Colorful Splendor of Borrego Springs and Julian

From Mountain Pines to Desert Sculptures: A Julian & Borrego Springs Adventure

Experience a day of contrasting beauty, from the pine forests of Julian to the captivating desert landscapes and striking metal sculptures of Borrego Springs. Your adventure begins with a visit to the iconic Dudley’s Bakery in Santa Ysabel, where you can shop for their famous fresh-baked treats.

Continue to the charming mountain town of Julian, a former gold-mining community, where you’ll enjoy free time for lunch, boutique browsing, or a slice of the area’s legendary apple pie.

Next, descend to the desert floor of Borrego Springs, where the rugged beauty of the landscape is accented by Ricardo Breceda’s awe-inspiring giant metal sculptures, depicting prehistoric creatures and other imaginative figures rising from the sand. A stop at the Borrego Springs Visitor Center and Museum offers fascinating insight into the region’s unique ecology and geology.

While wildflowers often bloom across the desert from March to early April, the spectacle depends on a delicate balance of sunshine and rainfall — meaning they appear only when Mother Nature decides the timing is right. Regardless of bloom levels, this tour offers breathtaking scenery, remarkable artistry, and a rich blend of natural and cultural discovery in one of Southern California’s most unique landscapes.

Tour Manager:*

Activity Level: HIGH

Considerable walking and/or numerous steps involved including walking on loose, sandy, and uneven desert surfaces. Passengers will embark and disembark on and off the coach multiple times throughout this tour. This tour could be challenging for persons with mobility limitations and is not suitable for wheelchairs or walkers.

What's Included in the Tour Fare

• Round-trip luxury motor coach transportation

• Professional Tour Manager providing narration throughout the trip

• Complimentary bottled water and snacks on the coach

What's Not Included in the Tour Fare

• Meals

• Cancellation Protection

• Gratuities for the Tour Manager and driver

How to Make a Reservation

Making your reservation is easy. Simply click the Book Now button above to select your date and confirm your space online, 24/7. You can also call the DayTripper Tours reservations department at (619) 334-3394 during business hours of M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Know Before You Go

• This tour visits regions of varied climates. We recommend dressing in layers to be prepared for both warm and cool temperatures.

• Passengers prone to motion sickness should carry appropriate medications, as this tour involves travel over portions of winding roads.

• You may want to bring a large reusable shopping bag for your purchases.

• Lunch is on your own in Julian.

Smartphones

Although not necessary to fully enjoy your trip, a personal smartphone can greatly enhance your tour experience. Take high-quality photos, share your experience on social media in real time, search for nearby restaurants and topics of interest, set reminders, and more.

14-Day Cancellation Deadline

• If you purchased the optional Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) prior to the deadline, you can cancel your booking at any time for any reason and you'll receive a full refund of the tour fare.

• If you declined the CPP, you may cancel your reservation fourteen (14) or more days prior to the departure date to receive a refund less a $15 per person cancellation fee. Alternatively, when you cancel your booking fourteen (14) or more days prior to the departure date, you can avoid the cancellation fee by transferring the funds to another tour or a non-refundable voucher, which can be applied to any future excursion booked within one year of the original tour date. Bookings canceled within 14 days of the departure date are nonrefundable and nontransferable for any reason. Name changes on daytrips are always permitted at no additional cost.

* Tour Manager is subject to change without notice.