Scottsdale Segway Tours
Take the award-winning holiday light tour, a perfect adventure for family, friends, and tourists. This is the time for ugly sweaters and the beautiful light decorations of the downtown Scottsdale area. The famous attraction is the waterfront holiday light exhibit “ Scottsdale.” The other features are the light show, amazing restaurants, segway transporters illuminated with 10,000-lumen headlights, and taillights wrapped in festive lights.
Old Town Scottsdale Food Tour
If you are foody and love trying new tastes and flavors, this is the perfect tour for you. As visitors, we don’t know the best places to enjoy authentic and tasty food. Traveling from Phoenix So Taste It Food Tours offers a visit where they take you to 3 delicious restaurants and a gelato place. Along with the tasty food, you are required to walk 1 to 1.5 miles to help in better intake.
Party Bike Pub Crawl
Take your party on the road as you go through the streets of Scottsdale. The bike is a 6- 14 seater two-hour pub crawl with a certified party bike captain. The company has partnered with three bars where you’ll enjoy exclusive drinks and cut-the-line access. The journey will begin at the party bike HQ, as the adult beverage and party supplies are loaded. So let the eyes turn as you bottle up shorts with your party gang on the streets.
UTV Sand Buggy Adventure
Get the best off-roading experience offered by Desert Dog Off-road Adventures. This is a guided tour of 2 hours where the UTV sand buggy will take you to a rock garden, sandy washes, twisty canyons, and all the desert tracks. You can enjoy the buggy ride with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks offered by the company. And keep a watch on the wildlife there if you are lucky, you might come across few. To begin the tour, you need a minimum of 2 people. Phoenix Airport Pickup
Water Canyon Adventure
Take up the adventure where you will be wading through pine forest, rock hopping down a wet wonderland, swimming under waterfalls, leaping into deep pools, sliding down natural waterslides, and at the end, enjoy the 40ft rappel. The tour will begin with a group of 10, where a guide helps you in your journey, and the adventure is performed with all the safety gear and measures. It is a 6-hour canyon tour through the Mogollon Rim with mountain views.
Arizona shuttle is at your service 24/7 with expert drivers and the fastest trips. We provide SUVs, shuttle service, and pre-booked luxury cars at budget-friendly prices. Our drivers will pick you up from any address with doorstep drop-off. You can make changes to the date and time without any charges. So book your ride, and for more information, contact (480) 710-3441.
More Tours Offered in Scottsdale You Shouldn't Miss
The five tours above are just the start. Scottsdale's tour scene is remarkably varied — encompassing everything from sunrise hot air balloon flights to guided desert hikes to haunted pub crawls — and the area's most popular operators have been running trips here for decades. Below are additional experiences that consistently rank among the most-loved activities in the city, plus practical notes on how to pair them together and get to each departure point without stress.
Taliesin West: Frank Lloyd Wright's Desert Masterpiece
No list of Scottsdale tours is complete without Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and architectural laboratory, sitting at the base of the McDowell Mountains on Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard near the Loop 101. Built in the late 1930s, the compound was constructed using colorful rocks and sand gathered directly from the surrounding Sonoran Desert — a detail you'll hear repeated on nearly every guided walk (per Experience Scottsdale, the city's official tourism office). Docent-led tours range from a one-hour overview to longer in-depth experiences that step inside the drafting studio, dining room, and garden room. Because it's roughly a 30-minute drive from Old Town, many visitors book a morning tour here and spend the afternoon exploring nearby attractions in North Scottsdale.
Hot Air Balloon Rides Over the Sonoran Desert
If you want the single most photographed activity in the area's tourism lineup, it's a hot air balloon ride. Local operators launch at dawn from the desert north of the city, drifting over saguaro-studded terrain with views of Camelback Mountain and, on clear mornings, the skyline of downtown Phoenix in the distance. Flights typically end with a traditional post-flight toast, and most companies offer shared or private baskets. Sunrise departures mean you'll want a reliable early-morning ride from your hotel or Phoenix airport pickup — balloon launch windows don't wait for anyone.
Old Town Scottsdale Self-Guided Walking Tour
Prefer to explore at your own pace? A self-guided walking loop through Old Town hits the historic district's best-known stops: the Scottsdale Historical Museum, the little red schoolhouse, the Mission-style shopping courtyards, and the public art scattered along Main Street. You can complete the full loop in about 60 minutes at a comfortable pace, but allow extra time to browse the shops and restaurants you'll pass along the way — that's half the fun. Plan on roughly an hour more if you stop frequently, and bring water in the warmer months since much of the route is outdoors.
Guided Hiking Tours in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve is one of the largest urban preserves in the United States, with more than 200 miles of trails accessible from multiple trailheads off Thompson Peak Parkway and Dynamite Boulevard. Guided hiking tours take visitors to the best viewpoints — Tom's Thumb, Gateway Loop, and the waist-high granite formations that make this landscape so distinctive — while local guides explain the desert's plants, wildlife, and geology. If you'd rather hike solo, ranger-led walks are offered seasonally, and trailhead parking is free. Expect a moderate workout and unbeatable photo opportunities of the Sonoran Desert in every direction.
Ghost Tours and Haunted Nightlife in Old Town
For a thrilling blend of spooky fun, true haunted history, and party vibes, Old Town's evening ghost tours have become a longtime favorite with both visitors and locals. Walking tours wind past the district's oldest buildings — including structures dating to Scottsdale's early farming era — while guides recount documented stories of the area's most famous spirits. Several operators combine the history walk with stops at some of the neighborhood's storied saloons, making it an easy bridge into Scottsdale's nightlife scene afterward. It's a popular pick for bachelorette groups and date nights alike.
Tours for Couples: Valentine's Day and Special Occasions
Looking for unforgettable date ideas in Scottsdale and Phoenix? A sunset hot air balloon ride for two, a couples' UTV run through the desert, or a wine-tasting food tour through Old Town all top the local lists. If you're willing to make the short drive east on the Loop 202 to neighboring Tempe, a newer floating party experience on Tempe Town Lake — think pedal-powered pontoons with a captain aboard — has quickly become one of the most talked-about group activities in the East Valley. Pair any of these with dinner in Old Town and you have a full evening.
Quick Comparison: Which Scottsdale Tour Is Right for You?
With so much variety, choosing one tour can feel overwhelming. This table breaks down the most popular options by group type and effort level so you can match the experience to your trip.
| Tour | Best For | Activity Level | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Walking Tour | First-timers, families | Easy | About 60 minutes, more with stops |
| Taliesin West Guided Tour | Architecture fans, culture seekers | Easy (walking) | 1 hour to 2+ hours depending on tour |
| Segway Tour | Couples, holiday visitors | Easy | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Food Tour | Foodies, small groups | Easy (1–1.5 miles of walking) | About 3 hours |
| UTV Sand Buggy Adventure | Thrill seekers, friend groups | Moderate | 2 hours |
| Hot Air Balloon Ride | Special occasions, photographers | Easy (early start) | Half day including setup |
How to Get to Each Tour Departure Point
Scottsdale's tour launches are spread across the city — Old Town sits near Camelback Road and Scottsdale Road, while the UTV and buggy operators stage near the Loop 101 and Route 60 corridors east of town. Flying in? A pre-booked Phoenix to Scottsdale shuttle gets you from Sky Harbor to your hotel without renting a car, and a dedicated Arizona shuttle can run you between tour sites, restaurants, and evening activities on your own schedule. Group tours especially benefit from one vehicle: everyone arrives together, on time, with no parking headaches at crowded trailheads.
Tips for Booking Scottsdale Tours
- Book early for season and holidays. Winter and spring are peak season; popular time slots — especially sunrise balloons and holiday light tours — sell out well in advance.
- Check minimum group sizes. Adventures like the UTV buggy tour require at least two participants, and canyon adventures run with guided groups of around ten.
- Dress for the desert. Closed-toe shoes and sun protection are standard requirements for off-road and hiking tours, even in cooler months.
- Confirm pickup details. Many operators will note whether hotel pickup is included; if not, budget extra time and transportation to the departure point.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tours in Scottsdale
What are the most popular tours offered in Scottsdale?
Segway tours of Old Town, food tours, UTV sand buggy adventures, hot air balloon rides, Taliesin West docent tours, and guided hikes in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve are the activities visitors book most often. Segway tours of the holiday lights have been recognized nationally — the experience was named the #4 experience in the country by Tripadvisor in 2023, with over a thousand traveler reviews citing it.
How much do Scottsdale tours cost?
Prices vary widely by operator, group size, and season, so we won't quote specific numbers here. As a general estimate, walking and self-guided experiences cost the least, segway and food tours fall in the mid-range, and private adventures like balloon flights and UTV rides are the premium tier. Always confirm current pricing directly with the tour operator before booking.
What is the best time of year to take a tour in Scottsdale?
October through April offers the most comfortable desert temperatures, which is why it's the area's busiest stretch for outdoor tours. Summer tours still run but depart earlier in the morning to beat the heat, and water-based adventures become especially appealing then.
Are Scottsdale tours suitable for kids and families?
Yes — the walking tours, segway holiday light tours, and gentle desert excursions are family-friendly. Off-road and canyon adventures typically have age or height minimums for safety, so check requirements with each operator before reserving.
How far is Taliesin West from Old Town Scottsdale?
Taliesin West is in North Scottsdale near the Loop 101, roughly a 25 to 30 minute drive from Old Town depending on traffic. Allow extra time if you're heading to a scheduled docent tour, as check-in closes promptly at tour time.
Do I need a car to explore tours offered in Scottsdale?
Not necessarily. Old Town is walkable, and a pre-booked shuttle from Phoenix or Sky Harbor Airport can cover airport transfers and point-to-point trips between tour sites, letting everyone in your group relax instead of navigating.
Can tour operators pick me up from my hotel?
Adventure companies that stage far from the city — such as off-road and canyon tours — commonly offer or require meeting points, and policies differ by operator. For door-to-door transportation between your hotel, the airport, and tour departures, a dedicated shuttle service is the most flexible option.
