D&T Tours: #VanLife Immersion Experience Fall 2023

Men and women 18+
All creeds welcome
Adventure Score: 2

Calling all aspiring digital nomads!

What if life was a working vacation? Is vanlife really just one instagrammable moment after another, or is there more to it? Is it really possible to combine your love for the outdoors with your need to earn a living?

Dust and Tribe invites you to a fall reprieve ideal for the remote worker to get their dose of adventure in the outdoors while still being able to log work hours each weekday. After this adventure you will almost certainly find out if vanlife is for you.

Join us as we soak up the Eastern Sierra in all of its splendor, exploring an amazing array of lakes, alpine meadows, glacial valleys, hot springs, and other unique geological features in a meandering trip from Northern to Southern California over the course of six days and five nights.

We’ve got two fully loaded vans ready to roll, one for men and one for women. Each vehicle is outfitted with a full kitchen, two double beds, toilet, and shower. We’ve put together an itinerary that allows for predictable reception the duration of the work week, God willing, while also allowing those with more flexibility plenty of adventure time.

Day 1 (Friday, October 6: Placerville)

This is our arrival day. Make your way to either the Sacramento or San Francisco airports and we’ll pick you up for our evening rendezvous at D&T Camp One in Placerville. We’ll get you settled before sitting down to a hosted communal meal.

Day 2 (Saturday, October 7: Hope Valley)

We’ll enjoy breakfast at Camp One before heading into beautiful Hope Valley just south of Lake Tahoe. We’ll spend some time hiking and exploring before hopping back into the vans for a short drive to some nearby (and geologically stunning) hot springs before boondocking for the night.

Day 3 (Sunday, October 8: Yosemite)

What vanlife experience would be complete without a trip through Yosemite National Park? The ambitious among us will set their sights on reaching what might possibly be the best view in the park from one of the most unique trails in Yosemite, bagging Cloud’s Rest for 360 degree panoramic views of Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, and Little Yosemite. Be warned: this is a 12-mile roundtrip hike packing all the adrenaline of Half Dome without the danger of the cables and crowds.

Not ready for all that?

Those down for more casual adventure can enjoy a leisurely stroll through Tuolumne Meadows, taking in views of Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest just steps away from our vans where we can spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing on the beach at Tenaya Lake. We’ll all meet back at the vans before dark, perhaps camping in Lee Vining or boondocking near Mono Lake.

Day 4 (Monday, October 9: Mammoth)

Working? No problem. We’ll get you into Mammoth nice and early to set up in one of their cafes. Those with the day off will make the hike to Devils Postpile and Rainbow Falls. God willing, we’ll all circle up after the work day to unwind in the wilderness before boondocking adjacent to some local hot springs, insha Allah.

Day 5 (Tuesday, October 10: Bishop)

We’ll set the working folks up in one of Bishop’s cafes as those of us with the day off explore the marvelous environs of Lake Sabrina followed by an afternoon trip to Manzanar, the infamous Japanese internment camp. Once all back together, well enjoy the sun setting behind Mount Whitney, boondocked in the rock-climbing Mecca of the Alabama Hills.

Day 6 (Wednesday, October 11: Lone Pine/Los Angeles)

Our final day together!

We’ll leave the working folks to their breakfast in Lone Pine while the rest of us head to the famous Whitney Portal Store for a little fortification before our six-mile roundtrip hike to Lone Pine Lake. After that, we’ll continue to our final destination, the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles where we’ll share one final meal together before you catch your flights or otherwise make your way home.

Included:

• One night of accommodations, a hosted dinner, and breakfast at D&T Camp One in Placerville, CA
• Six days and five nights of cruising, camping, and working (optional!) along Highway 395
• Observance of all Islamic prayers and daily guided reflections
• Point-by-point itinerary, packing list, and personalized assistance with logistics
• Wilderness first-aid certified adventure guide
• Commemorative D&T keepsakes to honor our time together
• New friends and a lifetime of memories!

You are responsible for your food while on the road and transportation to and from Sacramento/San Francisco/Los Angeles. Groceries and meal prep will be done in collaboration with other participants. Please limit personal items to a single backpack.

Be advised: We are opening up more spots than are actually available to allow for screening and preliminary discussion before committing participants to nearly a week in a van with others. We are invested in a high-quality experience for all and recognize that the potential stressors of close quarters and possible work obligations will require extra consideration on our part. At a bare minimum, we need to ensure that the gender of drivers and participants are matched.

In order to be considered, secure your spot with a $290 deposit that will be immediately refunded if logistics do not allow for your participation. Once your spot has been confirmed, there will be no refunds.

Questions? Drop them in the comments below or send us a message through our Contact page.