3D Canyon Experience
Welcome to Arizona
The First Big Trip of 2025
August 1st – 15th
£2397 per person on bed and breakfast basis
The Open Road Awaits
1st August – Arrive into Phoenix
It’s been a long flight, after which we transfer from Sky Harbour to the hotel.
When you feel a little more refreshed, why not have a cold drink and meet your fellow travelers.
Make the most of the AC and have a refreshing night sleep, tomorrow we will start in earnest.
2nd August – Drive to Bisbee
Everyone aboard?
We will start our journey South and East.
The roads here are good and will enable us to make good progress towards Bisbee, close to the Mexico border.
We will likely make a stop at Sweetwater Wetlands Park, northwest of Tucson. This is a collection of lakes and water processing dams.
The water, especially at this time of year, attracts water birds in large numbers. This in turn attracts raptors and other predators. The water will also attract ample insects which means lizards, lots of lizards.
Legs stretched and a sweat on your brow, let’s hit the road again. We continue to Bisbee where our first house is located.
2nd August – Drive to Bisbee
Everyone aboard?
We will start our journey South and East.
The roads here are good and will enable us to make good progress towards Bisbee, close to the Mexico border.
We will likely make a stop at Sweetwater Wetlands Park, northwest of Tucson. This is a collection of lakes and water processing dams.
The water, especially at this time of year, attracts water birds in large numbers. This in turn attracts raptors and other predators. The water will also attract ample insects which means lizards, lots of lizards.
Legs stretched and a sweat on your brow, let’s hit the road again. We continue to Bisbee where our first house is located.
2nd – 5th August – Bisbee
Whilst in Bisbee we have huge amounts of territory to explore on both sides of the New Mexico border.
We have the Chiricahua Mountains and National Monument, the Chiricahua Desert Museum (hopefully we can arrange the VIP treatment with Bob Ashley), Animas Mountains and countless other trails to explore.
After dark, any quiet road is a haven for reptiles and amphibians. We will cruise and walk the verges to tick off many of the species we are keen to see.
Keep your eyes peeled for Black Tailed Rattlesnkes (Crotalus mollossus mollossus) in this area.
Tarantulas will also be out in force as this is peak breeding season, and amorous males will walk huge distances to find a hairy legged female.
Every guy has his type right?
2nd – 5th August – Bisbee
Whilst in Bisbee we have huge amounts of territory to explore on both sides of the New Mexico border.
We have the Chiricahua Mountains and National Monument, the Chiricahua Desert Museum (hopefully we can arrange the VIP treatment with Bob Ashley), Animas Mountains and countless other trails to explore.
After dark, any quiet road is a haven for reptiles and amphibians. We will cruise and walk the verges to tick off many of the species we are keen to see.
Keep your eyes peeled for Black Tailed Rattlesnkes (Crotalus mollossus mollossus) in this area.
Tarantulas will also be out in force as this is peak breeding season, and amorous males will walk huge distances to find a hairy legged female.
Every guy has his type right?
6th - 9th August – Green Valley
Leaving Portal, we set off towards Green Valley. This is a large town in the shadow of Mount Wrightson and Mount Hopkins. These peaks are part of Arizona’s famous ‘Sky Islands’, these are isolated peaks, surrounded by radically different lowland environments, in this case arid deserts.
On the way there we will stop off for lunch in the infamous town of Tombstone, where the “Gunfight at the O.K Corrall” actually happened. This town is full of character and there are good burgers to be had here.
Arriving at our second house, we can either relax for the evening or head out to see what the roads will gift us tonight.
Whilst in Green Valley, we have Madera Canyon and the ‘Sky Islands” to explore, as well as some very arid lowland plains.
Mount Wrightson is prime habitat for the montane rattlesnake species like the Ridgenosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi), Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) and the Twin Spot Rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei).
6th - 9th August – Green Valley
Leaving Portal, we set off towards Green Valley. This is a large town in the shadow of Mount Wrightson and Mount Hopkins. These peaks are part of Arizona’s famous ‘Sky Islands’, these are isolated peaks, surrounded by radically different lowland environments, in this case arid deserts.
On the way there we will stop off for lunch in the infamous town of Tombstone, where the “Gunfight at the O.K Corrall” actually happened. This town is full of character and there are good burgers to be had here.
Arriving at our second house, we can either relax for the evening or head out to see what the roads will gift us tonight.
Whilst in Green Valley, we have Madera Canyon and the ‘Sky Islands” to explore, as well as some very arid lowland plains.
Mount Wrightson is prime habitat for the montane rattlesnake species like the Ridgenosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi), Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi) and the Twin Spot Rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei).
10th – 13th August – Tucson
A short hop this time, but the deserts surrounding Tucson are very different to Green Valley and here we find the famous saguaro cactus.
There are many vistas to be had around Tucson, from the massive Mount Lemmon, the beautiful Sabino Canyon, to the Sonoran Desert Museum (definitely worth a visit) and the breathtaking Saguaro National Park.
There will be no shortage of incredible sights, day and night. From Coachwhips (Masticophis flagellum) and Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) to Gila Monsters (Heloderma suspectum) Sidewinders (Crotalus cerastes) and Tiger Rattlesnakes (Crotalus tigris).
Prepare to be spoiled. In this area we will see large numbers of amphibians including the Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius) and Couch’s Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus couchii). Invertebrates of note will include Solifugids, various Tarantulas, Tarantula Hawks, Velvet Ants and even Vinegaroons
10th – 13th August – Tucson
A short hop this time, but the deserts surrounding Tucson are very different to Green Valley and here we find the famous saguaro cactus.
There are many vistas to be had around Tucson, from the massive Mount Lemmon, the beautiful Sabino Canyon, to the Sonoran Desert Museum (definitely worth a visit) and the breathtaking Saguaro National Park.
There will be no shortage of incredible sights, day and night. From Coachwhips (Masticophis flagellum) and Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) to Gila Monsters (Heloderma suspectum) Sidewinders (Crotalus cerastes) and Tiger Rattlesnakes (Crotalus tigris).
Prepare to be spoiled. In this area we will see large numbers of amphibians including the Sonoran Desert Toad (Incilius alvarius) and Couch’s Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus couchii). Invertebrates of note will include Solifugids, various Tarantulas, Tarantula Hawks, Velvet Ants and even Vinegaroons
14th August – Return to Phoenix
By now the monsoon rains should be fully present, and the temperature should be more tolerable.
Just time for a final drink and a farewell to your new friends before heading back to normality.
Arizona will be in your heart for a long time, but the sand should wash out of your clothes by Sunday.
We have one final night in the hotel and your flights home start tomorrow.
14th August – Return to Phoenix
By now the monsoon rains should be fully present, and the temperature should be more tolerable.
Just time for a final drink and a farewell to your new friends before heading back to normality.
Arizona will be in your heart for a long time, but the sand should wash out of your clothes by Sunday.
We have one final night in the hotel and your flights home start tomorrow.
Please sir, I want some more.
Not a problem – maybe you want to take advantage of the extra four day all you can eat option – hey, we’re in America right?
Go big or go home????
The four day addon comes to £800, get in touch with us to discuss payment options.
15th August – Grand Canyon Extension - Flagstaff
For those of you who took the chance for an extension to take in the unimaginable size and Grandeur of the grand canyon, we have an early start today.
We are back in the bus and leave Phoenix, heading north.
We are heading through Sedona to Flagstaff.
Arriving around lunch, we will walk a local trail and see if we can turn up any Reptiles, Arizona Glossy Snakes (Arizona elegans) are in the area.
Following dinner we will road cruise and see how friendly the road gods are to our prayers of an Arizona Black Rattlesnake (Crotalus cerberus) or even a Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus pyrrhus).
Start your prayers now, just to help
16th – 17th August – Grand Canyon
Another early start as we continue North to the Grand Canyon.
Arriving on the South Rim, we will be made to realise how small we are, and how spectacular nature is.
The sheer scale of the canyon is impossible to describe. We can spend the afternoon taking in the surroundings and viewing the wildlife.
We’ll get something to eat and then have an early night, tomorrow we will take on the canyon.
It’s advisable to set off in the early hours whilst it is still dark. The route is easy to follow by torch light and we can hopefully reach the canyon floor before the sun is too high in the sky.
The low elevations coupled with the sun bouncing off the canyon walls results in a truly hellish trek.
All being well we can be back at the bus by around lunchtime, aching but with a real sense of achievement under our belts.
After an afternoon siesta we can look at a little night time cruising or walking to try and find the Grand Canyon Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus abyssus) or the Great Basin Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus)
16th – 17th August – Grand Canyon
Another early start as we continue North to the Grand Canyon.
Arriving on the South Rim, we will be made to realise how small we are, and how spectacular nature is.
The sheer scale of the canyon is impossible to describe. We can spend the afternoon taking in the surroundings and viewing the wildlife.
We’ll get something to eat and then have an early night, tomorrow we will take on the canyon.
It’s advisable to set off in the early hours whilst it is still dark. The route is easy to follow by torch light and we can hopefully reach the canyon floor before the sun is too high in the sky.
The low elevations coupled with the sun bouncing off the canyon walls results in a truly hellish trek.
All being well we can be back at the bus by around lunchtime, aching but with a real sense of achievement under our belts.
After an afternoon siesta we can look at a little night time cruising or walking to try and find the Grand Canyon Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus abyssus) or the Great Basin Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus lutosus)
18th August - back to Phoenix
Long day ahead of us today, Haulin’ all the way back to Phoenix.
Once more back to our hotel for a relaxing evening.
Flights home tomorrow