Destination: Death Valley & Eastern Sierras
Travel Style: Local Park Adventures
Group Size: Maximum 16 travelers
Age Range: 7 to 65+
All participants must be 7+ years of age on group tours. We welcome children over the age of 5 on private tours.
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Itinerary Overview
*Itinerary/included activities are subject to change due to COVID impacts
This immersive experience is for anyone looking to see the greatest parts of the Southwest. Start the tour off on day one with Death Valley and end with a meteor shower experience! This tour gets better and better as you get deeper into the real Wild Wild West. Tour Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, and Furnace Creek while stargazing and roasting hot dogs.
Day 1 Arrive in Death Valley, star experience
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Arrival: Arrive to Death Valley Wander Camp / Eastern Sierra Observatory. Check-In anytime after 3pm (most people will be arriving between 5-7pm just prior to sunset & dinner - when the weather is cooler).
Afternoon: Arrive to Death Valley Wander Camp / Eastern Sierra Observatory, Check-In anytime after 3pm (most people will be arriving between 5-7pm just prior to sunset & dinner - when the weather is cooler.
Dinner: Enjoy a DIY Camp Dinner with Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, or tin foil dinners (vegetarian option available), Chips, Smores, and other camp foods. Camping Cook Essentials will be provided along with the ingredients so great ready to enjoy some campfire cooking.
Evening: Special Star Experience under the direction of Dr. Cameron Hummels from Caltech and Asto Photographer Workshop with Bray Falls (IG: @astrofalls). Please see specific evening programming below.
December 11th - 13th - The Geminids Meteor Shower, which is the most active of all meteor showers, will be happening over a new moon, so the skies will be nice and dark! Guests are free to arrive anytime after noon on Friday (after 3pm), and asked to check out by 10am the following Monday, so they'll get up to three nights of star action. Normally we'd just do Friday and Saturday night, but since the peak of this meteor shower falls on Sunday night, we included that as well. On Friday and Saturday night, there will be about an hour long astronomy lecture given by Dr. Cameron Hummels of Caltech. We usually start the lecture just before complete darkness, so maybe an hour or so after sunset. Then, after the lecture, we'll open up a nighttime photography workshop with some incredible Astro Photographers like Bray Falls (IG: @astrofalls). Then, there will be telescope viewing for an hour or two after that. And, of course, the meteor shower will be visible from the entirety of camp, guests are welcome to venture back to their tent and enjoy it from there.
February 12th - 14th - Stargazing Loversland, basically the same format as above, but without the photography workshops. Dr. Hummels will be giving the lecture, and will make it a little more adult (to the extent that there is such a thing for astro lectures haha) for a Valentine's Day theme.
March 13th - 15th / 20th - 22nd - Stargazing event with music/DJs/ that aligns with spring break and is meant for young travelers on school break to come and enjoy a fun & educational experience under the stars. The format will be similar to our December Trip, with the exception that no meteor shower is going on.
Accommodation: Wander Camp Events Bell Tent (with shared bathroom facilities & basic showers) See more details on Wander Camp’s Website
Day 2 Death Valley Exploration & Photography, Meteor Shower Experience
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Breakfast: A Basic Grab & Go Camp Breakfast will be provided (Granola Bars, Dried Fruits, Instant Coffee packets, oatmeal packets, etc…) We recommend bringing your own snacks as well, as there are few food options available (there is a small convenience store 15-20 minutes away + lunch & dinner options in the park for meals). Please bring your own water bottle, as limited potable water is available at camp.
Morning: Today is a free day for the group to visit Death Valley, exploring the Park’s top sights such as Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, and Furnace Creek (those you don’t get to can be visited the following day).
Lunch: Individuals are responsible for their own lunch. Camp / Observatory hosts can provide recommendations on where to eat. -----the area has a handful of restaurants to choose from in Death Valley National Park.
Afternoon: Venture on later in the day to more landmarks in Death Valley, we recommend visiting Dante’s View and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (those you don’t get to can be visited the following day).
Dinner: Enjoy a DIY Camp Dinner with Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, or tin foil dinners (vegetarian option available), Chips, Smores, and other camp foods. Camping Cook Essentials will be provided along with the ingredients so great ready to enjoy some campfire cooking.
Evening: Special Star Experience under the direction of Dr. Cameron Hummels from Caltech and Asto Photographers like Bray Falls (IG: @astrofalls). Please see specific evening programming above in the day one itinerary.
Accommodation: Wander Camp Events Bell Tent (with shared bathroom facilities & basic showers) See more details on Wander Camp’s Website
Day 3 Death Valley Exploration & Photography, Meteor Shower Experience
see more details >
Breakfast: A Basic Grab & Go Camp Breakfast will be provided (Granola Bars, Dried Fruits, Yogurts, Instant Coffee, etc…) We recommend bringing your own snacks as well, as there are few food options available (there is a small convenience store 15-20 minutes away + plenty of lunch & dinner options in the park for meals that are not provided).
Morning: Today we will drive to Death Valley, exploring 1-2 of the Park’s top sights such as Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, and Furnace Creek (those we don’t get to will be visited the following day).
Lunch: Individuals are responsible for providing their own meal. We will provide several recommendations on where to eat. The area has a handful of restaurants to choose from.
Afternoon: We will venture later on in the day to more landmarks in Death Valley, which include Dante’s View and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (those we don’t get to will be visited the following day).
Dinner: Enjoy a DIY Camp Dinner with Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, or tin foil dinners (vegetarian option available), Chips, Smores, and other camp foods. Camping Cook Essentials will be provided along with the ingredients so great ready to enjoy some campfire cooking.
Evening: Special Star Experience under the direction of Dr. Cameron Hummels from Caltech and Asto Photographers like Bray Falls (IG: @astrofalls). Please see specific evening programming above in the day one itinerary.
Accommodation: Wander Camp Events Bell Tent (with shared bathroom facilities & basic showers) See more details on Wander Camp’s Website
Day 4 Depart Death Valley
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Breakfast: A Basic Grab & Go Camp Breakfast will be provided (Granola Bars, Dried Fruits, Yogurts, etc…)
Departure: Check out anytime before 10am, and we can’t wait to see you next time!
Trip Overview
Who: Up to 16 Travelers
What: 3-4 day immersive experience to see the greatest parts of the Southwest
Where: Death Valley & Eastern Sierras
When: 1-14 December (4 days), 12-14 February, 13-15 March / 20-22 March (3 days)
Why: To get back in Nature and Connect
Cost: 4-Day Experience: $599 / person (based on shared occupancy)
3-Day Experience: $399 / person (based on shared occupancy)
* $75 per night single supplement
Trip Inclusions
Glamping Accommodation
Shared Bathroom Facilities
DIY Camp Dinner Experience
Star Lecture
Star Photography Workshop
Simple Grab & Go Breakfast Items
Free Day to experience Death Valley (self drive/unguided)
Recommended Sites, Activities, & Experiences
Catch Sunrise at Zabriskie Point
Learn About the Park at Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
Take a Drive Down Badwater Road.
Discover a Rainbow of Rocks on Artist's Drive.
See a Spring Bloom of Wildflowers.
Head Into the High Country at Dante's View.
Look for Wildlife in the Mesquite Flat Dunes.
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Death Valley National Park is located in California and is known for its diverse landscape, starry nights, and breathtaking views. Keep reading to discover some of Death Valley’s most popular places to visit, restaurants, and much more!
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