Tours & Activities
Experience and embrace the magnificent beauty of the desert through a variety of tours and activities at the Desert Botanical Garden that will make your visit unforgettable. The Garden's daily and weekly activities are included with membership or admission, and are designed to accommodated individuals of any age and groups of any size. Audio and private tours are available for an additional fee. Discover the unique tours and activities going on right now at the Garden:
Seasonal Garden Activities
Ask a Gardener*
Saturday and Sunday / February - April / 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday / October - November / 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Want ideas for creating year-round color in your yard and conserving water in the desert? Drop by our Ask a Gardener station where knowledgeable volunteers can help with your gardening questions.
*Sponsored by Tierra Madre Landscape Services.
Garden Flashlight Tours
Thursdays and Saturdays /May 26 - September 1 / 7-9 p.m.
Flashlight tours are a sensory adventure where you will see, hear and feel the desert night. The self-paced stroll along the main trail to 10 discovery stations is perfect for families and children of all ages. Please bring your own flashlights.
Tours for Individuals
Docent Tours
Led by trained Garden Guide experts, docent tours are free for garden members or with paid garden admission, do not require advanced reservations and are perfect for individual guests and families.
Desert Discovery
Daily / October 1 - May 8 / 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.
Can you drink water from a cactus? Do century plants really live 100 years? Get your burning questions answered on this docent-led tour and see why our desert plant collection is world-renowned. You will discover how plants survive, and even thrive, under the extreme conditions of the Sonoran Desert. Bring your camera, water, and wear a hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes.
Birds in the Garden
Year-round
Every Monday and second Saturday, October – April / 8 a.m.
Every Monday, May – September / 7 a.m.
Join expert birders for a morning bird walk along the Garden trails. Everyone is welcome, including first-time birders. Wear a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, and bring binoculars if available.
Audio Tours
Included with paid Garden admission or membership.
Lighthearted, fun and informative, self-guided audio tours are available for The Desert Discovery Loop Trail and bring to life our collections of plants. Individual audio tours are available in English, Spanish, French, German and Japanese. A family audio tour of the Desert Discovery Trail is available in English and Spanish.
Adult Group Tours and Activities
Download the Garden's Group Tour Packet for a full description of group tours and activities.
Download the Garden's Menus for Specialty Group Activities.
The Garden offers the following for groups:
- Discounts on general admission ($13 for Seniors and $15.00 for Adults)
- Group events such as team building, education and entertainment
- Customized tours for groups of 10 or more starting at $20 per person including Garden admission
- Seasonal Marshall Butterfly Pavilion tickets ($2 per person) and a beautifully illustrated Desert Discovery Trail Guide ($3 per person) as a souvenir
- Complimentary admission for bus drivers and tour group operator staff
- Group boxed lunches ($15.75 per person) and group catered breakfasts ($12.95-$20.25)
To Book a Private Group Tour or Activity:
- Contact Katelyn Burnett at 480 481.8104 or kburnett@dbg.org for a private group tour. Advanced registration will help us give you the best experience possible, register now!
- A minimum of two week advance booking is recommended for all guided group tours self guided group visits can be arranged with as little as 24 hour notice, although advanced notice preferred.
- A minimum of 5 business days advanced booking is recommended for group breakfast and boxed lunch orders; larger groups or special requests may require more notice.
- Special events such as Las Noches de las Luminarias and our concert series have limited numbers of tickets available. Purchase your group discounted tickets early to avoid sell-outs.
Tours & Activities
Desert Discovery Tour/1 Hour
Enjoy a privately guided tour of the Garden’s main trail, which displays arid region plants from around the world. The many interactive exhibits along the trail include the visitor challenge “Are You Saguaro Smart?”, information on the Agave or “Century Plant”, and different calls of the Garden’s residential birds. Recommended books: Desert Discovery Trail Guide
Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert Tour / 1-1.5 Hours
The Sonoran Desert contains more than 400 edible plants and hundreds more with medicinal and utilitarian uses. This tour demonstrates how native people used the unique plants of this region. The guided tour takes the group through an Apache Wickiup and a Pima Household, revealing native cooking and gardening techniques alongside hands-on activities such as, twisting a rope made from Agave leaves and pounding mesquite beans to make flour.
Birds of the Southwest Tour / 1 Hour / Available year round, recommended March 1–September 30
The Desert Botanical Garden is home to many birds including the Western Screech Owl, Gila Woodpecker, and Anna’s Hummingbird. As your group strolls through the Garden, the rich notes of the native Curved-billed thrasher echoes along the path while an ever-curious and personable Cactus Wren tags along. Recommended book: Birds of the American Southwest
Spring Wildflower Tour / 1 Hour / Available March 1 – May 30
There is truly nothing like the Sonoran Desert in the springtime. As the desert explodes with color, stop and view the Mexican poppies, Penstemon, Desert Lupine and many other wildflowers in the Desert Botanical Garden’s exquisite Endicott Wildflower collection. The transformation of the desert into these incredible blooms invites hummingbirds, jackrabbits, and smiles from everyone. Recommended book: Wildflowers of the Desert Southwest.
Flashlight Tour / Minimum: 10
- Join the Garden’s Public Flashlight Tours
- Thursdays and Saturdays / June, July and August / 7-9 p.m.
Nights in the Desert are anything but dull. Nighthawks fly, night-blooming flowers open, toads sing and owls watch, as you stroll along the trails there is a surprise around each corner. Be ready to be adventurous! You will view critters such as snakes, scorpions, and desert tortoises first hand at our guided stations.
Native Cultures and Plants of the Southwest/Approx. 4 Hours
The Heard Museum and the Desert Botanical Garden have come together to present a wonderfully insightful Southwest experience, acquainting your group with the diversity of the Sonoran Desert and the resourcefulness of the native people. This combination tour includes a visit to both museums with lunch at Desert Botanical Garden’s lovely outdoor Patio Café. Guided tours available at both locations.
Desert Dish Garden Activity Tour / 1 Hour Tour & 45 Min. Activity / Minimum: 15
After spending a day at the Desert Botanical Garden, your group can take home a little garden of their own in an original hand-thrown pot by local artist Jim Sudal. Under the guidance of a knowledgeable instructor, your group will construct a cactus or succulent dish garden while enjoying the beauty and tranquility of the Desert Botanical Garden. A plant care sheet and box will be included with each dish garden.
Afternoon Tea in the Garden / 2.5 Hours / Minimum: 15
Spend a delightful afternoon in the Garden sipping tea and savoring Fabulous Foods’ petite sandwiches and desserts. After tea, stroll the paths with a personal guide while learning about the treasures of the Sonoran Desert. A relaxing and educational experience awaits you here at the Desert Botanical Garden!
Taste of the Southwest Cooking Demo, Lunch & Tour / 2.5 – 3 Hours / Minimum: 15, Maximum: 30 (Per demo area)
Wow! Take a look at this…your group can enjoy a Southwest Cooking Demonstration featuring a “Fabulous Food” chef. Learn how the food is prepared and then savor every bite with a lunch following. Your personal Ambassador guide(s) will then pick you up for a one hour guided tour of the Garden.
Photographic Safari /2.5 - 3 Hours / One instructor per / 10-15 people.
Get expert advice on how to improve photographs from a professional photographic instructor. The instructor will share invaluable tips on equipment and techniques the pros use and will take time to individually assist each attendee. Your safari will begin with a short introductory presentation. Then you will be taught to create powerful compositions, using the uniquely adapted plants and cacti of the Garden’s collection as subjects. All camera formats (digital, non-digital) are welcome.
Music in the Garden Concert Series
Spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon or a Friday evening with a group of friends strolling through the Garden and listening to the Valley’s premier musicians on the scenic Ullman Terrace. Food and Beverages available at the Patio Café for an additional fee.
Blaze Your Own Trail
Self-Guided Group Tour
Desert Discovery Trail Guides are available for $5 each.
Self-guided visits are perfect for groups needing flexibility due to time constraints. The Desert Botanical Garden has a multitude of themed trails to choice from to suit your group’s needs.
School Tours
Desert Botanical Garden is a natural learning environment for students of all ages. Learn more about our field trip programs and view program overviews, fees and other information on our Field Trips & Self Guided Tours page.
