Here we focus on the desert landscapes of Death Valley – one of the hottest, driest places in the world – while providing a link between the Eastern Sierra  and The Inland Empire and the High and Low Deserts. Bear in mind, however, that while Death Valley stretches across a vast area, only a relatively small portion can readily be visited by car and that a great deal of driving is needed to reach the best places to visit.

Death Valley is also an extreme and isolated region where services are in short supply and visitors will soon be facing severe problems if they fail to plan ahead adequately (see our tips). Seasons are important too: Death Valley will roast you alive during sum­mer, and the tour should only be undertaken between November and March.

Avail yourself of the ubiquitous motels and coffee shops of the dot-on-the-map communities that line the roads leading to Death Valley, and you could easily experience this in a day. With more time to spare, you spend a night in the valley itself and use the additional time to undertake the detour to Scotty’s Castle and the Ubehebe Crater.

TRANSPORT

No public transportation services operate in or around Death Valley. When hiring a car make sure that you fill your tank before going into the valley as gas is premium price here.