See the best of the American West on this 10-Day guided tour. Travel to Bryce Canyon National Park to explore its rock pillars and natural amphitheatres, then feast with your fellow travellers overlooking the park’s iconic orange rock formations. In Moab, see the ancient pueblo dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park, where the Ancestral Pueblo people once lived. Meet a Navajo guide in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, where you will board ATVs, explore the valley and learn about the tribe’s history. Later, eat a traditional Navajo meal amid the valley’s beautiful buttes and mesas. Then go off the beaten path into backcountry with your Navajo Guide. Join a Local Expert at Grand Canyon National Park for a one-of-a-kind experience: allow the expert to guide you through the park while teaching you about how this national treasure was formed.
Locations Visited
Las Vegas, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon National Park, Moab, Mesa Verde National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Zion National Park
Countries Visited
United States
Travel Style
Regional
Accommodations
9 nights included
Age Requirements
Minimum age 5
Day 1
Welcome to glittering Las Vegas. At Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, see the City of Lights with the same passion, excitement and ambiance of Europe's most romantic city. This evening, savour dinner accompanied by wine in the company of your fellow travellers.
Accommodation
Paris Las Vegas
Meals
Dinner
Day 2
Embark on a journey to Zion National Park, Utah's first and one of its most iconic treasures. Follow the paths where Native Americans and pioneers once walked as you gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink and red. Learn about the park at the Visitor Center before taking a narrated tram ride along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive alongside the rushing Virgin River and soaring canyon walls. This winding road, closed to private vehicles during the summer, will take you to some of the most treasured spots in the park. This evening, arrive at Bryce Canyon Lodge for a leisurely two nights inside the park to explore the nearby trails and vistas.
Accommodation
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon
Meals
Breakfast
See the grandeur and natural features of the canyon in total comfort while traveling via private open-air tram with live on-board commentary.
Connect to history as you wander paths and trails, following in the footsteps of Native Americans and the earliest pioneers. Lush vegetation, wild rivers, roaring waterfalls and towering cliffs characterise the natural beauty of this park.
Day 3
Start the day by traveling through Bryce Canyon National Park, the great natural amphitheater. Encounter some of Utah's most unusual, whimsical eroded rock formations that characterize this National Park. With your Travel Director, learn how wind, erosion and iron oxidation created the spellbinding hoodoos. Choose to blaze your own trail on a one-hour horseback ride in the Dixie National Forest, climbing Bristlecone Pine Ridge with 1,500-year-old Bristlecone Pines (one of the oldest living things on the North American continent) This evening, go off the beaten path and into the woods of Bryce Canyon to view the color-changing hoodoos as the sun sets. Conclude the day feasting on a three-course dinner with wine.
Accommodation
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
The Park is home to the most spectacular collection of hoodoos - tall skinny shafts of rock that protrude from the bottom of arid basins. While hoodoos are scattered throughout these areas, they are most abundant in the northern section of Bryce Canyon National Park.
Enjoy a memorable dinner set against the park's beautiful surroundings.
Day 4
Experience Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, an outstanding biological resource spanning five life-zones, from low-lying desert to coniferous forest. Take in the scenic beauty of the lands once inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloan and Fremont Peoples. Venture to Capitol Reef National Park’s landscape of colorful canyons, ridges, buttes and monoliths. Admire its white sandstone cliffs resembling capitol building domes and reefs evoking barrier reefs of the sea.
Accommodation
Element
Meals
Breakfast
Join your Travel Director to see the natural sights along Capitol Reef's Waterpocket Fold, known as “a geological wrinkle on earth”. The geologic monocline extends almost 100 miles and is filled with cliffs, canyons, domes and bridges. Admire petroglyphs and the domed shaped sandstone walls along the canyon.
Day 5
Visit Arches National Park, housing the greatest concentration of natural arches in the world. Immerse yourself in the grandeur of the remarkable Windows Section and the captivating Double Arch up close. Then it's onto Canyonlands National Park for a drive onto the Island in the Sky, a mesa resting 1,000 feet above the countryside. Your sightseeing tour includes various lookout points including the Grand Viewpoint with sweeping views of the Colorado River carving through the red-rock landscape. Tonight, take your pick from a selection of local restaurants to customize your Dine-Around evening.
Accommodation
Element
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Enjoy views of these natural formations, including Double Arch and North Window Arch.
Venture to Canyonlands National Park for a drive onto the Island in the Sky - a mesa resting 1,000 feet (305 metres) above the surrounding countryside, offering spectacular views over the dramatic sandstone formations.
Enjoy a Dine-Around evening as you choose from a hand-picked selection of mouthwatering restaurants.
Day 6
Amble through the streets of historic Durango this afternoon before enjoying a deep discovery of the fascinating Mesa Verde National Park. Learn how the park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the United States and is considered one of the top cultural attractions in the Western United States. Among 600 historic cliff dwellings, view the ancient pueblo dwellings known as Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in the country. This evening, settle in for a relaxing stay inside Mesa Verde National Park.
Accommodation
Far View Lodge
Meals
Breakfast
Make your way to Mesa Verde National Park, See the ancient pueblo cliff dwellings, known as the Cliff Palace. As the day draws to a close, your lodge awaits you inside the park. Be in awe of the sweeping vistas that surround and reach into three states.
Day 7
Continue your adventure as you journey to the iconic film location featured as the backdrop for Forrest Gump's final run featured in the film. Deepen your knowledge and your connection with the first peoples of this land as you travel to Monument Valley for an authentic cookout dinner with members of the Navajo Nation. Hop in an off-road, open-air vehicle to the cookout site where you’ll enjoy a delicious barbeque grilled dinner with a chance to try traditional Navajo fry-bread. Bask in the stunning red rock scenery and take in the sounds of nature as you enjoy your picnic style dinner with members of the Navajo Nation. Savour each moment of this insightful MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience that provides a sustainable workforce for the Navajo people.
Accommodation
Goulding's Lodge
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Deepen your knowledge and connection with the first nations of this land as we travel to Monument Valley by way of off-road vehicles to the cookout site. Here you’ll enjoy an authentically delicious barbecue dinner with members of the Navajo Nation, where traditional Navajo tacos and fry-bread will be served while you are immersed in traditional dance and songs of this great ancient culture. Your experience advances UN Global Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
View the iconic backdrop of Forrest Gump's last run.
Day 8
Embark on an exclusive Insight Experience into Mystery Valley’s relatively unknown haven of Anasazi Ruins and rock art. Explore this intriguing stretch of desert full of graceful geological formations, petroglyphs, scattered artefacts like broken pottery shards and breath-taking views of the spectacular buttes of neighbouring Monument Valley Tribal Park. A true hidden gem, your visit accompanied by a local Navajo (Diné) guide is a unique opportunity for a guided tour among ancient Indigenous ruins. Continue through the barren beauty of the desert to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park where you will board off-road open-air vehicles to explore the valley. This area is also the backdrop for many Western Hollywood hits, including "Stagecoach" and "Fort Apache." Inspired by these iconic movies, you’ll find “John Wayne’s Cabin” at nearby Goulding’s Lodge. This small structure was used for exterior shots in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," starring Wayne himself.
Accommodation
Goulding's Lodge
Meals
Breakfast
Meet your Navajo Local Experts and board all-terrain vehicles with open sides for a private, off-the-beaten path exploration of this magical valley. Learn about Navajo history, culture and heritage from your expert as you travel deeper in the natural wonders of this unique landscape.
Embark on an exclusive Insight Experience into Mystery Valley’s relatively unknown haven of Anasazi Ruins and rock art. Explore this intriguing stretch of desert full of graceful geological formations, petroglyphs, scattered artefacts like broken pottery shards and breath-taking views of the spectacular buttes of neighbouring Monument Valley Tribal Park. A true hidden gem, your visit accompanied by a local Diné (Navajo) guide is a unique opportunity for a guided tour among ancient Indigenous ruins.
Day 9
Begin your final day visiting the historic Cameron Trading Post to pick up some Navajo jewelry, baskets, pottery and artwork. Continue to Desert View for one of the best views of the Grand Canyon from its watchtower. Admire this iconic building inspired by ancient Native American watchtowers and decorated with murals by a Hopi artist. Journey on to Grand Canyon National Park, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Choose to hike along the scenic Rim Trail. Alternatively, join a Local Expert, ''Canyon Tim,'' for a fascinating discussion on the wonders of this natural phenomenon, the local flora and fauna and how you might be able to spot local wildlife. End your vacation inside Grand Canyon featuring a three-course dinner with wine and spectacular sunset views over the canyon.
Accommodation
Grand Canyon National Park Lodge
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Opt for a relaxed hike along the rim of the Grand Canyon from Mather Point to Yavapai Point. 1.4 miles (2.25 kilometers) roundtrip, this scenic hike will provide spectacular views of the canyon's unique geology. Alternatively, join a local expert at your hotel to learn all about the local flora and fauna of the Grand Canyon.
Join your Local Expert, Canyon Tim, for an informative talk about the wonders of the Grand Canyon. With over seven years of experience in geology, you'll learn about the origins of the five-million-year-old canyon, its rock formation and its current impact. You'll also discover the local flora and fauna, and find out where you might be able to spot elk, mule deer, coyotes, grey foxes, bobcats and mountain lions.
Stop at the historic Trading Post, established in the early 1900s as a place where Native Americans traded wool and livestock.
Trace the scenic South Rim of the Grand Canyon along Desert View Drive. See the historic Watchtower built by Mary Colter in the Puebloan style and track the Colorado River that leads you to the aptly named Painted Desert which extends towards Navajo and Hopi Indian lands.
Arrive at one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the second most visited national park in the United States, the Grand Canyon. Encompassing 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world and offers unmatched vistas along its rim.
Enjoy dinner at the Thunderbird Room with an incredible view overlooking the South Rim.
Day 10
Wake up to the backdrop of the Grand Canyon and enjoy some peace and tranquillity before the day-trippers arrive. You may take an optional flight seeing helicopter ride for stunning views over the Grand Canyon before your journey ends with a departure transfer to Las Vegas International Airport. For those extending their stay in Las Vegas, a complimentary transfer to the Las Vegas post-night hotel is included.
Meals
Breakfast
Title
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.
Dive into Mystery Valley with a local Navajo guide. Normally off-limits to the general public, discover Anasazi ruins and rock art, admire geological formations, and spot petroglyphs carved into the red rocks.
Trip Notes:
Terms & Conditions:
*Temporary changes to standard terms and conditions apply to bookings until further notice. In accordance with travel restrictions imposed by government advisories worldwide, Insight Vacations has temporarily suspended all guided vacations across the globe for trips departing up and until 30 November 2020. For any new bookings being made, we are temporarily offering a fee waiver on the land portion of the trip until 30 days prior to departure should guests wish to change their dates or travel to a different destination. Airlines may have different policies and penalty charges, which are the guest’s responsibility. This applies to land bookings only and does not apply to group bookings. If the guest chooses a trip or departure that is more expensive than the original, they are responsible for the difference in price; if the trip or departure is less expensive than the original, a future travel credit will be issued for the difference. Please note guests are responsible for any airline penalties imposed due to trip changes and/or cancellations. View full details, along with terms and conditions here.
Every effort is made to ensure accuracy of the enclosed content. Insight Vacations cannot be held responsible for typographical errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances. Conditions apply. Policies are subject to change at any time.
