Canyon Country Adventure

Day 1

ARRIVE IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA Welcome to sunny Phoenix! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

Day 2

PHOENIX–SEDONA–GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK Spectacular Sedona Depart Phoenix and travel north through cactus-studded scenery for an orientation tour of Sedona, “Arizona’s Scenic Sensation.” Enjoy free time in Sedona or join an optional jeep tour through magnificent red rock canyons. Arrive this afternoon at Grand Canyon National Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The spectacular beauty of this famous attraction draws more than 5 million visitors a year from around the globe. Spend the next two nights inside the park. This evening, be sure to watch the spectacular sunset. (B)

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in Sedona on an optional excursion with a knowledgeable local guide for a 4-wheel adventure in the American Southwest. Be surrounded by the stunning views of Sedona’s iconic red rock formations on an adventure through spectacular scenery and unsurpassed panoramic views of the desert canyon landscapes.

Day 3

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK The Grandest Adventure If you missed the sunset, sunrise is just as impressive! Today is free to explore everything the canyon has to offer. You may want to enjoy optional flightseeing over the Grand Canyon—definitely the thrill of a lifetime, or set out to explore the Grand Canyon and learn about its geology and how the canyon was carved. You may wish to join a Ranger talk in the Amphitheater, venture down part of Bright Angel Trail, or visit the geology museum. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Grand Canyon National Park spans 278 miles of the Colorado River on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Marvel at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World as you experience the dramatic views across one of the most spectacular examples of landscapes carved by water and wind found anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim.

Day 4

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK–MONUMENT VALLEY NAVAJO TRIBAL PARK–LAKE POWELL Southwestern Secrets & Sights Head to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, where the weathering action of wind and water has carved the famous sandstone spires and towers that rise hundreds of feet above the valley floor. On a [LF] 4-wheel-drive backcountry tour with a knowledgeable Navajo guide. Then enjoy a traditional [LF] Navajo Fry Bread tasting. On to Lake Powell for a 2-night stay, with free time to relax or maybe stroll along Wahweap Marina. (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITION Join a Navajo Guide on a 4-wheel backcountry tour to explore the area’s oddly shaped red-sandstone monoliths, buttes, and mesas—the setting for some of John Ford’s most memorable and classic western films. Hear fascinating stories of legends and folklore that bring this remarkable region to life and enjoy authentic Navajo fry bread in the ancient tradition.

Day 5

LAKE POWELL Wonders of Wind & Water This morning, explore [LF] Antelope Slot Canyon with a local Navajo guide. Be mesmerized by an amazing fantasy world of stone, created by wind and water. Learn the history of this amazing canyon and be sure to take advantage of the incredible photo opportunities. The rest of the day is free in Lake Powell, where sparkling blue water laps against towering red-rock canyon walls and sandy beaches. (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE
NATURAL WONDERS Explore the exquisite Antelope Slot Canyon in the company of a Local Navajo Guide. Marvel at the changing shades and captivating shapes of the narrow sandstone caverns as beams of sunlight pierce the towering walls carved by wind and water for millennia.

Day 6

LAKE POWELL–BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, UTAH Rock Stars Depart from the splendid views of Lake Powell and travel Utah’s scenic backroads to spectacular Bryce Canyon National Park. Spend time in the park capturing the magnificent contrasts of bright red, yellow, and pink pillars called “hoodoos.” Years of erosion have carved colorful sandstone into thousands of spires, arches, and mazes for an unforgettable sight. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B,D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Explore Bryce Canyon’s fantastically sculpted rock formations called Hoodoos that resemble castle towers, cathedral spires, and squatting goblins. As the light changes throughout the day, the canyons glow between distinct oranges, reds, and yellows creating a striking background for photographic masterpieces. And stars? The Bryce area is one of the best places for stargazing thanks to its remote location and lack of pollution. On some nights, more than 7,500 stars are visible!

Day 7

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK–ZION NATIONAL PARK–LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Stones that Touch the Sky Today, see nearby Zion National Park, a spectacle of massive stone formations whose colors change with the light of the day and the season. To the Mormon pioneers, it was a haven of beauty resembling natural temples and cathedrals. Enjoy a boxed picnic lunch on the front lawn of Zion Lodge with free time to explore before continuing to Las Vegas for a brief orientation tour. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATIONAL PARK PERFECTION Meaning a place of peace and refuge known to nourish the soul, Zion’s sandstone walls rise thousands of feet above the valleys and cliffs high above the canyon floor’s lush greenery and snaking Virgin River. Here, Native people and pioneers first gazed skyward at soaring cliffs of cream, pink, and red piercing the brilliant blue sky. Enjoy a boxed picnic lunch on the front lawn of Zion Lodge with free time to explore.

Day 8

LAS VEGAS Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)