Spirit of the Desert: The National Parks of the Southwest
Overview
Highlights
- Six national parks
- two flightseeing adventures
- 2 nights on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon
- talks with local experts
- sunrise and sunset independent walks
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- Exclusive to Tauck! Filmed vignettes by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan share their own personal stories and tell the stories of those who shaped the creation & preservation of the national parks Six National Parks! On the ground or by air, explore Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon national parks - more than any other Tauck trip Two Flightseeing Adventures! Fly over the extraordinary remote reaches of Capitol Reef National Park and see the Grand Canyon from the air en route to Las Vegas Two Nights on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon provide a fresh, "new" perspective of the park; you'll have a privileged, less conventional national park experience that is enjoyed by fewer than 10% of all park visitors Local experts associated with Ken Burns's documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," give special talks and lectures Dawn Patrol & Sunset Scouts - independent sunrise and sunset spirit-of-the-moment experiences in the national parks, taking place at the best times of the day, for a rich and emotional connection Insights and perspectives by a member of the Navajo Nation Mild-to-moderate float trip on the Colorado River Small Group Departures, averaging 24 Tauck guests, are available on select departures; specially priced from $5890 per person double, specific dates apply - ask at booking for details Special Solo Traveler Savings - save $200 on the single room price of select departure dates; specific dates apply - ask at booking Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted 23 meals (9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 9 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage
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Itinerary
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Red Cliffs Lodge. A transfer is included from Grand Junction Regional Airport to Utah's Red Cliffs Lodge. A transfer is included from Grand Junction Regional Airport to Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, Utah. The "Spirit of the Desert" defies just one si...
This morning's Dawn Patrol rewards with views of the sun's rise over the Windows section of Arches National Park, a series of fascinating natural sandstone arches. Take a guided float trip along the Colorado River*; rock towers, colors and light reflect upon the water...
You have the option this morning of joining your Tauck Director for a trip to enjoy spectacular views of Book Cliffs, Arches National Park, Colorado, and the La Salle Mountains... and perhaps see some dinosaur tracks! Late morning, a member of the local Navajo tribe s...
Go on an optional Dawn Patrol or visit the Film Museum at your lodge (both on your own), before this morning's dramatic aerial tour over Capitol Reef National Park. Fly along the Waterpocket Fold Capitol Gorge, a 100-mile-long basin of colorful cliffs, soaring spires ...
Morning sightseeing includes a hike along Bryce Canyon rim or down to the base of the valley to take in views of Bryce's remarkable hoodoo terrain of these oddly shaped pillars of rock. Depart midday for Zion where Ryan Paul, Curator of Frontier Homestead State Park M...
Zion's striking sandstone cliffs change in color from light cream to pink and red throughout the day; see them on a drive by tram through Zion Valley with short walks to sites like Weeping Falls and Court of the Patriarchs. Late afternoon, historian and author Alfred ...
Leave Zion; en route to the Grand Canyon, a guided tour at Pipe Spring National Monument shares stories of the native Paiute Indians and Mormon pioneers. Continue to the Grand Canyon's less crowded North Rim for an afternoon's introduction to the spectacular views fro...
A talk by Marty Ott, former superintendent of Zion National Park, takes you "inside" the national park system for a look at life in the park service. The day is free to explore as you please; optional activities include ranger programs, hikes or a mule ride into the c...
A self-guided Dawn Patrol takes in sunrise from the North Rim before final film vignettes offer reflections by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan on protecting the parks for future generations. Flightsee from Kanab, Utah, over Grand Canyon vistas to Las Vegas; join us this e...
Tour ends: Las Vegas. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. Checkout time is 12:00 noon. You should allow two hours for flight check-in at the airport.
MEALS : B
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.
In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.
Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.
Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.
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