Best of the Canyonlands 2010 - About this Tour

Tour Details | Departure Dates and Pricing

Details

• Duration (with arrival/departure): 7
• Tour Style: Discovery
• Destinations: Denver, Arches National Park, Moab, Mesa Verde, Kayenta, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas

Itinerary

• Day 1 - Arrive Denver Welcome to Denver, nicknamed the Mile High City! Denver is a vibrant city with 300 days of annual sunshine and the breathtaking Rocky Mountains as its backdrop. A complimentary transfer is provided to the tour hotel. Your Tour Director is at the hotel this evening to welcome you and answer your questions. Join us at 6:00pm for a Welcome Drink at the hotel.
  
  Hotel: Grand Hyatt Denver



• Day 2 - Denver – Vail – Arches National Park – Moab Today’s spectacular journey takes us west and up into the heart of the Rockies. Climbing over Independence Pass Scenic Drive, we cross the Continental Divide and travel through areas that epitomize the grandeur of classic mountain scenery. We arrive at picturesque and fashionable Vail, one of America’s most popular mountain resorts. There is time to wander Vail Village’s quaint pedestrian alleys lined with chalets, boutiques and galleries. From here, we join the Colorado River, following its path through more spectacular Rockies scenery. As we continue westward and enter the state of Utah, the setting changes to stunning red rock landscape. We visit Arches National Park, home to more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. We enjoy enchanting vistas and ample photo opportunities of red rock canyons, balancing rocks and unusual rock formations. Later we arrive in the nearby town of Moab where we have the option of a BBQ dinner followed by a thrilling jetboat ride on one of the most scenic stretches of the great Colorado River. (Full breakfast)
  
  Hotel: Ramada Inn



• Day 3 - Moab – Mesa Verde National Park – Kayenta Today our Tour Director reveals a Hidden Treasure. We journey deep into the breathtaking Native American lands. We visit the ruins of Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting 4000 known archaeological sites including 600 cliff dwellings, built between the 6th and 12th century. We tour some of the dwellings that were built on top of the plateau and view the imposing cliff dwellings built right into the canyon walls, some comprising more than 100 rooms. There is time to visit the museum depicting the story of the Ancestral Pueblo people who once lived and thrived on this 8,000-foot plateau and get an insight into their daily lives. We continue on to Kayenta, in the heart of the Navajo Reservation. (Full breakfast / Dinner)
  
  Hotel: Holiday Inn Kayenta



• Day 4 - Kayenta – Monument Valley – Grand Canyon National Park We drive to the awe-inspiring Monument Valley, a setting made famous when director John Ford began filming movies here. We set out with a local guide in special vehicles to explore the major highlights of this unusual and inspiring landscape. We visit some famous movie sites used as backdrops for western films and marvel at the dramatic buttes and mesas of this incredible terrain. We travel through the scenic Painted Desert and stop at the Historic Cameron Trading Post, a showplace of fine Native American and Southwestern Art. We then arrive at Grand Canyon National Park, the world’s most spectacular gorge, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. A powerful and inspiring landscape, the Grand Canyon overwhelms the senses with its immense size. We enter the park from the East Entrance and drive along the scenic Desert View Drive. We stop at Desert View Lookout for spectacular views before arriving at Grand Canyon Village where we overnight, right inside the park. At sunset, we join our Tour Director at the canyon’s rim to watch the effects of the sunset as the sun paints the canyon walls in warm yellows, golds and reds contrasting with deep dancing shadows and silhouettes. This evening we enjoy a Highlight Dinner inside this wonder of Mother Nature (Full breakfast / Highlight dinner)
  
  Hotel: National Park Lodges
  



• Day 5 - Grand Canyon – Las Vegas (2 nights) Early risers won’t want to miss sunrise over the canyon before breakfast! Optional flightseeing tours by helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft are available for the experience of a lifetime with spectacular bird’s eye views of the canyon. Heading west toward Nevada, we drive along parts of famous Route 66, also known as the “Mother Road.” En route we stop at two iconic posts along Route 66 – Seligman and Kingman, two delightful towns which retain the flavor of the old road. Later we cross the Colorado River, skirt the riverside city of Laughlin and head for Las Vegas for a two-night stay in this mecca of entertainment, gambling and jet set glamour. Bid farewell to your Tour Director and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to discover all this incredible city has to offer! (Full breakfast)
  
  Hotel: Las Vegas Hilton



• Day 6 - Las Vegas at leisure Spend a full day on your own and enjoy the many activities available. Perhaps play a round of golf, relax by the pool, go shopping at the exclusive Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace, or try your luck with the “one-armed bandit” or any other game of chance. This evening perhaps attend a show or stroll along the fabled Strip and see pirates sinking a galleon at the Treasure Island, water fountains performing a musical ballet at the Bellagio and a spectacular light show changing the color of the “Lake of Dreams” at the Wynn hotel. (Full breakfast)



• Day 7 - Depart Las Vegas Bid farewell to Las Vegas as your vacation comes to an end. A complimentary transfer is provided to Las Vegas International Airport. (Full breakfast)


Arrive DenverDenver – Vail – Arches National Park – MoabMoab – Mesa Verde National Park – KayentaKayenta – Monument Valley – Grand Canyon National ParkGrand Canyon – Las Vegas Las Vegas at leisureDepart Las Vegas

Whats Included

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Sightseeing Highlights

• Vail Stroll the pedestrian-only streets of this charming alpine village.
• Arches National Park View amazing natural rock formations.
• Mesa Verde National Park Discover outstanding cliff dwellings.
• Monument Valley Tour with a local guide in open-air vehicles.
• Grand Canyon National Park Overnight right inside the park.
• Las Vegas Spend two nights in the entertainment capital of the world.
• Denver Stay in the heart of America’s Mile High City.

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Dining Highlights

• 6 full breakfasts
• 1 three-course dinner
• Local highlight restaurant dinner at the Grand Canyon
8 included meals in total (see day by day itinerary)

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First Class Travel Highlights

• First Class hotel accommodation includes two-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
• Touring by luxury air-conditioned motorcoach with reclining seats and onboard restroom.
• The services of one of Trafalgar’s top professional Tour Directors (Days 1-5)
• A stylish wallet, travel documents and Welcome on Tour book with map
• Complimentary airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 7

Options

Child Prices: Apply to children 11 years of age and under.