Private Group Tours
Tohono Chul offers private group tours for conference and convention groups and motorcoach tours.
Customized tours and/or special programs can be arranged to accommodate most requests, covering a wide array of subjects — from overview tours of the Sonoran Desert to birding or ethnobotany. Parking is available for motor coaches. Private Group dining can also be arranged.
Please contact our Education Department for additional information and pricing.
Guided Tours for Schools:
Schools are welcome to visit on a guided tour. Please contact Vivianna Sanchez at education@tohonochul.org or 742-6455 x 228 to make a reservation.
- Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance to take advantage of the reduced school group admission fee.
- A minimum of 1 adult chaperone for every 10 children is required.
- Cost is $2 per student | free admission for one chaperone for every 10 students | $2 for each additional chaperone.
- Stay on the trails and refrain from touching, picking, or collecting anything; Tohono Chul is a living museum we wish all our guests to enjoy.
- Be sure to dress for the weather and for walking in the desert.
- Closed-toe shoes are highly recommended – critters are out and about!
- Wear sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from the sun.
- Don’t forget to bring a water bottle.
- There are water fountains designed to refill water bottles at Admissions and the Education Center.
- Please download, read, and share the Guided Tour Information for Teachers and Chaperones.
• Pre-visit materials and Guidelines for Teachers and Chaperones
• Arizona State Standards
• Desert Pathfinders Activity Booklet — for 1st-3rd grades a multi-page booklet (printed on legal paper) with 20 different desert activities to engage students.
Fun and Smart Projects for Kids
Before your next visit, why not explore one of these activity sheets, great for a rainy (or too hot) day at home! Note: activity sheets are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format (portable document format) and some are for legal-sized paper (8-1/2 × 14″).
- Arizona: A to Z (requires legal paper)
- Desert Pathfinders Activity Booklet (requires legal paper)
- Monsoon
- Saguaros
- Seasons of the Saguaro
- For the Birds
Tours for other Adult Groups
Private tours for families, friends, and social groups can be customized to meet your interests and time constraints.
• Number of tour participants – 5 minimum / 60 maximum
• Length of tour – approximately one hour
• Subjects – adaptations, birds, Sonoran Desert ecology, ethnobotany, Riparian Habitat, Saguaro Discovery Trail, xeriscape landscaping, and others by pre-arrangement
We request a minimum of two weeks advance notice when scheduling guided tours. Remember, the sooner you call, the more likely you will be to get your first choice of dates. When calling, please have the following information ready – number of students in your class or adults in your group, name of contact person and their address, telephone and email address (if applicable), and area(s) of study or special interest.