Things to do in Scottsdale
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Scottsdale & Camelback: E-Bike Tour with Cholla HikeYou’ll ride an e-bike through Scottsdale’s peaceful Greenbelt and exclusive Paradise Valley before hiking partway up Camelback Mountain’s Cholla Trail with a local guide. Expect cool canal views, glimpses of celebrity homes, and moments of desert quiet you might not get on your own. It’s active but not exhausting—and leaves you with more than just photos.
Scottsdale Old Town Food Tour: 6 Tastings & Hidden GemsA food tour through Downtown Scottsdale with a live guide covering six tastings at locally owned restaurants, each tied to the city's transformation from citrus groves to a dining destination. The route moves through Old Town's galleries, historic sites and mid-century landmarks, ending at the Bronze Horse fountain. Walking is substantial; comfortable shoes matter.Is it for me?Go private to set your own pace and skip the small talk, or join a small group to hear locals' perspectives on the same six tastings and landmarks.
Scottsdale Greenbelt: E-Bike Tour, Tempe Town Lake & Papago ParkYou’ll feel the desert air as you ride nearly 20 miles by e-bike through Scottsdale’s greenbelt paths, pause at Tempe Town Lake for stories with your guide, and catch wide-open views from Papago Park’s rocky trails. Expect friendly locals, unexpected art along the way, and enough fresh air to clear your head for days after.
Scottsdale: Sunset ATV Tour in Sonoran Desert with GuideYou drive a UTV through Sonoran Desert trails at sunset with a local guide who shares stories about the plants and wildlife. The tour includes water, snacks, helmets, and photos, with a midway stop to swap drivers and take in views of Saguaro Lake and Four Peaks. Plan for moderate physical activity and a valid driver's license.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to drive themselves through desert terrain and don't mind the physical demands of an off-road vehicle. The tour requires a valid driver's license and moderate fitness; expect bouncing terrain and a few hours of active riding in the heat.
Phoenix & Scottsdale: Sonoran Desert UTV Tour with GuideYou’ll kick up dust across 20 miles of Sonoran Desert trails with a local guide, pausing for water breaks and stories under giant saguaros. Expect real desert air in your lungs, views of Saguaro Lake and Superstition Mountains, plus snacks and free photos so you can focus on driving — not fumbling with your phone.
Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend Day Trip from ScottsdaleYou get picked up from your Phoenix or Scottsdale hotel, driven to Lower Antelope Canyon for a guided hour-long walk with a Navajo guide explaining the geology and history, then to Horseshoe Bend for the overlook and photos. Lunch is included in Page. The whole day runs 13–14 hours, with admission to both sites and round-trip transport covered, so you're not arranging anything yourself.Is it for me?A good fit if you want both Lower Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in one day without arranging transport, park tickets, or timing yourself. Expect 13–14 hours out, with the early pickup and long drive being what makes fitting both sites and a guided canyon experience possible in a single day.
Scottsdale: Segway Holiday Lights Tour & Old Town SightsYou’ll glide through Scottsdale’s festive streets by Segway, catching holiday lights along the waterfront and exploring Old Town’s lively art scene with a local guide. Expect laughs, photo stops at spots like Soleri Bridge, and time to soak up both city buzz and quieter moments—all included with bottled water and plenty of stories along the way.
Scottsdale & Phoenix: Desert UTV Tour in Tonto ForestYou’ll ride a UTV through real Sonoran Desert trails near Scottsdale and Phoenix with a local guide who knows every twist and cactus. Expect dust on your skin, laughter in your helmet, free photos snapped mid-adventure, and moments of quiet you might not expect from an off-road day trip.
Phoenix: Canyoneering Adventure with Rappelling & Water SlidesYou’ll rappel into cool canyon pools just outside Phoenix, scramble over sun-baked rocks, and share lunch with your group under open sky. Expect laughter, cold splashes, expert guidance—and that lingering feeling of “did I really just do that?” when you’re back in dry clothes.
Private Mountain Bike Tour: Sonoran Desert, 2 HoursA private 2-hour mountain bike tour through the Sonoran Desert with an experienced guide who adjusts the route and terrain to match your riding level. The guide evaluates your skills at the start, selects trails that fit your endurance, and provides all bikes, helmets, gloves, water, snacks and sunscreen. Minimum age 18; moderate fitness required.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying without a car or have a free afternoon and want to ride desert trails at your own pace instead of keeping up with a group. The private guide adjusts the route and speed to match your ability, so you're not slowing anyone down or struggling to keep pace.
Scottsdale: Sonoran Desert UTV Off-Road Tour & Tonto TrailsYou’ll power your own UTV across dusty Sonoran trails outside Scottsdale with a local guide leading the way—spotting wild horses, swapping seats mid-tour, pausing for snacks in the shade. Expect dry air on your face, stories about cacti you’ve never heard before, and a little grit in your shoes by the end.
Sonoran Desert Private Guided Hiking Tour near ScottsdaleA private guided hike in the Sonoran Desert near Scottsdale takes 2 hours and covers rolling terrain dotted with towering cacti and mountain views. The guide is an experienced hiker; sunscreen, water, a backpack and snacks are included. Children from age 10 are welcome, and the hike suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?The 2-hour duration and rolling desert terrain mean a steady walk without scrambling or technical climbing — book this if you want a guided desert hike that fits a morning or afternoon without dominating your whole day.
Scottsdale Sunset UTV Riding: Tonto National ForestSunset UTV riding in Tonto National Forest near Scottsdale puts you behind the wheel of a Honda Talon 1000 for 2 hours 15 minutes of guided off-road riding through canyon terrain and scenic desert routes, with a stop at the Rio Verde River. The tour includes a live guide in English or French, safety gear, bottled water, light snacks, and photos and videos captured during the ride; you drive your own vehicle while the guide leads from the front, and vehicle size is assigned based on group size (single riders get their own 2-seater, pairs ride 2-seaters, groups of three to four ride 4-seaters). Riders must be at least 21 years old with a valid driver's license, and every guest signs a waiver before departure.Is it for me?Book this if your group is between two and eight people and you want to drive yourself through the desert instead of watching from a passenger seat — the guide leads from the front, you operate your own vehicle, and the sunset timing means you're riding when the light is best and the temperature drops.
Scottsdale UTV Tour: Drive Tonto Forest with Music & LightsA guided UTV adventure in Scottsdale where you drive your own vehicle through Tonto National Forest, navigating canyons, desert trails and saguaro-filled vistas while a professional guide leads from the front. The tour runs 2 hours 15 minutes and includes safety gear, bottled water, a light snack, and an onboard speaker system so you can play your own music while riding. Guests drive their own UTV; single riders get their own vehicle, and groups of 2–8 are assigned 2-seater or 4-seater UTVs based on party size. Every guest signs a waiver, and drivers must be 21 or older with a valid license.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and French, so if you're comfortable following commentary in either language, you'll get the full landscape and wildlife context as you ride. Groups stay small enough that the guide can adjust the pace and stops to what your party wants to do.
Apache Trail Half-Day Tour: Superstition Mountains & LakeA private half-day guided tour of the Apache Trail, one of America's most scenic highways, running through the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix. You travel by vehicle with a live English-speaking guide, stop at historic Tortilla Flat (population 6), explore early settler sites and geology, and have the option to ride Dolly the Steamboat on Canyon Lake. The tour includes bottled water and snacks; lunch is on your own.Is it for me?The guide speaks English and the pace is set by the vehicle stops and optional activities, so the tour works for families with children from age 1 and for anyone comfortable with a half-day of driving and walking at scenic overlooks. If you want to hike, bird, photograph or explore canyoneering, your guide can point out opportunities; if you prefer to stay in the vehicle and take in the scenery, that works too.
Tombstone & San Xavier Mission Day Trip: Private Old West tourA private guided day trip from your hotel to Tombstone, Arizona and San Xavier del Bac mission, with pickup, Boot Hill Cemetery admission and a professional local guide included. You'll stand at the OK Corral, visit the original saloons and gambling halls where gunfights broke out, tour the Tombstone Courthouse museum, and on the return stop at the White Dove of the Desert—one of the Southwest's best-preserved Spanish missions, founded in 1692 with original frescoes still on display. The tour runs 12 hours total. Adults need a valid ID or passport for the border checkpoint crossing.Is it for me?Pick the private SUV for smaller groups or the van if you're traveling with more people; both cover Tombstone's outlaw sites and the mission in one 12-hour day, so you see both without a second trip.
Scottsdale Private Food Tour: 6 Tastings & Local HistoryA private food tour of Downtown Scottsdale with a live guide covering 3.5 hours and six tastings at locally owned restaurants, plus stops at historic landmarks including the oldest Mexican restaurant in town, the oldest Catholic church, art galleries, a mid-century malt shop, and a tiki bar. The tour traces Scottsdale's evolution from citrus groves to a luxury resort and dining destination, and ends at the Bronze Horse fountain, a memorial to the Arabian horses that shaped the region's culture.Is it for me?This is a private tour, so your group moves at its own pace without waiting for other travelers. It suits anyone who wants to understand Scottsdale's food and history together—the guide connects each tasting to the city's evolution, so you're not just eating but learning why these dishes and places matter.
Old Town Scottsdale Art District: Self-Guided Walking TourA self-guided audio walking tour of Old Town Scottsdale's art district with GPS navigation, offline maps and lifetime access to the app. You walk at your own pace through the historical center—starting at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art—discovering how Native American trading posts evolved into luxury galleries, browsing Navajo rugs in a 1952 bank building's original vaults, and seeing works by Wyeth, Warhol and Picasso. The two-hour route ends at the Scottsdale Public Library, tracing the complete arc from frontier farming community to the Southwest's premier art destination.Is it for me?You walk the whole route yourself—no guide, no group, no fixed stops—so the two hours stretches or compresses depending on which galleries hold your attention. This works best if you're comfortable navigating with a phone and prefer to linger where you choose rather than move with a group schedule.
Phoenix to Tucson: Luxury SUV Airport TransferYou book a private SUV pickup at Phoenix Sky Harbor or any airport terminal, confirm your Tucson drop-off location (within 25 km of the airport), and a driver meets you at arrivals with your name. The two-hour drive south is yours alone in a Chevy Suburban with fixed pricing and flight tracking, so you arrive in Tucson without the logistics of arranging ground transport yourself.Is it for me?This works if you're traveling between Phoenix and Tucson airports and want to skip the shuttle line, rental car counter, or taxi negotiation — the driver is waiting for you, the price is locked in, and you travel in a private vehicle instead of sharing one with strangers.
Apache Trail tour from Scottsdale: Canyon Lake steamboat cruiseThis full-day Apache Trail tour from Scottsdale combines desert sightseeing with a 90-minute boat cruise on Canyon Lake. You travel the historic Apache Trail, explore the Goldfield ghost town, ride the steamboat past canyon walls and desert vistas, stop at Tortilla Flat, and finish at the Lost Dutchman Museum. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the whole day runs about 7 hours from start to finish. The museum closes Monday through Wednesday from May to October.Is it for me?Choose this if you want a guided drive through desert and mountains with stops at a ghost town and a scenic steamboat ride—the guide handles navigation and timing across multiple locations in one day.
