Pink Adventure Tours (Pink Jeep)

Pink Adventure Tours, known for many years as Pink Jeep Tours, is one of the most recognisable tour operators in the American Southwest. The company was founded in 1960 in Sedona, Arizona, by Don Pratt, and its vehicles were painted pink after a visit to a hotel in Waikiki. Las Vegas is one of its locations.

From Las Vegas, the company's destinations include the Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire State Park and Death Valley, giving visitors a guided way to reach landscapes that are difficult to see without a car. The fleet is made up of custom Jeep Wranglers, which the company says are fully customised over nine weeks, and larger Tour Trekker vehicles for longer routes. Travelling with a guide means you can enjoy the scenery and the stories rather than worrying about directions, parking or timed entry.

The appeal is the combination of comfort and access. Valley of Fire's red sandstone and petroglyphs, the engineering of the Hoover Dam and the desert of Death Valley are all long drives from the Strip, and a guide adds context along the way. The company has more than 60 years of experience in running tours.

Tours suit families, couples and solo travellers who do not want to drive themselves, and anyone who would rather spend their energy on short walks and viewpoints than on navigation. Day trips into the desert are long, so check the duration of each tour before booking, and choose a cooler season for destinations such as Valley of Fire and Death Valley, where summer heat is extreme. Ask about age requirements and child seats when booking with young children.

A guided tour is also a practical answer to the logistics of the desert: you do not need to hire a car, plan fuel stops or work out where to park at busy viewpoints, and the guide sets the pace for the day.

Bookings can be made online or through the company's phone line. Wear comfortable shoes, sun protection and layers, as desert temperatures change quickly between morning and afternoon, and bring a refillable water bottle. Check the meeting or pick-up details on your confirmation before the day, and allow extra time if you are staying at a large resort where finding the collection point can take a while.