American Southwest

The American Southwest
Featuring:  
Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion and The Grand Canyon National Parks & Lake Powell

Arrival City:  Grand Junction Colorado

Departure City:  Flagstaff Arizona

Arrival Airport:  Grand Junction Regional Airport Colorado

Departing Airport:  Flagstaff Pulliam Airport

Pick Up:  11:00 am

Included

2 nights stay at Red Cliffs Lodge

1 night stay at the Lodge at Bryce Canyon

1 night stay at the Zion Lodge

1 night stay at Lake Powell Resort

1 night stay at Little America, Flagstaff Arizona

Culinary Inclusions

6 breakfast’s

6 lunches

6 dinners

In-transit beverages including beer, wine, soft drinks, juice, coffee, tea

In-transit appetizers and desserts

Fresh fruit and sweet and salty snacks

Also Included

Driver, Guide and Hospitality Guide

Walking sticks and binoculars available for guests

Transportation on the luxury Expedition Cruiser

Trip Insurance

Transfers to and from the airport

Available Dates: May 17-23, 2020

Day 1:  Colorado National Monument, Moab and the Colorado River

Lodging:  Red Cliffs Lodge

Guests will absorb the wonders of the Colorado National Monument within the first thirty minutes of the tour.  Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. We will experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where we may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles. The tour will then continue another hour through the beautiful landscape to the town of Moab.  This quaint town offers so many options for leisure and adventure travelers alike. The unique shops and dining options will make for a fantastic stop before we make the short 30-minute trip up the Colorado River. The drive is majestic in every way with green Colorado river guiding us towards the Red Cliffs Lodge. Sandstone walls surround us on every side as we navigate towards the working ranch that was settled in the 1800’s and has been a working ranch ever since.  With cabin views right on the Colorado River, the evening is filled with many options for recreation and relaxation. The home of the Western Heritage Museum and the Red Cliffs Winery, Red Cliffs Lodge is uniquely situated where countless movies have been filmed. Paddle boarding, horse back riding, bike riding or leisure walks along the river make this two night stay a very special stop.

Day 2:  Arches National Park and Sunset Hummer Safari

Lodging:  Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab Utah

Catching the morning light at Arches National Park is one of the highlights of the tour.  The relaxing drive includes stops at:

• The Arches Visitor Center

• Delicate Arch

• Double Arch

• Balanced Rock

• Park Avenue Overlook

We will return to the hotel while the sun is warmest so that guests can take in the full value of the Colorado River.  Paddle boarding and kayaking is highly recommended. The adventure continues in the early evening with a Sunset Hummer Tour.  The sunset Hummer Safari departs each evening just before sunset. Within minutes of departure you'll be scaling one of Moab's famous redrock fins on your way to an area known as "Hell's Revenge." We'll weave in and out of rock canyons, feel the power and confidence of the Hummer as it climbs steep sandstone hills. While on the trip your guides will explain to you the geology of the area, along with the history of the Canyonlands area. Midway through our trip, you'll have an unforgettable experience as we ascend to the summit of a captivating overlook. As we head back on the trail, we'll stop to see ancient dinosaur tracks embedded in the rock surface. Here we'll relax, take pictures, and enjoy a snack or two while the desert sun paints the evening sky. Guests rave about this part of the tour and are always so glad they went.  

Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park

Lodging:  The Lodge at Bryce Canyon

The morning air at Red Cliffs Lodge is crisp, clean and refreshing.  The horseback ride is not included in the all-inclusive price but is highly recommended by guests that have traveled with us.  After a relaxing morning, we start an afternoon drive to Bryce Canyon National Park – a wondrous land of pines, pinnacles and oddly sculpted formations known as hoodoos, resembling the towers of fairy-tale castles. Magnificent spires, tinted with shades of pink, orange and red, put on a captivating show as the light changes throughout the day. Keep an eye open for the park’s abundant wildlife, including elk, coyotes, marmots, and prairie dogs, as you explore the park from your sought-after accommodations at The Lodge at Bryce Canyon. Listed on the National Historic Register, The Lodge is nestled in a forest of towering ponderosa pines in the heart of the park.  The sunset at the amphitheater is just steps from your hotel room and will provide memories for a lifetime.

Day 4:  Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park

Lodging: Zion Lodge, Zion National Park

Getting up early to appreciate the hoodoos, spires, pinnacles and other geological formations of Bryce Canyon create an atmosphere that is unmatched as the sun rises.  If we get cooperation from the weather, an optional adventure is a trail ride on either a horse or mule, and escorted by a cowboy guide, which will show us the hidden gems of Bryce Canyon.  For those that want to explore on foot, the trail system is well managed, safe and is manageable for most activity levels. After lunch, travel across southwestern Utah to Zion National Park, where colorful sandstone canyons and 3,000-foot-high palisades tower above the lush greenery of the canyon floor. The park’s shuttle system and network of hiking trails afford access to its key geologic features – thriving vegetation includes cottonwood trees and dry desert plants; wildlife ranges from mule deer to hundreds of bird species. Our evening will be spent at the historic Zion Lodge which is nestled in one of the most majestic landscapes in the world.

Day 5:  Sandstone Cliffs of Zion Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell

Lodging:  Lake Powell Resort, Lake Powell

Guests will continue to explore the wonders of Zion National Park before we make our way to Lake Powell and the wonders of Glen Canyon.  This amazing 254 square mile lake is home to some of the best recreational fun in America. Once we arrive at Lake Powell and check into the hotel, we will take the 15-minute drive to Horseshoe Bend for an amazing sunset photo shoot opportunity.  The leisure stroll to the lookout is relaxing and the view is breathtaking. The evening will be spent at the Resort where peaceful relaxation is impossible to miss.

Day 6:  Slot Canyon, and the Grand Canyon

Lodging:  Little America Hotel, Flagstaff Arizona

Our first stop of the day will be a tour of Lower Antelope Canyon. The Tours has smaller group sizes and the guide stays with you during the entire tour, sharing information about the geology, history, and Navajo Traditional ways. The Lower Antelope Canyon tends to be less crowded than the Upper Antelope Canyon and is preferred by many because of its narrow canyon walls and ladders that take you to the levels that have been carved by flash floods from the upper mesas. The sandstone walls are exquisitely formed, and the Lower Antelope Canyon offers a longer canyon exploration.

We will then begin our final leg towards the Grand Canyon National Park.  Our first stop will be the Desert View Watchtower. Perched on the rim of the canyon, the Watchtower reflects the architecture of the ancestral Puebloans in the Four Corners region. Climb the stairs for views up and down the canyon. On a clear day, one can see well over 100 miles. We will then continue along the Rim to the Grand Canyon Village where guests can explore the Grand Canyon Visitors Center, the Yavapai Geology Museum, The Verkamps Visitors Center, the Kolb Studio and of course the amazing views of the Grand Canyon. There is ample time to take the tram to multiple stops that fit your interest and explore the many viewpoints for the perfect picture. Our last part of our trip will be the final drive into Flagstaff where we will settle in at the   

Day 7:  Homeward Bound

Breakfast is included at your hotel and transfers to the airport will get you safely home with memories that will last a lifetime.

Prices

Double Occupancy:  $3,999

Single Occupancy:  $4,687

Triple Occupancy:  $3,632

Quad Occupancy:  $3,499

Deposit at the time of booking:  $1,500 per person