America’s Magnificent National Parks

Day 1 - Welcome to Phoenix/Scottsdale

Welcome to Arizona, famous for road trips, Monument Valley and of course the Grand Canyon. Your airport transfer will whisk you to your hotel in Scottsdale where you can enjoy the facilities and grounds of this striking desert oasis. Why not head out and explore Old Scottsdale, an agreeably traditional representation of the state? Here, you’ll be surrounded by retro wooden buildings, rodeo inspired artwork and a selection of local stores, all radiating a classic Southwestern flair. At 18:00, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner at Zuzu, where you will have the opportunity to mingle and get to know one another.

Hotel: Hotel Valley Ho
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Grand Canyon National Park

Journey north to the bohemian colony of Sedona. Attractive to healers, this spiritual town’s vortexes are rumoured to offer alternative medicines and practices. If retail therapy is more your thing, explore Sedona’s shops and galleries, or simply take in its natural rugged beauty, which makes it a hotspot for hikers, swimmers and eager campers. Journey on to Grand Canyon National Park, where you have the opportunity to take an optional, once-in-a-lifetime, flightseeing tour by helicopter or plane. Join local expert Canyon Tim for an informative and exclusive presentation about the wonders of the Grand Canyon before ending your day with a tranquil night inside the park and an appetising dinner with wine in the inviting Thunderbird Room of your lodge. Located on the South Rim, this beautiful venue offers a private balcony, so you can feast on hearty food while taking in the stunning views.

Hotel: National Park Lodges, Grand Canyon
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 3 - Monument Valley & Lake Powell

Head through striking crimson landscapes to the historic Cameron Trading Post where you will find Native American arts and crafts. The journey then carries on through the colourful Painted Desert to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, where you board all-terrain vehicles for a guided tour of the valley floor, used as a backdrop for many Western Films. Stop at the Glen Canyon Dam to learn about its impact on the Colorado River before arriving at your lakefront resort.

Hotel: Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas (Lake View or Marina View Rooms)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Lake Powell

Your morning is at leisure. Simply relax and enjoy the resort’s facilities or enjoy some extra time to catch up with your fellow travellers. Later today, a serene cruise through the narrow sandstone turns of Antelope Canyon awaits. End the day with a breathtaking sunset from your lake view or marina view room.

Hotel: Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas (Lake View or Marina View Rooms)
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks

Prepare for a day of Norse legend, as you head to the sandstone cliffs of Bryce Canyon National Park in Southern Utah. Here you will be met by pine trees, red rock pillars and Thor’s hammer. You’ll take a leisurely walk along Sunset Point to view the great amphitheatres of the odd-shaped monoliths, known as hoodoos, before travelling through more amazing scenery to the lush cliff-and-canyon landscape of Zion National Park. A day of sightseeing deserves some evening festivities. Join your Travel Director and new friends for dinner and wine to discuss your take on the ethereal characters of Utah’s famous canyon.

Hotel: Zion National Park Lodge
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 6 - Las Vegas

Depart the tranquil ambience of Zion National Park Lodge and board a private Zion Canyon Shuttle. Live commentary will take you through the scenic highlights of the park, followed by some downtime to explore on your own. Depart the natural beauty of the park to arrive in the bright lights and glamour of Las Vegas. With an array of shopping malls, live shows and dining opportunities, this dazzling destination is sure to entertain. And for those looking to hit the casinos, make sure you come with your poker face ready.

Hotel: Caesars Palace
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 - Salt Lake City

Today you’ll travel to Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City, where you’ll spend the night. Lying between Wasatch Range and the Great Salt Lake, this mountainous city is perfect for outdoorsy types, with a strong focus on skiing and fishing. It is also the headquarters of the Mormon faith.

Day 8 - Jackson & Grand Teton National Park

As you move on from Salt Lake City, take in iconic Temple Square and the State Capitol building, before heading north across the Oregon Trail to historic Jackson. Have your cameras ready for the famous elk antlers that adorn the central square, and for eager shoppers there are a number of charming traditional boutiques to browse. Relax at Rustic Inn Creekside Resort and Spa and savour a delightful dinner with wine.

Day 9 - Yellowstone National Park

Wake up to a mountainous view like no other and witness the striking Grand Tetons thrust skyward 6,562 feet (2,000 metres) from the valley floor. This morning, you have the opportunity to partake in an optional scenic float trip down the Snake River inside Grand Teton National Park. In keeping with today’s rustic country charm, you’ll enter Yellowstone, the world’s first National Park. Known for its unique geothermal activity, spectacular landscapes and abundant wildlife, you’ll experience Wyoming in all its glory. Keep an eye out for black bears or wolves. Tonight you’ll stay in the National Park Lodges, allowing you to experience the park after hours, in its natural glory.

Day 10 - Yellowstone National Park

Savour the surreal surroundings of Yellowstone with a relaxed start. Walk among the rainbow tinted hot springs and watch the erupting geysers as you take in the history of the park on an informative stroll with your Travel Director. Catch the renowned colourful bubbling mud pots and observe Old Faithful geyser shooting water over 120 feet (37 metres) into the air. You’ll behold the powerful roar of Lower Yellowstone Falls, before heading back to your lodge. The National Park is also famous for its wildlife, so keep an eye out for the Yellowstone ram, wolves, bears and elk.

Hotel: National Park Lodges, Yellowstone
Meals:Breakfast

Day 11 - Clearmont

Set off on your travels through the stark Shoshone Canyon and Absaroka Rocky Mountains to the Wild West Town of Cody. Channel your inner showman and learn more about America’s great Western legends at the Buffalo Bill Centre. End the day in Clearmont, Wyoming where you’ll check in to your abode for the night. Here you’ll enjoy a ranch style dinner with wine.

Hotel: The Ranch at UCross
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 12 - Devils Tower & Black Hills

Live the American frontier dream and begin your day with a scenic country horseback ride. If playing cowboy isn’t your thing, perhaps go fishing or merely relax and take in your beautiful surroundings, the choice is yours. Make your way to Devils Tower, an astounding geological feature that protrudes out of the surrounding Black Hills. This symbolic landmark is considered sacred to the Lakota and other tribes. Experience Spearfish Canyon, a favoured spot among wildlife enthusiasts and one famous for its elvish woodland beauty. The limestone palisades of this creek-carved gorge are more ancient than the Grand Canyon.

Hotel: Spearfish Canyon Lodge
Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 - Custer State Park

A day for those looking to explore the wild west, try to spot pronghorn antelope as you cross the great high plains to the Black Hills of South Dakota. You’ll also get to speak to members of the Lakota tribe as they share a fascinating live narrative of the Great Sioux Nation. Once in Deadwood, you’ll have the opportunity to join Kevin Costner’s Original Deadwood Tour, while a local expert will talk about the days of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, who made this once lawless town famous during the Gold Rush of the 1870s. Continue on to Custer State Park, renowned for its beautiful landscape and abundant wildlife.

Hotel: The State Game Lodge, Custer State Park
Meals: Breakfast

Day 14 - Black Hills, South Dakota

What better way to spend your last full day than delving further into the history of this fascinating country? The heart of the Black Hills offers spectacular representations of the nation’s past. You’ll start by viewing Crazy Horse Memorial, which is dedicated to all Native Americans. An exclusive Insight Experience awaits as you are taken up to the 641 feet long and 563 feet tall sculpture to stand face to face with the world’s largest mountain carving. Afterwards, travel to iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Here, carvings of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt overlook the landscape. The rest of the day is yours to explore in Custer State Park. Join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a celebratory dinner with wine, as you reflect on your adventure across the wide-open spaces of America’s national parks.

Day 15 - Farewell from Denver

Travel south from Custer State Park where your tour ends on arrival in Denver, with a transfer to Denver International Airport.

Meals: Breakfast