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Death Valley National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

11 Reviews 4.64 out of 5 stars Based on 11 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 91% of reviewers | Palm Springs, USA

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On average, this is booked 14 (0) days in advance.

6 to 8 hours (approx.)
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Offered in: English

Overview

Death Valley is one of America’s most evocative national parks, with desolate desert landscapes, dramatic mountain ranges, and of course, the lowest point in North America. Let Shaka Guide lead the way!

We take you to many of the park’s most fascinating and awe-inspiring places.

Plus, we’ll discover some surprising references to popular culture. You don’t know what you don’t know about Death Valley!

Here are just a few of the fun things you can do on the Death Valley National Park Tour!

• Take in views of Badwater Basin at Dante’s View
• Walk along of field of sand dunes at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
• Watch the sunrise, or set, at Zabriskie Point

All Shaka Guide tours come with customer support and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Tours never expire.

*Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours.*

What's Included

  • Tours NEVER expire
  • Offline map (map and GPS work completely offline - no wifi or data needed)
  • Take the tour when you want - download the tour and choose the day that works best for you
  • Your Own Private Transportation
  • Optional: Meals and refreshment
  • Optional: $30 per vehicle Entrance Fee
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Death Valley Junction
CA 92328, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Journigan’s Mill

This is the first stop on Emigrant Canyon Rd, the optional detour toward the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns. There’s not much left of this former processing plant from the early 20th century, but the foundations, empty tanks, and other relics may interest photographers and history buffs.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Wildrose Campground

The second stop on Emigrant Canyon Rd, this former campground for the Civilian Conservation Corps is a good place to stretch your legs as you make the long drive toward the charcoal kilns. Walk through the remaining campground buildings, located right off the road.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Charcoal Kilns

Ten unusual, beehive-shaped charcoal kilns are lined up in a row thousands of feet up in the Panamint Range. Step inside one and you may still get a whiff of that charcoal!
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Stovepipe Wells Village

If you plan to eat a meal or buy gasoline within the park, we recommend doing it in Stovepipe Wells, a wayside with visitor services and accommodation.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

The only sand dunes you’ll see on the tour! You can view the dunes from the parking lot, but it’s more fun to explore the dunes on foot and wander among the mesquite trees for some social media-worthy pictures. This is a top pick for sunsets and stargazing, too.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Devils Cornfield

There’s a peculiar patch of Arrowweed near the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes that appears like bunches of corn in a field. There’s not much to look at, but a small parking area allows visitors to safely park and get a closer look.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Salt Creek Interpretive Trail

A 0.5-mile boardwalk runs along the Salt Creek wetland, a critical watering hole for critters and home to the endangered Salt Creek Pupfish. The easy trail is down a dirt road.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Harmony Borax Works

Explore what's left of the earliest mining operation in Death Valley. Placards throughout the short path interpret the various buildings and mechanisms required to process borax. You'll also see one of the wagons pulled by the famed 20-mule teams.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mustard Canyon

Though there’s no actual stop, you can take a detour into a small canyon with an unusual yellow tinge. Before driving this road, check with the park for the road's current conditions. In normal circumstances, this dirt road is reasonably well-maintained but still bumpy, and not advisable for vehicles with low clearance.10. Furnace Creek Visitor Center
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Furnace Creek Visitor Center

A must-stop for information, flush toilets, a water refill station, and a museum with excellent displays on the natural and human history of Death Valley.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

The Ranch at Death Valley

Furnace Creek is the only place to eat a meal and get gas within the park. Prices are higher here, but you’ll find an ice cream parlor, buffet-style restaurant, and Wild West-themed saloon. There’s also an excellent General Store with souvenirs and a small grocery section. And if you want to know more about the area’s mining history, you can visit the Borax Museum.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Devil's Golf Course

Enjoy the otherworldly shapes of Death Valley’s salt flat, down a short dirt road from Badwater Road. There’s no trail, and you’ll want to make sure you have sturdy shoes if you wander into the ‘golf course.’ That salt can hurt!
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Badwater Basin

The lowest point in North America, and the highlight of a trip to Death Valley. There's a boardwalk by the parking lot, but you're welcome to wander into the valley on the Badwater Basin trail. Go as far as you'd like into the interior of Death Valley's famed salt flats, but it's about 1 mile in to reach the cool geometric shapes in the salt, making this a 2-mile round trip hike.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Natural Bridge Trail

The trail to the natural bridge rock formation is flat, but rocky. It's about 1 mile round-trip from the parking lot to the bridge and back.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Artist's Drive

Artists Drive is a one-way road that ascends up toward the Black Mountains into a twisty canyon. The drive itself is fun, as you maneuver through a tight desert landscape. But the highlight is a stop along the road called Artists Palette, where minerals in the rock create a colorful cliff. You can explore on foot for a closer look.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Golden Canyon Trailhead

This is one of the most popular hikes in the park, taking hikers through a lifeless canyon. It's about 3 miles, or 5 kilometers round-trip to the Red Cathedral cliff formation.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Zabriskie Point

One of the most iconic views in the park, overlooking rock formations Red Cathedral and Manly Beacon. This spot is also noted for its film history and its role as the album cover for U2's Joshua Tree. The walk from the parking lot to the overlook is short and paved, but steep.
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20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Twenty Mule Team Canyon

Like Mustard Canyon, this is a dirt road adventure into a tightly curving canyon. And there’s no specific stop, but it’s about a 15-minute detour from the main tour route. Before driving this road, check with the park for the road's current conditions. In normal circumstances, this dirt road is reasonably well-maintained but still bumpy, and not advisable for vehicles with low clearance.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Dante's View

A truly stunning sight to behold. Ascend over 5,000 feet to this overlook directly above Badwater Basin. From here, you’ll see the lowest point in North America with the dramatic Panamint Range looming over it on the other side of the valley. And on clear days, you can see the Sierra Nevada beyond, including Mt. Whitney–the highest point in the lower 48 states. This is a popular sunset and stargazing spot.
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30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
  • Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
  • Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Death Valley National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-102020P55

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Reviews

4.64
11 reviews

Average 4.64 out of 5 stars based on 11 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

5 stars
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On average, this is booked 14 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Tours NEVER expire
  • Offline map (map and GPS work completely offline - no wifi or data needed)
  • Take the tour when you want - download the tour and choose the day that works best for you
  • Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations
  • Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
  • Freedom to explore at your own pace - pick the stops you want, skip the ones you don’t
  • Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
  • Offline Audio Guided Tour: Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
  • Your Own Private Transportation
  • Optional: Meals and refreshment
  • Optional: $30 per vehicle Entrance Fee
  • Optional: Parking Fees
  • Optional: Entrance Fees

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Optional Starting Point: • West Entrance of Death Valley National Park near Panamint Springs.
  • Travelers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
  • The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
  • Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
  • Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device
  • Travelers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting
  • Operated by a business

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Free Cancellation

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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PDT).

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  • Cool Rewards is a loyalty program operated by Cool Destinations. Rewards may be earned by any eligible person holding a Cool Destinations account, subject to the Cool Destinations customer Terms of Use.

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