation 
  • Hotel baggage handling

NOTE:

This itinerary includes activities where moderate walking, possibly on uneven terrain, is required. Some of the most unique sightseeing can be restrictive to motorcoaches, especially in historic areas.

Sun, Feb 21: Board your morning flight to beautiful Palm Springs, whose location in the Coachella Valley is responsible for the desert city’s balmy hot springs and year-round warm climate—a welcome escape from the dreary Indiana winter. After arriving, enjoy some free time for lunch and shopping downtown. Check into the Hyatt Palm Springs, your home for the next three nights. This evening, meet the group for a Welcome Dinner at the hotel. (Meals: Dinner) 

Mon, Feb 22: After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour highlighting the unique “Desert Modernism” architecture of Palm Springs, a style defined by its sweeping flat roofs and seamless indoor-outdoor living. Learn about the local architects—including Albert Frey, William Krisel, and Hugh Kaptur—responsible for Palm Spring’s iconic look, blending the light and landscape of the California desert within a distinctly modern vision. After the tour, enjoy free time for lunch, shopping, and sightseeing at your own pace. This evening, experience the world’s largest rotating tram car aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. As you ascend, enjoy breathtaking views of Chino Canyon and Mount San Jacinto State Park—reaching a peak elevation of over 8,500 ft. Dinner tonight will be held at Peaks Restaurant, allowing you to enjoy a culinary experience above the clouds with spectacular sunset views and the best of local produce from the Coachella Valley. (B,D) 

Tue, Feb 23: Today’s adventures bring you to Joshua Tree National Park, almost 800,000 acres characterized by jagged rock formations, windy desert landscapes, and studded with the twisted spiny trees that gave the park its name. An expert guide will lead you through the park, highlighting major sights and features along the way. After the tour, head to Pioneertown, a must-see stop for Old Western film enthusiasts. The 1880s theme town was built to serve as a “living and breathing” movie set and has been featured in over 200 productions since its inception in the 1940s. Enjoy open-fire BBQ at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace and time to explore the community’s unique local shops and activities. Return to downtown Palm Springs and enjoy the rest of the evening free. (B,L) 

Wed, Feb 24: After breakfast, check out of the hotel and depart for The Oasis at Death Valley Resort. Along the way, stop in the Mojave Desert at Calico Ghost Town Regional Park for a look into an Old West mining town first established in 1881. A local guide will give you an overview and then you’ll be free to explore. Tour the Maggie Mine, take a short scenic railway ride, or pan for gold! Choose to visit the museums and make time for lunch at one of the local saloons. Continue driving through Southern California’s desert landscape, revealing it’s unique natural features along with way. A stop in the small oasis community of Shoshone, a single road desert oasis, featuring the cave dwellings of Dublin Gulch – former miners’ dwellings in the early 1900’s—literally carved out of a low clay cliff.  Stop into the Shoshone Museum, featuring mammoth and mastodon bones discovered in the area, and grab and ice cream or soda from the Crowbar Cafe. Arrive next into Death Valley National Park and check into The Inn at Oasis Death Valley, your home for the next two nights, offering a refined, historic “Old West” atmosphere and charming “Hollywood-style” decor. Settle into your surroundings and explore the grounds before dinner in the hotel dining room. Gorgeous sunsets are the norm at the Inn’s pool, so don’t forget to catch a glimpse. (B,D) 

Thu, Feb 25: Today begins with a morning tour of one of America’s most extraordinary landscapes, Death Valley National Park. Extending over 3.4 million acres, this American wonder is the largest national park in the contiguous U.S. While famous for its vast desert topography, Death Valley features numerous unique landscapes and sights, including colorful badlands, rolling sand dunes, mountain ranges, salt flats, natural springs, and historic mining sites. After the tour, the afternoon is up to you: enjoy free time at the resort or choose to join an optional excursion to Rhyolite, Nevada, a famous gold-rush era ghost town and perfect photo op. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to enjoy before a Farewell Dinner this evening. After dinner, allow yourself to be captivated by the breathtaking desert night sky. Check the hotel roster for possible expert-led star-gazing experiences during your stay. The park’s location below sea level distinguishes it as a Gold-Tier certified skygazing location, allowing for the viewing of celestial bodies not visible anywhere else in the world. (B,D)

Fri, Feb 26: After breakfast, check out of the hotel and depart for your early afternoon flights back home. (B)

Hyatt Palm Springs. Located in the heart of Palm Springs, this hotel is just steps from the Downtown Palm Springs shopping district, art galleries, and museums. Enjoy suite-style rooms and two on-site dining locations. Highlights: in-room coffee/tea maker, refrigerator • complimentary WiFi Internet access • restaurant • bar • outdoor pool • fitness center.

The Inn at Oasis Death Valley. Surrounded by Death Valley National Park, this desert refuge is known as the “Crown Jewel” of Death Valley and has been a favorite of nature lovers, photographers, and stargazers since 1937. Highlights: in-room coffee/tea maker, refrigerator • complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access • restaurant • bar • Spring fed pool • sauna • spa • fitness center.

Pricing

  • Standard King Package**
  • Deluxe King Package**
  • Casita – 2 Queen Beds***
  • With
    Air
  • Double P/P – $4,299
  • Single – $5,249
  • Land
    Only
  • Double P/P – $3,639
  • Single – $4,589
  • With
    Air
  • Double P/P – $4,369
  • Single – $5,379
  • Land
    Only
  • Double P/P – $3,709
  • Single – $4,719
  • With
    Air
  • Double P/P – $4,449
  • Triple P/P – $4,059
  • Land
    Only
  • Double P/P – $3,789
  • Triple P/P – $3,399

Accommodation description refers to the room types at the Inn at Oasis Death Valley.   

*Subject to change due to fuel surcharge. 

**Standard and Deluxe King rooms offer one king bed and are located in both the Main Tower and the Terrace Level above the pool. 

***Casita accommodations offer two queen beds, in free standing cabanas separate from the Main Tower building and include a personal golf cart for transportation around the property. Casita Kings may be available, please request at time of booking if desired.

*Subject to change due to fuel surcharge   

Ambassadair Trip #9297

Documents Required: Valid U.S. government issued REAL I.D.

Deposit Per Person: $300

Final Payment: 11/12/2026

Cancellation Fee Per Person: Booking-101 Days: $150; 100-0 Days: No Refund

Trip Insurance: Optional Trip Insurance available through Travel Insured International. To purchase, click here. Questions? Call Travel Insured at 866-684-0218.

Maps were disabled by the visitor on this site. Click to open the map in a new window.