Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Kay El Bar is one of Arizona's most authentic and intimate guest ranches  and is located just over an hour northwest of Phoenix in Wickenburg. Established in 1926, its original adobe brick buildings and Spanish architecture sit on the banks of the Hassayampa River in the foothills of the Bradshaw Mountains, at the heart of the spectacular Sonoran Desert.

With a maximum of just 25 guests, the ranch offers a genuinely personal experience across two seasons: January to April, and October to December - neatly avoiding Arizona's fierce summer heat.

The original ranch buildings are as characterful as the landscape around them. Each guest room has a private bathroom, hand-painted Monterey furniture, and western artwork throughout. Larger rooms are available for families. Between adventures, guests can relax by the pool, soak in the hot tub, or simply unwind in a hammock beneath century-old trees.

Home-cooked meals are served three times a day - plated, buffet, or family-style - in the dining room, on the patio, or out on the trail. Fresh-baked cookies are available throughout the day, and dessert is never skipped.

Horse riding is central to life at Kay El Bar, with a well-trained string of horses suited to all abilities. Explore thousands of acres of desert hills and canyons, ride through the sandy Hassayampa Riverbed, or follow trails past abandoned gold mines. Off the horse, guests can try archery, sport shooting, or off-road UTV driving. Hikers will find the Sonoran Desert's remarkable plant life — giant saguaro, prickly pear, and barrel cactus — a world away from anything found in the UK.