Description
The Sonoran Desert is home to the Tohono O’odham Nation and their predecessors, the Huhugam (Hohokam)—masterful and resilient cultures that have thrived since time immemorial. O’odham tribal members and archaeologists introduce you to ancestral places and historic sites while also learning about contemporary revitalization efforts of O’odham agriculture and art traditions.
As we traverse the remarkable landscape of the Sonoran Desert, the timelines of diverse cultures and influences emerge, collide, and unfold before us.
Highlights
- Learn directly from O’odham tribal members about their lifeways and explore the unbroken continuity of cultural traditions that have been passed down through the generations.
- Walk through ancient cities of adobe in the Sonoran Desert and visit sophisticated canal systems that irrigated crops of cotton, tobacco, corn, beans, and squash.
Itinerary
Registration limited to 14 participants.Meals, lodging, and transportation provided.
*(B, L, D) indicates meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Itinerary subject to change.
Sunday, November 2: Arrivals | Phoenix, AZ
Gather in the evening to meet the group. enjoy dinner, and set the stage for our collective journey of learning. Overnight Phoenix, AZ (B)
Monday, November 3: Huhugam Heritage Center | Catalina Mountains
We begin our journey at Huhugam Heritage Center, where we build a foundation of knowledge for the week—unfolding the dynamic, multicultural communities of the region. We’ll visit an impressive platform mound site not normally open to the public. At the base of the Catalina Mountains, we visit a ballcourt and a historic homestead demonstrating the deep timeline and cultural fusion still unfolding today. Overnight Tucson, AZ (B, L, D)
Tuesday, November 4: Tohono O'odham Museum | Mexico-O’odham border visit | Samuel Fayuant
Diving deep into the southern U.S., spend the day with Samuel Fayuant, Cultural Affairs Specialist for the Tohono O'odham Nation. We’ll visit the Nation's museum and cultural center. We work our way to the border of Tohono O'odham Nation, United States and Mexico and learn about successes and challenges around the multinational border. Overnight Tucson, AZ (B, L, D)
Wednesday, November 5: Mission Gardens | San Xavier | Tumacácori | Tubac
We visit four historic sites, where we can see and learn about the Spanish influence in the region: Mission Gardens, San Xavier, Tumacácori, and Tubac. Mission Gardens grows culturally important foods in place with over 4,000 years of farming. Nearby at San Xavier del Bac Mission, we’ll visit the oldest intact European structure in Arizona. Tumacácori National Historical Park is south of Tucson and is a site where the Spanish established a mission amongst the banks of the Santa Cruz River in 1691 and the O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache forever changing the dynamics between communities. Nearby, the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and historic community gives us insight into the changing times of Spanish and Jesuit contact. Overnight Tucson, AZ (B, L, D)
Thursday, November 6: San Pedro River | Old Tucson
The San Pedro River corridor is an incredibly rich region and home to many early Southwest communities. We’ll visit a Hohokam platform mound and nearby a Salado site (the Salado flourished from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries from the Mogollon Rim to the Tonto and Tucson Basins). Up and down the river, ancestral communities created a rich tapestry of life for thousands of years. We’ll spend the afternoon on a walking tour of historic downtown Tucson. The variety of era construction speaks to the mixing of cultures in an urban setting—reconstructed Tucson Presidio, adobe Sonoran row houses, Victorian and American Craftsman architecture, and the urban renewal/gentrification story unfolding today. Overnight Tucson, AZ (B, L, D)
Friday, November 7: Heard Museum | S'edav Va'aki
On our last full day, we return to Phoenix and visit the Heard Museum and lastly S'edav Va'aki (formerly known as Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park). At the Heard Museum, we’ll get a chance to see O’odham craftsmanship from the past and today in a vibrant and culturally guided setting. Here, we weave the story together from the week. Our last stop is S'edav Va'aki, where we walk on the grounds of an ancient village in the heart of the metropolitan city of Phoenix. We add another chapter to our understanding of the resilience and strength of the O’odham people. Overnight Phoenix, AZ (B, L, D)
Saturday, November 8: Departures out of Phoenix (B)
Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California CST 2059347-50
Is this program right for me?
WHAT TO EXPECT This program begins and ends in Phoenix, Arizona. Mid-trip will take place in Tucson, AZ. No drive is more than two hours and we travel in comfortable 15-passenger vans. While this program does not involve extensive hiking, visits to some sites will require walking as much as one mile over uneven, rocky terrain. The trip takes place between 1000 and 3000-feet above sea level.
ACCOMMODATIONS
All nights are spent in at least 3-star hotels in the cities of Phoenix or Tucson.
Single occupancy is defined as a room occupied by one individual. Shared occupancy is defined as a room occupied, and pre-arranged, by two persons.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How strenuous is the program?
This trip is considered mild, as the walking portion of the trip will be on the easier side with short walks on unpaved and uneven ground. Be prepared to be on your feet walking and standing for several hours at a time.
How long are the hikes on the trip? Generally less than two miles. There will be more standing and wandering than hiking distances.
How much elevation gain do the hikes have? Most walks will be on hilly terrain but no extreme steep or long hikes. Most will gain two hundred feet of elevation or less.
What time does the program start on the first day? The program will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday November 2, 2025.
What time does the program end on the last day? Saturday, November 8, 2025 is a travel day. Travelers may depart at anytime.
What airports will transportation be provided from? Phoenix, AZ Sky Harbor International Airport
Can I drive myself during the program? No, all participants will travel in a Crow Canyon vehicle during the trip. No personal vehicles may be used.
What if I have a dietary restriction? Please fill out your medical form and check with your Program Manager. We will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions to your satisfaction.
WHAT NEXT?
Register online or contact us at travel@crowcanyon.org. Prior to the program start date, we will provide trip details, a packing list, and forms for you to complete. Please direct specific questions and concerns to the Program Manager, David Boyle at dboyle@crowcanyon.org.
Crow Canyon is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, and contributions from supporters like you help fund our unique and important mission. Program tuitions cover only a portion of the cost to operate the Cultural Explorations travel programs. Generous donations support the remaining costs of designing highly customized programming such as this and enable us to provide scholarships for additional cultural advisors to attend the program and enhance the quality of your experience. DONATE HERE
