Discover the beauty of the desert with a Private Docent-Led Tour at Desert Botanical Garden. Gain a unique perspective of the Garden, while connecting with nature and outdoors in our unforgettable backdrop. Specially trained volunteer docents share desert knowledge and transform the guest’s experience into one of discovery and wonder.

Pricing for Private Tours: $50 per person with 10% discount on groups of 30 or more. If your group has rented a DBG venue, cost of tour is $15 per person. Garden members are $15 each. In addition to a scheduled Private Docent-Led tour, cost includes all day admission to the Garden.

Maximum of 45 guests per tour time; groups larger than 45 guests must stagger tour times or visit dates. Each tour group is limited to 15 guests, with larger groups divided to include more docents. To curate a private event that includes a venue rental please visit Private Events & Venue Rentals in Phoenix, AZ | Desert Botanical Garden to connect with the Garden’s Venue Rental team.

Most tours are scheduled between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily from October 15-May 15, subject to volunteer docent availability. Tours will be scheduled only in the morning or early evening on days where forecast high temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Tours will not be scheduled during Garden special events and festivals.

Garden tours are 60-90 minutes depending on which of the two tours is chosen. We recommend blocking an extra hour in the Garden following the tour for exploration and discovery. A photography add-on is available for an additional cost, dependent on photographer availability.

This popular tour focuses on the highlights of our living collection and explores the fascinating strategies desert plants use to survive in this arid climate. Discover the diversity of cactus, succulents and other plants from deserts around the world and explore their great variety of form, texture and color. Walk away with a new appreciation for the beauty of the desert and the plants and animals that call it home. Tour Length: 60 minutes

$500 for first 30 guests, $250 per additional 15. Enhance your private tour with a hands-on photography experience led by an experienced desert photographer. As you explore the Garden, learn how to capture stunning images of desert plants, landscapes, and light—using just your phone. This mini-lesson blends artistic insight with practical tips, helping you see the Sonoran Desert in new ways and leave with photos as memorable as your visit. Total minimum time: two hours for tour and photography.

This tour explores one of the largest exhibits of its kind dedicated to helping people understand the relationship between plants and people of this region. Discover how native plants have shaped the lives of the Akimel O'odham, Tohono O'odham and San Carlos Western Apache people for generations and gain insight into how plants are part of daily use in the present time. The trail winds through five habitats that have provided people with useful plants for food, fiber, and cultural purposes for thousands of years. Tour Length: 90 minutes. Please note, this trail requires a significant amount of walking.

Thank you for your interest in a Private Docent-Led Tour for your group! Complete this form to check availability and book a private tour of the Garden. Please note that this is not a guarantee. A member of the Desert Botanical Garden team will contact you once your form has been submitted to confirm the status of your request.