10 Days/9 Nights

Grand Canyon & Red Rocks Featuring 5 National Parks

Join us on a journey through spellbinding Red Rock Country—including the spectacular Grand Canyon, enchanting Bryce Canyon and more. Behold magnificent caves and huge natural amphitheaters...see stunning rock formations and intriguing fossils...plus experience the rich history of the Navajo. The sights will take your breath away!

Tour Highlights

• Marvel at Zion National Park’s “towers of stone” and fields of colorful wildflowers.
• Explore the natural rock bridges of Arches National Park.
• Thrill to a Hummer ride through beautiful backcountry or take a jet boat cruise on the Colorado River.
• See ancient Native American dwellings in Anasazi Indian Village State Park.

Itinerary

Day 1—Phoenix: We'll begin our journey in the "City of the Sun." At our get-together this evening, you'll meet your friendly travel companions and hear about the excitement ahead. Welcome Reception included.

Day 2—Sedona: Thrill to a scenic desert drive to Sedona, a city surrounded by unbelievable towering rock formations. Enjoy a visit to Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. Then explore the eclectic shops and galleries of Sedona on your own, or join us on a fully narrated trolley tour. Later ­relax and enjoy the views from your balcony, or get an up-close look at the desert on our optional jeep tour. Meal included: B.

Option—Sedona Trolley: Take in all the best places around town on a fun-filled trolley tour, including a stop at the remarkable Chapel of the Holy Cross and a breathtaking ­photo stop at Airport Mesa. Price: $20 per person.

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Option—Jeep Tour: Sign up for this thrilling “four-wheeling” adventure and learn about the fascinating ­history of this region, plus get plenty of photo opportunities of the awe-­inspiring Red Rock formations. Price: $65 per person

Day 3—Grand Canyon National Park: This morning we’ll travel through Oak Creek Canyon, a steep, narrow and very colorful gorge, then get ready for your visit to the Grand Canyon!

We’ll head to Grand Canyon Village for your first view of the canyon.  Enjoy some free time at the rim and maybe even do some hiking if you choose.  Then we’ll depart on the park’s Sunset tour to catch the canyon sunset! Our lodging for the night will be in the park. Meals included: B, L.

Day 4—Grand Canyon/Lake Powell: We’ll travel east along the canyon’s rim, stopping first at Mather Observation Point.  The Visitor Center there provides good information on the park.  Then we continue to Desert View Watchtower for a last breathtaking look at the canyon before we leave the park.

After lunch we’ll tour Glen Canyon Dam, a vital link in the Colorado River Storage Project, which is a series of dams and reservoirs along the Colorado River.

Glen Canyon Dam stands 710 feet high from the bedrock and holds back an amazing 26,215,000 acre-feet of water—9 trillion gallons—when Lake Powell is full! 

This afternoon, join us for an optional afternoon cruise or enjoy free time to explore more of this amazing area on your own. Meals included: B, L.

Option—Cruise on Lake Powell: Sit back, relax and take in the incredible scenery as we cruise the brilliant blue waters of Lake Powell. Price: $40 per person.

Day 5—Zion National Park: Today we’ll tour spectacular Zion National Park, where you’ll see an unusual combination of plummeting canyons, wide plateaus and soaring multicolored sandstone cliffs.

Then enjoy a peaceful evening before starting another day of geological and cultural wonders in Bryce Canyon. Meals included: B, L.

Day 6—Bryce Canyon National Park/Escalante: Explore the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park. These pinnacles of limestone, sandstone and mudstone shoot toward the sky in fanciful formation.

Then we’ll head to the desert town of Escalante, where one of the residents will share its unique history with us.

We’ll also get a “taste” of life in southern Utah when we visit Jenifer and Shannon Steed, who’ve cooked up a great meal and some “cowboy” entertainment for us. Meals included: B, D.

Day 7—Capitol Reef National Park/Moab: Today you’ll see the grand mesas, buttes and pinnacles of Escalante National Monument and explore a replica of a six-room, 1,000 A.D. dwelling in the Anasazi Indian Village. Next you’ll soak in the radiant cliffs of Capitol Reef National Park—the Navajo called them “sleeping rainbows”—followed by the captivating rock sculptures of Goblin Valley.

Our home for the next two nights is the Moab Valley Inn. Meals included: B, L.

Day 8—Arches National Park: One of the geographic wonders of the world awaits! No one quite knows why hundreds of sandstone “arches” were formed by nature in this one national park. You’ll have a chance to see and photograph dozens! In the afternoon, ­return to our hotel or take one of the options below. Meals included: B, L.

Option—Jet Boat Cruise:  This four-hour, 30-mile jet boat ride on the ­Colorado River takes you from Canyonlands National Park to Dead Horse State Park, with a stop at the Petrified Forest. Price: $79 per person.

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Option—Off-Road Hummer Adventure: You are invited to ­experience a two-hour “extreme” ride through the beautiful remote backcountry. Although these trips are off the main road, the guides are well-versed on these trails, and your Hummer, the ultimate 4x4, provides an exciting yet comfortable ride. Price: $85 per person.

Day 9—Navajo Nation/Cameron: Today we’ll visit the Betatakin Ruin, the remains of the canyon’s largest Pueblo village. We’ll stay in the heart of Navajo Country at our hotel in Cameron. Meals included: B, L.

Day 10—Phoenix: We’ll say farewell to new friends—and to the Southwest’s rugged natural beauty. Meals included: B.

Accommodations

• Day 1: Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport Hotel, Phoenix
• Day 2: Best Western, Sedona
• Day 3: Grand Canyon Lodges, Grand Canyon
• Day 4: Best Western at Lake Powell
• Day 5: Bryce Canyon Pines, Bryce
• Day 6: Prospector Inn, Escalante
• Days 7&8: Moab Valley Inn, Moab
• Day 9: Cameron Trading Post Lodge