The Chisos Mountains, Chihuahuan Desert, & Rio Grande
Bob W., Past Traveler
Sue B., Past Traveler
Benson B., Past Traveler
Credit: NPS
Trip Type: Small Group Adventure
Territory: North America
Region: Desert Southwest
Trip Price: From $5,095
Single Supplement: $1,100
On-Trip Airfare: $0
Duration: 8 days/7 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: El Paso, Texas / El Paso, Texas
Minimum Travelers: 2 travelers
Maximum Travelers: 16 travelers
Pricing detailed for this Small Group Adventure is based upon double occupancy. Additional charges for single travelers and any on-trip airfare required for the trip apply. A booking deposit is required to reserve your space. Small Group Adventure pricing includes all lodging, meals (unless otherwise noted), activities, baggage handling, transportation, and guide service. Not included are travel costs to/from gateway cities, guide gratuities, and personal incidentals including, but not limited to, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, alcoholic beverages, and laundry service. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.
No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities
Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration
High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun
The Energy Index for this trip is “Nice & Active”, at elevations ranging from 3,740 to 7,625 feet. Activities include hiking 3 to 5 miles per day, with elevation gain/loss not typically more than 1,100 feet. (1,600 to 2,000 feet on an optional hike). Travelers who can hike the minimum end of this range are a good fit for this trip. Contact a Travel Advisor for more details.
Most all of our Small Group Adventures can be made private to just your traveling troupe. Just give us a call at (800) 445-2995 and tell us that you would like to “make it private”!
Generally, there are two ways to make a small group adventure private. First, you could capture one of our published departure dates for just your group. In order to achieve this, we have to have sufficient space available to create a separate private trip. Second, we could take the details of this itinerary and fashion it for just your group on dates of your choosing. For this, too, we just need to review your interest, group size, and preferred timing in order to create the trip.
In all cases, the process begins with a phone call so give us a ring at (800) 445-2995 and after just a few minutes gathering information, we can set to the task of making your trip a reality!
Meet your guide and fellow travelers in El Paso for a welcome dinner.
Get to know your guide and traveling companions on the 200-mile drive from El Paso to the little town of Fort Davis, through the wide-open ranching country of West Texas. In Fort Davis, we’ll visit the McDonald Observatory before settling into our accommodations for the night.
This morning we visit the Fort Davis National Historic Site, a restored cavalry post where African-American soldiers were stationed. Named “Buffalo Soldiers” by the Cheyenne and Comanche Indians, the soldiers played a critical role in western history. This afternoon, we travel through Persimmon Gap into the hauntingly beautiful Big Bend National Park, with its rugged mountains, deep river canyons, and stretching desert vista. It’s hard to find a quieter place on the planet.
We venture out to Big Bend’s legendary Rio Grande Village area this morning to walk amid the huge cottonwood trees lining the river corridor. A nice picnic lunch and little siesta in a shaded campground refreshes your senses for a visit to the dramatic limestone cliffs of Boquillas Canyon.
This morning we will hike in the Chisos Basin. The Chisos Mountains are an “island” mountain range, rising above the landscape. Extensive shrubs at these higher elevations shelter Carmen Mountain whitetail deer, as well as mountain lions and bobcats. Watch for other wildlife uniquely adapted to the region, including mule deer, coyotes, javelina, Big Bend geckos, and Texas horned lizards.
Another fine day awaits, beginning with a hike along the massive walls of Santa Elena Canyon, a magnificent limestone gorge carved by the Rio Grande. The afternoon features a "guide's choice" hike. Enjoy the subtle evening desert colors and first stars after dinner this evening.
A final early morning hike in the Chisos Basin sets the panoramic views of the Chihuahuan Desert into your memory. Bidding adios to Big Bend, we make the 2.5-hour drive to our historic hotel in Marfa. Tonight, celebrate the trip with a festive farewell dinner.
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the El Paso airport for early afternoon flights home.
This iconic landmark property, first built in the 1930s, embodies both its glamorous past as well as its modern revival. Each well-appointed room draws inspiration from the Pueblo Revival Art Deco architectural style with luxe details throughout for a comfortable stay. Located in the heart of El Paso's beloved arts district (known as Las Plazas), guests are perfectly positioned to take advantage of all that the neighborhood has to offer - including the El Paso Museum of Art, San Jacinto Plaza, Plaza Theatre, Abraham Chavez Theatre, and Southwest University Park. From the rooftop bar, guests can enjoy panoramic views of the city, surrounding mountains, and on a clear day, beyond the border into neighboring Mexico and New Mexico!
Located in Fort Davis, the Hotel Limpia is a historic and restored hotel originally built in 1912 nestled in the scenic Davis Mountains. This charming old - world hotel features 31 rooms, courtyard gardens, and a glassed-in veranda, the perfect place to relax.
Chisos Mountains Lodge sits within the quiet, remote desert country of Big Bend National Park. Chisos’ seventy lodge rooms include cottages, motel-style, and lodge rooms, all comfortable with no frills—but who needs frills when you are surrounded with such natural beauty? All rooms have a private bath, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, and air conditioning or a ceiling fan. There are no televisions or telephones, though televisions may be rented. Cell service is very limited, and WiFi is available in the lobby and outside on the patio. The Chisos Mountains Lodge Restaurant, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and which also dishes up the best view 'in the state of Texas'! There is a small convenience store and gift shop on the premises. You may very well see wildlife out the door—keep your eye out for deer, eagles, javelinas, and roadrunners.
Tucked away in South Texas between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park lies the 4-star Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa. This picturesque 27,000-acre resort features lush hillsides and mountainous desert terrain. Take in scenic views of Big Bend and the Rio Grande while playing a round on this unique golf course, or enjoy other activities such as zip-line tours, evening stargazing, horseback trail rides, and shooting sports.
The Gage Hotel was built in 1927 as the home of rancher and banker Alfred Gage and it has been the social and business center of the community ever since. The mission-style hotel was restored in 1981 with careful attention to detail, and the architecture and furnishings accurately reflect an era gone by. Guest accommodations are in 37 guest rooms in the main hotel and adjacent casita-style buildings, each decorated with authentic furnishings and artifacts from the Mexican, Indian, and Cowboy cultures of the Big Bend region of West Texas and featuring complimentary Wi-Fi, plush robes, premium beds and linens, a hairdryer, and an iron.
This charming and historic 'Texas cattleman’s elegant' hotel originally opened in 1930. It served as the headquarters for James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson in 1955, during the filming of Giant, directed by George Stevens.
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