Palm Springs is one of California’s most tour-rich destinations, offering guided and self-guided experiences that explore everything from midcentury modern architecture and Hollywood history to Indigenous culture, desert canyons, seismic landscapes, and culinary hotspots.
Whether you want to tour celebrity homes, ride bikes through modernist neighborhoods, hike palm-filled oases, explore the San Andreas Fault by Jeep, or discover the ancestral history of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Palm Springs tours provide immersive ways to experience the city and the surrounding desert.
Below is a comprehensive guide to the best Palm Springs tours by interest, including architecture, cultural, outdoor adventure, food, and unique specialty experiences.
By architect William Cody
Palm Springs Architecture & Design Tours
Discover curated modern architecture tours led by experts like Trevor O’Donnell, offering in-depth insights into the city’s midcentury masterpieces.
Modernism Week Architecture Tours
The Modernism Week Architecture Tours offer an exclusive opportunity to explore Palm Springs' iconic midcentury modern architecture, which has made the city famous worldwide.
The knowledgeable and passionate guides offer in-depth insights into the history, design, and significance of the buildings visited during the tours. They share captivating stories about the architects, their vision, and the cultural and social context of the midcentury modern movement. Their extensive knowledge and engaging storytelling make these experiences informative and enjoyable for architecture enthusiasts, design professionals, and anyone interested in the history and beauty of modernist architecture.
Note these are seasonal tours. See the schedule and purchase tickets.
Palm Springs Mod Squad
Palm Springs Mod Squad Tours offers a variety of architecture and design tours. Kurt Cyr, a local celebrity, designer, and midcentury modern expert, is your guide. He is known for his affable personality, architectural knowledge, and inspiring tours.
Get Tour Details & Book a Tour
The Modern Tour
The Modern Tour is a luxury tour and the oldest architectural tour operator in Palm Springs. They are also the official tour of the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture + Design. Tour guide Michael Stern is the Author of the best-selling Rizzoli publication "Julius Shulman: Palm Springs and the Director and Producer of the film "Julius Shulman: Desert Modern," which has aired on PBS. He curated the exhibition "Julius Shulman: Palm Springs," the largest exhibition of Shulman's work to date, as well as the largest exhibition exploring Palm Springs' remarkable collection of mid-century modern architecture and design.
Map of Modern Palm Springs
The Palm Springs Modernism Committee created a self-drive map of Modernism Palm Springs, available for purchase at the Palm Springs Visitor Center.
We have also curated this midcentury architecture self-guided tour you can do on your own.
Palm Springs Bike Tours
Palm Springs Historical Society Bike Tours
On the Palm Springs Historical Society Bike Tours, you will see midcentury gems up close, woven among a variety of architectural styles and stunning scenery. Stop for photos and hear fascinating tales about the history of famous architects, celebrities, and pioneers. You will be provided with a 7-speed bike, a helmet, and an audio receiver with an earpiece so you can hear your guide. Bike tours run from October through May.
- Bike Like a Star: Ride through North Palm Springs, exploring neighborhoods with celebrity history.
- Bike the Mid Mod Oasis: Cycle through South Palm Springs, admiring mid-century modern architecture.
Big Wheel Tours
Big Wheel Tours offers an Indian Canyon Bike and Hike Tour. You will start riding from their shop in downtown Palm Springs. The bike route is a 10-mile round trip and takes you through some of Palm Springs's older neighborhoods. On this tour, you will enter Indian Canyons, the ancestral home of the local Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and climb to the Andreas Canyon trailhead. From there, you will take an easy and scenic nature walk that includes several stream crossings, incredible rock formations, a canopy of native palm trees, and stark desert canyon scenery.
The Big Wheel Mountain Bike Tours are fully customized private tours reserved just for your group. They take you to a pristine desert landscape where you can choose from many trails. Their expert guides will cater to the route to suit your ability level, from beginner to expert. The trails go through washes or along ridgelines and vary from sandy to rocky.
Other Self-Guided Tours:
- Palm Springs Big City Loop Bike Tour
- Deepwell Ranch Estates Bike Tour
- Self-Guided Bike Tour – South Palm Springs
Palm Springs Celebrity Tours
Over the years, Palm Springs has been home to many Hollywood celebrities, and several tours focus on the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown. These tours often include visits to celebrity homes and other famous landmarks.
Five Star Adventures
The Five Star Adventures Legends and Icons Tour takes you back in time to see over 50 movie star homes, both past and present. It’s a comprehensive, narrated tour that lasts 1.5–2 hours. Places you will see include the homes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Kirk Douglas, Liberace, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and many other notable figures.
Travel through beautiful Palm Springs on the Best of the Best Rich and Famous Tour and learn history and facts about the playground of the stars. Your entertaining guide will drive through the famous neighborhood of Las Palmas, regale you with stories, and play a fun and often hilarious game of "Guess The Stars Homes." Please note that this tour is only available for groups of 10 or more. To arrange your group tour, please get in touch with them.
Map of the Stars Homes
There is also a celebrity self-drive map of the stars you can purchase at the Palm Springs Visitor Center. It includes a complete listing of the homes, addresses, and driving directions.
Culinary Tours
Desert Tasty Tours
Visit 4 to 5 Palm Springs tasting stops along your three-hour narrated walking tour on the Desert Tasty Tours. Enjoy a smorgasbord of samples — enough for lunch. Learn about each location, what makes them unique, and how they fit into the culinary tapestry and vibe of downtown Palm Springs. Eating your way through the tour is just one of the tasty ingredients… Add a dash of history, a cup of culture, and a dollop of famous resident name-dropping, and you get a delicious day of fun! All tastings are included with your ticket. Seasonal – does not operate in the summer.
Jeep Tours
A jeep tour is an excellent way to explore the rugged wilderness surrounding Palm Springs. These tours take you deep into the canyons and mountains of the Coachella Valley landscape.
Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tours
Since 1988, Desert Adventures has provided the most highly regarded outdoor adventures in the Palm Springs area.
On the San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour, you will learn about the plants, animals, geology, and seismology of the California Desert and San Andreas Fault Zone. This tour also explains how and why the Cahuilla Indians lived in the fault zone and how they built and maintained a vibrant culture in this arid and inhospitable environment.
Red Jeep Tours offers the Indian Canyons Walking Tour by Jeep. Journey to the ancestral homeland of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, where stunning rock formations and the contrasting greens of magnificent California fan palms and more than 150 species of plants beckon travelers to these lush oases. Along the way, your naturalist guide will engage and entertain you with stories about the Cahuilla Indians, our local Native American tribe, and their lifestyle, culture, and beliefs.
Best of the Best Indian Canyons Tour is approximately 2.5 hours and includes a 30-minute nature hike in Andreas Canyon.
Big Wheel Tours
Big Wheel Tours offers a San Andreas Fault off-road Jeep Tour. You will see what geologists have called ”the most tortured landscape on earth” as you visit the backcountry trails of a Bureau of Land Management Wilderness zone. Sheer canyon walls, fascinating geology, and an abundance of native desert plants and animal life are highlights of this tour. This is the most colorful portion of the San Andreas Fault in all of California. The spectrum of layers and colors will dazzle you.
The Big Wheel Hiking Tours are customized to your needs. Our highly trained naturalist guides will provide entertaining commentary throughout your tour, including hotel pickup and drop-off, and refreshments, to ensure your Palm Springs-area hike is a memorable and enjoyable experience.
Virtual & Mobile Tours
Midcentury Modern Tour Mobile App
Palm Springs Modernism Committee has created a Midcentury Modern Tour Mobile App., which you can download from the App Store. The guided tour features over 80 mid-century landmarks in Palm Springs, 12 intimate profiles of leading architects, and videos of interiors and exteriors, among other highlights. It's written and narrated by top architectural historians and experts. The cost is only $4.99.
Palm Springs Modern Tours
Palm Springs Modern Tours offer self-drive and walking tours, allowing you to explore from the safety and comfort of your own car, with the added convenience and luxury of your own schedule. Once you download the tour, routes are integrated with Google Maps for directions.
Palm Springs Walking Tours
Palm Springs Historical Society
Palm Springs Historical Society offers seasonal walking and biking tours. The walking tours focus on historic neighborhoods, distinguished by a combination of celebrities and local pioneers who called them home. It also includes information about the architects and builders who shaped the city’s development. Due to the heat, the walking tours operate from October to March.
- Golden Era Hollywood Homes: Explore the historic Old Las Palmas neighborhood, once home to icons like Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor.
- Rat Pack Playground: Discover Vista Las Palmas, where Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Elvis Presley partied in mid-century modern homes.
- Frank Sinatra’s Neighborhood: Visit the Movie Colony, featuring Sinatra’s “Twin Palms” estate and homes of other stars like Tony Curtis.
- Stars of the Movie Colony: Explore the Movie Colony, home to legends like Gloria Swanson and Jack Benny.
- Giants of Architecture: Learn about the architects who shaped Palm Springs’ landscape.
- Modernist Treasures: Discover mid-century modern gems in the Indian Canyons neighborhood.
- Shangri-La of the Stars: Explore Deepwell Estates, once home to stars like Loretta Young and Jerry Lewis.
- Twin Palms Estates: Visit the neighborhood designed by renowned architects, featuring Frank Sinatra’s estate.
- Heart of the City: Walk through downtown Palm Springs, learning about its founding and development.
- Inns, Architecture, and Glamour: Tour historic inns that once hosted Hollywood’s elite.
- Hidden Paradise: Discover the Mesa neighborhood, known for its unique architecture and history.
- Boomtown: Explore the Uptown Design District, a hub of mid-century modern architecture.
Windmill Tour
Palm Springs Windmill Tours
The Palm Springs Windmill Tours take you on a journey to learn about wind energy, how wind turbines work, and the history of the wind farm.
Their seasonal Bus Tours offer an energy tour that starts on a private wind farm and concludes with a drive around the San Gorgonio Pass, which has become an important energy corridor. The tour includes a presentation video, a short walk through artifacts from 40 years ago, and close-up views of the sleek modern operating wind turbines we see today. The tour continues on a perimeter drive to see utility solar farms, the Devers substation, where energy is added to the electrical grid, and the new Desert Peak Energy storage facility. They also offer a year-round self-driving tour.
Indigenous & Cultural Tours in Palm Springs
Palm Springs is located on the ancestral lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, whose history in the region spans thousands of years. Several tours and cultural experiences focus on the Tribe’s enduring relationship with the desert, water sources, and canyon oases.
Visitors can explore Indigenous history through:
- Guided ranger led tours to Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon, the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente people
- Cultural interpretation featured in select canyon hikes and Jeep tours
These tours provide essential cultural context and transform a Palm Springs visit from sightseeing into meaningful place-based understanding.
Mountain, Aerial Tramway & Alpine Tours
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway connects the desert floor to the alpine forests of Mount San Jacinto State Park, offering guided and self-directed mountain experiences.
At the top, visitors can find:
- Naturalist-led walks
- Interpretive ranger programs
- Seasonal snow play and alpine hiking
- Scenic dining and observation experiences
Tramway-based outings are ideal for travelers looking to explore Palm Springs from both a desert and mountain perspective in a single day.
How to Choose the Right Palm Springs Tour
With so many tours available, choosing the right Palm Springs tour comes down to the kind of experience you want. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or building a longer itinerary, these quick guidelines can help match you with the perfect tour.
If you love design, art, and architecture
Choose a midcentury modern architecture tour, bike tour, or self-guided neighborhood drive. These tours focus on iconic Palm Springs neighborhoods, famous architects, and the city’s role as an international design destination.
If you’re interested in history and culture
Look for cultural, Indigenous, or historic walking tours. Tours connected to Indian Canyons, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and the Palm Springs Historical Society provide valuable insight into the people and events that shaped the city.
If you want outdoor adventure and scenery
Book a Jeep tour, guided hike, or bike-and-hike experience. San Andreas Fault tours, Indian Canyons hikes, and mountain or desert excursions are ideal for exploring the region’s geology, wildlife, and dramatic landscapes.
If you’re chasing Hollywood glamour
A celebrity homes or legends-and-icons tour is the best way to explore Palm Springs’ ties to classic Hollywood, modern stars, and the Rat Pack era.
If food and drink are your priority
A culinary walking tour lets you taste your way through downtown Palm Springs while learning about local chefs, restaurants, and cultural influences.
If you prefer flexibility and independence
Try a self-guided driving tour, mobile app tour, or downloadable map, which allows you to explore architecture, celebrity homes, and historic districts at your own pace.
If you’re traveling with kids or a group
Look for family-friendly tours such as windmill tours, easy nature walks, museum-connected experiences, or private group tours that can be customized to your interests.
Choosing the right Palm Springs tour ensures you’re not just seeing the city—you’re experiencing it in a way that matches your interests, energy level, and travel style.
See the list of All Tours.
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