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Death Valley National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

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Overview

What's Included

✓ Included

  • Tours NEVER expire
  • Offline Audio Guided Tour: Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
  • 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

✗ Not Included

  • Your Own Private Transportation
  • Optional: Meals and refreshment
  • Optional: $30 per vehicle Entrance Fee
  • Optional: Parking Fees
  • Optional: Entrance Fees

Itinerary

1
Stop 1
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.
2
Stop 2
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.
3
Stop 3
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!
4
Stop 4
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.
5
Stop 5
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.
6
Stop 6
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.
7
Stop 7
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.
8
Stop 8
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.
9
Stop 9
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
10
Stop 10
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.
11
Stop 11
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.
12
Stop 12
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!
13
Stop 13
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.
14
Stop 14
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.
15
Stop 15
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.
16
Stop 16
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.
17
Stop 17
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.
18
Stop 18
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.
19
Stop 19
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.

Meeting & End Point

📍
Meeting Point
Tour starts in East Entrance of Death Valley National Park.
🏁
End Point
Tour starts in East Entrance of Death Valley National Park.

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Good to Know

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Optional Starting Point: • West Entrance of Death Valley National Park near Panamint Springs.
  • Get Started Easily: • Book Your Tour: Receive a confirmation and easy instructions via email. • Download the App: Follow the simple steps in your email. • Redeem the Tour: Use the redeem code in your email to redeem the tour in the app. • Prepare Ahead: Download the tour using strong Wi-Fi.
  • Begin Your Journey: • Select Your Tour: Go to the My Stuff tab in the Shaka Guide app to launch the tour. • Start the Tour: Select the tour starting point and follow the GPS instructions. • Follow Shaka Guide: Stick to the suggested route and speed for the best experience.
  • Why Choose Our Audio Tour: • Cost-Efficient: One tour for the entire vehicle—no per-person fees! • Ultimate Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume on your schedule. • Convenience: Use the tour any day, over multiple days if needed.
  • Top Features: • Hands-Free: The tour works automatically - GPS-activated stories, directions, and music play as you drive for a seamless experience. • Works Offline: No need for continuous wifi or data. • Reliable Support: Get help via call, chat, or email.
  • Private and Personalized: • Crowd-Free: Enjoy a private tour with just your group. • Customizable Stops: Pick the stops you want and skip the ones you don’t!
  • The Ultimate Guided Tour: • Detailed Itinerary: Includes travel tips and recommendations. • Engaging Narration: Captivating stories and history.
  • What Our Users Say: • “A fantastic way to explore! Easy to use and very informative.” • “Loved the flexibility to stop and go as we pleased. Highly recommend!”

Known For:

Special Instructions

HOW TO REDEEM YOUR TOUR:

Thank you for purchasing the Death Valley Tour.

Before you start your adventure, you'll need to redeem and download the tour in the Shaka Guide app. Follow the instructions below:

*Please Note: The redeem code is the 10-digit booking reference number on your ticket (located under the barcode).

1. Download the Shaka Guide App in the App Store or Google Play Store (or use the link at the bottom of this email)
2. Open the app and sign in/create your account
3. Go to Support → Retrieve Purchases
4. Tap on Redeem Purchases
5. Enter your Redeem Code (10-digit booking reference number on your ticket located under the barcode)
6. Tap on Redeem Purchases
7. Download your tour(s)

Once you've redeemed your tour, you'll find it under "My Stuff" in the app.

For a smooth ride, download the tour with wifi before you go.

Should you need further assistance or have other questions, email us at aloha@shakaguide.com or call (808) 201-8138

DOWNLOAD THE APP HERE: www.shakaguide.com/download

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