Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Northern Arizona and Southwestern Utah. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES: Non-United States citizens will need a valid passport and may need a tourist visa. Consult your nearest U.S. Embassy or consulate for details. Canadian citizens should carry proof of citizenship in the form of a passport or birth certificate.
HEALTH: Arizona and Utah present no real hazards to the visiting birdwatcher but certain factors must be considered. In summer, basically from March to October, the sun can be intense. A broad-brimmed hat, proper clothing and a strong sun screen lotion are essential. Much of our birding is at elevations between 4,000 and 9,000 feet, and while we do not schedule anything even faintly strenuous at the higher altitudes, anyone with a respiratory problem should consult his or her doctor before scheduling the trip.
Dehydration is a constant concern in Arizona, especially at lower elevations in the desert. The leader will always have an ample supply of water, but it is important that participants remember to carry their own water and to drink regularly and copiously throughout the tour.
CLIMATE: Late summer in the mountains of northern and central Arizona can be decidedly autumnal with early morning temperatures in the low 40s while daytime high temperatures in lower valley habitats may reach 95° to 100° F or more. Monsoon rain activity can last through September, with rain showers possible at any time of day.
PACE OF TOUR: This tour is not strenuous, and the only early start is on the one day when we watch the sunrise at the Grand Canyon. Most days begin with breakfast around 6:00 am. Lunches will be in sandwich shops, in sit-down restaurants, or, on a few days, in the field. Dinner will be in restaurants at our hotels or nearby. On the Navajo Resrvation, we’ll have the chance to sample local cuisine.
Most of our birding will be on roads and easy trails. We’ll be birding at elevations of 7,000 to 10,000 feet on several days, but there will be no strenuous hiking at those elevations. Several of the national park viewpoints are reached by short walks, usually on paved surfaces.
This tour covers a fair amount of territory, requiring us to spend some afternoons driving to new destinations and hotels.
ACCOMMODATIONS: We stay at standard hotels throughout. Single occupancy is available throughout the tour, and all our hotels have private bathroom facilities; some also offer laundry facilities and a pool.
DRESS: Informal throughout.
TRANSPORTATION: We will be traveling by 12- or 15-passenger window van or minivan, depending on the group size. Participants should be able to ride in any seat in tour vehicles and are expected to change seats daily.
SMOKING: Smoking is prohibited in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group. If any location where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, the stricter policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the General Information and Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours, and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Arizona and Utah will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Updated: October 2011