Death Valley Day Trip: Badwater Basin & Zabriskie Point

Salt flats 282 feet below sea level, mineral-painted hills, and a ghost town in one day

A full-day guided Death Valley tour from Las Vegas departs at 7am with hotel pickup and covers Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, Artist's Palette, the Devil's Golf Course and the abandoned gold-mining town of Rhyolite. The tour runs 10 hours in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional guide, bottled water, lunch and all taxes included; you choose between a small-group or private option at checkout, and can request your sandwich preference when booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Death Valley Day Trip from Las Vegas

• Depart Las Vegas at 7:00 AM
• Visit ghost town of Rhyolite
• Drive through winding highway into Death Valley
• View Hell’s Gate overlook
• Descend to Badwater Basin
• Stop at Zabriskie Point and hike viewpoint
• Explore Devil’s Golf Course salt pinnacles
• Visit Furnace Creek Museum and Salt Lake
• See sand dunes and Artist’s Palette
• Take photo stops along the route

The Experience

The day starts with a 7am pickup from your Las Vegas hotel and a drive toward Death Valley's eastern entrance, where the ghost town of Rhyolite appears first—a long-abandoned gold-mining community that has stood in for countless films and documentaries. From there, the route descends a winding highway into the valley floor itself, a shift that feels like crossing into another planet: endless desert, vast valleys, rugged peaks, and plants and animals shaped by millions of years in one of Earth's most extreme climates.

The stops stack up across the 10-hour day. Badwater Basin sits 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America; you'll stand there and look up at the surrounding mountains. Zabriskie Point offers panoramic views across the valley and includes a short hike to the overlook. Artist's Palette delivers a drive through hills painted with vibrant mineral colors—reds, yellows, greens—with photo stops built in. The Devil's Golf Course reveals salt pinnacles that formed from an ancient salt lake, a landscape so otherworldly it barely reads as Earth. Hell's Gate provides sweeping views from high above the valley floor before the descent begins. Furnace Creek Museum, Salt Lake and the sand dunes round out the route, each with time to explore and photograph.

Bottled water comes with the tour; lunch is your choice from sandwich options (ham, turkey, deluxe turkey with cranberry sauce and stuffing, Italian, veggie, or garden salad) that you select when booking. Snacks—peanuts, cheese, muffins and juice—are included. The vehicle is air-conditioned, the guide is a professional speaking English, and hotel pickup and drop-off are part of the package. You can book as a small group or private tour; if you have an infant, specialized seats are available.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Las Vegas.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• bottled water.
• lunch (sandwich of your choice from ham, turkey, deluxe turkey with cranberry sauce and stuffing, Italian, veggie or garden salad).
• snacks including peanuts, cheese, muffins and juice.
• all taxes and fees.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Adventure Photo Tours

Is this one for you?Book the small-group option if you're comfortable sharing the vehicle and want to meet other travelers; choose private if you prefer a dedicated guide and vehicle for your group alone. Either way, the 7am departure and fixed route mean the day is fully planned—no arranging transport, entry or timing yourself.

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Top questions

What is Badwater Basin and why is it on this tour?

Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, located in Death Valley. It's a major stop on the tour because it's one of the park's most extreme and visually striking features—a vast salt flat surrounded by towering mountains that you can see and walk on.

How long is the drive from Las Vegas and when does the tour start?

The tour departs Las Vegas at 7am from your hotel and runs for 10 hours total, covering the full route through Death Valley and back. The drive into the park itself takes place after the first stop at Rhyolite.

What is Zabriskie Point and what do I do there?

Zabriskie Point is one of Death Valley's most iconic viewpoints, overlooking the vast expanse of the valley with panoramic views of colorful badlands and mountains. You'll take a short hike to reach the overlook and have time to photograph the landscape.

Can I choose what lunch I eat on this tour?

Yes—you select your sandwich preference when booking from options including ham, turkey, deluxe turkey with cranberry sauce and stuffing, Italian, veggie, or garden salad with vinaigrette. Snacks, juice and bottled water are included for everyone.

What's the difference between the small-group and private tour options?

The small-group tour shares the vehicle and guide with other travelers; the private tour is just your group with a dedicated guide and vehicle. Both follow the same route and stops, depart at 7am with hotel pickup, and include all the same meals and inclusions.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not in great physical shape?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most stops involve short walks or hikes—like the brief hike to Zabriskie Point's overlook—but you can move at your own pace, and the vehicle is air-conditioned for rest between stops.