Pioneertown & Joshua Tree

MARVEL

At the Mojave and the desert oasis that is Joshua Tree National Park: it’s an ecosystem unto itself full of natural beauty and wonder

RELAX

Our Pioneertown is a rustic-luxe desert getaway, with an immersive “sound bath” experience and evenings filled with local music

CELEBRATE

Entrepreneurs and artists cultivating a desert community that combines an off-the-grid vibe with no small dosage of Hollywood magic

Why Pioneertown

Established in 1946 by actors including Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, Pioneertown is California’s ode to eccentricity, a desert landscape and old-Hollywood monument. Like a cactus flower, it’s since blossomed into a community of entrepreneurs and artists. You can saunter down “Mane Street” like the Cisco Kid, hike nearby canyons, commune with alien beings and revel in the wonder of the Mojave. It’s the kind of place where you never know what you’ll find. Or even if you’ll want to leave.

Moments That Matter

An unforgettable desert adventure. Wake for sunrise yoga, hike Joshua Tree’s otherworldly landscape and gigantic granite boulders. Take a transporting “sound bath” offered by a ufologist, cozy up to bonfire under the stars or catch a show at the local honky-tonk  – all while getting personal in a desert community with off-the-grid artists and creatives. Our Pioneertown has something for the cowboy junkies, outdoors lovers and spiritual true believers.

Your Private Experience

Who It’s For

Looking for a quick long weekend with a big impact? Pioneertown and Joshua Tree are a close hop from Los Angeles and the Bay Area, and yet a world away.

When to Travel

The best times are spring (Mar - May) and fall (Oct - Nov) when the skies are sunny and the temperatures moderate.

Make It Yours

Couples weekend away? Milestone celebration? Health and wellness escape? Climbing or hiking deep in Joshua Tree? Pioneertown can be the backdrop for it all.

Day by Day

Set your sights on desert splendor! We cover all accommodations and reservations. Pioneertown and Joshua Tree are easy long weekend destinations with plenty to see. Here’s what we like to do:

Day 1

Kick it off right, with a visit to Joshua Tree National Park to hike past its emblematic trees and cholla cacti. Afterwards, settle into your  home-base—a vintage motel gone cowboy chic—in time for refreshing sunset cocktails. Savor a welcome banquet under the stars, then relax by the campfire as galaxies twinkle down from the clear desert sky.

  • Hike in Joshua Tree National Park
  • Sunset cocktails
  • Open-air “camp kitchen” dinner

Day 2

We like to wake up early with a personal yoga or morning-meditation session. Your inner exploration continues, from a surprising source. A local figure once abducted by creatures from Venus – you heard right  – has set up an acoustically perfect dome called the Integraton. Climb in and be treated to an immersive “sound bath,” aided by quartz bowls played by wands. Expect deep relaxation. Afterwards visit a surreal open-air museum featuring late sculptor Norah Purifoy’s grandiose works, made from charred debris from the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles.

  • Private morning yoga or meditation
  • Sound bath experience at the Integratron
  • Joshua Tree Outdoor Museum tour

Day 3

With several hiking options in and around Joshua Tree, you can’t go wrong this morning. After lunch, saunter down Pioneertown’s “Mane Street” to learn the history of the film sets and meet local artists who call this place home. Keep the cowboy theme at Pappy & Harriet’s, a renowned honky-tonk known for Tex Mex, cold beers and a bonfire under a sky of stars.

  • Morning hikes in Joshua Tree
  • Private Pioneertown tour
  • Artist meet-up
  • Pappy & Harriet’s honky-tonk

Where We Sleep

We hang our hats at a cowboy-chic, vintage motel on a 1940s film set in the desert.

Pioneertown

The anchor of Pioneertown's "Mane Street" is a desert inn with an Old West style—a perfect match for this movie set of a town. Surrounded by protected lands and flat-top desert mesas, it’s a cowboy-chic tranquil getaway for the star in all of us.

People Love MO/AD’s Pioneertown & Joshua Tree

A long weekend can sometimes be just the thing to decompress. Your Southern California desert adventure was exactly what I needed.
Winston Z.
Sunrise yoga and a soundbath in that crazy dome, LOVED IT!
Xochitl P.
Unique access to people and places. This was a trip we could not have done without Modern Adventure.
Scott F.

FAQs

  1. How many people is this itinerary suitable for?

    We can plan a custom, private departure for any group size. Our custom trips are perfect for a couple wishing to travel on their own, a family, or a multi-generational group. If you’re looking to travel on one of our group departures on a private basis, a minimum number of travelers may apply.

  2. Can you curate an itinerary for a larger group?

    Yes, we can craft an unforgettable milestone celebration or company retreat for groups as large as 40 or more.

  3. What makes a MO/AD experience different?

    Our level of curation, care, and in-country connections. We handle everything, overseeing your experience from beginning to end with the highest levels of ownership and responsibility. We support you every step of the way with comprehensive itineraries, detailed day-by-day descriptions, insider destination info, and 24/7 dedicated support.

  4. How far in advance should I plan my trip?

    Preferably six to nine months in advance and earlier for holiday travel. We stay in unique, in-demand boutique and luxury hotels where advance reservations are important to secure the best accommodations possible. We can help with last-minute travel planning, however availability may be limited.

  5. What is typically included?

    We curate your MO/AD Private Departure to ensure the experiences are authentic, immersive, and included in your trip price. Your itinerary typically includes accommodations, airport transfers, private transportation for all day trips and excursions, privately guided tours with local guides, exclusive VIP access and activities, and meals as detailed in your itinerary.

  6. How much will it cost?

    MO/AD Private Departures typically cost $750 to $1,500 per person, per day, and vary by destination, time of year, number of people in your group, and types of activities you prefer.

  7. What's not included?

    MO/AD Private Departures do not include roundtrip airfare to/from your destination, travel insurance, gratuities for local guides, hotel incidentals, and any activities and meals not included in your itinerary.

  8. What deposits are required?

    After learning more about you, your interests, preferred style of travel, dates, and budget, we will present you with initial ideas and examples of what we can plan for you. In order to design a detailed itinerary and check availability, there is a $500 non-refundable planning deposit due. This will be applied to your final trip cost. Once your itinerary is perfect, we require a 25% non-refundable confirmation deposit to start confirming all of your arrangements. Many of our local partners and hotels require additional advance deposits to secure the best accommodations. The balance of your trip cost is due 90 days prior to travel.

  9. Where can I find the complete terms of my booking?

    See our Terms & Conditions for complete details about our policies regarding your MO/AD Private Departure booking.