Small Groups. Big Adventures. Spirited Friendships.
Celebrate the journey in small groups.
Safe and affordable world exploration for people over the age of 50.
Solo travelers, couples and partners.
Since 1984 Kindred Tours has been exploring the world, with a particular focus on the American Southwest. We also offer domestic travel, some international travel and cruises. Safe and affordable tours designed for grown-up people.
“We are all travelers in the wilderness of the world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.”
Robert Louis Stevenson
TESTIMONIAL
TESTIMONIAL
TESTIMONIAL
“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again;
we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.”
Jack Kerouac
The Experience
Trips and Tours
Southwest Adventure Series
This is the classic Kindred Tour, small group exploration of the Great Southwest-- America's playground! We're talking Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Colorado and Southern California. And, as luck would have it, we are strategically headquartered smack-dab in the middle of all of this natural wonder! These are driving tours, ranging from one-day trips to week-long journeys.
Club Styling Series
Way back when, our bus driver took a wrong turn, which led to a hysterical day filled with big laughs and spontaneous side-trips. Someone on the tour described that rolling party vibe as “Club Styling” and it just stuck. Today we’re Club Styling whenever we get the band back together—festivals, parties, Camp TJ, and Broadway shows… because life’s a party and you don’t want to be the girl in the bathroom.
Backyard Series
More than just the scorched desert of Wile E. Coyote, sunny Phoenix has much to offer! There’s a trail for every skill level, cheap eats, ethnic cuisine, a burgeoning brewery scene, tranquil desert gardens, music, dance, world-class museums and theatres. Big on adventure, easy on the pocketbook, The Backyard Series invites you to get out and explore the Valley of the Sun!
Series Calendar
Gallivant Series
Kindred Tours offers a wide variety of domestic travel, along with some international destinations and cruises. These extended tours make up the Gallivant Series. Whether you travel by road, rail, river or sea—experience the confidence that comes from a tour that has been artfully planned. Working on your bucket list and you don’t see your dream destination? Call us. We can send you anywhere in the world.
“The world’s big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.”
John Muir
90 Day Calendar
Oregon Trails & the Portland Rose Festival
Oregon Trails & the Portland Rose Festival
Featuring 5 Nights in Portland
June 6th- June 11th, 2019
Tuscan & Umbrian Countryside
Tuscan & Umbrian Countryside
featuring Italy’s Charming Hill Towns
April 23- May 3, 2019
Historic South Holiday
Historic South Holiday
Featuring 2 Nights in Charleston, Savannah & St. Augustine, Florida
December 2nd-8th, 2018
Thanksgiving in Las Vegas!
Thanksgiving in Las Vegas!
November 22nd-25th, 2018
Thursday-Sunday
Hawaii 3 Island Adventure
Hawaii 3 Island Adventure
Featuring Honolulu, Oahu, Maui & the Big Island of Hawaii
November 7th-15th, 2018
Costa Rica Adventure
Costa Rica Adventure
Featuring Three Multi-Night Stays
November 7th-15th, 2018
Coal Mine Canyon
Coal Mine Canyon
& the Navajo National Monument
October 25th-26th, 2018
Thursday-Friday
Temecula Wine Country
Temecula Wine Country
& Julian, California
October 9th-12th, 2018
Tuesday-Friday
Countryside of the Emerald Isle
Countryside of the Emerald Isle
October 7-October 16, 2018
Classic New England
Classic New England
Featuring Acadia National Park & 2 Nights in Boston
October 4th-12th, 2018
Munich’s Oktoberfest & Danube River Cruise
Munich’s Oktoberfest & Danube River Cruise
Featuring 2 Nights in a Bavarian Village & 7 Nights aboard the Amadeus Queen
October 2nd-12th, 2018 (11 Days)
Chaco Culture National Historic Park
Chaco Culture National Historic Park
October 1st-3rd, Monday-Wednesday
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon
September 28th-30th, 2018
Friday-Sunday
Niagara Falls & Heritage Highlights
Niagara Falls & Heritage Highlights
Featuring Amish Country, Washington D.C. & Williamsburg
September 25th-October 3rd, 2018
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“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Lao Tzu
FAQ's
How do I sign up for a tour?
Call or email the office with your reservations. You may reach our voicemail, after all we are in the travel business, but leave us a message and we’ll always call you back to confirm.
What if the trip is full?
We’ll always encourage you to USE THE WAIT LIST! When a trip fills, and it can happen very quickly, we begin a wait list. If there’s enough participation to fill a second bus, we’ll let you know. We’ll also check with our wait list, should we have any cancellations, fielding those requests in the order in which they were received.
How do I pay for my tour?
You can pay for your tour by credit card, over the phone, when you call to sign up. We do not keep your card credit information on file. You can also sign up for a tour, receive confirmation of your reservation from the office, and then pop a check into the mail. Most reservations for extended tours require a $100 deposit, with the balance to be paid closer to the date of the tour.
Can you find me a roomate?
We get asked this question a lot, and the answer is always yes! Don’t let the fact that you are single keep you from signing up for a tour. The majority of people who travel with Kindred Tours are single. They sign up for a tour, we assign them a roommate, and they often go on to become lifelong friends. We have decades of success matching roommates.
Where do I meet the bus?
That depends on where you live. We currently offer four pickup locations around the Greater Phoenix Valley. Call the office should you require further directions.
East Valley:
Mesa Hilton Hotel
1011 W. Holmes Ave
Mesa, AZ 85210
This is the Fiesta Mall region, and the Hilton Hotel is easily viewed from the U.S. 60/Superstition Freeway. Exit the freeway at Alma School and head east to Holmes. Park and wait for the bus at the west end of the hotel parking lot.
Scottsdale:
Fry’s Market Place
8900 E. Via Linda
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
The Scottsdale pickup location can be easily reached via AZ 101/Pima Freeway. Exit the freeway at 90th Street, and travel east to Via Linda. Look for Fry’s parking lot on the north side of the street. Park and watch for the bus to pull up in front of the store.
Phoenix:
Paradise Valley Community Center
17402 N. 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85032
The Paradise Valley Community Center is easily found on 40th Street, north of Bell Road.
Northwest Valley:
Springhill Suites Hotel at Arrowhead Town Center
7810 W. Bell Road
Glendale, AZ 85308
This is the Arrowhead Mall region. Springhill Suites Hotel is on Bell Road, west of AZ 101/Pima Freeway. Turn north on 79th Street and use the parking lot on the west side of the hotel, facing the Old Country Buffet.
Can I pay a Single Supplement?
If you really feel that you’d like to have your own hotel room, consider paying a single supplement. A single supplement is just the additional 50% on the hotel room expense that you would have shared with a roommate.
How do I know if the Activity Level is right for me?
Kindred Travelers range in age from 50 to over 100 years old, an enormous span that encompasses a huge range of abilities. We work hard every day to provide great tours to meet the needs and the interests of our entire group. If you are unsure if a tour is right for you, we invite you to call the office to discuss your concerns. We’re happy to provide you with more detail about a tour and answer your questions. We’ll work with you to find your perfect tour.
Do you have bathrooms on your buses?
This is everyone’s first question! But you needn’t worry about bathroom breaks. We serve coffee and doughnuts early into every day trip, usually at a roadside rest-area, and always conveniently located near a restroom. We make regular pit stops through the day, and our drivers brag that they know every public restroom in the American Southwest. Ask any Kindred Traveler and they’ll say that they all had concerns about bathroom breaks heading into their first tour that were quickly forgotten.
Can I arrange a Kindred Tour for my group?
Absolutely! And there are so many great ways that we can work together. You’re welcome to select a tour that is offered on our website or in our newsletter, or call us to discuss planning a tour specifically for your group. We’ll take care of all of the details, provide you with marketing materiel, and collect payments. Just give us a call, and we’ll get started.
Can you accommodate my special diet?
It’s always a good idea to discuss any dietary restrictions with the office before you sign up for a tour. Travel can be tricky, and not every tour we offer can accommodate every special diet. Here at Kindred Tours, we are unabashed foodies, planning dining experiences months in advance and including some information about the restaurants we’ll be enjoying in the descriptions of our tours. We do our very best to select restaurants that offer something for everyone, but again, travel can be tricky.
“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been.” Dalai Lama
Contact Us
Sandra Sutherland
Owner
Sandra@kindredtours.com
Jeff Reed
Owner
Jeff@kindredtours.com
Sophia Reed
Technical Support
Sophia@kindredtours.com
Mailing address:
745 N. Gilbert Road #124 PMB #226
Gilbert, Arizona 85234
Office Phone Number:
(480)497-2478
Bus Phone Number:
(602)402-1169
Email us:
info@kindredtours.com
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain