Best of the Canyonlands

Day 1 (Door to Door)

Arrive Denver

Enjoy your luxury private car door to door transfer to your departure airport before your scheduled flight to Denver, nicknamed the "Mile-High City" and a vibrant city with 300 days of annual sunshine and the breathtaking Rocky Mountains as its backdrop. A transfer is provided to your first hotel. Your Tour Director is at your hotel this evening to welcome you and answer any questions. Please join us at 6:00pm for a Welcome Drink at the hotel. (WD)
Hotel: Grand Hyatt Denver (D)

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 epitomise the grandeur of classic mountain scenery. We arrive at picturesque andfashionable 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 eastwards and enter the state of Utah, the landscape changes to stunning red rock landscapes. We visit Arches National Park, home to more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches including the world-famous Delicate Arch. Enjoy enchanting vistas and ample photo opportunities of red rock canyons, balancing rocks and unusual rock formations. The extraordinary features of the park create a landscape of contrasting colours and textures that is unlike any other in the world. Later we arrive in the nearby town of Moab where you have the option of a cowboy-style dinner followed by a unique jetboat ride down the Colorado River. (FB)
Hotel: Ramada Inn (FC)

Day 3

Moab - Mesa Verde National Park - Kayenta

Our journey today takes us deep into breathtaking Native American lands. This morning's highlight is a visit to the ruins of Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site protecting 4,000 known archaeological sites including 600 cliff dwellings, built between the 6th and 12th century. We tour some of the well-preserved dwellings on the top of the Mesa Verde Plateau and view the imposing 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. As we continue exploring the park, we enjoy photo stops including superb views of the Cliff Palace from a great vantage point.We continue on to Kayenta, in the heart of the Navajo Reservation, where we enjoy dinner. (FB, D)
Hotel: Hampton Inn Kayenta (MFC)

Day 4

Kayenta - Monument Valley - Grand Canyon

Today we drive to awe-inspiring Monument Valley, a landscape 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. Later we travel through the scenic Painted Desert and stop at 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, surrounded by pinion and juniper woodlands. There is time to take in the canyon's beautiful scenery on your own, before joining your Tour Director for a walk along the rim at sunset. Witness 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. (FB, FD)
Hotel: National Park Lodges (NP)
Dining Highlights: This evening we get together for our speciality dinner inside this wonder of Mother Nature.

Day 5

Grand Canyon - Las Vegas

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. Later, 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 - Seligman and Kingman, two delightful towns which retain all the flavour 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. (FB)
Hotel: Las Vegas Hilton (MD)

Day 6

Las Vegas at leisure

Spend a full day on your own and enjoy the many activities available. Perhaps delight in a round of golf, an hour 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 stroll along the Strip and enjoy pirates sinking a galleon at Treasure Island, water fountains performing amusical ballet at the Bellagio, and a spectacular light show changing the colour of the "Lake of Dreams" at the Wynn Hotel. (FB)
Hotel: Las Vegas Hilton (MD)

Day 7

Depart Las Vegas

Bid farewell to Las Vegas as your holiday comes to an end. A complimentary transfer is provided to Las VegasInternational Airport for your return scheduled flight back to the UK. (FB)

Day 8 (Door to Door)

Arrive UK

On arrival at your UK airport, your driver will greet you and escort you to your waiting luxury private car for your door to door transfer to your home.

Dates and prices

Destination Info