Daily Tours, Programs, & Eco-Stations
The best way to learn about the Sonoran Desert is to experience it firsthand. That’s why we offer daily tours of our garden which cover a wide range of topics. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, an art aficionado, or an aspiring botanist, there is a tour for everyone!
A member of our trained docent team will lead you through the gardens and teach you everything you need to know about this unique ecosystem. Our daily tours are a great way to acquaint yourself with the grounds and take home some valuable information about the Sonoran desert.
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Featured Tours & Programs
Reptile Ramble
March – May
Fridays | 10 – 11 AM | Overlook
Discover the fascinating world of our scaly neighbors! Learn to identify local reptiles and finally uncover the answer to the age-old question: Why do lizards do push-ups? Get up close with non-venomous snakes, lizards, tortoises, and more in this engaging, hands-on experience.
Walk in the Gardens
September – May
Daily | 10 AM
Monday – Saturday | 12 PM
Join us for a Walk in the Gardens and get an intimate look at the plants and animals that call Tohono Chul home. During this guided tour, you’ll hear about desert wildlife and learn how to identify some of our most common plants as we take a stroll through the beautiful grounds. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about what makes Tohono Chul such a special place!
Nature Journaling
Thursdays | 8 AM
This casual meet-up is perfect for those who enjoy going outside, sketching, observing, and meeting fellow nature enthusiasts. Join the Southern Arizona Nature Journal Club to immerse yourself in the natural world.
Tours and Special Programs are included in the price of admission and no reservations are required. Tours are subject to volunteer availability, and Special Programs are weather dependent. Check out our events calendar for more fun things to do during your visit:
Weekly Schedule
MONDAYS
ECO-STATION | Winged Things | Overlook
Sept – May: 11 am – 1 pm
TOUR | Walk in the Gardens
Sept – May: 10 am | 12 pm
TOUR | Poetry and Plant Walk
Sept – April: 8:30 am
2nd & 4th Mondays
TUESDAYS
ECO-STATION | Ocean to Desert | Overlook
Sept – May: 11 am – 1 pm
TOUR | Walk in the Gardens
Sept – May: 10 am | 12 pm
TOUR | Gallery Buzz | Exhibit House
Sept – May: 11 am
WEDNESDAYS
ECO-STATION | Rock & Ruins | Overlook
Sept – May: 11 am – 1 pm
TOUR | Walk in the Gardens
Sept – May: 10 am | 12 pm
PROGRAM | Birds of Prey: Night & Day | Children’s Ramada
February – April | 11 am – 1 pm
2nd & 4th Wed
THURSDAYS
ECO-STATION | Desert Chow | Overlook
Sept – May: 11 am – 1 pm
PROGRAM | Nature Journaling
Year-round: 8:00 am
TOUR | Walk in the Gardens
Sept – May: 10 am | 12 pm
TOUR | Gallery Buzz | Exhibit House
Sept – May: 11 am
FRIDAYS
ECO-STATION | Creepy Crawlies | Overlook
Sept – May: 11 am – 1 pm
TOUR | Walk in the Gardens
Sept – May: 10 am | 12 pm
TOUR | Connecting Plants & People
Sept – May: 11 am
PROGRAM | Reptile Ramble | Overlook
March – May | 10 am
SATURDAYS
ECO-STATION | Plants and People | Overlook
Sept – May: 11 am – 1 pm
TOUR | Walk in the Gardens
Sept – May: 10 am | 12 pm
SUNDAYS
TOUR | Walk in the Gardens
Sept – May: 10 am
Tour Descriptions
Walk in the Gardens –
Experience Tohono Chul while learning about the ecology of the Sonoran Desert.
Gallery Buzz –
Check out our latest art and cultural exhibits.
Connecting Plants and People –
Discover the edible and useful plants of the Sonoran Desert.
Poetry & Plant Walk –
Celebrate the Sonoran Desert via the words of poets and naturalists as you explore the Desert View Trail in a rustic area of Tohono Chul.
Special Programs
Reptile Ramble –
Learn to identify resident reptiles and find the answer to the age-old question, “why do lizards do push-ups?” Be prepared to meet a few non-venomous reptiles, perhaps a lizard or even a tortoise, and a few venomous, rattlesnakes and or a Gila monster.
Birds of Prey: Night & Day –
Meet Fargo, the American Kestrel, Zuuli the Peregrine Falcon, and Banshee, the Barn Owl. Discover the different habits of birds of prey who hunt by night or by day, and get to know a collection of the most unflappable birds in town.
Eco-Stations
Winged Things – Mondays
From birds to butterflies, a look at the winged things of the skies.
Ocean to Desert – Tuesdays
Explore the tide zones of the Gulf of California and witness how the desert changes as you travel inland.
Rocks and Ruins – Wednesdays
Explore Tucson Basin geology and archaeology.
Desert Chow – Thursdays
Follow the predator/prey trail and explore a tangled food web.
Creepy Crawlies – Fridays
Sometimes scary, but always cool! Spiders, scorpions, snakes, and lizards.
Plants and People – Saturdays
Living side by side for millennia, plant use has shaped people along the way.