Arizona and New Mexico Discovered Self-Drive

14 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Map not provided by operator
View all 4 photos
Video not provided by operator
4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
97%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
preferred

USTOA

Private Guided
Oversized objects and other Americana along Route 66, the beaches and glitzy cities of California’s coast, steaming geysers in Yellowstone National Park… on a tailor-made holiday to the USA with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and y...
26%
$3,069
From$2,273
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

What's this trip about?

    Oversized objects and other Americana along Route 66, the beaches and glitzy cities of California’s coast, steaming geysers in Yellowstone National Park… on a tailor-made holiday to the USA with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our USA specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook. Soar over the Grand Canyon by helicopter, or hike inside it with a ranger. Surf Hawaii’s waves and visit Jurassic Park film locations on an ATV tour. Ride on horseback through rolling countryside on a traditional Montana ranch. See an intimate live jazz concert in New Orleans, or explore backstage of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. New England’s crimson, yellow and orange fall foliage. After-hours art gallery tours in New York. Utah’s red-rock landscapes. Wild West towns and abandoned Puebloan cliff dwellings… What excites you? Travel at your own pace, in your own style, with the confidence that we’ll show you the best options, wherever you go.

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityPhoenix
End CityAlamosa

Travel Themes

  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • North America
  • United States
  • New Mexico

Attractions

  • Albuquerque
  • Arizona
  • Santa Fe

Activities

  • Educational/ learning
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Mountaineering
  • Nature
  • Swimming

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Day 1 : Scottsdale

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Phoenix. On arrival in Phoenix, collect your hire car and make your way to your accommodation in nearby Scottsdale. The remainder of the day is free to relax after your flight or, depending on your time of arrival, begin exploring the town's shops and restaurants.

Day 2 : Scottsdale

Enjoy a full day in Scottsdale. You may wish to go walking in the surrounding mountains, browse downtown Scottsdale, or simply relax around the swimming pool. The Phoenix Art Museum in Scottsdale contains an excellent collection of exhibits from the USA and further af...

Day 3 : Tucson

Drive south to Tucson, a journey of just over two hours. Along the way you pass Saguaro National Park, which is well worth visiting to see its many large Saguaro cacti. Tucson itself was once a colonial outpost for both the Spanish and Mexicans, as well as having a ri...

Day 4 : Tucson

You have a whole day to explore the Tucson area. You could visit the 18th-century San Xavier del Bac Mission, visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum or drive 112 km (70 miles) to We recommend driving to the atmospheric Wild West town of Tombstone, where there's a daily re-enactment of an 1881 gun fight.

Day 5 : Silver City

Travel east from Tucson and cross into New Mexico. You then travel through the Gila National Forest to the historic mining town of Silver City. The total journey time is around three and a half hours. Once in Silver City, explore the old streets lined with buildings from the late 19th-century mining period.

Day 6 : Silver City

Spend a full day exploring Silver City, following in the legendary footsteps of Kit Carson and Billy the Kid. From Silver City you can take a scenic drive to explore the fascinating Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, set in a dramatic location overlooking the Gila River Canyon. On the way up don't miss a stop at historic Pinos Altos to visit the Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House.

Day 7 : Albuquerque

We recommend you take the longer, scenic route on your drive today from Silver City to Albuquerque. This four and a half hour drive takes you over impressive mountain ranges and through the Apache National Forest. Don't miss a visit to the ghost town of Kelly en route. This evening, Albuquerque's many restaurants and live music venues beckon.

Day 8 : Santa Fe

After discovering Albuquerque's Route 66 heritage, drive two hours north to Santa Fe. You may wish to explore one of New Mexico's fascinating Ancestral Puebloan villages on the way. Santa Fe itself is one of the USA's oldest cities, founded by Spanish missionaries in ...

Day 9 : Santa Fe

The day is yours to continue exploring Santa Fe. Don't miss the Palace of the Governors, the old Central Plaza, the San Miguel Mission and the Barrio de Analco (historic district) where you can see one of the oldest houses in the country.

Day 10 : Taos

Travel two and a half hours north past the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to Taos, which lies close to some of the USA's most impressive Ancestral Puebloan dwelling sites, which you may wish to stop at along the way. You could also stop by the mountain village of Chimayo to see the Spanish colonial church of Santuario de Chimayo, built in 1816.

Day 11 : Taos

Enjoy a day to immerse yourself in the native American communities of Taos. Adobe buildings here have been in continual use as residences by native Americans for over 1,000 years and many of today's residents have made few concessions to the modern world, making this a fascinating place to visit.

Day 12 : Alamosa

Drive two hours north into Colorado today. You may wish to stop for a journey on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway before continuing your journey to Alamosa.

Day 13 : International return flight

Take the four-hour drive from Alamosa to Denver. At the airport, drop off your hire car before boarding your onward flight.

Day 14 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $2,273
Price per day$162
Last Updated: 0/11/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Audley Travel.

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.

Audley Travel Reviews & Ratings

4.9/5  Excellent
Excellent
3,344
Great
105
Average
29
Disappointing
29
Terrible
67
Write a Review

Other Audley Travel Reviews

J

Jordie

Dec 2023

Written on

Couldn't do it without Audley!

It's hard to describe how lucky we are to have been able to work with Stephanie in planning our honeymoon to Japan. From the very beginning, Stephanie was friendly, ...

M

Matthew

Dec 2023

Written on

Great Booking Experience

We recently booked our honeymoon to Peru in 2024. The holiday is not until September this this review is not of the holiday itself but I thought the experience of bo...

J

Jenny Balme

Dec 2023

Written on

Excellent client service

As ever Audley's itineraries are well thought through including great recommendations to make the most of the trip. Their client service at all stages of the process...

Write a Review

Travelers also viewed

Tour Operator

Audley Travel

preferred
View Profile

Our trips don’t come off the shelf. There’s no set recipe. Each itinerary is tailor-made down to the finest detail, built around your tastes and interests. Quite simply, we listen to what you want and then carefully design an individual trip to match, working to your budget and with an absolute commitment to quality.

We have experts for each and every one of our destinations, with the knowledge that comes from having visited many times or even lived there. Our specialists will design a trip around you, show you the highlights from a different angle, and introduce you to places and experiences that others might miss.

Our flexibility promise

As the world adjusts to travel in times of uncertainty, we want you to be able to look ahead to your next trip knowing you can change your plans if needed. And, with specialists who are experts in their destinations and remain your single point of contact before and while you travel, we promise you can book with us in absolute confidence.

Our flexibility promise

Change your plans free of charge up to 30 days before departure

We’ll move your travel dates or switch the value of your booked trip to another destination at no expense to you up to 30 days before you’re due to depart. You’ll receive a 100% travel credit equivalent to the amount you paid toward your original booking.

Valid for new bookings made on or before October 31, 2020, for travel by Dec. 31, 2021. Travel dates may be moved to departures up to December 31, 2022. Excludes select cruises and airfare. Additional charges may be incurred based on changes to your trip such as accommodation and/or seasonality.

Full-refund guarantee on trips close to home

14-day cancellation policy for trips to the US, Canada or Caribbean

We want to help you navigate the uncertainty that remains around travel by giving you the flexibility to book a trip to any of our destinations in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean this year in complete confidence. With our 14-day cancellation policy, you can cancel your trip up to two weeks before you’re due to depart for any reason and receive a full refund, when you book your trip on or before October 31, 2020 for travel before December 14, 2021**.

Valid on new bookings within the US, Canada or Caribbean made on or before October 31, 2020 for travel by December 14, 2021. Certain policy variations may apply dependent on property selection and dates. Specific details will be provided by your specialist. Any portion of a new booking paid with an existing travel credit will be refunded in the form of a travel credit. Excludes flights and select properties.

 

Set your travel plans in motion with a video appointment

 

Talking face to face with your specialist can be an invaluable starting point for sharing thoughts and ideas as you begin to imagine your next trip. You can take as much time as you need to speak to your specialist and discuss all your plans with one of our video appointments. Just think of it as your own personal webinar — your specialist will share a wealth of insight, aided by images, maps and other visuals, to inspire you and provide advice for your trip, based on what you want to experience.

It's easy to arrange

  • Book a video appointment (we’ll ask you for a few details about your travel plans).
  • One of our specialists, who’s an expert in your chosen destination, will get in touch to arrange a time and date to suit you. If your travel companions are in different households, we’ll invite them to join, too, so you can all chat together.
  • Your specialist will send you a link to your video appointment by email. We suggest using a computer or laptop, which means there’s no software to download.
  • Settle down with a drink, click on the link to join the appointment and your specialist will be there to welcome you.
 

Where you can travel

What they’re known for
Completely customizable and curated trip packages personally designed by destination specialists.

Associations

Why Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
audley-audley-travel-40012

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >