Departure from your city for a late afternoon arrival in Phoenix - Evening and overnight in Phoenix

This morning, meet the guide and the members of the group who will be accompanying you for the duration of this adventure.

Transfer to the Superstition Mountains, which cut through some of the most beautiful scenery in the Sonoran Desert. Rugged and austere, this mountainous region is the birthplace of the legendary story of the Lost Dutchman's Mine: few stories of the Wild West are as famous and enduring as his.

Like many legends, it is a perfect blend of enhanced fact, exaggeration and a little fiction. After 100 years, the story is still believed by many and still leads some adventurers into the Superstition Mountains in search of the German's gold.

The first hike on this trip to the heart of the Superstition Mountains.

HIKING: Flatiron trail via Siphon Draw - 5 h round trip, 8.9 km, 805 m elevation gain

Less than 10km from the Mexican border, the organ-shaped Organ Pipe cactus clings to the slopes of the Ajo Mountains.

This park is a tribute to the splendid landscapes of the Sonoran desert and a place of protection for these cacti and 26 other species that grow in the area.

Discover the Ajo Mountains along the scenic route: desert swamps, mountains and large stands of cacti, including organ pipe cacti, saguaros, cholla and barrel cacti.

Strolling up to Double Arch via Arch Canyon, 90 feet wide, it sits near the top of the jagged reddish cliffs. Close inspection reveals a separate, much smaller opening above the main span, making this a rare example of a double arch.

Before returning to camp for supper, sunset on Desert View trail

HIKING: Double Arch via Arch Canyon - 2-4 hours return, 4 km, 365 m ascent

HIKING: Desert View trail - easy 2 km loop

Today our arms and legs will pull us up to the Picacho summit.

We took on the challenge of the Hunter trail, with its steep slopes and steel cables that helped us reach the summit. At the foot of the mountain, it's hard to imagine that there is a path to the summit!

The trail begins in the typical Sonoran desert landscape that we've been taming for 3 days now: desert vegetation and a variety of cacti line the path.

At the top, the 360-degree view of the surrounding valleys, peaks and mountain ranges is impressive.

After this reward, we head back down to Tucson for an afternoon by the pool in our retro vintage hotel.

HIKING: Picacho summit via the Hunter trail - 3 hrs, 6.5 km, 408 m ascent

Saguaro National Park is divided into two sections: the western section dominated by the Tucson Mountains and the eastern section by the Rincon Mountains.

This hot, arid desert may seem inhospitable, but it is actually home to a multitude of animal and plant species.

As well as the famous Saguaro cacti, there are hundreds of other species of cactus, grasses, flowers, shrubs, trees, birds, mammals and reptiles.

The morning will be devoted to exploring the western sector by minibus and on foot. At a lower altitude, it features a fairly homogenous landscape of relatively dense Saguaro forest.

In the afternoon, we cross to the east for 4 days, wearing out our boots in the solitude and tranquillity of the terracotta-coloured mountains of the hinterland, under a blue sky as far as the eye can see.

We load up our rucksacks to set up a base camp for 3 nights to enjoy the area and explore on foot from our camp.

HIKING: Douglas Spring Trail - 3 h 15, 13 km, 656 m + / 62 m

A two-day walk through the wild beauty of the Rincon mountains, which form a gigantic wall rising to over 1920 metres.

The Rincons are the only major mountain range in Arizona never to have been razed to make way for roads, leaving the upper mountains as pristine as possible in this day and age. This section of the park offers more contrasting terrain and a greater diversity of landscapes than the western part.

At lower altitudes, you'll find the typical Sonoran desert environment of scrub, dry grasslands and numerous desert plants, but at higher altitudes the environment changes to coniferous forests, canyons, streams and rock formations.

The dry winter climate offers clear skies that promise a unique and unforgettable astral spectacle, and possibly some snow!

HIKING: Cow Head Saddle Trail (return) - 5 hrs, 18.5 km, 1100 m + / -

HIKING: Tanque Verde Peak (outward and return) - 4 h, 15.5 km, 785 m + /-

2nd day in the park

Continue hiking

This morning we dismantle the camp, walk the Douglas Spring trail backwards to rejoin the vehicle and drive towards the Mexican border.

Our retreat for the next 2 nights is a sportsman's paradise, set in 590 acres and surrounded by a further 120,000 acres of the Buenos Aires nature reserve.

A ranch offering luxury and authenticity, as much in its Mexican-style decor as in the hospitality of its guests and its exceptional cuisine and wine selection.

It's no surprise that the ranch has seen many a celebrity come and go, seeking inspiration in the spirit of the place!

Because we love contrasts, after 4 days of autonomy in the arid desert it's time to relax by the pool.

Tonight, a gourmet supper served by our hosts and an evening of stargazing in our adirondack chairs, our eyes riveted on the coal-black sky lit up by the twinkling, dancing Milky Way.

HIKING WITH BAGGAGE: Douglas Spring trail - 2 h 10, 10.7 km, 28 m +, 622 m -

The exploration ground bordering the ranch is immense.

As a modern-day cowboy, we're swapping the saddle and the horse for a two-wheeled steed!

Our electric bike with oversized tyres allows us to venture further afield and over any type of terrain.

Then on foot, in the Buenos Aires reserve, we'll stroll along the wooden boardwalk of the Arivaca Cienega trail, a jewel of the wetlands offering great bird and butterfly watching. Then onto the Arivaca Creek Trail, the ideal place for grey buzzards and vultures to nest under the canopy of Arizona sycamores, before returning to relax by the pool until dinner prepared by our hosts.

BIKE: Bike with oversized tyres - to suit all tastes

WALKING: Arivaca Cienega trail - 35 min, 2.1 km, easy

WALKING: Arivaca stream path - 30 min, 1.8 km, easy

Enjoy a final morning in the tiny hamlet of Sasabe, taking up archery, walking the same trails forged by legendary figures such as Pancho Villa just a few metres from your bedroom door, or finishing the last pages of your novel about one of the famous legends of the Wild West by the pool.

Depart late morning for Phoenix to board your return flight or continue your stay on your own.