Death Valley Day Tour: Badwater Basin & Artist's Palette

Badwater Basin sits 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America.

A guided day tour of Death Valley National Park departing from Las Vegas with hotel pickup and drop-off, covering six major park landmarks in a small group of up to 13 people. The tour includes a professional English-speaking guide, boxed lunch with sandwich choices, bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle for the full 10-hour route. Groups of eight or more can book a private tour instead of the shared option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Death Valley National Park6h
2. Zabriskie Point20m · entry included
3. Twenty Mule Team Canyon30m · entry included
4. Artist’s Palette30m · entry included
5. Badwater Basin30m · entry included
6. Devils Golf Course30m · entry included

Explore Death Valley National Park

• Meet guide at Las Vegas hotel
• Drive to Death Valley with commentary
• Photo stop at Death Valley welcome sign
• Visit Zabriskie Point viewpoint
• Explore Dante’s View terrace
• View 20 Mule Team Canyon
• See Artist’s Palette colorful landscape
• Lunch and visit visitor center exhibits
• Visit Badwater Basin salt flats
• Explore Devil’s Golf Course salt formations
• Comfort stop in Pahrump
• Return to Las Vegas

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Las Vegas hotel, then heads west into the Mojave Desert toward Death Valley. Your guide provides live commentary on the drive, covering local history and what to expect once you arrive at the park entrance, where you'll stop for a photo at the welcome sign. From there, the route moves through five distinct stops: Zabriskie Point, a viewpoint formed when Furnace Creek Lake dried up five million years ago; Dante's View at 5,476 feet above the desert floor, offering panoramic views across the valley; Twenty Mule Team Canyon, visible from the ridge; Artist's Palette, where iron salts create red and yellow hues, mica produces green, and manganese forms purple bands across the rock face; and Badwater Basin, the lowest elevation point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, where you can photograph yourself against the mountain that marks actual sea level.

Lunch and a visitor center stop break the middle of the day. You'll have time to explore the exhibits, including the Borax display and the "20 Mule Team" history, and to photograph the sign marking the world-record temperature of 134°F. Boxed lunches come with a choice of turkey, roast beef or vegetarian sandwich. Specify your preference at booking or a vegetarian will be provided. Bottled water is available throughout the day, essential given that temperatures regularly exceed 115°F between June and September.

The final stop is Devil's Golf Course, an off-road excursion to jagged salt formations that create sharp, crystalline shapes across the flats. After exploring, the route returns east through the Mojave with a comfort stop in Pahrump before arriving back at your Las Vegas hotel. The entire loop takes 10 hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle with a professional English-speaking guide.
• boxed lunch with a choice of turkey, roast beef or vegetarian sandwich.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• free downloadable app with tour commentary in multiple languages.

Options for this experience

2 options

Compact Group Death Valley National Park Day Trip from Las VegasGuide in English · 08:00Includes pickup

Exclusive Private TourGuide in English · 08:00Includes pickup

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday, Friday and SundayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Under 7: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideSpanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Bindlestiff Tours

Is this one for you?Book the small-group tour if you want to share the drive and the stops with other travelers and keep costs lower. Choose the private option if you're traveling with a group of eight or more and prefer to set your own pace through the five major landmarks without coordinating with other visitors.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

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

Badwater Basin is the lowest elevation point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, located in Death Valley. The tour includes it as a major landmark where you can stand on a vast salt flat and photograph yourself with the mountain marking sea level in the background, highlighting the extreme depth of the location.

Can I choose what sandwich I want for lunch?

Yes. Boxed lunches include a choice between turkey, roast beef or vegetarian sandwich. You select your preference when you book. If you don't specify, a vegetarian sandwich will be provided.

How hot does it get in Death Valley, and what should I bring?

Temperatures in Death Valley can exceed 115°F (45°C) between June and September. The tour provides bottled water throughout the day, but you should wear comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the guide will share information about staying hydrated during the stops.

What is Artist's Palette and what makes its colors?

Artist's Palette is a striking landscape in Death Valley known for vibrant mineral colors created by oxidation. Red, yellow and pink hues come from iron salts; green tones from decomposing mica; and purple shades from manganese. The formations were shaped during a violent volcanic period in the park's history.

Can I book this as a private tour instead of a small group?

Yes. If you purchase eight seats, the tour becomes fully private with the same itinerary, guide and inclusions. Otherwise, the small-group tour runs with up to 13 people per departure.

What is included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Las Vegas, transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, a professional English-speaking guide, boxed lunch with sandwich choice, bottled water, and a free downloadable app with tour commentary in French, German, Spanish and Italian are all included.