California Death Valley

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1 Trip Summary Don t let s name deceive you! The hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America beckons those who love adventure, nature s beauty, and geologic wonders. Despite its rather foreboding name, life thrives in, and this land of extremes harbors tall mountain peaks, sprawling salt pans, and deep colorful canyons. With over 3.4 million acres to explore, the lower 48 s largest national park is a playground for hikers, cyclists, photographers, and geology-buffs. By night, relax in a lush oasis at The Inn at, drink in hand, overlooking a wide-open expanse of reds, pinks and yellows. Itinerary Day 1: Las Vegas / Furnace Creek / Golden Canyon Pick-up in Las Vegas A 2.5 hour drive through wide open desert brings us to the largest national park in the lower 48 states, With bragging rights of being the hottest, driest, and lowest point in North America, is a playground for adventurers worldwide Our first stop in the Valley will be to the Visitor Center, where you can walk inside amongst the fascinating displays while your guides prepare a delicious lunch In the afternoon, we ll enjoy our first activity together, a hike up the beautiful and surprisingly colorful, Golden Canyon Tonight, check into The Inn at, a true oasis standing out against a beautiful desert backdrop Overnight The Inn at (L, D) Day 2: Zabriskie Point / Mosaic Canyon This morning, we embark on a bike ride amid the Black Mountains After a short bike talk, you ll head down Coffin Mountain s winding road all the way back to the Resort, being sure to stop at the famous Zabriskie Point along the way for a photo or two After a picnic lunch, we ll shuttle over to Mosaic Canyon for a hike in a geologic outdoor museum composed of smooth, water-polished marble Before sunset, we ll meet back up to drive over to the Mesquite Sand Dunes; with their rippled shadows and graceful curves, the dunes are a photographer s dream during the golden hour Overnight The Inn at (B, L, D) Day 3: Willow Canyon / Ubehebe Crater Today, we ll hike up a canyon that has a waterfall generally flowing year round To get there, you ll walk up an alluvial fan, over a gravel wash and through a narrow canyon This afternoon, a walk around Ubehebe Crater is in store, a deep hole in the ground created by a maar volcano possibly as recently as 300 years ago Back at the Resort, enjoy a western-style dinner under the setting sun Overnight The Inn at (B, L, D) Day 4: Badwater Basin / The Inn at This morning, we hop on our bikes en route to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level After taking a walk around the white salt flats at the Basin, you can choose to either bike back to the hotel, or you may opt to ride back in the van, stopping along the way for a short hike to Natural Bridge Enjoy a picnic lunch on the lawns of the Resort, and then take advantage of an afternoon on your own to check out The Inn s amenities: spring-fed swimming pools, tennis courts, massage therapy, and the world s lowest 18-hole golf course Tonight s farewell dinner will be held in the dining The Inn at as we relive memories of a vacation well-spent Overnight The Inn at (B, L, D) 1

2 Day 5: National Park / Las Vegas Take a last morning s hike with your guides or choose to sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the Resort Around 11:00, we ll take off for Las Vegas where you can choose a drop off at the airport or your post trip hotel End of services (B) **Trip itineraries are subject to change without notice due to road, weather and other factors outside of our control, for the safety and enjoyment of our guests, as deemed necessary and appropriate by Austin Adventures. Activities Hiking: 2 to 4.5 miles, easy to moderate terrain with little elevation gain on most hikes. Biking: 14 to 17 miles, easy to moderate terrain. Discovery: Discover a place synonymous with extremes: extremely hot, extremely arid, extremely fascinating. At 3.4 million acres (~3,000 square miles), is the largest national park in the lower 48 states. Average summer temperatures frequently climb above 100 F, and the hottest temperature ever recorded was 134 F at Furnace Creek in Did you know that has the lowest point in the United States (-282 feet below sea level), but is only 76 miles from Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous U.S. at 14,505 feet? Despite its foreboding name, Death Valley is home to bighorn sheep, coyotes, reptiles, lizards, snakes, amphibians plus more than 300 species of birds, not to mention the explosion of flora that erupt after a rainfall. Come explore with the experts in adventure travel in the far- reaching expanse of the Mojave Desert! Austin Adventures guides are experienced facilitators and regional experts. They will take the time to explain the details of each activity, answer any questions, and demonstrate the use of all equipment. Each activity has been carefully planned to include options for all levels. Most importantly, Austin Adventures guides will help you select the distance that s right for you. 2

3 Distinctive Accommodations Nights 1 4: The Inn at The perfect vantage point for which to explore National Park, The Inn at serves as an elegant hideaway to reclaim your senses as you relax near the spring-fed pool, stroll through palm gardens to the melody of the natural springs, shop for unique items in the gift shop, watch a glorious sunset from one of the quaint stone patios or enjoy a cool drink from Stargazers Deck. Built in 1927, the 66-room Inn sits sprawled across a low hill at the mouth of Furnace Creek Wash and features spectacular views of and the Panamint Mountains to the west. Surrounded by mountain ranges, features a startling variety of desert environments: pristine sand dunes, huge alluvial fans, eerie salt formations and painted canyons. Its mountainsides and rock formations are a geologist s fantasy come true. The clear desert air highlights nature s art at every turn, from the glittering saltpan basin to the snow-capped Panamint Range high above s floor. Meals The hallmark of an Austin Adventures vacation is our exceptional dining. All meals: breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners, refreshments and receptions are included as indicated by itinerary. (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). Alcoholic beverages and related gratuities are not included in the trip price. 3

4 Arrival & Departures Please plan on arriving at least one day prior to your trip departure. Day one of your itinerary starts at 8:30 or 9:00 am, depending on your hotel. Your trip ends with a drop-off at either the Las Vegas Airport (1:30 pm) or your Las Vegas hotel (2:00 pm). Trip Price $2,898 ($680 single supplement) Trip Length 5 days / 4 nights 2019 Dates February February March 3 7 October October November 3 7 Host City Las Vegas, NV Airport code: LAS Reservations & Availability Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life exists in 4

5 Trip Reservations Reservations, Deposits and Balances Due To make a reservation, contact Austin Adventures with your choice of trip and dates. A $500 per person deposit is required to confirm your reservation. Some Custom and International programs may require additional deposits. Full payment is required at the time of booking if your trip departs within 90 days. Choose one of the following contact methods: Toll free: Phone: Online: austinadventures.com reservations@austinadventures.com Mail: Austin Adventures, P.O. Box 81025, Billings, MT * You may also book your Austin Adventure with your preferred travel professional. ** We accept most major credit cards and personal checks (U.S. funds made payable to Austin Adventures). Please do not send cash. Included in the Trip Price Double occupancy rooms with private baths. All meals: breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners, refreshments and receptions. Fully trained, first-aid certified professional guides and knowledgeable local partners. Bikes, helmets and other necessary equipment all safe and well maintained. Vehicle support and land transportation during the trip. Austin Adventures T-shirt, water bottle, luggage tags and luggage service. Pre-departure and packing information. Incidental expenses such as taxes, dining and housekeeping gratuities, local partner and expert gratuities and national park entrance and permit fees. Not Included in the Trip Price Gratuities to Austin Adventures guides. Alcoholic beverages and related gratuities. Pre-and post-trip accommodations and associated expenses. Air and land transportation to/from host cities. All types of personal insurance. Personal expenses. Pre-departure Information After receiving your reservation and deposit, we ll send you a pre-trip planner with general information about the area you ll be visiting, a packing list, exercise guidelines, a guest information questionnaire and a liability release agreement for you to sign and return within 10 days. 5

6 Private Custom Trips Maybe your vacation schedule doesn t fit our list of trips and dates. Or perhaps you d prefer a slightly different itinerary or level of luxury and activity. A Custom Adventure is the perfect answer. You pick the date and destination and brief us on the size of your group, what activities you want, your must haves and just how you like to relax and unwind. No detail is too small, no idea too outrageous. Our staff of experts will help create a tailor-made vacation that s just right for you and your group. In short, if you can dream it, we can make it happen. Room Occupancy, Single Supplements, and Shared Room Assignments All trip prices are based on double occupancy. Single rooms are available for an additional charge, referred to as a single supplement. If you re traveling alone and wish to share a room, make the request at the time of booking. Austin Adventures will attempt to find a suitable roommate for you. If you book 90 days before the trip and we cannot find you a suitable roommate, we will take care of the single supplement. *some restrictions may apply Minimum Age The minimum age on our non-family designated adult and teen adventures is sixteen years old. Cancellations and Refunds The following cancellation policies and cancellation fees are in effect: ***As with deposits on some international and custom programs, refund schedule may vary, speak with your Adventure Consultant for details. Cancellation 91 days or more before trip departure Full trip payment refunded less a $300 per person administration fee Cancellation days before trip departure Full trip payment less 25% per person is refunded Cancellation days before trip departure 50% of the trip payment is refunded Cancellation 0-30 days before trip departure No refund is given Our Guarantee Exceeding your expectations is our number one priority. In the unlikely event that you are dissatisfied with something during your trip, immediately notify your guide(s). If he or she is unable to resolve the issue, call our main office and give us the details of the problem, and a chance to correct it. We will do our best to find a resolution. If we are unable to do so during your trip, we will work with you upon your return home to arrive at a fair and equitable solution, including up to a full refund. 6