Tours in Tempe

Arizona Teen Tours––a nonprofit organization dedicated to taking teens outdoors––hires experienced guides to prove to kids that the sun isn't really our enemy. To do this, they lead wildlife sojourns designed to encourage kids aged 9–16 to master skills such as positive critical thinking, self-confidence, and creativity. Treks range from one to eight days, and guides can facilitate camping while hiking landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, Chaco Canyon, and the Petrified Forest.

Jack Cleeves stands tall in the annals of helicopter tourism with a career now spanning more than 25 years and innovations that led the way for helicopter tourism in the area. His reputation as a top chopper baron began with an early series of firsts: he was the first pilot ever granted a five-year landing spot on the bottom of the Grand Canyon—when others had to touch down on the canyon brim and feed the meters—the first to install air conditioning in his helicopters, and the first to grant every client guaranteed flights.

Upon earning the trust of high-profile organizations—such as the U.S. Department of the Interior and several major Las Vegas casino-hotels—the aviator known for his impeccably maintained aircrafts got around to establishing Sky Blue Helicopters in 2011. Using Robinson R44 Raven II Series helicopters, the company helps train the next generation of pilots and specializes in Jack's signature aerial tours. On each trip, groups glide over desert, mountains, and canyons as pilots tell the stories of the area’s history and passengers take in nature’s showmanship from above.

In a dorm room at Arizona State University in 2005, a group of entrepreneurial young aviation enthusiasts hatched the plan for what would grow into Classic Air Aviation. Now, from their new home nest at Falcon Field Airport, the team of licensed instructors elucidates the fundamentals of flying for aspiring aces. Passionate instructors educate aviators with a range of classes and certifications that range from ground school and private-pilot training to certified flight-instructor training and commercial pilot certificates. All programs follow FAA guidelines to ensure that students learn the basics behind the airplane’s various flight controls and instrumentation and watch a mandatory PSA warning against the hidden dangers of gravity.

Ranked as one of the top five tours in Phoenix by TripAdvisor, Taste It Tours explores Phoenix's bustling and burgeoning restaurants. Local experts guide groups to the restaurants that highlight Phoenix’s local eateries, weaving architectural, historical, and cultural information into their narration along the way. Most tours last three hours and may cover up to two miles on foot. The up-to-six-stop tours serve up a sampler that many guests equate to a full meal and that many bears equate to a prehibernation brunch.

Helmed by animated guide Marvin Neer, Segway Expeditions’ fleet of i2 segways zips along urban pathways and desert landscapes during scenic tours of Phoenix and Scottsdale. After strapping on fitted helmets, guests throw lassos around the handlebars of nearby segways and hop onto their backs to begin a 15-minute safety lesson. Marvin then leads packs out on tours of Papago Park, Scottsdale Green Belt, South Mountain Park, or Tempe Beach Park, commenting on the local flora and fauna as they swoosh by. A gyroscopically self-balancing mechanism keeps the segway stable as it cruises at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour, so riders need not worry about falling off their metallic steeds during sharp turns or impromptu jousts.