On arrival into Las Vegas International Airport, collect your bags and you rental car, before heading towards the bright lights of the famous Las Vegas strip.

Check-in to your chosen hotel and ease yourself into the Las Vegas experience, by taking a wander along the strip to see the dancing Bellagio fountains or the Venetian gondolas. There are plenty of dining options for dinner, from American diners to gourmet restaurants, and you can enjoy a nightcap in the bar before settling in to your comfy room.

Planet Hollywood Resort or similar

Perhaps choose between a stack of pancakes or eggs ‘over-easy’ for your breakfast, before spending your day exploring the famous Las Vegas strip.

Wherever you look there is something to see and do in Las Vegas. Just walking through the impressive themed hotels like Caesars Palace, Paris and the Venetian, will take you through ancient Rome, past the Eiffel Tower and on to the canals of Venice. You can also take a trip on the big wheel, ride a roller coaster at the circus, or marvel at the tropical aquariums at Mandalay Bay.

For the evening we recommend pre-booking one of the incredible live shows, or dinner at a celebrity chef restaurant. There are plenty to choose from and lots of options to keep you entertained.

Optional Experience – Vegas Helicopter Flight
To really appreciate the bright lights of Las Vegas, we recommend a short helicopter flight over the city. Enjoy a glass of chilled champagne as your pilot points out each of the casinos and hotels below you.

Jump back in your car and leave the bright lights of Nevada’s ‘Sin City’ behind and head into the desert landscapes of Arizona on your way to the Grand Canyon.

You will probably want to make your first stop at Lake Mead on the Colorado River. Here you can enjoy the views across the lake from the impressive Hoover Dam. It is possible to join a guided tour if you want to learn more, or just take in the views from the various lookout points along the road.

Another good stopping point along the way is the town of Kingman. The town is is one of the best-preserved stops on the historic Route 66, with lots of nostalgia and classic diners.

Continue on your Arizona road trip to the town of Williams, known as the gateway to the Grand Canyon. It is the starting point of Grand Canyon Railway, and you can view the historic locomotives in the railway depot, before you continue you journey to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Optional Experience – Grand Canyon Skywalk
If you’re interested in exploring the western rim of the Grand Canyon, consider taking a detour to Grand Canyon West, home to the Skywalk glass bridge. Note that Grand Canyon West is managed by the Hualapai Tribe and requires a separate entrance fee. Take in views of the Grand Canyon from a U-shaped glass walkway that extends out more than 70 feet from the canyon’s west rim.

Las Vegas > Grand Canyon | 279 miles

Yavapai Lodge or similar

If you want to witness something remarkable, then get up early and follow the trail to Mather Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This is one of the best, and most accessible points, to watch the sunrise over the canyon.

To help plan your day, you can stop by the Grand Canyon Visitor Centre to collect a map and get some advice from the resident rangers. You could then choose to walk along the Rim Trail to the Yavapai Geology Museum, where you can learn about the processes that formed the canyon. You can also stop at historic sites like the El Tovar Hotel, Hopi House and the Lookout Studio.

After a picnic lunch on the rim, you may like to collect your car to complete the scenic Desert View Drive, stopping at the scenic canyon lookouts, such as Grandview, Moran Point, Lipan Point and Desert View Watchtower.

For a perfect view of the sunset return to Hopi Point or Lipan Point, to witness the rock colours changing as the sun descends.

Yavapai Lodge or similar

From the South Rim of the Grand Canyon follow the Desert View Drive to the town of Cameron. This is a historic Navajo trading post, and you can stop here for refreshments or to browse the Native American jewellery and art.

From Cameron follow the road to the town of Flagstaff. Surrounded by the San Francisco Peaks, the town is best known for being on Route 66 and for the Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was first identified. Downtown Flagstaff has many cafés and bars which are good for a lunch stop.

From Flagstaff you can follow the Oak Creek Canyon scenic drive to Sedona. This route takes you on a winding road past red rock cliffs and through pine forests. You may like to stop at Oak Creek Vista for views over the canyon.

Sedona is a fascinating town, surrounded by iconic red rock formations, and with a spiritual heart. If you have time you should visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is actually built into some of the red cliffs. You can also get some amazing views from Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte and Airport Mesa.

On the route from Sedona to Scottsdale, you may like to follow a brief detour to Montezuma Castle National Monument to view the ancient cliff dwellings built more than a thousand years ago by the Sinagua people.

You should reach Scottsdale in the late afternoon, ready to check in to your hotel.

Grand Canyon > Scottsdale | 237 miles

Scottsdale Plaza Resort, or similar

You could spend your day in Scottsdale relaxing around the pool and enjoying the sunshine, but if you want to leave your resort there is plenty to explore around Scottsdale.

You may like to hike up Camelback Mountain or Pinnacle Point for some amazing views of the city and the surrounding Sonoran Desert. These are best enjoyed before the heat of midday. Scottsdale Old Town is great for a more relaxed wander. There are lots of western-style shops and art galleries to browse and you can visit the Museum of the West to learn more about cowboys and Native American history.

Afternoon activities could include a round of golf, a kayak on the Salt River, or horseback ride through the desert.

Scottsdale Plaza Resort, or similar

It is only a short hop from Scottsdale to Tucson and ‘Cowboy Country’ but there are a couple of scenic drives and wild west towns to visit along the way.

You may like to begin the day with a little detour along the Apache Trail, which provides some beautiful views of the Superstition Mountains. Then continue south to Florence, a town with preserved 1800s architecture like the old courthouse and jail.

You may also like to drive up the Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway, where the air feels cooler and you have spectacular panoramic views.

If you haven’t had lunch, then downtown Tucson is perfect for authentic Mexican meals. Whether you try the chimichanga, Tumerico or Boca Tacos, you are sure to enjoy the flavours. You may also like to visit the Mission San Xavier del Bac whilst you are in Tucson. Built in the late 1700s this beautiful Spanish mission features ornate baroque architecture and a stunning interior.

In the late afternoon, you will head just out of the centre of Tucson to begin your ranch stay.

Scottsdale > Tucson | 120 miles

White Stallion Ranch, or similar

Your stay at White Stallion Ranch is a fun mix of cowboy activities and ranch-style dining. Your stay will begin with an orientation with one of the wranglers, so that you can appreciate the scale of the ranch and plan your favourite activities.

Your first activity is usually an introductory horseback ride. You will be paired with a compatible horse, depending on your skill level and taken for a scenic ride along one of the many trails.

After a buffet-style lunch, you can then choose an activity for the afternoon. This maybe learning to herd cattle with a real-life cowboy, or trying archery on the shooting range. You can also try your hand at rock climbing. If this is all too much, then you can always relax by the pool or book a spa treatment.

Each day always ends a sunset ride, which can be fast or slow depending on how confident you feel, followed by a BBQ dinner under the stars accompanied by some live Western music and dancing.

You can choose similar or different activities on your second day at White Stallion Ranch. You may enjoy a longer scenic horse ride, or maybe an ebike tour through the desert. There is also a local naturalist who can guide you through a desert nature walk.

White Stallion Ranch, or similar

Breakfast. lunch & dinner

After a final cowboy breakfast, say goodbye to your horse and your new ranch friends, before driving north again to the Arizona state capital, Phoenix.

It is a relatively short drive back to the airport, so there is no rush, but please leave enough time to return your rental vehicle and check-in for your flight.

Tucson > Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport | 107 miles

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Breakfast