Death Valley VIP Tour

The Death Valley VIP Tour is a small-group, full-day trip from Las Vegas into Death Valley National Park, run in a luxury SUV or a Sprinter van rather than a full-size coach. Hotel pickup near the Strip and an early start get you into the park before the day heats up, and the whole loop runs about 10.5 hours with lunch, snacks and bottled water included.

The route strings together the park's signature stops — Badwater Basin, the salt flat that sits 282 feet below sea level; the eroded badlands at Zabriskie Point; the jagged salt spires of Devil's Golf Course; the mineral-streaked hills of Artist's Palette; and the ruins of Rhyolite Ghost Town on the Nevada side. Most stops are short walks from the vehicle to a viewpoint, so the day covers a lot of ground without any hard hiking, and the small group means more time at each stop and less waiting around.

It is a long day, with roughly two hours of driving in each direction and no cell signal once you are inside the park. Summer temperatures regularly top 115°F, which makes midday stops uncomfortable and the whole trip an endurance test — spring and autumn are far more pleasant. The VIP vehicle also costs more than the big-bus Death Valley tours. But for travelers who want space, air conditioning and a relaxed pace, it is the most comfortable way to see the park in a single day from Vegas.