Ever wonder what it’s like to be a Jeep tour guide?
Arguably, Sedona, Arizona is the Jeep tour capital of the world. With the great weather, gorgeous scenery, and easy access to a myriad of trails, no wonder there are so many tour companies.
I’m a Jeep tour guide in Sedona, and many people think that this would be a dream job. If you are one of those, read this first!
Here’s everything you want to know about Jeep tour guides, including how to get hired and what to expect your first days on the job.
Wanna Be A Jeep Tour Guide?
Many think it sounds like fun, and it is, for awhile. But, for most, the romance wears off quickly. The average career lifespan of a Jeep tour guide in Sedona is less than 2 years, but there are those who have been guiding for 5, 10, even 20 years.
I have been in the Jeep tour business since 1996, which makes me about 96 in Jeep years.
I have eaten enough red dust to be convicted of smuggling federal property.
I have ushered thousands of visitors into the backcountry.
I have grown tired of the sound of my own voice.
I have watched Jeeps go from the showroom floor… to tour status… to beyond reasonable maintenance and relegated to the Jeep retirement lot with 150,000 trail miles on them.
I have hosed off various types of excrement from Jeeps.
And I have seen guides in training, passed by them on the trail for awhile, then saw them eventually move on to a “real” job.
Let me give you some insight to the whole world of professional Jeep tour guiding, from start to — finish.
First of all, it takes a certain type of person to really be a guide, as an ongoing career. Most “career” guides are very serious nature and history lovers. They drive Jeeps all week, then spend their days off hiking, biking, or even Jeeping. They love to read. They have heated debates with their associates about the current scientific name of the javelina, the best way to eat agave, or the latest tour joke. They are clever, independent, resourceful, animated, and loud. They are very much people-people — they love to entertain and be the center of attention. And they can deal with a great deal of ups and downs, not just on the trail, but also in their schedules and bank accounts.
