Southwest Tours- Who we are

We are Southwest Tours and we are Arizona's original tour company!

Celebrating 38 years of excellence, Southwest Custom Tours began as a one-man operation with Jim Vaughan, owner and founder of Southwest Tours on January 17, 1983 . Since then Southwest Tours has become the premier van tour company in Arizona.
Having toured thousands of visitors to Arizona over the years, Southwest has become the trusted choice for vacationers, travel agents, destination managers and the hospitality industry when booking their guests and clients. Southwest has a fleet of no more than six (6) fifteen -passenger vans, custom seated with captain chairs for up to twelve passengers. We conduct regularly scheduled van tours every day of the year, including all holidays.

JIM VAUGHAN
Owner & Founder

Jim is a second generation native Arizonan. His love and knowledge of the great Southwest was his inspiration for leaving the corporate world to start a small tour company where he could do what he loved most. Taking people out and showing them in a very personal way the special out of the way places that few people get to see. Sharing the facts about the state of Arizona and its many historical stories and sights in a fun and interesting way. Not just a tour, but also a memory to last forever.

Kari Kobli

Office Manager

Proudly born and raised in Arizona, Kari has lived in Arizona her entire life. As an Arizona native, Kari can not imagine living anywhere else in the world.

In her spare time she loves exploring Arizona (usually on four wheel trails). What she loves most about Arizona is that you can drive 2 hours north outside of Phoenix and be in the snow and enjoy the winter.

Howard Rosen

Tour Guide

Howard Rosen is always passionate and enthusiastic when exploring the wide open spaces of the Southwest since moving to Arizona in 1993. Happy to share his knowledge of the local flora, fauna, history and current events.

Howard enjoys day and overnight back country hiking, tennis, pickle ball, swimming, mountain biking, kayaking, boxing, and ecstatic dance.

Mike Legge

Tour Guide

Mike first started with Southwest Tours in 1996, and says it is the best job he’s ever had. He’s a native Arizonan and then some. Mike is also very much an outdoor enthusiast. He loves to explore whether it's in a 4X4, on foot, or in a canoe. He says the greatest thing about Arizona is there's no time of the year where you can't be outdoors and in the wilderness. He loves people and loves getting to know new people on a daily basis and values the friendships he’s built with people all over this state. Mike is always learning history, geology, botany or anthropology and says that one of the great things about his job is there's always something new to learn always someplace new to explore. He is always looking forward to meeting new guests and sharing an adventure together.

Jennifer Althoff

Phone Attendant
Raised in Arizona, Jennifer has a deep love of Arizona and can't imagine living anywhere else. She has traveled and camped all around the state as a child including down in the Grand Canyon.