Transfer Option:

SONORAN DESERT

Day 1: Arrival and pick-up at the Tucson International Airport at 7:00 PM and transport to our ranch in the foothill of the Sierrita Mountains (there is no bunk house, once you leave town, you will be on a camping trip until the last day.)

Day 2: After a hardy breakfast, we’ll have a brief introduction and pre-trip meeting and then you will select or be matched to your horse for the next 1 or 2 weeks. We saddle up and go for a short ride around the foot hills and trails near the ranch. We return, have lunch ,and then journey by van to the Desert Museum (no stuffed animals; it has everything you might see while riding through this desert.)

Day 3: We'll ride through some of the largest cattle ranches of the southwest to our next camp by Pozo Nuevo. This ride will lead us through the typical sonoran desert with majestic Saguaros and other cacti (watch out for those Jumping cactus; they got their name for a reason). (6-8 h, 20 miles)

Day 4: Today we'll discover a different Arizona. The cacti soon give way to the grass covered plains of the Buenos Aires wildlife refuge. Antelopes, a diversity of deer, Javalinas and any number of smaller creatures inhabit this area. Our camp is setup for one of those vacation sunset photographs. (6-8 h, 20 miles)

Day 5 A long days ride will take us by Yellow Jacket and to Arivaca Lake. Prepare yourself for a 7 mile long canter along a beautiful sand wash and the increasing mountain terrain with endless views. There will be an opportunity to go for a refreshing swim at the lake after the ride. (8-9 h, 25 miles)

Day 6: A long ride along the Mexican Border to Pena Blanca will take us by Ruby (a historic mining turned ghost town) and to Sycamore canyon, where we can look for goedes in the midst of an impressive canyon. (8-9 h, 25 miles)
... one week clients depart camp after dinner and overnight in local hotel in Tucson.

SONITA - TOMBSTONE

Day 7: We'll follow the Arizona trail north to Kentucky Camp (another historic mining depot). Still working Gold mines and steep mountain trails will make this ride an unforgettable adventure. (6-8 h, 18 miles)

Day 8:  A long ride today from Gringo Gulch through Patagonia on the way to Canelo Pass in the Canelo mountains. Beautiful scenery and views into San Rafael Valley make this a Kodak moment all day. We camp near an old ranch for the night.

Day 9:  This morning we break camp, load up horses and head for the Dragoon mountain by way of Tombstone ( “The town to tough to die”) for some sight seeing and maybe a gun fight in town. If time permits when we arrive in camp in the Dragoons we can take a short ride and maybe some more Kodak time for running across the meadows.

Day 10: Today's ride will take us into the Stronghold where Chochise outsmarted the Calvary for many years and ultimately surrendered to Gen. Howard. We will ride the route the Calvary had to take to meet with Chochise through Middle Marsh Pass and return to camp for our last camp supper and shower.

Day 11: We tack up this morning for our last ride. We will ride into China Gulch to visit an Authentic and still used medicine wheel where you can leave a prayer to the spirits or just sit and feel the power that these Mountains hold and know why the Apache loved it.
When we return to camp we will have lunch, load up and return to Tucson and the sounds of city. Dinner will be at a local restaurant (not included) and then for a loooooong hot shower in the hotel.

Day 12: In the morning take the hotel airport shuttle to the airport.

    Subject to changes !

The Sonoran Desert region has the greatest diversity of vegetative growth of any desert region worldwide. This unique eco-region constitutes a large area located in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. With such a harsh climate some may be surprised to find so many mammals, reptiles, birds, and even about a dozen amphibian species, including the world's largest terrestrial salamander, the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum). Cattle grazing and urban development are the main threats to this eco-region.

The Sonoran desert is one of the wettest deserts in North America and averages from 3 to 16 inches of rain a year. It has two rainy seasons, one in the summer and another in the winter. The summer rains are short and heavy and are often followed by a rainbow. The winter rains are longer and lighter and are more widespread.

The sunlight of the Sonoran Desert changes during the day and it gets hotter. Seasonal temperatures range from an average of 52º F in the winter, to 86º F in the summer. But in the cooler seasons the temperatures can drop to around 32º F at night. Some parts of the Mexican portion of the Sonoran Desert have been known to reach 134º F in the shade!!

There are a lot of sand dunes and grasses in the desert. There are also a lot of cacti, herbs, thorny and thornless shrubs. The creosote bush is the most common plant, and the saguaro cactus is the largest and the most conspicuous plant in the desert.

Many desert animals, such as bighorn sheep, pocket mouse, and pronghorn antelope (an endangered species) use cacti and other vegetation as a shelter from harsh weather and as a source of water. The bighorn sheep has adapted to the desert, because it has big feet, good for the rough terrain, and only needs to drink every few days. The pocket mouse has adapted to the desert, because it is very small, is sand colored, and can run fast from predators. It also doesn't need to drink because it gets all the water it needs from the food it eats and retains its urine.

Average Monthly Temperature (F)

On these camping rides we provide

• all camping gear (except sleeping bags). You must bring your own sleeping bag as we don't have these for rent. We have spare “used bags” to use over your own for extra warmth, but we do not rent them or recommend you use them in lieu of your own.  
• roomy tents with 2 camping cots in each.
• hot showers in camp
• three meals a day (hearty breakfast, bag lunch on trail, and a varied dinner menu). Please let us know of any special dietary requests at the time of booking.
• we do not provide beverages other than coffee, tea and water, but you are welcome to bring your own, or the cook can purchase it for you (at cost) when he goes to town for supplies
• horses and tack (including canteens and saddlebags)
• friendly, knowledgeable staff (all guides are First Aid certified)

You just sit back, relax and enjoy.

You will sleep in roomy three season dome tents with cots ( 3 person tents for 2 riders). You should bring your own warm sleeping bag and if you prefer a mat to lay on top of the cot. We provide pillows and have some spare sleeping bags for anyone needing the extra warmth on the cold desert nights).
There is a hot shower set up in one of the horse trailers - you can take a short shower every day -- either in the afternoon after the ride or in the morning. Keep in mind -- there is one shower for everyone, so keep them short. It is quite a luxury out in the desert. In the morning  hot water is available for freshening up from a large pot and wash basins. Although there will always be water available, please remember that it is a precious commodity out here so conservation is the key word..

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Tack:		Western Hackamore
Horses:		Missouri Foxtrotters, Arabian and Arab/Foxtrotter mix, Tennesse Walker
Pace:		Some long riding days. Forward going ride. The gaited horses will not gait throughout the trip. Steep mountain trails. | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3 to 3 out of 5)    Good intermediate
Age:		Min 16
Weight:		Max 210 lbs
Riders:		Min 5 riders	Max 8 riders

Week One:
Some long days and long trots and canters. Lots of sandy washes and some mountain road riding on the last day. Relatively fast. Real desert the first few days.
Lots of cacti incl. big Saguaros. Start at ranch in Sierrita mtns.
Week Two:
Some long days (2x 30 miles+) , long trots and canters, narrow mountain trails. Santa Ritas. Gardner Canyon.

We do require riding experience on this trip! You should be able to walk, trot and canter and should be in good physical condition - able to ride 6-8 hours per day for most of our trails. We will take breaks every hour to stretch our legs, but the pace can be quite challenging with long stretches of trotting and cantering where the terrain allows us. However, we do adjust to everyone's riding ability to make it enjoyable and safe for riders and the horses as well.

Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.
ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.