Private Tour

Private Tour of Mesa Verde With an Archeologist-Trained Guide

Name: Private Tour of Mesa Verde With an Archeologist-Trained Guide
Price: 349 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.88 (33 reviews)

Overview

7 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Experience some of the most notable and best-preserved archaeological sites in the United States. Mesa Verde encompasses over 80 square miles and protects over 5,000 archaeological sites, including the famous Cliff Palace and nearly 600 cliff dwellings, some of which are more than 800 years old. Tickets for Cliff Palace are an additional purchase.

When you book this tour you’ll sit back and relax while our experienced, knowledgeable archaeologist-trained guide takes you around the National Park. With your guide’s knowledge, you will be able to ask questions, read literature, and listen to your own customized tour of the park.

PLEASE NOTE: We are NOW OFFERING CLIFF PALACE with the tickets. All guides have been trained extensively by our in-house archeologists.

This tour requires a 2-person minimum. If minimums are not met a full refund will be given. *Gratuity not included*.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Dress in layers, temperature and weather can change quickly!

Wear sturdy footwear.

Bring sunscreen and a hat.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Mesa Verde National Park

We will tour the National Park.

7 hours • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Local guide

Professional guide

Bottled water

National Park fees

Driver/guide

Lunch

Round-trip shared transfer

Gratuities

Sales Tax

Options

Private Tour of Mesa Verde With an Archeologist-Trained Guide

Reviews

4.88

33 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Breathtaking experience, even better with Durango Rivertrippers Guide, Denise!
BottleScholar,,Sep 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Durango Rivertrippers was incredibly generous with their time and advice on what we should see in the park with a unique schedule and limited time. Then, after already investing so much hard work, they were able to switch the day of our tour because of a weather-related issue with our flight. Denise is an incredible guide--very friendly and knowledgeable, and considerate in packing us delicious lunches. She put in a lot of consideration and planning on what we could see with our limited timeframe. We had the absolute best encapsulation of the park that we could have hoped for. I am so glad to have trusted Durango Rivertrippers with such an important part of our vacation!
Mesa Verde
Ronald P,,Jun 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Spectacular view of History by an expert Archeologist. We had a private tour lead by Denise. She lead a superb tour tailored to our interest and abilities.
Private Mesa Verde tour
JCMK-AVL,,Jun 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My husband and I did a private tour with Denise; she was terrific! She called the day before our trip to finalize our specific tailored itinerary and preview our tour. She is friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about ancestral pueblan culture. During the tour she continued to be solicitous concerning our interests. The vehicle was comfortable (and she is a good driver!) We recommend without reservation! Please be aware that actual access to Cliff Palace must be via a National Park Service ranger guided tour; this can be incorporated into a Durango Rivertrippers tour.
Full Day Private Guided Tour of Mesa Verde National Park
stodrt,,May 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a private tour with Molly, and she was amazing! She was so knowledgeable, pleasant and interesting, that the day flew by and we thoroughly enjoyed touring with her. We highly recommend signing up for a tour with Molly! Thalia and Robbie Stoddard
Fabulous trip to Mesa Verde
K6128EIdianar,,Sep 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent trip with Mike our tour guide. Mike was very experienced and knowledgeable. Customized the trip to specific interest s. Durango River tours was very professional in assisting throughout. Highly recommend this wonderful tour.
Getting High on history
Eileen R,,Jun 27, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
This trip out west was to check off some bucket list items after my retirement. This tour to Mesa Verde was amazing. Denise picked us up at our Hotel in Durango and the journey into the past began immediately.She was such a wealth of knowledge about the ancient Puebloan people, their culture, lifestyles, and the architectural style of their building. She drove us almost to the clouds and lead us on paths to the remnants of their homes and temples on the mesa tops. She lead us to the edge and hooked us up with a Ranger guided tour into the heart of a magnificently preserved village clinging to the face of a protected overhang. My mind still reels at the thought of how these people not only lived here but how they actually built all of these multi level buildings. Denise also has vast knowledge of the local geography and how these mountains and valleys were formed. She is a very gifted speaker and teacher and we had a wonderful time checking off this bucket list item.
Getting high on History
EileenR101,,Jun 27, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This trip out west was to check off some bucket list items after my retirement. This tour to Mesa Verde was amazing. Denise picked us up at our Hotel in Durango and the journey into the past began immediately.She was such a wealth of knowledge about the ancient Puebloan people, their culture, lifestyles, and the architectural style of their building. She drove us almost to the clouds and lead us on paths to the remnants of their homes and temples on the mesa tops. She lead us to the edge and hooked us up with a Ranger guided tour into the heart of a magnificently preserved village clinging to the face of a protected overhang. My mind still reels at the thought of how these people not only lived here but how they actually built all of these multi level buildings. Denise also has vast knowledge of the local geography and how these mountains and valleys were formed. She is a very gifted speaker and teacher and we had a wonderful time checking off this bucket list item.
Our Paleontologist guide...
Paul W,,May 18, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Our Paleontologist guide Denise was wonderful. Her expertise provided us with the history and life style of the Puebloans, the geological formations, vegetations of the Mesa Verde area, and the amazing cliff dwellings. She was not only professional, but also courteous, patiently answering all our questions. She is also a safe driver. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would not hesitate to recommend this tour to friends and family
Fantastic Experience
Chris B,,Sep 18, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great experience with excellent customer service. We were contacted in advance of our tour so that we knew what to expect and to answer any questions. Our guide, Denise, was superb. She was highly informed about the history and geology of the area and had previously performed archeological field work. Her prior fieldwork experience added that something extra to the tour. I would highly recommend this tour.
Awe-inspiring Cliff Dwelling
Becinak,,Aug 20, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Cliff Palace was an awe-inspiring site to visit and learn about. While the hike is definitely not for someone with height fears or anyone that cannot descend steep steps or climb a ladder, it was doable for someone in relatively good physical shape. My husband and I are thrilled that we got to visit this well-preserved abandoned cliff dwelling. We would love to be able to visit again some day.